The Oral Talmud
The Oral Talmud
Podcast Description
An introduction to the Talmud through the “traditionally radical” lens pioneered by Benay Lappe. She, along with co-host Dan Libenson, will explore key stories and other material from the Talmud that was left there by the early Rabbis as a how-to manual for re-imagining Judaism after the previous version “crashes.” In alternating weeks, we will interview leading scholars of and thinkers on Talmud to understand the Talmud more deeply from the perspective of contemporary academic study and creative re-interpretation.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into themes of Jewish re-imagination, exploring foundational stories from the Talmud such as the covenant at Mount Sinai and Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's reformative actions post-destruction of the Temple. It tackles topics like the power dynamics involved in covenant acceptance and the implications of these narratives for modern Jewish practice and faith.
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 help us re-imagine a new version of Judaism after the previous version “crashes.”
“That was the rabbinic genius, to say that that which is wholly new also is given from God at Mount Sinai. That’s a genius sleight of hand that allows you to feel a sense of continuity and connection and history and sacredness in what is absolutely new.” – Benay Lappe
Welcome to The Oral Talmud, our weekly deep dive chevruta study partnership, discovering how voices of the Talmud from 1500 years ago can help us rethink Judaism today.
This week we reach the end of the Rabban Gamliel story we’ve been learning for the past two episodes. After being deposed as leader of the study hall, and watching in awe the flood of new students to the academy, Rabban Gamliel visits Rabbi Yehoshua, the man he had embarrassed so much that the rest of the scholars impeached him. Does Rabban Gamliel really drop by to make peace, or are there other motivations at play? How does Rabbi Yehoshua’s response echo through the eons to call out/in leaders of today?
The episode does have a broad re-cap from the two of us, but of course we recommend listening to the previous episodes as well.
And then! For a special Shavuot text (we recorded this at the end of May 2020), we visit Mount Sinai, and follow Moses’s mystical time-traveling journey through the twists and turns of Torah interpretation to the back of Rabbi Akiva’s classroom. What are the metaphors of this story illustrating? What model is it building for teaching us how to connect our innovation to our history?
This week’s text:
- The Removal of Rabban Gamliel, Conclusion (Berakhot 28a)
- Moses in Rabbi Akiva’s Classroom (Menachot 29b)
Access the full Sefaria Source Sheet with additional show notes via this link. The Oral Talmud is a co-production of Judaism Unbound and SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva. If you’re enjoying this podcast, please help us keep both fabulous Jewish organizations going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation at oraltalmud.com. You can find a donate button on the top right corner of the website.
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