Laymen Learn Torah

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Because it's our Torah too! We're Joy and Sylia, and we're two average (Modern Orthodox) Jewish women seeking to rekindle our relationship with the Torah. Join us as we grapple with the big events, the tiny details, and all of the verses in between.

Sylia A. and Joy B.


    • Nov 14, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 24 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Laymen Learn Torah

    "Episode 23: Cain on the Loose! (Bereshit 4-5)"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 48:55


    Get a riveting play-by-play of the world's first murder! Sylia and Joy dissect Cain's anger problems and lack of perspective. Sylia controvercially presents Cain as a sympathetic figure and Joy is intrigued but not super convinced. More dramatic than Abel's killing is the story of Cain's death...you don't want to miss this absurd account! Let us know what you think in the comments!

    Episode 22: Guy Meets Girl. Girl Meets Snake (Bereshit 3)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 54:37


    They're BACK! Joy and Sylia return to tackle the ORIGINAL SIN (SIN...Sin...sin), though Joy does scandalously suggest that maybe Paradaise was meant to be lost all along! Punishments are given out. Humanity and snakes become mortal enemies. Adam might sheepishly have been standing by Chava's side as she tasted the forbidden fruit. It's just a good time all around. Join us for episode 22, and let us know what you think in the comments! Thank you to the fans who urged us to continue on this journey!

    Adam is Lonely No More (or Perpetually Lonely?) Bereshit 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 34:26


    Shoutout to Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik for his ingenius interpretation of Bereshit 1 and 2! In this week's episode, Joy and Sylia continue with their philosophical ponderings about the implications of the two contradicting creation stories. They also tackle the topic of shabbat and the forbidden trees, and to lead us up to the juiceier sides of Adam and Eve.

    Episode 20: "In the Beginning... (Finally)" Bereshit 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 62:27


    Joy and Sylia finally overcome their imposter syndrome and begin to tackle one of the toughest parts of the Torah: CREATION (cue echo.) In this episode, the duo try on many hats: physicists, anthropologists, marine biologists, and most importantly, Torah commentators. Because it's their Torah, too!

    Episode 19: "The End: Blessings, Curses, Destinies" (Bereshit 49-50)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 62:43


    This episode is dedicated to the refuah shlema of Nava ben Irit, and to the Oketz Unit for their tireless and selfless service to Eretz Yisrael! In this episode, Joy and Sylia discuss what it is that Yaakov is passing onto the generations of Am Yisrael to come. He individualized and differentiates based on the child's weaknesses, strengths, and areas of improvement (so progressive!) They also reveal the REAL reason they didn't start with the first chapter of Bereshit!

    "The Values of Yisrael" (Bereshit 47-48)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 54:36


    Sylia and Joy get serious for once and really dig into the meat of what makes us the children of Yisrael. Is it our thing for shepherds? Is it our strange connection with the land of Canaan? Is it our disregard for birth order? Is it our ability to procreate and fill the land in whatever environment we find ourselves in? Decide with us! PLUS, find out if you have joined the ranks of the 10/7 conservatievs!

    "The Big Family Reunion" (Bereshit 44-46)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 38:33


    In this episode, Joy and Sylia feel the feels as Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, and finally reunites with his father, Yaakob. They also discover that not all Pharaohs are created the same (this one happens to be really adorable), and Israelites begin to fulfill the prophecy from Brit ben HaBetarim. PLUS, Joy's secret identity is revealed!

    "The Day of Reckoning: Yosef Messes with his Brothers" (Bereshit 42-43)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 35:14


    Yosef navigates a strange and unexpected reunion with his brothers, who are unaware that the vizier before them is the very brother they (maybe?) sold to strangers and left to die. He messes with their heads a little bit, though Joy and Sylia disagree to what extent these games are laced with revenge. Okay, fine, he does cry a lot. So maybe he's not so bad after all. PLUS, Yaakov learns absolutely NOTHING at all about the consequences of favoring one son over all the others.

    "Episode 15: From Rags to Riches (Bereshit 41)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 36:11


    Pharaoh wakes up from his Inception-worthy dream and he needs an interpretation STAT. Yosef does some God-sanctioned fortunetelling and makes his way to a position as the right-hand man of the Pharaoh (but not before a good bath and shave session.) Joy and Sylia discuss how Yosef's Jewish identity is essential to his success in Egypt, and how surprisingly receptive this Pharaoh is to God's unlikely prophet!

    Episode 14 "Yosef's #metoo Moment" (Bereshit 39-40)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 36:15


    Yosef is turning heads wherever he goes! The captain of the guard puts him in charge of his whole household. He is young! He is strong! He is handsome! But he also catches the attention of the world's first cougar, Potiphar's wife. We explore the (not-so-hidden) hand of Hashem in the events of Yosef's life, all the way down into the dungeons. Bonus content: How to tell your new friend he's going to die by hanging and have his body pecked by birds with a pun! Fun stuff. RIP Sar Ha'Ofim.

