Best Yardaena Podcasts (2025)

1
Sanhedrin 67: How the Frog Covered the Land of Egypt 22:21

5h ago22:21

22:21

Two mishnayot and some stories: An instigator and his manner of convincing people to sin -- plus, his death sentence, and the rationale for making sure to entrap him if need be, to get him off the streets, as it were. Plus, the one who engages in the sin to convince others to join him. Also, the subverter - who tries to convince a whole city to sin…

1
Sanhedrin 66: The Death Sentence of the Betrothed Adulteress 16:00

6h ago16:00

16:00

A daf of mishnayot - 3! Beginning with violations of the law that incur the death sentence with the execution of stoning. Beginning with Shabbat -- with just the exception of either exceeding the boundary of Shabbat OR igniting a fire -- different opinion as to which -- where the violation is a Torah prohibition, but the punishment is lashes. Next:…

1
Sanhedrin 65: How Do You Prove That Shabbat Is Shabbat? 17:31

1d ago17:31

17:31

A new mishnah! On the "ove ve-yedoni," necromancer and sorcerer, and when their death sentences (stoning) kick in. Plus, what are the differences between these two. With a parallel, but just the ove, in the tractate Keritot. The Gemara explains why only the ove is there (hint: machloket). Also, a story in which Rabbi Akiva meets the Roman leader Tu…

1
Sanhedrin 64: The Propensity of People to Do Evil 16:48

2d ago16:48

16:48

A busy daf: First - a story of how the people prayed for idolatry to be removed from the world, to diminish sin. Including the need for an egg, which seems connected to the interest in idolatry, until they eventually "blind the eyes" of the "evil inclination" to sin. Also, the case of a non-Jewish woman who vows to worship all the idolatries if she…

1
Sanhedrin 63: Pronouncing the Names of Idolatries 17:11

3d ago17:11

17:11

Any of the otherwise innocuous actions (hugging, kissing, washing, etc.) are problematic with regard to an idol, and incur flogging/lashes. But taking an oath in the name of the idolatry, for example, does not get lashes, even though it's a violation of a negative commandment, because it doesn't have a physical action that is necessary for the puni…

1
(15) Rebbetzin Dr Hadassah Fromson: Enhancing marriages with psychology and halacha 42:38

3d ago42:38

42:38

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk/connect to learn about our Jewish learning journeys & find something that suits you. My dear friend Rebbetzen Dr Hadassah Fromson is rebbetzin of Golders Green United Synagogue here in the UK. She is a counselling psychologist who works with individuals and couples both privately and for Chana, a fe…

1
Sanhedrin 62: Violations while Unaware: Shabbat and Idolatry 17:48

4d ago17:48

17:48

A one-discussion daf: If one did several acts of apparent worshipping of an idol in one time period of unawareness of the violation - that entails one sacrifice in apology, as it were. Except for the machloket on that decision. Which goes back to violations of Shabbat in one time period of unawareness of those violations. Which leads into a fundame…

1
Sanhedrin 61: Idolatry Loopholes: Intent and Practice 22:50

6d ago22:50

22:50

A halakhic discussion takes place when Rabbah meets Rav Hamnuna, who's looking for his oxen: 2 mishnayot contradict, over what point a person who plans to worship idolatry is held accountable. Is the statement that one will go worship sufficiently close to worship? Also, a discussion about idolatry done out of love of another person (or fear), thou…

1
Sanhedrin 60: Casual Blasphemy, a Historical, Habitual Practice 12:31

7d ago12:31

12:31

One who hears blasphemy from a non-Jew is not obligated to tear keriyah (in mourning for the desecration of the Name of God), as he would have been had the blasphemy been uttered by a Jew. Also, blasphemy only requires that tearing keriyah if the Ineffable Name of God were uttered. Plus, Rabbi Hiyya's caveat that tearing keriyah wasn't done in his …

