Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Chullin 59 and 60⁠, the Talmud pauses its legal discussions to tell stories—unforgettable stories featuring lions, emperors, and the incomparable Rabbi Yehoshua ben Hananiah. Through wit, parable, and imagination, the rabbis teach truths that argument alone could never convey. Why is storytelling one of Judaism’s greatest teaching tools? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Chullin 57 and 58⁠, the rabbis tell a shocking story in which terror quite literally saves a man’s life. Far from being merely an unpleasant emotion, fear emerges as a force that can reshape both body and mind. Modern psychological research suggests they may have been onto something. Why do we voluntarily scare ourselves, and what can fear teach us? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Chullin 56⁠, a debate about birds and weasel bites turns into a lesson in intellectual honesty. After advancing one position, Rabbi Zeiri later reexamines the evidence, changes his mind, and informs his colleagues of his mistake. In an age when everyone is expected to double down, what does it mean to simply admit you were wrong? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Chullin 55⁠, the rabbis demonstrate a remarkable commitment to evidence, devising a method to determine whether an animal’s condition arose naturally or through external harm. Their willingness to question assumptions and seek verifiable answers serves as a powerful reminder that knowledge grows through inquiry, not conformity. Featuring remarks from Sinai Award recipient Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia, and an introduction by Walter Kirn. Why is the search for truth worth defending? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Chullin 54⁠, a technical discussion about missing organs yields an unexpectedly hopeful lesson. Again and again, the rabbis rule that an animal can survive conditions that seem impossible at first glance. The result is a reminder that life is often sturdier than we imagine and that setbacks we assume are fatal may not be. What if we are more resilient than we think? Listen and find out.