18Forty Podcast

18Forty Podcast

18Forty

Helping you find meaning in life through the exploration of Jewish thought and ideas.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Ari Lamm: Teaching Non-Jews To Love the Bible [Outreach 3/5]

Ari Lamm: Teaching Non-Jews To Love the Bible [Outreach 3/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm, co-founder and president of SoulShop Studios, about doing Jewish “outreach” to non-Jews. Jewish texts are usually considered to be kept away from the outside world. But according to Rabbi Lamm, this is largely a misconception, as Jewish texts—from the Bible and the Talmud to the Midrash and beyond—have shaped the course of the human story. In this episode we discuss:Is “interfaith dialogue” generally ineffective?How did Chris

Feb 18, • 1:06:41

Frieda Vizel: How the World Misunderstands Hasidic Jewry [Outreach 2/5]

Frieda Vizel: How the World Misunderstands Hasidic Jewry [Outreach 2/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Frieda Vizel—a formerly Satmar Jew who makes educational content about Hasidic life—about her work presenting Hasidic Williamsburg to the outside world, and vice-versa. In this episode we discuss:Why would someone who leaves the Hasidic community become something of an emissary for her previous world?How does Frieda serve as a “cultural translator” between Williamsburg Hasidim and the “guests” on her tours? How does one convey the “essence” of a

Feb 11, • 1:16:21

Yitzchok Adlerstein: Zionism, the American Yeshiva World, and Reaching Beyond Our Community [Outreach 1/5]

Yitzchok Adlerstein: Zionism, the American Yeshiva World, and Reaching Beyond Our Community [Outreach 1/5]

This episode is sponsored by Nishmat, whose Summer Beit Midrash offers transformative Torah learning in the heart of Jerusalem for women of all backgrounds. Find more information here.Take our annual survey.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we launch our new topic, Outreach, by talking to Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, a senior staff member at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, about changing people’s minds, the value of individuality, and the “no true Scotsman” fallacy. With the tectonic shifts hap

Feb 4, • 1:22:09

Natan Sharansky: 'If you don't have faith or Zionism, your grandchildren will not be Jewish' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Natan Sharansky: 'If you don't have faith or Zionism, your grandchildren will not be Jewish' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Take our annual survery: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WZKXNWRWe don't have a new episode this week, but we want to share with you an episode of our podcast 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers, recorded on Jan. 13. Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday. Antisemitism and assimilation are thr

Jan 29, • 1:08:17

Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha (Halacha Series Re-Release)

Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha (Halacha Series Re-Release)

We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit our initial conversation with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, originally aired on Feb. 8, 2022.In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of

Jan 21, • 1:20:01

Listener Feedback with David Bashevkin

Listener Feedback with David Bashevkin

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we hear questions, criticisms, complaints, thoughts, and feedback from our listener community. We respond to your comments about the direction of the podcast, the diversity of Jewish experience, and the increased centrality of Israel of our lives. In this episode we discuss:How has the 18Forty mission evolved in light of changes in the world and in Jewish life?Is there an opposite phenomenon to “gvir culture”?How should we discuss important issues that are

Jan 14, • 1:24:57

Haym Soloveitchik: How Modernity Changed Our Relationship to God

Haym Soloveitchik: How Modernity Changed Our Relationship to God

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik—a pioneer and leader in the study of the history of Jewish law—about how halacha mediates our relationship to God in 2025.We’ve already spoken with Dr. Soloveitchik in our Halacha series, but a closer reading of his essential work, "Rupture and Reconstruction," demands that we explore it more deeply. In this episode we discuss:Why do Jews feel bound by the Talmud in a multicultural world? What does it mean to live

Jan 7, • 1:46:32

Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism (Re-Release)

Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism (Re-Release)

We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit our conversation with Reuven and Shani Taragin on the future of Religious Zionism, originally aired Jan. 16, 2024.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Reuven and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community. Additionally, we speak with Gideon Davis, a Religious Zionist soldier serving in Gaza.Mistakenly, we tend to t

Dec 31, 2024 • 2:01:57

Einat Wilf: ‘Jews Are Never Allowed To Win, and Arabs Are Never Allowed to Lose' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Einat Wilf: ‘Jews Are Never Allowed To Win, and Arabs Are Never Allowed to Lose' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

