Take One Daf Yomi

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 39 and 40, the sages open the third chapter of the tractate with a discussion on statues and idols. The sages explore which statues are permitted and which are forbidden, whether jewelry is permitted, whether an object that was once used in idol worship can be used for something else, and more. The topic of idol worship is, of course, taken extremely seriously, but the sages' teachings still manage to contain a lot of nuance. What can we learn from their approach? Listen and find out. 

In today's pages, Avodah Zarah 37 and 38, we meet one of the great heroes of the Talmud, Rabbi Yose ben Yoezer. Although we meet him as he weighs in on whether the consumption of a certain breed of locust is permitted (Rabbi Yose ben Yoezer says yes), the shadow he casts on the whole tradition of the study of Jewish law is, in fact, massive, and very much with us today. What makes him so influential? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 36, the sages continue their discussion on halachot pertaining to goods made by gentiles, and whether Jewish people can consume them. There's a larger discussion here, one about tradition and continuity. For further insight, we are including this week's episode of our sister podcast 'Sivan Says'. This week's double parsha, Matot-Masei, contains a list of 42 places the Israelites journey to on their route to the Promised Land. What can we learn from this long and detailed list? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 35, the sages continue their discussion of laws pertaining to which items Jewish people can consume, if they are manufactured by people who are not Jewish. But the teaching contains a metaphor, comparing a Torah scholar to a container containing a good scent. But what broader application does this metaphor have? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 34, we hear a story in which Rabbi Akiva visits a faraway city and is asked three seemingly unrelated yet straightforward questions by the folks who lived there. We're told that he did not know the answers. What's going on here? Listen and find out. 

In today's Talmud pages, Avodah Zarah 32 and 33, the sages broaden their conversation about wine made by gentiles. A fascinating discussion follows, about whether or not shards from an earthenware vessel which originally held non-kosher wine may be used for other purposes. We further deepen the discussion with a personal story from our producer Josh Kross. His anecdote shares a question with today's pages: what does it mean to hold onto an object with a loaded, or controversial, history? Listen and find out. 

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 30 and 31, the sages turn their discussion to a topic close to Liel's heart: booze. We know there are rules and prohibitions around whose wine Jews can or can't drink, but what about beer? Listen and find out.

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 29, the sages discuss all kinds of practical remedies for good health. Many suggestions are made - foods to eat, foods to avoid, good habits, bad habits. What other good advice does the Talmud have for us? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 28, the sages continue their discussion about relationships between Jewish and Gentile people, and the value of trust. Today we are joined by the esteemed Tevi Troy, whose favorite topics include the Talmud and American Presidential history. How does he connect today's page with the history of presidents who betray the trust of their people? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 27, the sages continue their discussion about relationships between Jewish and Gentile people. When the threat of anti-Jewish violence exists, who is to be trusted? And what really lies beneath what may, at first, seem to be paranoia? Listen and find out. 

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 25 and 26, the sages have a discussion that hits close to home. The conversation concerns the threat of anti-Jewish violence, and it's chilling to consider how familiar it all feels. But what lesson can we take from today's pages? Listen and find out.

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 23 and 24, the sages explore the biblical obligation to honor one's parents. The story of Dama ben Natina is shared, to illustrate the mitzvah of filial piety. What else can we learn from this story? Listen and find out.

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 22, the sages continue their discussion about business dealings between Jewish and Gentile people. If they own a business together, can the Jewish partner accept profits from work done on Shabbat? But we also learn about two great luminaries of the Talmud - Rava and Ravina. What can we learn from their conduct? Listen and find out.

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 21, the sages discuss laws that may make modern audiences uncomfortable - laws that concern business dealings between Jewish and Gentile folks. How do we make sure business we both run and frequent uphold our values? Listen and find out. 

In today's Talmud page, Avodah Zarah 20, the sages bring up instructions for a life of meaning. It's a meditation on self-improvement, designed to bring us to a place of humility. What's the first step? Listen and find out.

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 18 and 19, the sages share yet another story of Jewish resistance in the face of Roman cruelty. The harrowing story of the Rabbi Chanina ben Teradyon is a tale of unbelievable tragedy, but embedded within is a deeply moving idea about the sacred relationship between Jewish people and the actual physical scroll of a Torah. What is it? Listen and find out. 

On today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 16 and 17, the sages share with us a pretty unbelievable story about a rabbi with a penchant for prostitutes. What happened next, and what lesson can be learned from this seemingly goofy story? Listen and find out.

On today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 15, the rabbis debate the sale of arms. It's an issue that is no less relevant today, and so, in this episode we are featuring an excerpt of a conversation between Dr. Chethan Sathya, a pediatric surgeon, and Fred Guttenberg, who lost his daughter Jaime in a school shooting, that originally aired on the 20-Minute Health Talk podcast. Can the gun violence epidemic be reframed as a public health issue? Listen and find out. 

