Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 80 and 81 begin by discussing what animals one was allowed to take in as pets in their homes. It then moves on to discuss other horrible calamities that may befall a community, including the mosquito. The Environmental Protection Agency recently approved a new technology that would stop mosquitoes from procreating, which might finally end this scourge on our society. Will we finally be able to enjoy a picnic without worrying about getting bitten? Listen and find o...
Jan 22, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 80
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 78 and 79 ask why a thief must pay a larger fine than a robber. The Talmud goes on to explain that a robber is only transgressing against other people, but the action of the thief is a sin against God as well as he tries to hide his actions by stealing at night. What can we learn about our actions from the fines put upon a thief versus that of a robber? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com....
Jan 19, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 78
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 77 discusses the difference in payment that a thief must make if they steal an animal and then sell only part of it, or if they slaughter it in an impure way, versus the punishment payment that they must make it they sell it entirely, or in a ritually pure manner. Tablet’s own Sam Hacker joins us to tell her tale of a pair of pants that she has coveted over a long period of time, only to find when she finally decides to make the purchase, that they are not all that...
Jan 18, 2024•8 min•Season 21Ep. 77
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 76 tells of the Rabbis of the Talmud discussing the sacrificial meat that is still present after its allotted time to be used. Unorthodox co-host Stephanie Butnick returns to discuss the age-old question of leftovers, and more specifically, how long you can keep leftovers for future meals. With the improvement of refrigeration since the times of the Talmud, the length of time that you can continue to serve food has increased, and while some still think that food is...
Jan 17, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 76
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 75, begins by telling the story of two rabbis who meet and one admits to hurting their slave. The other indicates that for there to be a fine (the freeing of a slave) there would need to be witnesses for that action. The rabbis of the Talmud then get into a discussion of whether or not that would still be the case since the rabbi to whom the confession was made was the head of the court, and thus when one admits to their wrongdoing, a penalty should still be assess...
Jan 16, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 75
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 73 and 74 discuss the time limit between saying two phrases that either makes them a single comment, or two separate comments, and indicates that the pause must be the shorter than the length of time that it takes for a student to greet their teacher in order for it to be considered a single statement. Education expert and educator at the Shefa School in Manhattan Vicki Messler joins us to discuss the important relationship between a teacher and a student, and the...
Jan 15, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 73
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 71 and 72 share the story of a Rabbi changing his mind on an issue and explaining that the reason that he changed his mind was that the first answer came when he hadn’t eaten, and the second was his decision after eating a fine meal of meat. Tablet producer Josh Kross returns to discuss whether a good decision can be made if you haven’t eaten a meal of meat, or if a big meal can make you lethargic and sleepy. Does a full belly make you think differently than an em...
Jan 12, 2024•10 min•Season 21Ep. 71
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 70 warns us not to make judgements based on partial information, but rather to wait until we have all of the information. This feels as though it was ripped right from our current newspaper and social media centric world. How often are reports made or posts shared when only a piece of the full story has come to light? What do we lose when we rush to judgement rather than making sure we have all the necessary information? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscrib...
Jan 11, 2024•6 min•Season 21Ep. 70
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 69 explores the lack of a requirement to demarcate your vineyards during the sabbatical year when it is unlawful for anyone to eat from the vine as it is understood that you are not required to take precautions to protect the wicked from the consequences of their sins. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to discuss the story of the poison sandwich, the story of a bullied student getting his revenge. Even if we are not required to keep others from sinning, should we? Lis...
Jan 10, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 69
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 68 discusses the consequences for a kidnapping, as no one will ever be able to get over the despair of being kidnapped, or to have a loved one kidnapped. During a recent recording trip in Israel, Take One producer Elie Blier visited Kidnapped Persons Square to spend some time with the friends and family members of those held captive. This is the audio of his experience. How are we to remain hopeful when your loved one is in captivity? Listen and find out. Like the ...