We're taking a week off from our main podcast, but we want to share with you an episode of our new podcast, 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers, recorded on Nov. 25. Subscribe to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday. The true enemy in Israel's current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls "Palestinianism."Once part of the Israeli left, Einat Wilf is a popular political thinker on Israel, Zionism, and foreign

Dec 24, 2024 • 1:22:51

What’s the Goal of the Gap Year in Israel? Ari Waxman, Judah Mischel, and Gershon Turetsky [Israel & Diaspora Bonus]

What’s the Goal of the Gap Year in Israel? Ari Waxman, Judah Mischel, and Gershon Turetsky [Israel & Diaspora Bonus]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a panel of rabbis about yeshiva, seminary, and the “year in Israel.” Additionally, we hear from Dov Rosenblatt, who more than two decades ago wrote the satirical song “Flippin’ Out.” Gap-year programs have become one of the primary points of contact that American Jews have with Israel. But, paradoxically, the year in Israel is a qui

Dec 17, 2024 • 1:32:11

Mickey and Ortal Flaumenhaft: Diaspora Differences: Israelis Come to Teaneck [Israel & Diaspora 5/5]

Mickey and Ortal Flaumenhaft: Diaspora Differences: Israelis Come to Teaneck [Israel & Diaspora 5/5]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mickey and Ortal Flaumenhaft—David Bashevkin’s Israeli neighbors in Teaneck—about their experiences living Jewishly in three different countries. When the Flaumenhafts were in Israel for their son’s bar mitzvah on October 7, Mickey made the decision to join his unit in Gaza. In this episode we discuss:What does a couple consider whe

Dec 10, 2024 • 1:09:20

Yehuda and Ilana Turetsky: Why Would an American Rabbi Move to Israel? [Israel & Diaspora 4/5]

Yehuda and Ilana Turetsky: Why Would an American Rabbi Move to Israel? [Israel & Diaspora 4/5]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Yehuda Turetsky—a rosh mesivta of Yeshiva Sha’alavim—and Dr. Ilana Turetsky—a Yeshiva University faculty member supervising student-teachers in Israel—about their experience raising kids in Israel.North American Orthodox Judaism has developed strong boundaries deciding who is in and who is out of the community. But, when we lo

Dec 3, 2024 • 1:32:32

Shayna Goldberg: Inside Israel’s Religious Zionist Community [Israel & Diaspora 3/5]

Shayna Goldberg: Inside Israel’s Religious Zionist Community [Israel & Diaspora 3/5]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.Noam Taragin, son of our recent guest Rabbi Moshe Taragin, was seriously injured in Lebanon. We ask to pray for his quick healing: Noam Avraham ben Atara Shlomit.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Shayna Goldberg—a teacher, mashgicha ruchanit, yoetzet halacha, and author—about the unique features of Israel’s Religious Zionist community.Jews in America are proud of th

Nov 26, 2024 • 1:58:42

Malka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? [Israel & Diaspora 2/5]

Malka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? [Israel & Diaspora 2/5]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details. Noam Taragin, son of our previous guest Rabbi Moshe Taragin, was seriously injured in Lebanon. We ask to pray for his quick healing: Noam Avraham ben Atara Shlomit.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Malka Simkovich—a scholar of Jewish history, the editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society, and a three-time 18Forty guest—about previous Jewish diasporas. We te

Nov 19, 2024 • 1:15:25

Moshe Taragin: Does Israel Need American Jews? [Israel & Diaspora 1/5]

Moshe Taragin: Does Israel Need American Jews? [Israel & Diaspora 1/5]

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Moshe Taragin, rosh mesivta at Yeshivat Har Etzion, about the interrelated missions of American and Israeli Jews—and the stake that each of us holds in the Jewish redemptive story. In this episode we discuss:How should young American Jews experience Israel in their formative years? How has October 7 altered the diaspora communi

Nov 12, 2024 • 1:32:08

Haviv Rettig Gur: 'Hamas Is Upset That the Death Toll in Gaza Isn’t Higher' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Haviv Rettig Gur: 'Hamas Is Upset That the Death Toll in Gaza Isn’t Higher' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

