Talking Talmud

Yardaena Osband & Anne Gordon

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!

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

2,402 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes2402

Newest first

Jan 26, 2020 · 15 min
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 the beit midrash.
Jan 25, 2020 · 15 min
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]
Jan 24, 2020 · 18 min
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" (lekhathilah/bedieved). Also, gezarah shavah.
Jan 23, 2020 · 19 min
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 to dunk. Let's just say, our norms shift. Whether they should is a different question.
Jan 22, 2020 · 22 min
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 that difficult story from the graveyard.
Jan 21, 2020 · 16 min
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 modern era.
Jan 20, 2020 · 16 min
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 place, onto the page.
Jan 19, 2020 · 12 min
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.
Jan 18, 2020 · 19 min
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.
Jan 17, 2020 · 16 min
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, women and tefilin.
Jan 16, 2020 · 14 min
Berakhot 13: Focusing Your Heart
Avram, Avraham! Also: Hello, chapter 2! Do mitzvot need performative intent (kavanah), and if so, which kind?
Jan 15, 2020 · 18 min
Berakhot 12: How Wrong Is Wrong?
You misspoke your berakhah - now what? Also introducing our "Who's Who and What's What" segment.
Jan 14, 2020 · 12 min
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.
Jan 13, 2020 · 16 min
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.
Jan 12, 2020 · 21 min
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 background. NOTE: Correction: Yerushalmi is attributed to R. Yochanan. The Tosefta is attributed to R. Hiyya (you'll hear when you get there)
Jan 11, 2020 · 20 min
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?
Jan 10, 2020 · 16 min
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?
Jan 9, 2020 · 14 min
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?
Jan 8, 2020 · 17 min
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.
Jan 7, 2020 · 14 min
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 23: Distractions

Berakhot 22: What Can a Ba'al Keri Who Hasn't Dunked Do?

Berakhot 21: It Takes 10 to Make a Minyan

Berakhot 20: Generation Gaps

Berakhot 19: The Case of Kilayim and Stripping in the Marketplace

Berakhot 18: Death Be Not Proud

Berakhot 17: The Power of Unique Prayer

Berakhot 16: The Shema You Recite Up in a Tree

Berakhot 15: What If You Don't "Hear" Shema?

Berakhot 14: If women don't lay tefilin, can they say Shema?

Berakhot 13: Focusing Your Heart

Berakhot 12: How Wrong Is Wrong?

Berakhot 11: "Your beard is very full" - A Matter of Debate

Berakhot 10: Beruriah and Praying from the Depths

Berakhot 9: Different Opinions (Shocking, We Know)

Berakhot 8: The Dramatic Innovation of Those 4 Cubits of Halakhah

Berakhot 7: Blessing God

Berakhot 6: Encountering God

Berakhot 5: The Problem of Evil

Berakhot 4: Moshe, David, and Redemption