Jan 09, 2024•15 min•Season 21Ep. 68
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 66 and 67 tells the story of a question that could not be resolved for twenty-two years, until Rav Yosef was made the head of the Yeshiva, at which point he was easily able to resolve the matter. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to discuss what it was that allowed Rav Yosef to finally answer such a question, and that the answer that he gives relates directly to the reason that he was finally able to come to a resolution. What other changes occur when you call someth...
Jan 08, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 66
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 64 and 65 discuss the difference in penalties that must be paid by a thief in the case that they admit their actions on their own, versus when they are confronted with witnesses who can confirm their thievery. The difference in penalty is based on the lying that the thief commits before admitting to their transgression. To further explore the power of lies, we are sharing an unaired interview that was recorded for the Unorthodox podcast with Mike Rothschild, the a...
Jan 05, 2024•28 min•Season 21Ep. 64
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 63 is an intricate treatise on the principle of “a generalization, a specific detail and another generalization”. In Jewish text, when you see such a formulation, you should always focus on the detail between the two generalizations. This focus on the detail may seem comical, as it ignores the larger themes, but perhaps it teaches a deeper story. Does Jewish text inform our spiritual lives, or is it just a form of OCD? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe ...
Jan 04, 2024•9 min•Season 21Ep. 63
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 62 is all about real estate. In the page, the Rabbis discuss the difference between two people who take a piece of land from another. Both take it against the will of the original owner, but for one, the owner finally agrees to the sale, and for the second, it is against their will. Are these two types of purchasers the same, or is there a difference between these two purchasers? What must we do to ensure faith in the marketplace for the long-term? Listen and find ...
Jan 03, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 62
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 61, tells of David who instructed not to honor those who were killed to defend words of Torah in order to keep others from doing the same. While this may appear like an ancient idea that does not impact our lives today, however it teaches something important for us in modern times as well. It teaches us that in msome ways martyrdom is easy, but sticking around to fight through difficult times is harder, and more important. How are King David, Moses and George Washi...
Jan 02, 2024•7 min•Season 21Ep. 61
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 59 and 60, tell the story of a man who was wearing black shoes to mourn the destruction of the Temple, and found himself imprisoned for his choice of footwear. Tevi Troy returns to discuss another man who showed arrogance in his words and actions and the lessons that can be learned by both. What are the two words that are worth a ten thousand dollar invoice? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag...
Jan 01, 2024•6 min•Season 21Ep. 59
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 57 and 58, shares two different penalties give by two different courts based on the same act of cutting a date palm. The difference in penalty is a result of the difference in the overall size of the area being considered. This is one more moment where everything depends on conext. The world today is filled with questions whose answers depend on context. While some evil-doers are obvious, there are others who played a less clear role by converting their home into ...
Dec 29, 2023•6 min•Season 21Ep. 58
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 56, discusses the differences between being liable according to human laws and being liable according to the laws of heaven. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin returns to discuss the secondary responsibility of being good when you live a religious life, having to ensure that you are living according to both the local laws of where you live, but equally importantly to the divine laws. While the laws of heaven may not be important in a courtroom, we must be able to look in the mi...
Dec 28, 2023•6 min•Season 21Ep. 56
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 55, discusses the levels of security that one must put into place to protect their animals in order that they are not responsible if the animal causes harm. Rather then focus on animals, today we welcome Tablet Studios show-runner, Courtney Hazlett to discuss what we can do to ensure that our children are protected from harm, and how to deal with the knowledge that regardless of the protections we put into place, our children may not always behave. What should we d...
Dec 27, 2023•7 min•Season 21Ep. 55
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 54, share a story where the Rabbis of the Talmud discuss exactly what words are on the tablets of the ten commandments. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin joins us to discuss the differences between the first set of tablets that were given and then destroyed and the second set which have endured. The differences between the two sets can teach us to better understand what is holy and good in our lives. How does Moshe’s involvement in creating the second set of tablets teach us a...
Dec 26, 2023•9 min•Season 21Ep. 54
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 52 and 53, asks what it takes to take ownership of a home. Our personal real estate expert Scott Harris joins us to discuss what is behind the key that one gets when they purchase a home. While the key is merely a symbol of the home, it serves more deeply as a sign of the spiritual possession of a home. While this is true for your personal home, it also serves as a conversation that we should have in regard to our synagogues, our spiritual homes. What makes a hous...
Dec 25, 2023•10 min•Season 21Ep. 52
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 50 and 51, teach a lesson about God’s mercy. Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin returns to help us explore what it means to live in dialogue with the divine. While God may not always be in direct communication, our living a life connected to God, we are brought closer to God, and they care about the details of our lives. How and when should we look for signs from God? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.co...
Dec 22, 2023•8 min•Season 21Ep. 50
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 49, asks if we are worth more once we have children. Unorthodox co-host Stephanei Butnick returns to share how life for her has changed from pregnancy through the years since her daughter was born. The way that people treated her when pregnant, to the knowing glances she receives and send out as she walks down the streets, to the ways in which she must organize her time, life is different when you have a child. How many things can you check off of your to-do list i...
Dec 21, 2023•7 min•Season 21Ep. 49
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 48, discusses when we are and are not responsible for our actions. Tevi Troy joins us to discuss the politicians in our past who have and have not taken responsibility for their actions, from President Truman who popularized the phrase “the buck stops here” to President Clinton who wouldn’t take responsibility for his golf score. What can we learn from our leaders about how to take responsibility? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe to our weekly newslett...
Dec 20, 2023•7 min•Season 21Ep. 48
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 47, shares a discussion about who is responsible for an item when it has been allowed onto your property, but it has not explicitly been stated that one will take responsibility for the safety of the item. Rabbi Diana Fersko joins us to discuss what consent means, and how we should consider the legal issues of consent, but also of the larger issues of responsibility in front of our maker, God. What should you think when a restaurant coat check indicates that they w...
Dec 19, 2023•8 min•Season 21Ep. 47
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 45 and 46, asks who can be safely tasked with the care of our animals. This is a question that may seem odd today, but was an important question in the agrarian society in which the discussions were being had. This conversation, though seemingly out of place, is an important one as we consider the additional security that Jewish institutions and places of worship must take into consideration in the aftermath of October 7. In our recently history we have found that...
Dec 18, 2023•9 min•Season 21Ep. 45
Today’s Talmud pages, Bava Kama 43 and 44, asks what happens when an ox or a person intend to kill another animal—or another human—and end up killing someone else by mistake. This piece of Talmud reminds us of the need to consider intent when thinking about the killing of another, that there is a difference between killing someone by mistake and doing it intentionally. This concept brings to mind an interview that was done recently which included the testimony of Omar Sami Marzuk Abu Rusha, a me...
Dec 15, 2023•10 min•Season 21Ep. 43
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 42, explains that if a woman is killed by an Ox, the payment for the injuries is not paid to the woman’s husband, but rather to her heirs. Ahuva Warburg Halpern joins us and introduces us to her newborn daughter Mindy Bracha Eden, and explains the importance of each of the babies names, and how they were passed down from other important women, both from her family and her community. What do we pass down when we name a child? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subs...
Dec 14, 2023•9 min•Season 21Ep. 42
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 41, explores what can and cannot be done with the carcass of an ox that has been stoned to death, indicating that you may give it as a gift to some, but must sell it to others. Producer Josh Kross joins us to share his experience of being treated differently than others while going through airport security, and discusses the very Talmudic ways that El Al security considers who to wave through and who needs extra attention. What can we learn from the distinctions be...
Dec 13, 2023•10 min•Season 21Ep. 41
Today’s Talmud page, Bava Kama 40, asks the question of how you can put a price on damages done. This page asks the eternal question of how difficult it is to put a price on damages. The Rabbis indicate that a ransom, or restitution, is the monetary value for the damage caused. How do we pay for the damages we cause? Listen and find out. Like the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Send us a note at takeone@tabletmag.com. Follow us on Twitter at @takeonedafyomi and join the conversation in...
Dec 12, 2023•6 min•Season 21Ep. 40
