Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Chullin 122 and 123, an unsettling discussion of human skin recalls one of the most gruesome stories in Jewish tradition: the martyrdom of Rabbi Yishmael at the hands of the Romans. Behind the horror lies a reminder of what the rabbis refused to surrender, even at the cost of their lives. What are the things we believe are worth dying—and therefore living—for? Listen and find out.
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On today’s pages, Chullin 120 and 121, one mysterious word sends generations of Jewish scholars searching through animal anatomy for an answer. Is the alala a neck ligament, a tendon, leftover flesh—or something else entirely? What can an unsolved anatomical puzzle teach us about the rabbis’ extraordinary attention to detail? Listen and find out.
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On today’s page, Chullin 119, some supersized wheat leads us to the supersized integrity of Shimon ben Shetach. Whether returning a valuable jewel to its rightful owner or forcing a powerful king to answer before the law, the great sage had one rule: Put honesty above all else and fear only God. Listen and find out.
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On today’s page, Chullin 118, the rabbis want to know what makes a handle a handle, leading to some rather gruesome questions about the different ways one might grab an animal. Modern neuroscience offers a surprising echo of their inquiry, revealing that the less we know about what we’re holding, the tighter we tend to grasp it. Why does uncertainty make us hold on tighter? Listen and find out.
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On today’s page, Chullin 117, a new chapter called “The Skin and the Sauce” breaks an animal down into its constituent parts, from flesh and bones to tendons and hooves. But as the month of Elul begins, this inventory becomes an invitation to take stock of ourselves—and consider what elevates us beyond our own skin and bones. What separates us from the beasts? Listen and find out.
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