Talking Talmud

More on prayer (of course). Giving rebuke even when it turns out that you're wrong (and standing up for yourself!). Also, focus in prayer... And the unsung model of prayer: Daniel.

We begin with location, we continue to constituency, and close with context - the many factors that are designed to drive our focus and intent in prayer. Do they work for you?

The Amidah, its 19th blessing, its abridgement, and the Traveler's Prayer. Also: What's What: Sadducees

The daf we've all been waiting for, with the story Yardaena has been telling us about: Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah.

Treating one's Torah teacher right.... Buy a watch and you'll know what time to daven!... And that critical evening service.

Our daf finishes the discussion of bodily fluids with some practical details for our day too. And then: Our Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv that replace the Temple sacrifices...or originate with the Patriarchs... Or both!

When the daf is all cases of urine and excrement, we found some important cases of nakedness. Special guest appearance by Maya, aged 4 (listen if you can spot her).

What does it mean that a woman's thigh, voice, and hair are "nakedness"? Is that for always, or is it about Shema? Also: How many people did sleep in the same bed? And: Elevating ourselves above the physical.

When you gotta go... and it gets in the way of your tefilah, not to mention everything else that can too. Also: Tefilin, and why a prostitute shows her face in the beit midrash.

And why are we talking about a ba'al keri anyway - that's not tzanua (modest)?! [Some odd audio issues we can't explain - apologies]

It's the human condition to make mistakes! Also, the renewal of prayer in the collective experience. What's What: Mitzvot in their ideal and "after the fact" (lekhathilah/bedieved). Also, gezarah shavah.

From the "imposter syndrome" of the Amoraim to the women who do positive time-bound commandments to the men who no longer sit outside the mikveh when women go to dunk. Let's just say, our norms shift. Whether they should is a different question.

Personal dignity vs. Halakhah -- which should win? What does halakhah have to say about that? Also some loose ends from daf 18, including an understanding of that difficult story from the graveyard.

Almost everyone who lives long enough experiences the death(s) of close relatives. The Gemara relates to this natural course of events with lessons for the modern era.

A collection of prayers and proverbs by Chazal makes us think about the meaning of each as well as the fact that they are collected, from across time and place, onto the page.

"Real world" halakhah for when you can't do more, and Rabban Gamliel, who always did more anyway.

Who says what in the mishnah on this daf, and why it matters to the Gemara. Also, deafness, then and now.

When you lie down and when you get up, Shema is to be your first and last event of the day. Can we manage that? Also, crafting the text of Shema. And, yes, women and tefilin.

Avram, Avraham! Also: Hello, chapter 2! Do mitzvot need performative intent (kavanah), and if so, which kind?

You misspoke your berakhah - now what? Also introducing our "Who's Who and What's What" segment.

Saying Shema lying down or sitting up, and when what you're learning counts as learning Torah.

It's about humility (always), whether you're avoiding judging people or reaching out to God. Plus Barkhi Nafshi.

Not everyone agreed with R. Shimon Ben Gamliel. The very fact that Halakhah is not a dictatorship is clear in multiple voices of psak. Plus some historical background. NOTE: Correction: Yerushalmi is attributed to R. Yochanan. The Tosefta is attributed to R. Hiyya (you'll hear when you get there)

In the absence of the Temple and its sacrificial ritual, how can we reach God? And can we do it as a group?

When God's traits seem exceedingly human (including how He handles anger), what does it mean to draw near to Him To hold ourselves back?