We're taking a week off from our main podcast, but we want to share with you an episode of our new podcast, 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers, recorded on Sept. 9. Subscribe to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday. Until Hamas is gone, Haviv Rettig Gur says, Gaza will be unable to recover after the war.The Times of Israel journalist and political analyst has emerged as a leading voice for the Israeli public and the Jewish world for deeper understandings of the wa

Oct 15, 2024 • 1:21:59

Matisyahu: Teshuva in the Spotlight [Teshuva IV 5/5]

Matisyahu: Teshuva in the Spotlight [Teshuva IV 5/5]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to musician Matisyahu Miller—known as “Matisyahu”—who has publicly re-embraced his Judaism and Zionism since October 7.Matisyahu’s public persona has long been subject to scrutiny and analysis. Comparatively few people, though, have listened to his story in depth. In this episode we discuss:How has the public expression of Matisyahu’s Jewish identit

Oct 8, 2024 • 1:18:17

The Memories We Hold: How October 7 Has Forever Changed Us

The Memories We Hold: How October 7 Has Forever Changed Us

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, in honor of the anniversary of October 7, we revisit and reflect on the conversations we’ve had that have helped us process this tumultuous time. The past year has been long and painful, and we’ve been constantly reminded that the trajectory of Jewish history is still at stake. This makes it imperative for us to examine our lives and our relationship to God and to the Jewish People during these Ten Days of Repentance. In this episode we discuss:Wha

Oct 7, 2024 • 1:21:37

Emmi Polansky: Finding Agency as a Single Mother [Teshuva 4/5]

Emmi Polansky: Finding Agency as a Single Mother [Teshuva 4/5]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Emmi Polansky, known on social media as @livingemunah, about her journey finding agency as a single mother. Sometimes, when we talk about teshuva, we’re referring to repentance for our specific sins. Another type of teshuva, as we explore, is a return to stepping into our own worthiness as we take responsibility for our lives and accept that we’r

Sep 30, 2024 • 1:14:10

Tuvia Tenenbom: How a Secular Jew Came To Love the Haredi World [Teshuva IV 3/4]

Tuvia Tenenbom: How a Secular Jew Came To Love the Haredi World [Teshuva IV 3/4]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Tuvia Tenenbom, a formerly Haredi and now secular Jew and the author of Careful, Beauties Ahead!, about how he developed a new love for Haredi religious life.When Tuvia Tenenbom wrote a book about Haredim in Mea Shearim, he found that all Jews—no matter how different their communities—are interconnected in more ways than we might think. In this e

Sep 24, 2024 • 1:33:39

Yussie Zakutinsky: Connecting to a Disconnected Jewish People [Teshuva 2/4]

Yussie Zakutinsky: Connecting to a Disconnected Jewish People [Teshuva 2/4]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yussie Zakutinsky, rabbi of K’hal Mevakshei Hashem in Lawrence, New York, about his vision for a Judaism that unites the entire Jewish People—no matter how wide the gaps between us. Since October 7, our Jewish communities have begun to come together and temporarily set out differences aside. As we move forward as a nation, we have so much further

Sep 17, 2024 • 1:38:26

Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life [Teshuva IV 1/4]

Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life [Teshuva IV 1/4]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort, married progressive activists who are reembracing traditional Jewish life.Joshua and Shaindy grew up in Conservative and Yeshivish communities, respectively, but struggled to find a Jewish community as they joined left-wing circles, specifically those highly critical of Israel. After October 7, Joshua resigned from

Sep 10, 2024 • 1:55:55

Pawel Maciejko: Sabbateanism and the Roots of Secular Judaism [Denominations: Bonus]

Pawel Maciejko: Sabbateanism and the Roots of Secular Judaism [Denominations: Bonus]

This episode is sponsored by Nishmat, the Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, whose Online Beit Midrash returns on Sept. 8. Women of all backgrounds can learn Talmud, Tanach, Halacha, and more from the comfort of home. For a full class schedule and registration, go here. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to historian and professor Pawel Maciejko about the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi, Sabbateanism, and the roots of Jewish secularism. Gershom Scholem, the

