Take One Daf Yomi

On today’s pages, Menachot 14 and 15, the rabbis debate why hemp is prohibited in the vineyard and what its particular nature signals about risk. The conversation becomes a model of restraint: not panic, not permissiveness, just a deliberate moment of consideration before something powerful gets planted “far and wide.” In a time when cannabis feels increasingly casual, what would it mean to treat it like the rabbis do—worthy of a pause and a real accounting? Listen and find out.

On today’s pages, Menachot 12 and 13, we see that the physical act of the meal offering is inseparable from the mental state of the one performing it. Just as a distracted athlete loses their edge on the track, a distracted heart in the Temple renders a holy act invalid. How does cultivating deep presence change the weight and meaning of our actions? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Menachot 11, the rabbis debate the "Kemitzah," an incredibly difficult ritual requiring the priest to use only three fingers to scoop flour. This focus on physical precision serves as a reminder that we are embodied beings who experience the world most deeply through touch. What does the decline in "hand-work" in the digital age mean for our mental health? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Menachot 10, the rabbis examine the differences between a sacrifice offered by a righteous person versus one brought by a sinner, focusing on the weight of intentionality. Through these technicalities, we learn that the path to atonement is paved not just with deeds, but with a total commitment to clarity and purpose. Can a ritual still hold meaning if the heart is not fully engaged? Listen and find out.

On today’s page, Menachot 9, the rabbis debate whether a meal offering is invalidated if its ingredients are mixed outside the Temple courtyard. This technical inquiry into when a mixture reaches its full potency serves as a backdrop for a deeper look at the American cocktail and its "founding father," Jerry Thomas. Can a return to simple, strong traditions save us from a modern spiritual crisis? Listen and find out.