Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Bekhorot 30 and 31, the rabbis consider what happens when someone once trusted to observe Jewish law begins cutting corners. From a dishonest butcher to a woman whose second marriage threatens to undermine her religious commitments, Liel explores how easily our standards can shift when our circumstances change. How do we make sure that life's compromises don't become compromises of character? Listen and find out.
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On today’s pages, Bekhorot 28 and 29, the rabbis ask whether judges should be paid for their rulings, leading to a much bigger question: Should anyone be allowed to make money teaching Torah? Liel turns to Maimonides, whose uncompromising answer challenges the very idea of making a living from religious scholarship. What can one of Judaism's greatest thinkers teach us about the relationship between work, wisdom, and spiritual integrity? Listen and find out.
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On today’s page, Bekhorot 27, the rabbis grapple with a question that remains surprisingly relevant: How should Jews living outside Israel participate in religious obligations rooted in the Holy Land? Liel explores how this ancient debate echoes today's arguments over what Israeli and American Jews owe one another—and whether every disagreement really needs a resolution. Can Jewish unity survive without Jewish uniformity? Listen and find out.
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On today’s page, Bekhorot 26, the Mishnah instructs us to wait before giving a firstborn animal to the priest, allowing it time to grow and mature. Liel explores how this seemingly minor requirement protects the dignity of everyone involved and transforms a routine obligation into an opportunity for spiritual reflection. Why might the time we spend preparing to fulfill a mitzvah be just as important as the mitzvah itself? Listen and find out.


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On today’s page, Bekhorot 25, we consider the importance of being first—not just among newborn animals, but among the people making decisions that shape history. Liel shares a conversation from Tablet's The Barbarians with Wall Street Journal editorial board member Elliott Kaufman, whose new book, In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel's Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis, takes readers inside Israel's war cabinet during its battles against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. What happens when the people responsible for a nation's survival are also competing to be first among equals? Listen and find out.
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