Sep 3, 2024 • 1:12:05

On Loss: Defending Israel on Oct. 7

On Loss: Defending Israel on Oct. 7

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak to the Perez family, whose son Daniel, Hashem yikkom damo, was murdered defending Israel and the Jewish People on October 7. We’re joined by Daniel’s father, Doron; his mother, Shelley; and his siblings, Shira, Adina, and Yonatan, to hear about Daniel’s courageous life and the unfathomable loss endured by his family and the Jewish People. In this episode we discuss:What does living a life of sanctity and purpose mean, especially in the face of ter

Aug 11, 2024 • 2:22:26

Yehoshua Pfeffer: 'The army is not ready for real Haredi participation' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Yehoshua Pfeffer: 'The army is not ready for real Haredi participation' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

We're taking a week off from our main podcast, but we want to share with you an episode of our new podcast, 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers  Subscribe to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday. The Israeli government’s draft of Haredi men is no simple matter—but Yehoshua Pfeffer has some ideas for moving forward.Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is a Haredi social thinker and activist intimately involved in Haredi affairs. He heads the Iyun Institute—which operates programs

Aug 6, 2024 • 59:27

Eli Rubin: Is the Rebbe the Messiah? [Mysticism II 4/4]

Eli Rubin: Is the Rebbe the Messiah? [Mysticism II 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Rubin—a scholar, Lubavitcher Hasid, and author of the forthcoming book Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity: An Existential History of Chabad Hasidism—about life’s big cosmic questions.Chabad and the Rebbe are so ubiquitous in Jewish life that we tend to overlook Chabad’s underlying philosophy. Here, we take the time to look under the hood of the Mitzvah Tank. In this episode we discuss:At its core, what is Hasidism about, and how did the R

Jul 30, 2024 • 1:43:02

Yosef Bronstein: Only for Chabad? Modern Orthodoxy and the Rebbe [Mysticism II 3/4]

Yosef Bronstein: Only for Chabad? Modern Orthodoxy and the Rebbe [Mysticism II 3/4]

Join our email list to receive, among other great 18Forty content, a coupon code for 10% off your Koren Publishers order, good through Aug. 31. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yosef Bronstein—a rabbi, writer, and scholar—about the philosophy of Chabad and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. For much of the Jewish world, the Chabad movement plays a part in our lives, but it’s not necessarily something we understand deeply. Rabbi Bronstein, author of the newly published Engaging the Essence:

Jul 23, 2024 • 1:57:19

Chava Green: What Is Chabad’s Feminist Vision? [Mysticism II 2/4]

Chava Green: What Is Chabad’s Feminist Vision? [Mysticism II 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Chava Green—an emerging scholar who wrote her doctoral dissertation on “the Hasidic face of feminism”—about how the Lubavitcher Rebbe infused American sensibilities with mystical sensitivities, paying particular attention to the role of women.Some stereotype mysticism as something out of this world. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe showed us the importance of having mysticism inform our everyday lives, emphasizing the cosmic impact of the mitzvos done

Jul 16, 2024 • 1:37:52

Rabbi YY Jacobson: How Did the Rebbe Revolutionize Judaism? [Mysticism II 1/4]

Rabbi YY Jacobson: How Did the Rebbe Revolutionize Judaism? [Mysticism II 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to renowned Chabad speaker Rabbi YY Jacobson about Chassidus, Chabad, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. In honor the Rebbe’s 30th yahrtzeit, YY Jacobson helps us explore the purpose of Creation, our role in the world, and how the soul of the universe relates to the soul of the human being. In this episode we discuss:What is Hasidic thought, and what differentiates it from Kabbalah? How did Jewish emancipation and integration lead to Jews turning inward an

Jul 9, 2024 • 1:35:55

Ammiel Hirsch: How To Understand Reform Judaism’s Anti-Zionist Crisis [Denominations Bonus Episode]

Ammiel Hirsch: How To Understand Reform Judaism’s Anti-Zionist Crisis [Denominations Bonus Episode]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we follow up with Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch to break down the anti-Zionist crisis facing the Reform Movement.As young Jews feel increasingly disconnected from the Jewish People, America’s non-Orthodox synagogues, summer camps, and day schools are challenged to ensure continuity and unity for the Jewish future. In this episode we discuss: —Do we need to choose between caring about

