Rephonic
Artwork for The Oral Talmud
Talmud
Judaism
Torah
Svara
Pikuach Nefesh
Yom Kippur
Rabbinic Judaism
Divorce
Rabban Gamliel
The Law Of the Wayward and Rebellious Son
Halakha
Covenant
Daf Yomi
Yavne
Mount Sinai
Purim
Tradition
Education
Rabbi Meir
Judaism Unbound

An exploration of the Talmud through the “traditionally radical” lens pioneered by Benay Lappe. Whether you are a beginner to Talmud study or a long-time learner, by listening in on Benay Lappe’s study partnership with Dan Libenson as they explore foundational stories and material from the Talmud, you will discover the how-to manual that the ancient Rabbis left behind for future generations to hel... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes58Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
JudaismReligion & Spirituality

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Oral Talmud

Latest Episodes

“ There's no question in my mind that retelling, reshaping the contours of the Jewish story is what you do. That's the most Jewish thing of all Jewish things.” - Benay Lappe

Welcome to The Oral Talmud, our weekly deep dive chevruta study partnership... more

“The rabbis ultimately see us being the Rabbi Akiva character, that everyone is an innovator, an upgrader, a potentially radical rewriter. That's the story that they're telling over and over and over and over in the Talmud. That's the message that th... more

YouTube

“ People who learn the tradition own that tradition and therefore can do with it what an owner can do with what an owner owns. If you own your house, you can knock down walls, you can build an extra story, completely change it. You can knock down the... more

YouTube

“You’re really wasting your time, you’re doing the wrong thing if you think that your job is to receive the tradition, protect it, preserve it, and hand it off exactly as you got it.” - Benay Lappe

Welcome to The Oral Talmud, our weekly deep dive ch... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Judaism Unbound
Judaism UnboundInstitute for the Next Jewish Future
Identity/Crisis
Identity/CrisisShalom Hartman Institute
Xai, how are you?
Xai, how are you?Michael Sokolovsky and Xava De Cordova
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
For Heaven's Sake
For Heaven's SakeShalom Hartman Institute, Ark Media

Recent Guests

Richard Primus
Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
Episode: Episode 48: The Myth of Interpretation with Richard Primus
Menachem Fisch
Joseph and Ceil Mazer Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, Emeritus and Director of the Center for Religious and Interreligious Studies at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Episode: Episode 44: When Tradition Fights Back with Menachem Fisch
Ilana Kurshan
Author of the award-winning memoir If All the Seas Were Ink.
Episode: Episode 21: Dissecting Daf Yomi with Ilana Kurshan
Jane Kanarek
Rabbi, Associate Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew College Rabbinical School, and author of Biblical Narrative and the Formation of Rabbinic Law.
Hebrew College Rabbinical School
Episode: Episode 20: Transforming Story into Law with Jane Kanarek
Shai Secunda
Jacob Neusner Professor in the History and Theology of Judaism at Bard College
Bard College
Episode: Episode 17: The Iranian Talmud with Shai Secunda
Daniel Boyarin
A prominent Talmud scholar and author of several works on Talmudic culture
University of California at Berkeley
Episode: Episode 16: The Greatest Voices Are Anonymous with Daniel Boyarin
Ruth Calderon
Talmudist author and social political leader, founder of Alma
Alma
Episode: Episode 13: Using Tradition to Overturn Tradition
Barry Wimpfheimer
Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University.
Northwestern University
Episode: Episode 6: Narrating the Law with Barry Wimpfheimer
David Kraemer
Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics and the Joseph J and Dora Abbell Librarian at the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Jewish Theological Seminary
Episode: Episode 4: Retelling the History with David Kraemer

Hosts

Dan Libenson
Host who introduces and guides the conversation; co-host of The Oral Talmud; involved in collaborations with Judaism Unbound and Svara.
Benay Lappe
Co-host preparing discussion and texts; co-host of The Oral Talmud; associated with SVARA and Judaism Unbound collaborations.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 24 ratings
  • Thought provoking and accessible to Talmud newbies

    The hosts do a great job of presenting Talmud in a thoughtful, engaging way that’s accessible to newcomers to the text.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    foodwriter36
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong emphasis on interpretation that invites listeners to think critically
Engaging hosts make complex ideas understandable and relevant
Thought-provoking and accessible to Talmud newbies

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 48: The Myth of Interpretation with Richard Primus
Q: How do you see the relation between time-zero original meaning and the evolving understanding of constitutional values?
The constitutional constant is that the Constitution must reflect our deepest values as they evolve; the content changes over time to preserve that alignment, and reinterpretation is how we maintain fidelity to the constant while accommodating new realities.
Episode 20: Transforming Story into Law with Jane Kanarek
Q: What is your goal for your students in teaching Talmud?
To empower them to develop their own voices while understanding technical skills and making meaning from text.
Episode 20: Transforming Story into Law with Jane Kanarek
Q: How did the rabbis relate to the Torah?
They believed that you have to read the Torah in a mediated way, recognizing the layers of interpretation and narrative involved.
Episode 17: The Iranian Talmud with Shai Secunda
Q: What was the geopolitical landscape at the time of the Babylonian Talmud's formation?
The Talmud's formation occurred in a politically and culturally Persian context, specifically within the Sasanian Empire, despite the geographical location being in what is now Iraq. This influences both the rabbinic community in Babylon and their interactions with surrounding cultures.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Oral Talmud

What is The Oral Talmud about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, text-led exploration of Talmudic material through a traditionally radical lens, with a strong emphasis on interpretation, moral intuition (Svara), and how ancient texts adapt to modern life. Episodes regularly juxtapose classical sources with contemporary issues—ethics, gender, climate, civic responsibility, and leadership—using dialogues between two co-hosts to model collaborative, text-driven inquiry. The show's appeal lies in its accessible yet rigorous approach to Jewish law and philosophy, its willingness to challenge inherited forms, and its notable willingness to host diverse voices and ideas to reimagine Judaism for today.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Oral Talmud?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Oral Talmud. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Oral Talmud and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Oral Talmud get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Oral Talmud, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Oral Talmud?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Oral Talmud, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Oral Talmud have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Oral Talmud has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Oral Talmud?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Oral Talmud:

1. Judaism Unbound
2. Identity/Crisis
3. Xai, how are you?
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. For Heaven's Sake

How many episodes of The Oral Talmud are there?

The Oral Talmud launched a year ago and published 58 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Oral Talmud?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Oral Talmud?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Oral Talmud from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Oral Talmud?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Oral Talmud. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Oral Talmud?

Recent guests on The Oral Talmud include:

1. Richard Primus
2. Menachem Fisch
3. Ilana Kurshan
4. Jane Kanarek
5. Shai Secunda
6. Daniel Boyarin
7. Ruth Calderon
8. Barry Wimpfheimer

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days