Take One Daf Yomi

Jesse Eisenberg, an acclaimed actor and director, shares insights about his film, A Real Pain, which follows two cousins uncovering their grandmother’s Holocaust-era past in Poland. The conversation touches on the weight of family responsibilities and the importance of understanding one’s heritage. Eisenberg explores the delicate balance of humor and tragedy in storytelling, especially in the context of Jewish identity and multi-generational trauma. Their journey becomes a poignant reflection on grief, connection, and the complexities of family bonds.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 26 and 27, ponder the nature of studying Torah. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to shed light on this gorgeous discussion. How is studying Torah, quite literally, magical, and how does it transform the entire world? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 24 and 25, are all about... the Talmud. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to explain why this bit of self-reference is crucial to understanding the entire nature of the Talmud's logic, and what it can teach us moderns. So what does the Talmud think the Talmud is all about? Listen and find out.

On today’s episode of Take One, we take a break from the daf to speak with Gila Fine, the author of The Mad Woman in the Rabbi’s Attic, a reexamination of women’s role in the Talmud. What can we learn about the world of women in the Talmud? Listen and find out. 

In a thought-provoking discussion, the emotional and spiritual complexities of divorce are examined through the lens of the Talmud. The challenges of parting ways are likened to parting the Red Sea, revealing deep societal perceptions and the significance of marital bonds. Tears, both personal and communal, are explored as a vital aspect of the grieving process in Judaism. This conversation encourages listeners to embrace their emotions and find healing amidst the pain of separation.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 21, tells us the story of King Solomon's downfall. What made the wisest man alive sin, and what does it have to do with the Roman Empire? And what warning does the story hold for us about choosing our values carefully? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 19 and 20, tell a riveting story of a haughty king, a brave rabbi, and a murder most foul. Why did one brave judge stand up to the most powerful man in the land? And what led the rabbis to issue a stern warning against handing any one person, or institution, too much power? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud pages, Sanhedrin 17 and 18, give us a masterclass about choosing the right leaders. Why must a leader speak every conceivable language? And why must he or she be attractive as well as wise? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 16, is all about optional wars, and who has the right to go to battle and under what circumstances. Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody, author of the new book Ethics of Our Fighters: A Jewish View on War and Morality, joins us to talk about the Jewish way of war. How do the ancient teachings inform our very modern warfare? Listen and find out.

Today’s Talmud page, Sanhedrin 15, asks what is to be done should an animal take a life. Might the beast stand trial for murder? And why is Reish Lakish, perhaps the fiercest of all of the Talmud's rabbis, advocating for compassion? Listen and find out.