Jul 2, 2024 • 57:28

Benny Morris: ‘We should have taken Rafah at the start’ (NEW 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Benny Morris: ‘We should have taken Rafah at the start’ (NEW 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers)

Subscribe to 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday.  —If you want to understand Israel, then you need to know Benny Morris.Prof. Benny Morris is a leading Israeli historian who revolutionized the field of Israeli history by digging into the government’s declassified archives in the ‘80s, ushering in the era of “New Historians” who challenged traditional views of Israel’s history. After peace talks failed and the Second Intifada be

Jun 25, 2024 • 35:05

Adam and Mia Raskin: Can Families Live with Denominational Differences? [Denominations 5/5]

Adam and Mia Raskin: Can Families Live with Denominational Differences? [Denominations 5/5]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Adam J. Raskin—a  Conservative rabbi in Maryland—and Mia Raskin, his Orthodox daughter. In discussing the ideological and sociological realities of Jewish denominations, we often lose sight of their real-world manifestation in Jewish life. By hearing how a real family navigates denominational differences, we might, in fact, learn a lesson or two about Jewish

Jun 18, 2024 • 57:28

FROM THE VAULT: Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew?

FROM THE VAULT: Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew?

While we return to Jewish Denominations next week, enjoy this ever-necessary 2020 conversation about Jewish infighting, division, and unity—pulled from the 18Forty vault. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor of Journalism at Columbia and author, Samuel G. Freedman, to talk about dissent not as a cause of ugliness and divide, but of beauty and unity.Some would say that disagreement isn’t a bug of the Jewish community, but a feature. We have a rich history of debate i

Jun 9, 2024 • 45:39

Marc B. Shapiro: Where Does Orthodox Judaism Come From? [Denominations 4/5]

Marc B. Shapiro: Where Does Orthodox Judaism Come From? [Denominations 4/5]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and historian Dr. Marc B. Shapiro about the blurry borders that distinguish Reform, Conservative, yeshivish, Modern Orthodox, and the many other Jewish sects from one another.We take today’s Jewish denominational and cultural differences for granted, but they were not inevitable. Moments in history formed our sects, and Dr. Shapiro helps us unpack them. In

Jun 4, 2024 • 1:30:40

Jack Wertheimer: A New American Judaism? The Sociology of Jewish Practice [Denominations 3/5]

Jack Wertheimer: A New American Judaism? The Sociology of Jewish Practice [Denominations 3/5]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish History at JTS, about the radical transformations of American Jewish practice over the last century.We can’t understand the Jewish People without a sobered look at what happens in our synagogues, homes, and communities. We can talk about a movement’s ideological ideals, but amid those discussions we cannot ignore the

May 28, 2024 • 1:40:23

Ammiel Hirsch: 'What Did We Do Wrong?' Peoplehood and the Reform Movement [Denominations 2/5]

Ammiel Hirsch: 'What Did We Do Wrong?' Peoplehood and the Reform Movement [Denominations 2/5]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and a leader of the Reform Movement, about the way Jewish Peoplehood is understood among the non-Orthodox majority of American Jews.Rabbi Hirsch is known in the Reform Movement and beyond for his decades-long staunch commitment to Jewish Peoplehood. We recorded this interview before Oct. 7, and espec

May 21, 2024 • 1:22:33

Zev Eleff: Is This the End of American Judaism? [Denominations 1/5]

Zev Eleff: Is This the End of American Judaism? [Denominations 1/5]

This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we begin our Denominations series by talking to Zev Eleff—historian, author, and the president of Gratz College—about the development of the denominations of Judaism we have in America today. We’ve been occupied for months with defending our right to be Jews in America, so perhaps this is the right time to return to considering the purpose of the Jewish lives we want to live

May 14, 2024 • 2:07:55

Rachel Goldberg-Polin: A Hostage’s Mother Fighting for His Freedom [Divergence 5/5]

Rachel Goldberg-Polin: A Hostage’s Mother Fighting for His Freedom [Divergence 5/5]

Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Goldberg-Polin—whose son, Hersh, was kidnapped by Hamas and is still held hostage in Gaza—about heading into Passover with our loved ones still captive.Normally, Intergenerational Divergence feels like something of a choice. But now, Jewish families have been split apart by force. In this episode we discuss:How do we foster a continued conn