1
Sanhedrin 59: Not the Sciatic Nerve or a Limb from a Live Animal 17:45

7d ago17:45

17:45

More on the Noahide laws -- eating the limb from a live animal, in contrast to the Jews being prohibited about the same thing. But why wasn't the one prohibition sufficient to teach them both? The Gemara says that the Noahide commandments were not repeated at Sinai (except for when and why they were). Yet nothing that is permitted for Israel is pro…

1
Sanhedrin 58: How Violence Destroys Holiness 13:49

9d ago13:49

13:49

Establishing the prohibition of the illicit relationship with one's father's sister -- with nods to Moshe's parents and Avraham and Sarah. Also, what happens when a non-Jew hits a Jew -- with another nod to Moshe. A death sentence is warranted, notes the Gemara, given what violence does to society.

1
Sanhedrin 57: Can a Non-Jew Be Subject to Jewish Law? 18:35

10d ago18:35

18:35

More on the Noahide Laws - and the puzzling nature of law for people who are not necessarily paying any attention to Torah's requirements for them. Plus, some contrasts between the Noahide law an ramifications as compared to the Jewish legal system, for example. Also, the academy of the Bnei Menashe, who have a different list. Plus, are women part …

1
Sanhedrin 56: Blessing God: The Need for Euphemism 19:37

10d ago19:37

19:37

A new mishnah! A blasphemer is only culpable once he mentions the Name of God. All testimony would be provided using a euphemism, until the very end, when one occasion of direct citation of the blasphemy would take place before any judgement would be brought into effect. The judges who heard this would tear their garments for this desecration. Also…

1
Sanhedrin 55: The Role of Shame 22:54

12d ago22:54

22:54

A challenging daf, with the breakdown of details of activity or homosexual acts, for bestial acts, and so on. The sages tackle the topics with seeming equanimity, until Rav Sheshet reacts in such a way that it opens the question whether they weren't as sanguine about it all. Also, the question of a non-Jew who engages in bestiality - does the anima…

1
Sanhedrin 54: 'In the Way One Lies with a Woman' 12:30

13d ago12:30

12:30

NOTE: A difficult daf for modern sensibilities, specifically with regard to (male) homosexual practice. The sages deliberate how to understand and apply the verses in Leviticus about incest, homosexual practice, and bestiality. Also, the mishnah identifying these practices as death sentence transgressions, with stoning being the mode of execution, …

1
Sanhedrin 53: Stoning or Sin-Offerings 15:45

14d ago15:45

15:45

How are other crimes determined to be subject ot the death sentence of stoning? That is, as derived from the necromancer and the sorcerer, depending on the phrasing: "mot youmtu" or "demeiham bam" -- the double language of putting the person to death or the phrase of blood be upon him. Note that the default stoning and often the default execution w…

1
Sanhedrin 52: Dignity Even in Being Put to Death 20:53

14d ago20:53

20:53

3 mishnayot! On the details of the process of the executions: burning, stoning, strangulation, respectively. Along with several rabbinic disputes along the way. Note especially that "burning" isn't a matter of flames, as one might have thought, and the body is not desecrated. The one example provided is the daughter of the kohen, but the Gemara con…

1
Sanhedrin 51: The Bad End of the Kohen's Daughter 17:22

16d ago17:22

17:22

The death sentence for one who desecrates Shabbat (intentionally, with witnesses and warning) - stoning or burning? (the conclusion is stoning, but that's not R. Shimon's opinion). But what if the Shabbat desecrator is the married or betrothed adulterous kohen daughter? Is her execution stoning or burning? Would a kohen who serves in the Temple hav…

1
Sanhedrin 50: Why Ranking the Severity of the 4 Executions Matters 20:01

16d ago20:01

20:01

Coming back to the order of the death sentences of the court - descending order of severity: stoning, burning, beheading, and strangulation, plus the biblical sources for the rabbis' ratings. It would seem that the severity of the act would indicate the severity of the sentence, but which is more severe is not always intuitive. In the end, the conc…

1
(14) Rabbanit Yafit Clymer: Dealing with the emotional fallout of war in school 48:37

