Matmonim: Daf Yomi by Rabbi David Lapin

Value is transferable from commodity to cash and vice versa. Energy can be converted into matter and vice versa. Similarly, wisdom, which is energy, can be converted into value - even economic value.

Although we have not had access to prophecy for millennia, there are other ways the Divine communicates with us if we adequately prepare and open ourselves to these communications.

The Mitzvah of the Hagadah is not one of recitation but one of dialogue.  This is why only one person reads the Hagadah. What do the others do? They engage in the unfolding conversation.

This episode clarifies the sources for various customs relating to the Seder Plate and the Seder itself.

Once Rabbinic scholars were given the authority to determine Halacha, Hashem also aligns to their decisions even when they differ from the way He ideally sees the issue. A powerful lesson in the delegation of authority and the avoidance of micro-managing

Character development is a primary function of the study and practice of Torah. This episode deals with character development and the mastery of our own attitudes towards others and how to influence their attitudes towards us. 

Halacha goes beyond mindfulness in what it expects from the way we act. Kavanah is more than mindfulness, it means directiveness. There is meaning and direction in everything we do and in the way we do it.  Kavod, honor, as a gradated idea; and where on the spectrum of Kavod we place an object or an individual is more telling about us than it is about the object.

There are invisible forces in the world that are potentially negative and even destructive. Our immunity to them depends on who we are and how we act.  In this episode we see how althought these ideas are difficult to relate to, in the Halachik conversation they are drawn upon for issues sometimes not directly relating to them. In this case the subtly complex relationship between a man and his ex-...

There is a Kabbalistic idea that doing physical activities in even numbers can generate a negative spiritual energy. This episode explores the duality of even numbers and how to manage conflicting polarities.

There are two themes of Geulah (Redemption) at the Seder: National and Personal. Each is separately identified with the mitzvah of the four cups of wine, each learned from a different source in the Torah. Women, who played a crucial role in facilitating the Geulah are as much a part of the mitzvah as are men.

There are various practices regarding using non-wine beverages for Kiddush on Shabbat morning. As we probe the sources we discover the importance of using wine or grape-juice if available in preference to any other drink.

The study of Talmud exposes us to the full spectrum of halachik discourse rather than just to the bottom line as stated in Shulchan Aruch. Knowing the bottom line only, risks the possibility of dogmatism. Understanding the spectrum opens up possibilities for flexibility when needed. The Kiddush on the day of Shabbat is such an example.

This episode exploes the Halachik process in the time of the Talmud and demonstrates the power of seeing Halacha in practice.

Havdala is one of the most magical and mystical practices in our weekly calendar. Drawing from the fire-energy of Shabbat we infuse it into the week with the way we say the Beracha on the light.

The way we package objects, ideas and even ourselves says a lot about whether cost is more important to us than value, or value is more important than cost. This applies to the way we package our Mitzvot as well.

In good wine we celebrate not only the wine's qualities but especially it's capacity to uplift the moods of people who feel low. We explore the value the Torah places on upifting the spirits of others.

This episode traversing medieval greats like the Rashbam, the Mordechai and the Rosh as well as the 8th century Rav Achai Gaon, explores the reasons for covering the Challot during Kiddush on Friday nights and Shabbat. Packaging and presentation adds to the drama of the moment and is a tool the Torah uses frequently.

On the last Daf dealing with Kodshim (Temple practice) the Gemarra demonstrates how even from the most technical details of Halacha one can extract life principles. This episode expands on the  value of appropriate silence and the power of listening.

In a somewhat technically complex discussion we understand the insistence of the Torah that the Korban Pesach Sheini is not practiced alone but rather in company.

Just as Cohanim with certain imperfections may not practice in the Temple Service, so too with respect to the Korban Pesach there are disqualifying features. One such feature is a Jewish man who is uncircumsized and the other is a Jewish individual who has converted out of Judaism. This episode explores the nature of and reasons for these exclusions.

Science and Torah are two entirely different disciplines. It is important, when dealing with knowledge and wisdom to understand their origin. Torah is Divine and passed down to us generation to generation from Moshe on Sinai. Science is the result of observation and measurement and becomes increasingly accurate with each generation. In matters of Torah it is not relevant to us whether or not scien...

Using the discussion about when precisely dawn is, we explore the two categories of facts that Halacha deals with: Empirical facts based on observation and measurement, and Halachik facts transmitted to us from Sinai through the Halachik process. It is important to understand these differences and to know with which category of fact we are dealing when making Halachik determinations.

The emergence of Pesach Sheini, an opportunity for those unable to participate in the regular Pesach service, to do so a month later on the 14th of Iyar. Why is the only time-bound mitzva for which we are given a second chance? Why was Pesach sheini not given to us at the outset when the Torah gives us all the other laws of Pesach? These and other mysterious qualities of Pesach Sheini are discusse...

Other than by gambling money is always earned as a result of providing another with a product or service. As such money is an outcome of Chessed (acts of kindness to others) and has a certain Kedusha attached to it. This episode explores the flow of money (value)  from private ownership to the Beit Hamikdash (Temple).

Extrapolating from the laws of a group of people sharing a Korban Pesach (Pesach sacrifice) we explore the laws as they apply to social situations of people sharing a meal or a dish together. We identify the remarkable sensitivity we need to cultivate to honor the rights of others under all circumstances.