Apr 20, 2024 • 51:12

A Haredi Mother Sending Her Children To Serve [Divergence 4/5]

A Haredi Mother Sending Her Children To Serve [Divergence 4/5]

Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a Haredi mother named Dina about her two children who serve in the IDF, one of whom was critically wounded in the current war. Oct. 7 accelerated the already-complicated conversation about Haredi service in the army. Here, Dina shares with us her first-hand experience as a mother of chayalim. In this episode we discuss:What is it like being in the Haredi

Apr 16, 2024 • 1:08:08

Finding a Home for Haredi IDF Soldiers [Divergence 3/5]

Finding a Home for Haredi IDF Soldiers [Divergence 3/5]

Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by the incredible organization Osey Chail, a non-profit organization serving lone soldiers from Haredi and Hasidic homes who are serving in the IDF. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to four Haredi soldiers who served in the IDF about breaking from family and communal expectations by enlisting, and the subsequent Intergenerational implications. We also speak with Ya

Apr 9, 2024 • 2:16:29

Haskel and Josh Lookstein: Finding Your Path in a Rabbinic Dynasty [Divergence 2/5]

Haskel and Josh Lookstein: Finding Your Path in a Rabbinic Dynasty [Divergence 2/5]

Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.A pre-Pesach message from our partners at Twillory: You can use the coupon code PESACH18 for $18 off all orders of $250  or more, or use the coupon code PESACH36 for $36 off all orders of $350 or more..In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with an intergenerational rabbinic pair: Rabbi Haskel Lookstein and his son, Rabbi Joshua Lookstein.Following in the footsteps of a successful parent can

Apr 2, 2024 • 1:17:09

Rachel Yehuda: Intergenerational Trauma and Healing [Divergence 1/5]

Rachel Yehuda: Intergenerational Trauma and Healing [Divergence 1/5]

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we pivot to Intergenerational Divergence by talking to Rachel Yehuda, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, about intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resilience. In many ways, Oct. 7 reactivated a sense of Jewish trauma that many of us had never ex

Mar 26, 2024 • 57:29

Yael Muskat and Martin Galla: Entering Adulthood: Inside a College Counseling Center

Yael Muskat and Martin Galla: Entering Adulthood: Inside a College Counseling Center

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we wrap up our mental health series by talking to Dr. Yael Muskat, director of Yeshiva University’s Counseling Center, and her longtime colleague Dr. Martin Galla about the mental health challenges at the forefront of early adulthood.Young people in the Jewish community are not immune from today’s mental health crisis. They have their own, equally pressing versions of those same problems.

Mar 19, 2024 • 1:58:40

Regine Galanti: Childhood: Addressing Children’s Mental Health [Mental Health 5/6]

Regine Galanti: Childhood: Addressing Children’s Mental Health [Mental Health 5/6]

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Regine Galanti—a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults—about mental health treatment among today's Jewish families.It’s a relatively recent phenomenon in Jewish history t

Mar 12, 2024 • 1:20:16

Yoni Rosensweig: How Does Mental Health Affect Halacha? [Mental Health 4/6]

Yoni Rosensweig: How Does Mental Health Affect Halacha? [Mental Health 4/6]

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yoni Rosensweig, rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, about the intersection between mental health and halacha. It is tempting to sometimes see halacha and mental health as being at odds. But what if, with the right guidance, we co

Mar 5, 2024 • 1:04:43

Elie Schulman: Does Therapy Work? A Patient’s Journey [Mental Health 3/6]

Elie Schulman: Does Therapy Work? A Patient’s Journey [Mental Health 3/6]

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by someone supporting 18Forty’s work.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen in on a conversation between David Bashevkin and his dear and longtime friend Elie Schulman about the value of therapy.In a culture in which we can feel we’re constantly being sized up and evaluated by others, accepting our own vulnerability can be one of the hardest things to do. In this episode we discuss:How can s

Feb 27, 2024 • 1:15:54

Yakov Danishefsky: Religion and Mental Health: God and Us [Mental Health 2/6]

Yakov Danishefsky: Religion and Mental Health: God and Us [Mental Health 2/6]