17d ago48:37

48:37

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk for our full Jewish learning programme, including Rabbanit Yafit Clymer, & find something that suits you. How do we help our children cope with the emotional fallout of war? This is just one of Rabbanit Yafit Clymer’s current roles, achieved as Rabbanit Beit Sefer of Midreshet Amit Girls High School…

1
Sanhedrin 49: A Hierarchy of Deaths 18:37

18d ago18:37

18:37

Finishing chapter 6: King David's minister of defense, Yoav, who did not rebel against the king (in contrast to the other discussions of those who did, like Avner, whose downfall is described). And beginning chapter 7: Ordering the deaths meted out by the court, depending on the violation that is punished by death. Which leads into the treatment of…

1
Sanhedrin 48: Kingly vs. Courtly Executions 16:18

19d ago16:18

16:18

A dispute between Abaye and Rava whether designating an item - in this case, a shroud - is sufficient to prohibit it from common use, or whether that designating is not enough to do so (Abaye prohibits; Rava permits). Plus, examples (pro and con), though in the end, the halakhah follows Rava. Also, with regard to a condemned person, the Gemara addr…

1
Sanhedrin 47: The Curative Graves of the Sages 17:47

20d ago17:47

17:47

If a person ate of the forbidden fats, he needs to bring a sin-offering to atone for it. But if he decides to stop observing the mitzvot between the time of the sin and the sin-offering - and then decides to come back to his observance, he pushed aside the animal and the sin-offering. Can the same animal be used, or once it's been pushed side, is t…

1
Sanhedrin 46: From the Executed to the Mourners 15:54

21d ago15:54

15:54

More on the issue of putting only one condemned person to death on one day, with discussion over whether the same violation and the same kind of execution (but more than one perpetrators) - would that still require a new day for each case? Also, a new mishnah! On how the body of the person who was executed would be hanged. Including how the body ca…

1
Sanhedrin 45: Even the Worst Sinner Is Human 19:14

22d ago19:14

19:14

A daf of (essentially) 3 mishnayot, with the Gemara thereon. 1. When the person to be executed was near to the place of stoning, they would strip the condemned person - or perhaps just a male condemned person, depending on the opinion in the mishnah. Still, the condemned person would have at least some cloth(s) to cover his or her nakedness - for t…

1
Sanhedrin 44: Brazen before God 19:10

22d ago19:10

19:10

More on Achan and Joshua... which leads to a comparison between Moses and Joshua -- and Pinchas, in terms of negotiating or litigating before God. Joshua is rebuked for acting brazenly -- yet, he's not alone in challenging God, and usually to good effect. So where is Joshua brazen to the degree of being rebuked? It takes close reading of the verses…

1
Sanhedrin 43: Confessions 17:44

24d ago17:44

17:44

A page with 2 mishnayot! But first - more on the process of capital punishment, and specifically towards execution. Including, for example, who's property is used in putting the culprit to death? Plus, some numbing agent to make the experience less painful. Plus, important women donated that, but the question is who would pay for it, if the women d…

1
Sanhedrin 42: Acquittal and Convicted 15:38

25d ago15:38

15:38

Finishing the 5th chapter, and beginning the 6th, with a discussion of the blessing on the new moon -- a festive time. And a time of sanctification of the months: The is my God, and I will glorify him. Plus, defining what Rosh Chodesh is - the human involvement in calling the month. Also, the last discussion of chapter 5 - on an even vote to acquit…

1
Sanhedrin 41: The Women Who Knew Halakhah 15:08

26d ago15:08

15:08

To be held accountable - and punished - the person doing wrong must receive official warning that the action is wrong, and carries this punishment. An example of adultery -- for a betrothed woman -- is brought, with witnesses who were found to be conspiring witnesses. But they aren't put to death, though she would have been, because they can claim …

1
Sanhedrin 40: The Importance of Witnesses 16:53

27d ago16:53

16:53

A new chapter, front-loaded with all of the mishnah from the entire chapter. Chapter 5 focuses on the ways the witnesses are investigated, given the huge importance of their testimony, as halakhah doesn't accept circumstantial evidence. The investigation begins with the timing of the event that was supposedly witnessed. Plus, the degree to which di…

1
Sanhedrin 39: The Comeuppance of the Wicked: What Does God Think? 24:22

28d ago24:22

24:22

Another daf of Aggadah - with debates between Rabban Gamliel and the Roman caesar - including his daughter - over various philosophical issues coming out of the Torah. Also, a significant inquiry into whether God rejoices in the downfall of the wicked.

1
Sanhedrin 38: What Is Man That Thou Art Mindful of Him? 14:20

28d ago14:20

14:20

On a busy daf, the discussion turns to the creation of humanity -- beginning with the creation of one man (and only one as the starting point), and each person's individuality. The question of why humanity begins with only one person occupies the Gemara for a while - including the potential arguing or pride or faulting that could happen if there we…

1
Sanhedrin 37: The Goodness of the Jewish People 20:47

30d ago20:47

20:47

Two mishnayot! First - a description of how the Sanhedrin sat -- in a semi-circle, so the judges could see each other. Scribes transcribed the arguments. Plus, the hierarchy of the seating, and how the judges would rise through the ranks. Plus, the way the Jewish people would not broach the borders of sin, even when that border is relatively passab…

1
Sanhedrin 36: A Hierarchy of Judges - and Torah Scholars 16:24

30d ago16:24

16:24

A comparison of Moshe Rabbenu to Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, and then eventually Rav Ashi. The question is what's going on. The court begins deliberations with the lowest in the hierarchy, though elsewhere, the opposite was done. The Gemara posits that temporal leadership and Torah leadership was not found in the same person between Moshe and Rabbi Yehud…

1
(13) Esty Shushan: Choosing the feminism that's right for you 36:13

1M ago36:13

36:13

Esty is a Chareidi Mizrachi social activist, entrepreneur and trailblazer. We met when she was in London screening Woman of Valour, a documentary film about her life and activism, and I was blown away by her bravery and her achievements. In 2012, she launched No Voice, No Vote, a social media-based protest movement calling on ultra orthodox Chareid…

1
Sanhedrin 35: Competing, Contradictory Mitzvot - Which Wins? 20:11

1M ago20:11

20:11

There are days when a court won't hear a capital case, because the capital verdict is not allowed to be issued on the same day as the case is heard, deliberated, etc. So, for example, Erev Shabbat (Fridays) and Erev Chag (the day before the night a holiday begins). This is further complicated by the need to carry out a death sentence on the same da…

1
Sanhedrin 34: A Blind Judge 19:14

1M ago19:14

19:14

In capital cases, one arguing for conviction can change and argue for acquittal, but not the reverse - if it's before the time of handing down the verdict. But how does this presentation line up with other comparable sources? It seems that judges cannot reverse a decision to acquit. Also, judging a case in day and at night - where monetary cases ar…

1
Sanhedrin 33: Default Innocence 16:55

1M ago16:55

16:55

Returning to distinctions between monetary cases being tried and capital cases being tried -- what is the procedure for handling new evidence? The mishnah here is contradicted by a mishnah in Bekhorot -- where, here, in Sanhedrin, the case is retried, fundamentally, while in the other mishnah, the judge is responsible for the error. Why so? Also, r…

1
Sanhedrin 32: Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue 21:12

1M ago21:12

21:12

Chapter 4! Beginning with a cluster of mishnayot -- comparing monetary cases with capital cases. For example - the number of judges, opening arguments, the extent to which are witnesses grilled, the majority for "conviction," the handling of new witnesses, evidence and reversals, and more. Also, delving into the need for investigation and interroga…

1
Sanhedrin 31: New Evidence 17:07

1M ago17:07

17:07

A new mishnah! With the dispute over when and how a verdict in the property court can be overturned, with new evidence -- or testimony. Also, forming a court for the sake of establishing the litigation - shouldn't it be done where the litigants are? Don't the costs of travel mitigate against the value of traveling to the specific court? Some flexib…

