Take One Daf Yomi

Delve into the fascinating world of oaths and mitzvot. Discover whether a promise to fulfill an already obligatory commandment counts as an empty oath. Learn how obligations can impact liability and how sometimes oaths can serve as motivational tools. Engage with the wisdom of the sages as they explore these intricate relationships and their implications in daily life.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 26, the sages discuss oaths of abstinence when you are really starving. Do you need to atone, or does Pikuach Nefesh cover you? Listen and find out. 

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠Shevuot 24 and 25⁠, our sages continue their discussion of oaths. What happens when somebody makes a promise too impossible to keep? We look back on an enlightening and vulnerable conversation we had with the singer Matisyahu, which beautifully illustrates this very idea. Listen to find out more. 

Today’s Talmud page, ⁠Shevuot 22 and 23, our sages continue their discussion of oaths, this time pertaining to the laws of kashrut. What do the laws of oaths have to do with the purpose of Jewish dietary laws? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Shevuot 21, our sages continue their discussion of oaths. The gemara discusses the difference between a false oath, and an oath taken in vain. What's the difference, and what can that teach us about maintaining hope during difficult times? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Shevuot 20, mentions the assassination of Gedalia ben Achikam. Who was he, why was he killed, and why does his death come as an urgent reminder to us quarreling Jews to insist on talking to those with whom we bitterly disagree? Listen and find out.

Explore a fascinating Talmudic puzzle about a man's dilemma between two paths—one pure and one impure. Discover how memory plays a crucial role in our moral decisions. The discussion dives into the intersection of impurity, awareness, and responsibility. With a compassionate lens, the interpretations reveal deep insights into human intentions and ethical dilemmas. Tune in for a thought-provoking exploration of Talmudic law!

Today’s Talmud pages, Shevuot 17 and 18, find the rabbis discussing the prohibition on having intercourse with a menstruating woman. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why religion sees fit to regulate matters that should remain personal and intimate, and how it helps us elevate ourselves above the animals. In what ways is the ancient Temple in Jerusalem similar to our modern bedrooms? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Shevuot 15 and 16, raise a difficult challenge, claiming the one must not recite any incantations in an effort to heal the sick. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why this prohibition does not mean we should stop reciting Psalms for the sick. In what way is each of us his or her own walking, living prayer? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Shevuot 14, warns us against climbing atop the Temple Mount, lest we accidentally defile its holiness. But if that's the case, why are we permitted to climb Mount Sinai? And how does Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel help explain this idea of making the world holier with our actions? Listen and find out.