On today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 14, the rabbis discuss the ethical treatment of animals and our relationship to the earth. We sidebar to hear from Joel Salatin, one of the recipients of Tablet's 2025 Sinai Awards. Joel is a farmer from Virginia, and we wanted to share his inspiring acceptance speech at the recent award ceremony. What does today's Talmud page have to do with "food freedom"? Listen and find out. 

On today's page  of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 13, the sages discuss the conditions on which a priest is allowed to leave Eretz Yisrael. What beautiful idea do we learn in the conversation that follows? Listen and find out. 

On today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 11 and 12, we learn about the legendary commentator Onkelos, who was born into Roman nobility, but later converted to Judaism. What made him so great? Listen and find out. 

In today's pages of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 9 and 10, we learn about the singular friendship between Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi and the Emperor Antoninus. What does the Talmud teach us about their unlikely alliance? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8, the Rabbis tell a story of Jewish bravery during the Roman Empire. When the chain of Rabbinic ordination was threatened by the Roman rulers, a group of Rabbis met to ordain students at tremendous risk to themselves. What happened next? Listen and find out. 

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 7, the sages discuss how a person should pray. Should a person first say the Amidah, and then issue  their own personal requests, or should their personal prayers come first? And why does it matter? Listen and find out.  

In today's page of Talmud, Avodah Zarah 6, the sages continue their discussion of "foreign worship," and parse out what it means for Jewish people to partake of non-Jewish holidays. But hey, what's so bad about New Year's Eve? Listen and find out. 

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Avodah Zarah 4 and 5, the sages relate an incident between two great scholars, Rabbi Abahu and Rav Safra, and a group of heretics. The moral of the story is so simple, but applicable to anybody who cares about building a healthy and diverse society. What is it? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Avodah Zarah 2 and 3, kick off a brand-new tractate. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to tell us a little bit about what we have in store for the next few weeks. What even is Avoda Zara, "foreign worship," and how does studying help us understand the notion of worship, in general? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 49, the sages draw the tractate to a close. To honor the auspicious event, Rabbi David Bashevkin explores in depth one of the largest themes of Shevuot, the gravity and seriousness of using G-d's name. We know that names access their possessor's essence. When we discuss the name of G-d, what are we really talking about? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 48, the sages approach the end of the tractate. Ahead of tomorrow's final page, we take a step back, and hear from Sivan Rahav-Meir (of Tablet's Sivan Says podcast) as we look for meaning during a particularly difficult time in history. Listen to find out more.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 47, the sages continue their discussion of oaths, this time focussing, oddly, on different gambling practices. How does this topic fit into the greater themes of the tractate? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 45 and 46, the sages continue their discussion of the seeming nitty gritty of laws pertaining to daily life, and discuss when a boss should pay his workers. When we discuss a boss, we are, of course, also discussing Hashem. What do these laws tell us about our relationship with G-d? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 43 and 44, the sages continue their discussion of oaths, focussing on the magic that can occur when people are in agreement with one another. How does this relate to the amazing life and work of a musician we lost just this week? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 42, we hear from Rav Avi Weiss, who expounds on the teaching. How does the Rabbis legal discussion of deposits connect with today's Israeli soldiers, Rav Avi's grandson among them, going to war? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 41, the sages continue their discussion of oaths. All the laws in the Torah concerning the way people interact with one another require one crucial ingredient. What is it? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 40, the sages continue their discussion of oaths, this time asking how to approach a tricky legal scenario. How do you know when someone is falsely making an oath? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 38 and 39, the sages continue their discussion of oaths, this time focusing on invoking the name of G-d when taking an oath. What makes invoking G-d's name such a powerful act? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 36 and 37, the sages turn to the topic of curses, this time discussing an instance in which a person curses himself. It seems like a harmless practice, but what deeper idea do the rabbis draw from it? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 35, the sages continue their discussion and bring up yet another category - promises. How is a promise different from an oath or a vow? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 31, 32, 33, and 34, the sages zoom out for a moment, discussing the bigger picture implications of distancing oneself from falsehoods. What are those implications? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud pages, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 29 and 30, the sages discuss the difference between and oath and a vow, and between and oath made in vain and a false oath. What, exactly, are the differences, and what are the moral implications of each? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 28, the sages discuss one of the most well-known cases of oath taking - the Nazir. What can these laws tell us about people who convert to Judaism ? Listen and find out.

In today’s Talmud page, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Shevuot 27, the sages continue their discussion on oaths. Is promising to fulfill a mitzvah we are already obliged to fulfill is considered taking an oath in vain? Listen and find out.

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.

Today’s Talmud page, Shevuot 19, concerns itself with a real brain-twister, a puzzle about what happens when there are two paths, one pure and one impure, and a man who can't quite remember which road he'd taken. What lesson do the rabbis teach us about how memory and responsibility intersect? Listen and find out.

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.