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.”
“ I now read the Talmudic literature as a paradigm of rationality, where you realize that to be rational you have to be self-critical. But you can’t be fully self-critical merely by talking to yourself.” – Menachem Fisch
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.
A philosopher of science walks into a Talmud conversation and everything shifts. In this episode of Oral Talmud, Dan & Benay sit down with Menachem Fisch, who didn’t grow up inside the Talmudic world and that outsider lens changes the read. What he sees isn’t a tradition handing down answers, but rather a system designed to generate argument, doubt, and transformation, where truth emerges not from agreement, but from friction.
But the story doesn’t stay clean. As Menachem Fisch traces this radical, dialogic vision, cracks begin to show. Some voices are welcomed in, even radically different ones. Others are shut out completely. The same tradition that thrives on disagreement also draws hard boundaries around who gets to speak. We follow that tension all the way through: between openness and exclusion, evolution and control, courage and comfort. This episode doesn’t tie it all up. It leaves you inside the argument, exactly where the Talmud wants you.
Menachem Fisch is the 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. He has published many books including Rational Rabbis: Science and Talmudic Culture, which serves as a launching point for this conversation.
Find an edited transcript and full show notes (references and further reading) on The Oral Talmud webpage for this episode! Access the Sefaria Source Sheet to explore key Talmud texts and find the original video of our discussion. 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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