Take One Daf Yomi

Today’s Talmud Pages, Bava Batra 61 and 62, discuss the meaning of silence during important conversations. The Presidentisher Tevi Troy, joins us to explore how this applies to modern politics.Does silence equal agreement? Listen and find out.Also, The Presidentisher Rav has just released a new book, "The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry." Gadol Hador Yuval Levin wrote of the book that "The Power and the Money" is "filled with rich anecdotes and analysis, and it weaves them all together compellingly." As Yuval puts it, "it’s a new book by Tevi Troy, so you should read it."

Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Batra 59 and 60, deliver a disquisition that couldn't be more timely. How, the rabbis are asking, should we go on living our lives in times of great sorrow, mourning, and grief? Can we continue to celebrate joyous occasions even amid so much loss and suffering? And, if so, how? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Bava Batra 58, gives us a collection of stories about the adventurous Rabbi Bena'a, who at some points even meets Abraham and Adam. Why did the Talmudic sages believe that all of us simply got worse and worse with each passing generation? And how is this concept of evolution in reverse actually an invitation to a more graceful and emotionally balanced life? Listen and find out

Todays page, Bava Batra 57, discusses the proper attire for torah scholars.Tablet’s General Manger and resident Fiber Arts specialist Tanya Singer joins us to discuss dressing properly for the task at hand. Do clothes make a difference when getting things done? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Bava Batra 56, raises a question that is still a political hot potato to this day: What, precisely, are the boundaries of the Land of Israel? But the rabbis, as they always do, dig even deeper, teaching us a lesson about the dangers of sameness and the dignity of difference. Why was Liz Lemon of 30 Rock fame wrong when she opined that all everyone truly wants is to sit down in peace and eat a sandwich? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Batra 54 and 55, mention the Hatzav, a peculiar plant used to demarcate fields in the olden days. But the Hatzav has since become an absolute darling of Israeli poets, writers, and musicians, who have come to see it as the perfect metaphor for life in a demanding and beautiful and perilous land. Why? And what did the Israeli version of the Rolling Stones do when a big bank paid them to write a song about a Hatzav? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Batra 52 and 53, make an argument that one good way to establish ownership of a piece of real estate is simply to lock the door. Producer Josh Kross joins us with his teenage daughter, Violet, to talk about privacy, door-locking, and the other thrills of parenting an adolescent. Just what is the appeal of door-locking anyway? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Bava Batra 51, finds the rabbis in the mood to praise the greats. Rabbi Meni Even-Israel, who heads the Steinsaltz Center in Jerusalem, joins us to talk about his father, the late, great Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, the scholar who has done more than anyone in modern times to make the Talmud accessible. What was it like arguing about presents with a singular Talmudic mind? Listen and find out.

Join the discussion as we explore Usha, an ancient town in Galilee known for its significant role in rabbinical courts post-Temple destruction. The conversation highlights the Sanhedrin's crucial rulings on property laws, shedding light on moral dilemmas faced during Roman oppression. Discover the resilience of Usha's cultural identity and its relevance in today's world, emphasizing that maintaining traditions can guide us through difficult times. Tune in for a blend of history and inspiring lessons!

Today’s Talmud page, Bava Batra 49, is all about how couples should share their money—or not. Writer and editor Lisa Ann Sandell joins us to talk about the dos and don'ts of making money and marriage alike work. Who, exactly, owns the dog? Listen and find out.