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Aleph Beta in light of their newly released season of the A Book Like No Other podcast. This podcast is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder Rabbi David Fohrman, as he embarks on his most far-reaching and in-depth explorations of the Torah text. Aleph Beta takes the excitement of Torah learning to a whole new level! Become a member today and start listening— use code “18Forty” to get one m

Feb 20, 2024 • 1:24:46

David Bashevkin: My Mental Health Journey [Mental Health 1/6]

David Bashevkin: My Mental Health Journey [Mental Health 1/6]

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.Through the lenses of therapy, comedy, books, family history, and positive influences, David shares the experiences that have shaped the way he handles mental health challenges today. In this episode we discuss:Is religious commitment supposed to be the cure to mental health problems?How can we deal with the need to be liked?What en

Feb 13, 2024 • 1:46:23

Listener Feedback: Israel at War

Listener Feedback: Israel at War

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen and respond to feedback from the 18Forty community on the conversations of our Israel at War topic. Jews live in two different worlds—one before Oct. 7, and one after. The last few months have transformed the Jewish People across denominations, communities, and countries. Prompted by your feedback, we reflect upon those changes. Together, we reflect on those changes. In this episode we discuss:Why are American Jews misunderstanding the Dati Leumi

Feb 6, 2024 • 1:30:35

Lipa Schmeltzer: How to Heal: A Personal Journey of Mental Health

Lipa Schmeltzer: How to Heal: A Personal Journey of Mental Health

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce the topic of mental health with a conversation featuring world-famous Jewish singer Lipa Schmeltzer. While many people know Lipa’s songs, far fewer know his journey of mental health—a story he never expected to unfold. With raw vulnerability and beautiful passion, Lipa opens up about every step that led him to today. His lessons are immeasurably important.In this episode we discuss:What does it mean to be working for the “image company

Jan 23, 2024 • 1:10:40

Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism

Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Reuven and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community. Additionally, we speak with Gideon Davis, a Religious Zionist soldier serving in Gaza.Mistakenly, we tend to think of the Dati Leumi community as Israel’s analog to Modern Orthodoxy. That makes us miss, however, that Religious Zionism is a rich worldview unto itself, and is something we all

Jan 16, 2024 • 2:01:57

What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker

What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe, MIT PhD student Talia Khan, and Harvard professor Steven Pinker about the new reality for Jews in higher education.Since Simchas Torah, the hostile discourse regarding Israel has become something that no Jewish student can ignore. Jewish families have been asking: Is it even worth it to send our sons and daughters to these colleges? In this episode we discuss:Is it better for Jews to ch

Jan 9, 2024 • 1:36:48

Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Gribetz, a Princeton professor and scholar of Near Eastern and Judaic studies, about the history of Israel and Palestine. At a time in which we can feel as if we’re all at war, it may be helpful to take a step back and look at the full history between Arabs and Israelis, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face in 2024. Jonathan Gribetz helps us do this. In this episode we discuss:What was discourse between Jews and Arab

Jan 2, 2024 • 1:17:57

Yossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism

Yossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism

In this episode of the18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about what it means to be a Zionist and a Jew post-October 7.Since Simchas Torah, we’ve spent lots of time airing our political differences with others. What might be harder, though, is asking the uncomfortable questions about our own beliefs. Our guest today has decades of experience with this kind of soul-searching. In this episode we discuss:What is our relationship to the St

Dec 26, 2023 • 1:16:37

Before We Say Goodbye to 2023

Before We Say Goodbye to 2023

In this minisode of the 18Forty Podcast, we reflect upon a year beyond words (and numbers).At every stop of the process in the wild journey that has been 18Forty, we’ve been motivated by our fantastic community members who have pushed us to ask deeper questions, to be more honest with ourselves, and to think more sharply and profoundly about what it means to be a Jew today.We’ve grown with you and for you, and we’re so thankful to be able to provide everything we can for you all. More than anyth

Dec 21, 2023 • 26:25

Eli Paley: What’s Next: The Future of Israel’s Haredi Community

Eli Paley: What’s Next: The Future of Israel’s Haredi Community

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Paley, the publisher of Mishpacha magazine, about the role of Haredi society at this pivotal moment in Israel’s history. As we emerge from a time when Israel’s Haredi and secular cultures have experienced an upswell of unity, the Jewish People will move forward (in some way) forever changed. And Eli Paley is particularly equipped to understand the segments and the wholeness of Israeli society. In this episode we discuss:What comes next as we

Dec 19, 2023 • 1:00:00

Michael Eisenberg: What’s Next: The Civic Revolution in Israel

Michael Eisenberg: What’s Next: The Civic Revolution in Israel

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Michael Eisenberg, a venture capitalist and staunch defender of Israel, about how the people of Israel have risen to the occasion by creating a “civic revolution.”With all that is at stake for the Jewish People right now, we’ve been forced to reconsider what our personal goals and collective mission ought to be. And Michael has been at the forefront of that discourse. In this episode we discuss:How does service in the IDF empower Israeli citizen

Dec 12, 2023 • 1:09:54

Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose

Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noa Lewis, CEO of Echad and a volunteer with the IDF’s women’s casualty-treatment unit, about the sense of purpose it takes to unify the Jewish People with the Land of Israel. In dire times, we are compelled to move collectively closer to fulfilling the redemptive vision of every Jew living up to their ultimate mission. And Noa, with all of the work she does for the Jewish nation, is the perfect inspiration for us to look toward. In this episode

Dec 5, 2023 • 52:47

The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March

The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eric Fingerhut—president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America—and Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff, a scholar and professor at Yeshiva University, about the need for Jewish unity and the barriers to achieving it.In recent weeks, the Jewish community has been confronted with questions of collective Jewish existence in a way we haven’t seen in decades. In response, the Jewish world has had to join together with an achdus we previously w

Nov 28, 2023 • 1:35:20

Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing

Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Doron Perez, executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement, about the sacrifices the Jewish People must make to preserve the precious gift of the State of Israel. In a single day, Rabbi Doron Perez found out that his son Yonatan had been shot and injured in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks—and his other son, Daniel, was “missing in action” and presumably held hostage. Only 10 days later, the family went on to hold Yonatan’s wedding, wit

Nov 21, 2023 • 59:29

Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War?

Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, the esteemed Israeli posek, about the role of halacha during a war. Additionally, we are joined by Rabbi Shmuel Ismach, a rebbe at Yeshiva University and a rabbi at Young Israel of Great Neck. Amid the darkest and most chaotic times, we require the guidance of halacha even more than usual. And we see from Rabbi Rimon that halacha is not just a set of laws, but also the poetry that enables us to move forward. In this episod

Nov 14, 2023 • 1:04:50

What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism?

What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to journalist Matti Friedman, author of Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, about how the Israel-Hamas war is (mis)understood globally. Additionally, we speak to a series of students and educators about the state of antisemitism on school campuses. Special thanks to these guests: Moshe, Micah Greenland, Derek Gormin, Ben Spanjer, Nati Stern, and Celeste. In this episode we discuss:What gets lost in translation when we superimpose Americanized

Nov 7, 2023 • 1:50:00

Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War

Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Daniel Statman, a professor of philosophy at the University of Haifa, about what it means to wage a moral war.Professor Statman helped revise Ruach Tzahal, the IDF’s code of ethics, which outlines the values that determine what the IDF can and can’t do during a war. Understanding these specifics is vital in a time when there is so much at stake morally and the Israeli army receives so much (often uninformed) criticism. In this episode we discuss

Oct 31, 2023 • 1:02:25

The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel

The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about mental health amid the current war with Dr. Danny Brom of Metiv, Mike Meyerheim and Susan Cohen of KeepOlim, Rabbi Reuven Taragin of Acheinu, Dr. Ayala Dayan, Dr. Jacob Freedman, and three students spending a gap year in Israel. In this episode we discuss:What is the science of war-induced trauma? How can we meet the emotional needs of “lone soldiers”?How can we maintain unity during frightening times?Tune in to hear a conversation about the

Oct 24, 2023 • 1:29:27

Voices from Israel

Voices from Israel

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to the voices of several of our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael, including Naama, Tania Hammer, Gedalia Zemel, Rabbi Dov Fendel, Rav Elyada Goldvicht, Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel, