Shows / Talking Talmud
Talking Talmud
Learning the daf? We have something for you to think about. Not learning the daf? We have something for you to think about! (Along with a taste of the daf...) Join the conversation with us!
Episodes
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 29: The Advantages of Praying by Heart
The Amidah, its 19th blessing, its abridgement, and the Traveler's Prayer. Also: What's What: Sadducees
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 28: Leadership and the Value of Machloket
The daf we've all been waiting for, with the story Yardaena has been telling us about: Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 27: If Maariv Is Optional, Why Do We Daven 3x/Day?
Treating one's Torah teacher right.... Buy a watch and you'll know what time to daven!... And that critical evening service.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 26: Now We Have Prayer
Our daf finishes the discussion of bodily fluids with some practical details for our day too. And then: Our Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv that replace the Temple…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 25: We're Not Angels
When the daf is all cases of urine and excrement, we found some important cases of nakedness. Special guest appearance by Maya, aged 4 (listen if you can spot…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 24: Naked!
What does it mean that a woman's thigh, voice, and hair are "nakedness"? Is that for always, or is it about Shema? Also: How many people did sleep in the same…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 23: Distractions
When you gotta go... and it gets in the way of your tefilah, not to mention everything else that can too. Also: Tefilin, and why a prostitute shows her face in…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 22: What Can a Ba'al Keri Who Hasn't Dunked Do?
And why are we talking about a ba'al keri anyway - that's not tzanua (modest)?! [Some odd audio issues we can't explain - apologies]
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 21: It Takes 10 to Make a Minyan
It's the human condition to make mistakes! Also, the renewal of prayer in the collective experience. What's What: Mitzvot in their ideal and "after the fact"…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 20: Generation Gaps
From the "imposter syndrome" of the Amoraim to the women who do positive time-bound commandments to the men who no longer sit outside the mikveh when women go…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 19: The Case of Kilayim and Stripping in the Marketplace
Personal dignity vs. Halakhah -- which should win? What does halakhah have to say about that? Also some loose ends from daf 18, including an understanding of…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 18: Death Be Not Proud
Almost everyone who lives long enough experiences the death(s) of close relatives. The Gemara relates to this natural course of events with lessons for the…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 17: The Power of Unique Prayer
A collection of prayers and proverbs by Chazal makes us think about the meaning of each as well as the fact that they are collected, from across time and…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 16: The Shema You Recite Up in a Tree
"Real world" halakhah for when you can't do more, and Rabban Gamliel, who always did more anyway.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 15: What If You Don't "Hear" Shema?
Who says what in the mishnah on this daf, and why it matters to the Gemara. Also, deafness, then and now.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 14: If women don't lay tefilin, can they say Shema?
When you lie down and when you get up, Shema is to be your first and last event of the day. Can we manage that? Also, crafting the text of Shema. And, yes…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 13: Focusing Your Heart
Avram, Avraham! Also: Hello, chapter 2! Do mitzvot need performative intent (kavanah), and if so, which kind?
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 12: How Wrong Is Wrong?
You misspoke your berakhah - now what? Also introducing our "Who's Who and What's What" segment.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 11: "Your beard is very full" - A Matter of Debate
Saying Shema lying down or sitting up, and when what you're learning counts as learning Torah.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 10: Beruriah and Praying from the Depths
It's about humility (always), whether you're avoiding judging people or reaching out to God. Plus Barkhi Nafshi.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 9: Different Opinions (Shocking, We Know)
Not everyone agreed with R. Shimon Ben Gamliel. The very fact that Halakhah is not a dictatorship is clear in multiple voices of psak. Plus some historical…
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 8: The Dramatic Innovation of Those 4 Cubits of Halakhah
In the absence of the Temple and its sacrificial ritual, how can we reach God? And can we do it as a group?
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 7: Blessing God
When God's traits seem exceedingly human (including how He handles anger), what does it mean to draw near to Him To hold ourselves back?
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 6: Encountering God
How many people need to gather for God to grace a group who turn to Him with His Presence? And where?
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 5: The Problem of Evil
When bad things happen to good people, is it a punishment? A sign of God's love? A reason to learn Torah? Ah, the incomprehensibility of it all.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot 4: Moshe, David, and Redemption
Being a leader means you never - always! - having to say you're sorry. Also: redeeming prayer.
- Talking Talmud
Berakhot Daf 3: When the dog barked, it was much later than midnight
Halakhic Aggadatah. Or is that Aggadic Halakhah?
Talking TalmudIntroduction and Berakhot 2
A discussion of ideas from the daily daf, hosted by Yardaena Osband and Anne Gordon.