1
Sanhedrin 30: Combined Testimony 19:47

1M ago19:47

19:47

When one who borrowed money admitted that he did so - in less formal circumstances than a court, for example, where the claim is that he has set the money aside because he owes it to so-and-so -- that isn't a legal admission. The Gemara provides a general principle when such an admission would count. Also, we follow Rabbi Yehoshua ben Karcha or an …

1
Sanhedrin 29: Witness Hazing - But in a Good Way 15:09

1M ago15:09

15:09

A new mishnah! How the courtroom works - welcoming the witnesses with some scare tactics to make sure that they testify honestly. Note that witnesses are supposed to be designated as such. The judges weigh in, and the proceeding details exactly what needs to happen to rule innocent or guilty -- though each judge is anonymous with regard to the publ…

1
Sanhedrin 28: Yevamot for Witnesses 15:55

1M ago15:55

15:55

Relationship and relationship charts are the essence of most of this daf. What relationships disqualify relatives from testifying against or about a relative? Note that these are all men - as witnesses, though some of the relationships include in-law status via women. And note that these are not the same relationships as the prohibited marriage/yev…

1
Sanhedrin 27: Disqualified for Being Family 19:03

1M ago19:03

19:03

A machloket between Abaye and Rava with regard to conspiring witnesses -- whether such a witness is disqualified from that moment onward, or also retroactively for any previous testimony. Note also that this is one of the rare (6) cases where the Halakhah follows Abaye instead of Rava. Also, the disqualifications based on close family relationships…

1
Sanhedrin 26: Wrinkles in Intercalating the Year 20:32

1M ago20:32

20:32

More on the disqualified: First, people who use sabbatical produce as merchandise, during a year where the intercalation is done outside of the land of Israel, which itself is unusual. Kohanim were spotted working the land and produce in various ways - and the Gemara attempts to give them excuses that don't involve violating the shemitah rules. But…

1
Sanhedrin 25: Interest and Pigeons 16:40

1M ago16:40

16:40

More on the disqualifying practices - in this case, lending with interest and flying pigeons. With discussion as to whether both borrower and lender are suspect, and whether one can ever be fully rehabilitated. And with discussion as to whether the pigeons are a matter of gambling or theft.

1
Sanhedrin 24: Respect, Disrespect, and Disqualifiers 27:05

1M ago27:05

27:05

In the context of disqualifying judges, Resh Laskish expresses great respect for Rabbi Meir, despite his unusual opinion. Which deference the Gemara seems to query. So, how did the sages relate to each other? How was Baylonia different? Plus, drawing connections between arrogance and poverty, and the Torah scholars in Babylonia vs. Persia (Elam). A…

1
Sanhedrin 23: Judge Selection 16:55

1M ago16:55

16:55

Chapter 3! Returning to the courts for monetary matters of 3 judges, with more details and procedure too. The new mishnah addresses choosing judges for the court and whether a litigant can disqualify a judge if he is halakhically fit to be a judge (machloket, of course). The Gemara delves into the question of selecting and disqualifying a judge -- …

1
(12) Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber: Pioneering the women’s Talmud revolution 47:56

1M ago47:56

47:56

This podcast is powered by LSJS. Visit lsjs.ac.uk for our full Jewish learning programme & find something that suits you. Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber is the founder of Hadran, advancing Talmud study and Daf Yomi for women. Michelle studied Talmud at Bar Ilan University and at Midreshet Lindenbaum Scholars’ Programme. She’s taught gemara and hala…

1
Sanhedrin 22: Matchmaking and the King's Coiffure 22:58

1M ago22:58

22:58

Another new misnah - the last one of the chapter, with more on the king, and how the people are limited in their conduct with regard to the king. For example, not looking at the king while he is getting a haircut. The Gemara delves in King David as a case study, as a paradigm, including a story about Avishag HaShunamite, who wants to marry him, but…

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