    "Episode 13: Joseph and His Paisley Coat " (Bereshit 37-38)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2023 61:13


    We're back! In this episode, we discuss the merits of tattle-taling and we ponder Yaakov's controversial parenting style. We also try to solve the mystery of WHO actually sold Yosef into slavery? Then, we dive into the story of Yehuda and Tamar, the first woman to use her sexuality to do right in the eyes of God. Let us know what you think!

    "Reuven did WHAT NOW?!" (Bereshit 35-36)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 52:19


    This week, Joy and Sylia try to reconcile the actions of Reuven against his father, and how Yaakob's reaction serves an example for fathers everywhere whose sons have slept with their concubines. We also take a look at the deeper differences between Esav and Yaakob before closing up that chapter of Israel's history for good. Literally.

    Episode 11: "Dinah's Honor" (Bereshit 33-34)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 41:20


    The stars have aligned to bring you this rare opportunity: Our newest episode is ACTUALLY synced up with the parasha of the week, Vayishlach! Yaakov and Eisav's dramatic reunion comes with a few surprises (hugs and kisses and tears, oh my!) Then, Shimon and Levi defend the honor of their sister by demolishing an entire town. We want to know your thoughts!

    Episode 10: "Jacob to Israel: The Jew's Eternal Struggle" (Bereishit 31-32)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 50:36


    In this episode, Joy and Sylia talk about the depths of Lavan the Arami's depravity, and how Yaakob finally escapes his iron fist (grip?). They also talk about how to assuage the bloodthirsty desire for revenge by your Neanderthal brother, and how grappling became the Jews' favorite verb. This is a good one, people! You don't wanna miss it.

    Episode 9: "Lavan-ing Lavan" (Bereshit 29 - 30)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 48:04


    We had the pleasure of being joined by Rina Abadi-Sova this week! Our resident Hebrew-speaker gave us some insight into the meanings of some of the words we saw here, and really helped us understand just how clever Leah and Rachel are when naming their children with Ya'akov! We also get a mini lesson on bioengineering and how much a man is worth in hallucinogenic drugs. Let us know what you think in the comments!

    Episode 8: "The Lost Episode"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 5:57


    Welcome to this week's episode of...Laymen Learn Technology (thanks Mopo). We had a mishap last week, and recorded 55 minutes of nothing. But worry not, dear listener! We give you the highlights here, and we urge you to pick up your own humash and read chapters 27+28 of Bereshit on your own and tell us what YOU think. Until next time!

    Episode 7: "Give Me Some of That Red Stuff"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2023 46:38


    Sylia and Joy explore the birth of an iconic rivalry: Yaakov and Esav. How much choice did the two brothers actually have in the matter? Were they destined to be enemies from the very beginning, or was there another way? Also discussed, PDA in the Torah. Don't recall? NEITHER DID WE!

    Episode 6: "Rivka Fills a Void" (Bereshit 24-25)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 45:00


    This episode is dedicated to the IDF, for fighting on behalf of Jews all around the world. We You are our heroes! In this episode, we explore matchmaking back in the day, and we witness possibly the first ever meet-cute in world history! Joy and Sylia ask some questions and kiiiiiiind of get answers, but we'd love to hear from our listeners! Let us know what you think about the topics we explore in the episode.

    Episode 5: "The Mystery of Yitzhak" (Bereshit 21-23)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 49:57


    Abraham and Sarah finally have a son, but it's not happily ever after. There's sibling rivalry! (Almost) child sacrifice! The death of a matriarch! It's a wild one, so tuck in!

    Episode 4: "Lot Saves the Day! Kind of...Maybe...Never Mind..." (Bereshit 18-20)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 43:25


    Two angels walk into the city gates...no, this isn't the beginning of a terrible joke, it's the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. We try to untangle Lot's strange decisions, grapple with giant saltshakers, and establish that Sarah is still a fox at 90.

    Episode 3: "Sarai vs. Hagar" (Bereshit 16-17)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 38:39


    In this episode, we discuss the drama between Abraham's two ladies, and how the Torah handles the first recorded marital spat.

    Episode 2: "Poor Lot" (Bereshit 13-15)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 40:20


    Joy and Sylia explore the place of Abraham's nephew, Lot, in the story. They also delve into the importance of suffering in the Jewish experience, and yet still manage to be entertaining.

    Episode 1: "Why Abram?" (Bereshit 12)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 26:50


    In which we explore Hashem's choice of Abram as is go-to guy as his chosen one!

    Introducing.....Laymen Learn Torah!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 16:18


    After a couple of very entertaining years learning Torah together in a women's Bet Midrash, we (Joy and Sylia) realized that the voice of the average woman was missing from Torah discussions. We're here to show you that YOU have a place in the discussion, too! You're not a rabbi? You're not a professor? You haven't been to Yeshivah? EVER???? That's okay. JOIN US! In this episoe, we introduce what this podcast is all about.

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