Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Zevachim 40 and 41, the rabbis discuss the high priest’s two sets of garments—one dazzling and jeweled, the other plain white for Yom Kippur. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why Judaism teaches that true importance isn’t shown by adding layers, but by stripping them away. What does holiness look like when we return to the essence? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Zevachim 39, the rabbis compare the Temple’s two altars—one outer and forgiving, one inner and exacting—and uncover a deeper lesson. Holiness, they suggest, isn’t binary but a spectrum. What happens when we stop chasing perfection and instead take one more small, sincere step toward the sacred? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Zevachim 38, we pause to reflect on the monumental project that makes daily study possible: the Steinsaltz Talmud. We’re joined by Rabbi Meni Even-Israel, son of the late Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, to talk about translating the untranslatable, carrying a legacy forward, and what comes after the Daf Yomi cycle ends. How do you keep learning when the pages run out? Listen and find out. Find out more about the Steinsaltz Center’s work here.

On today’s page, Zevachim 37, the rabbis teach that Torah can be shaped by both how it’s written and how it’s heard. Modern brain science agrees, showing that reading silently still lights up the mind’s acoustic pathways. What happens when ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience harmonize? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 35 and 36, the Talmud says bones don’t count as food—but modern wisdom might disagree. Between the altar and the kitchen, we find a shared idea: nothing sacred—or edible—should go to waste. How can mindful eating become its own act of devotion? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 33 and 34, the rabbis test the edges of sacrifice law: non-kosher limbs, wild game, and the line between an ideal instruction and a binding limit. The result is a masterclass in Talmudic logic that turns hypotheticals into clarity. How does precision in language shape what we can—and can’t—offer? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 30, 31, and 32, the rabbis ask whether simply reaching a hand into the Temple counts as entering it—reminding us that even the smallest touch has power. From sacred law to modern science, touch shapes how we connect, heal, and feel alive. What does the Talmud teach us about rediscovering the holiness in human contact? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 28 and 29, the rabbis return to a central theme: the power of kavanah—intentionality in action. A sacrifice counts only when it’s offered with total focus of heart and mind. To bring this teaching to life, we revisit a stirring speech from farmer and Tablet Magazine Sinai Award winner Joel Salatin, who speaks about devotion, purpose, and caring for God’s creation. How can the discipline of intent turn ordinary work into sacred service? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 26 and 27, a father challenges his son with puzzles worthy of a Talmudic logic olympiad. Behind the levitating livestock lies a deeper goal: to raise a child who can reason through chaos. How can the Talmud’s model of education help us teach not memorization but mindfulness and moral clarity? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Zevachim 23, 24, and 25, the Talmud insists that priests must stand while serving, echoing Deuteronomy’s command to “stand to minister.” After a long stretch of holidays filled with more standing than sitting, this teaching hits home. What does standing up—literally—teach us about focus, presence, and prayer? Listen and find out.