Today’s Talmud page, Nedarim 7, kicks things off with an amusing story about a man who spoke in a confusing way leading his peers to be uncertain which room he had designated to be the bathroom. It's a strange little anecdote, but it eerily recalls one of Soviet history's most beloved tales, about the time Stalin's confusion led to the building of a monstrosity right in the heart of Moscow. How did the Hotel Moskva come to have two completely different designs in one building? And what does that teach us about making sure we speak very clearly? Listen and find out.
Take One is a Tablet Studios production. The show is hosted by Liel Leibovitz, and is produced and edited by Darone Ruskay and Quinn Waller. Our team also includes Stephanie Butnick, Josh Kross, Mark Oppenheimer, Sara Fredman Aeder, Robert Scaramuccia, and Tanya Singer. 
Check out all of Tablet’s podcasts at tabletmag.com/podcasts.
Institute for Jewish Spirituality: Sign up today for Shema: The Practice of Sacred Listening at JewishSpirituality.org. Registration closes on November 11. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices