Daily Daf Differently

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Aaron Alexander looks at Masechet Taanit Daf 3. What’s in a name? An obscure question with no practical utility asks us to reflect on the moments we become our truest selves. The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The Epichorus album […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Aaron Alexander looks at Masechet Taanit Daf 2. The opening Mishnah and subsequent questions offered straightaway in this tratcate uncover deep tension about the nature of God’s power, humanity’s power, and their intersection. The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from The […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 35. Before considering the question discussed on the brief Daf 35, we review what has been said over the week on the general theme of how the understanding and observance of Rosh Hashanah have changed over the ages, […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 34. Daf 34 discusses the questions of when the shofar is actually blown on Rosh Hashanah, why the blessing over the shofar is said earlier in the service, what kinds of sounds are made by the shofar, how […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 33. Before looking at Daf 34, we complete the discussion of a Mishnah on Daf 33 that states explicitly that Hallel was recited on Rosh Hashanah and note that between the early Talmudic period and the later Talmudic […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 32. Daf 32 returns to the discussion of Rosh Hashanah. We focus on a Mishnah that discusses the Musaf Amidah and reveals both how it was recited in earlier times and how it was expanded in later times […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 31. Daf 31 continues the discussion of the changes made by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai after the Temple was destroyed. First however there is a brief detour to the question of why the psalms that we recite on […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 30. Daf 30 continues the discussion of the changes made by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai after the Temple was destroyed. One topic is the lulav ceremony on Sukkot, where his ruling resulted in decentralizing the Temple practice. Another […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 29. Chapter 4 of Masechet Rosh Hashana begins on Daf 29 and its focus is on the shofar and the liturgy. The first question it discusses is whether the shofar may be blown if Rosh Hashanah falls on […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 28. What if you ate matzah on Pesach, but didn’t do it to fulfill the mitzvah? What if you happened to pass by a synagogue on Rosh HaShanah and heard the shofar sounded? Have you still fulfilled […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 27. When two people speak at once, can we truly hear either? What if God were to speak two words at the same time, would both words be heard? We look into the practical implications of “trei […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 26. On this page we examine the question as to why a cow’s horn cannot be used as a shofar. The Gemara states that “an accuser cannot become a defender”. What are we accused of, and what […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 25. The page begins with one of the most famous stories of rabbinic authority. There is a disagreement between Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabban Gamliel (the head of the Sanhedrin) as to when the month began. To assert […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 24. After discussing what kind of questions one asks witnesses about Rosh Hodesh, we look at the declaration of the new month. What did the Bet Din say, and how did the people respond to the declaration? […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 23. The Gemarah compares one who learns and teaches Torah to the hadas (myrtle) tree in the desert. Why is this beautiful tree used in the comparison, and what are the implications of it being found in […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Steve Kane looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 22. We discuss on this page the question of why certain individuals or groups are unreliable to give testimony for Rosh Hodesh (and in general), and what is the theory behind their rejection. What is the Talmud […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 21. We only keep one day of Yom Kippur because it would be too much of a burden on the community to keep a second day of yom tov shel galut on account of Yom Kipur. The […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 20. “Maleh” and “chaser” months and is it necessary to desecrate Shabbat for them? We look at the fascinating case of a Beit Din coercing witnesses to prevent them from testifying for the benefit of the community. […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 19. Megilat Ta’anit and whether it is still valid after the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. What is the status of certain holidays: divrei torah or divrei sofrim? Do they need chizuk or not and where do […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Ute Steyer looks at Masechet Rosh Hashana Daf 18. The story of Beluria the convert who asked Rabban Gamliel a question regarding a legal interpretation of Scripture and we encounter the principle of “beyn adam l’makom” and “beyn adam l’chavero” The opening and closing music […]