Blessed Be - Berakhot

Blessings – what are they, what are they good for, and how do we do them? Also – are they actually blessings?! (Some of) the mysteries of Berakhot revealed.

We review the basic laws of kashrut, considering the concepts of hekhsher and hashgacha, and attempt to understand the contemporary excesses of the kashrut establishment, including the how and why of the fact that far more people keep kosher than claim to.

We cover the subjects of Milah (circumcision), Niddah (menstruation), and Taharah (cleansing of the corpse). CW: genitalia, blood, death.

In the run-up to Seder, we look at audience submitted questions around Pesach. Do I need new toothbrushes and lipstick? How can I do the halakhic minimum at Seder? What's the deal with Kitniyot anyway – and much more! Our SAMS Pesach Guide is online: tiny.cc/pesach5786

We look at the Korbanot, their details, history and significance and the context of the ancient Temple (Beit haMikdash)

A quick and colourful look at Purim – the story of Megillat Ester, the rituals and mitzvot of the holiday, and its minhagim and myths

In our 50th episode (!) we investigate the question of full and equal participation in Jewish life for women (egalitarianism) – its basis, its development, and its challenges today

So many labels exist for Jews - from ancient to modern, theological to geographical! We try (and fail) to categorise and organise all the many ways to be Jewish in this (rather poor, admittedly) attempt at a Jewish taxonomy

Two documents are referenced in this podcast: the diagram of a page of the Vilna Shas, which is here, and the text of Massekhet Berakhot 12b-13a (the last sugya of the first chapter of Berakhot) is here