Take One Daf Yomi

Today’s Daf Yomi pages, Megillah 12 and 13, find the rabbis arguing about what makes a king wise. Tevi Troy, the Presidentisher Rav and a historian who himself served under President George W. Bush, joins us to share one account of catastrophic presidential decision making, and how the Talmudic discussion can help deepen our understanding of politics. What happened when Lyndon Johnson invited over a bunch of poets to the White House? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 11, introduces the idea that in each generation, God sends a handful of righteous men and women to save us all. Justin Hayet, host of the new podcast Thirty-Six, joins us with a clip from his show, which seeks these hidden few tzadikim all over Israel. Can a few holy folk truly save us all? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 10, includes a rousing discussion of one classic biblical word, vayehi, and it came to pass. Rabbi Sari Laufer joins us to explain why the word sometimes foreshadows doom and sometimes blessings, and unearth its deeper theological meanings. So were our teachers wrong when they told us never to write in the passive voice? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 9, recounts a strange incident involving an evil king imprisoning 72 rabbis and demanding that each of them translate the Bible. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why each of them translated it in precisely the same way, and why, historically, biblical translations were frowned upon. What famous rabbinic joke did the incident inspire? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi pages, Megillah 7 and 8, explain that Esther, making the rabbis uncomfortable, insisted that her story be written down and passed from generation to generation. Yeshiva University's Dr. Shaina Trapedo joins us to talk about what motivated the Biblical queen, and how writing still has the power to transform us and history alike. What writing tips can we take from the Megillah? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group. Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia. Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi pages, Megillah 5 and 6, teach us that the Jewish people refused a prohibition on working on Purim. Michael Eisenberg, one of Israel's most successful investors and the author of The Tree of Life and Prosperity: 21st Century Business Principles from the Book of Genesis, joins us to talk about what labor meant back in Talmudic times and what it means now, and whether universal basic income is an idea we should consider. Why plant saplings on Purim? Listen and find out.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 4, gives us a bright moment of compassion when laws take a back seat to charity. Rabbi Sari Laufer joins us to talk about what happens when halacha comes up against pressing human needs, and why we should always keep the neediest in mind. What do the poor have to do with Purim? Listen and find out.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 3, kicks things off with warnings of talking to demons at night. Keith Thomas and Rafi Margules, the director and producer of the Jewish-themed horror movie The Vigil, join us to talk about finding bone-chilling inspiration in Jewish tradition. Why is Judaism so rich in ghost, ghouls, and creepy-crawlies? Listen and find out.

Today’s Daf Yomi page, Megillah 2, launches a brand new tractate, devoted to Megillat Esther. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us for a preview of what's ahead. What to make of the only book in the Bible that doesn't mention God? Listen and find out.Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.

Today’s Daf Yomi pages, Taanit 30 and 31, bring to a close Tractate Taanit. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to sum it all up. What did we learn about mourning and yearning, together and apart? Listen and find out. Like the show? Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in the Take One Facebook group.Take One is hosted by Liel Leibovitz and produced by Josh Kross, Sara Fredman Aeder, and Robert Scaramuccia.Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.