Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s page, Menachot 37, we encounter a question that seems more like a riddle than a ritual: If a man has two heads, where does he place his tefillin? While Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi initially dismisses the query as absurd, the reality of a two-headed child soon forces a reconsideration of what is truly "impossible". This page serves as a humbling reminder that even the greatest minds have limits, and that God’s creation often exceeds our standard logic. How do we respond when the world presents us with something that defies our categories? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Menachot 35 and 36, we encounter a startling image: God showing Moses the knot of the tefillin. Rabbi David Bashevkin joins us to explore this anthropomorphic mystery, explaining that while we can never see God’s face—the future unfolding—we can always see God’s back by looking retrospectively at our lives and history. The knot at the back of the head symbolizes how we remain tethered to the Divine even when the path ahead is unclear. What does it mean to be wrapped in a divine embrace through history? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Menachot 33 and 34, we shift our focus from the meal offerings and mezuzot to the sacred laws of tefillin. Our guest today, Hudson Leibovitz, joins us to discuss his preparation for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah and what it means to physically bind the words of the Torah to one’s body for the first time. This discussion highlights the deep connection between our daily rituals and our internal commitment to Jewish tradition. How does the act of wearing our faith change the way we see ourselves and the world around us? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Menachot 32, we learn about a unique "life hack" used by the household of King Munbaz, who would carry mezuzot on sticks while traveling to remember the mitzvah even when they weren't obligated to perform it. This small detail opens the door to the story of Munbaz himself, a first-century king who converted to Judaism and famously spent his fortune on charity, viewing it as a way to "save up" in a place where no one could steal. His example reminds us that our true wealth lies in the good we do for others. How can we turn our material resources into a spiritual investment that lasts forever? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Menachot 31, we dive into the specific scribal requirements that make a mezuzah fit for use, including a debate over whether words can be arranged like a poem. This technical discussion leads us to a broader reflection on the mezuzah as a public marker of Jewish identity and a constant reminder of our values as we move between our private and public lives. Placing a mezuzah on the door can be a powerful journey from being hesitant about a public display of faith to finally embracing it. Is the mezuzah just a ritual object, or is it a statement of who we are to the world? Listen and find out.