The Oral Talmud - Institute for the Next Jewish Future

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Latest Episodes:

Episode 2: Voiding the Torah Jun 23, 2025

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’re exploring another foundational origin story in Talmud: a re-writing of the already dramatic scene of receiving Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai. The sages say that when scripture says we “under” the mountain, that doesn’t mean the mountain’s shadow; instead, the rabbis say “under” means that G🌄D had literally picked the mountain up and threatened to drop it on us if we didn’t accept Torah! What does it mean to reimagine our covenant as coming out of duress and vast power imbalance? How and where did the Rabbis ratify our obligation if not from Mount Sinai? Why make this radical move at all?

This week’s texts:

“Beneath” Mount Sinai (Shabbat 88a)
The Book of Esther (Chapter 9)

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.

Episode 1: Rebooting Judaism Jun 23, 2025

Welcome to The Oral Talmud, our weekly deep dive chevruta study, discovering how voices of the Talmud from 1500 years ago can help us rethink Judaism today.

Last week we celebrated and reflected on five years of our study partnership with a new “Episode Zero.” This week we bring you the original first episode, discussing a classic origin story within Talmud. What does the way the Talmud tells a story teach us, beyond the actual content of the story? What bold moves do we need at times of crash and upheaval?

This week’s texts:

Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai Secures Yavne (Gittin 56a-b)
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai’s Deathbed (Berakhot 28b)

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.

Episode 0: Learning Together Jun 23, 2025

Join study partners (chevrutas) Rabbi Benay Lappe & Dan Libenson as they reflect on five years of The Oral Talmud, and celebrate its transition from a video series to a podcast!

What do lasting study partners recognize in each other? How do they decide how and what to learn together? Find out what makes a learning journey exciting, possible, and loving!

This week’s texts:

The Chevruta of Rabbi Yochanan & Resh Lakish (Bava Metzia 84a)
Widening the Doors to the Study Hall (Berakhot 28a)
Make for Yourself a Teacher (Pirkei Avot 1:6)

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.

Trailer Jun 13, 2025

The Oral Talmud is a weekly deep dive study partnership between Dan Libenson and Benay Lappe where they try to figure out how voices from the Talmud – voices from 1500 to 2000 years ago – can help us think in new ways about Judaism today. They have been releasing The Oral Talmud as a video series since they first started learning together five years ago, but are now making the jump to podcast platforms, starting with a brand new Episode Zero, reflecting on the whole learning journey. We’re so excited to learn with you! The first three episodes drop on June 23.

The Oral Talmud is a co-production of Judaism Unbound and SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva. We are grateful to SVARA-nik Ezra Furman for composing and performing The Oral Talmud’s musical theme. The Oral Talmud is produced by Joey Taylor, with help from Olivia Devorah Tucker, and with financial support from Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah.