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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes66Foundeda year ago
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JudaismReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for The Oral Talmud

Latest Episodes

“ I'm always asked, 'You're obviously an anti-traditionalist, so why are you going back to the Talmud all the time?' An anti-traditionalist doesn't need an authoritative history. The answer is that the only way to begin to convince traditionalists of... more

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“ When people say, ‘What makes something Jewish?’ A lot of times you're looking for some substantive answer to that, emphasizing the value of tikkun olam or whatever it might be. But no, what makes it Jewish is that it has been part of this process o... more

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“[The Rabbis] show us, and texts from antiquity across the board show us,  that any silly political insistence that there are only two sexes and there always have been, is just straight up nonsense. They attest to more than two genders. And yet, we r... more

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“  Even if you accept that we are nothing compared to Moses, nevertheless, we're sitting on the shoulders of Moses and everyone who sat on his shoulders. So we're actually having a higher perspective, even though we're smaller ourselves. That's an ar... more

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Recent Guests

Gwynn Kessler
Professor of Religion at Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Episode: Episode 62: The Rabbis and Gender with Gwynn Kessler
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

Hosts

Dan Libenson
Host who introduces and guides the conversation; engages in intro and ongoing discussion.
Benay Lappe
Co-host who engages with the material and asks probing questions; study partner.

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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging hosts and rigorous text study.
Thought provoking and accessible to Talmud newbies.
Great primer for newcomers to Talmud with social relevance.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Oral Talmud

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

A thoughtful, text-focused show that teaches and interprets Talmud through a socially conscious, experiencia-driven lens. The hosts model collaborative chavruta study, using classic rabbinic texts to explore topics like dignity, gender, justice, and modern ethics. Episodes frequently tether ancient debate to contemporary issues such as reparations, climate ethics, and inclusive Jewish practice, often inviting close readings, meta-cognition about learning, and practical implications for education and community life. Noteworthy is a consistent emphasis on Svara and moral intuition in shaping tradition, along with a willingness to challenge assumptions and reimagine Jewish law in light of modern values. The format favors in-depth textual analy... more

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1. Judaism Unbound
2. On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti
3. Identity/Crisis
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The Oral Talmud launched a year ago and published 66 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Oral Talmud?

Recent guests on The Oral Talmud include:

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

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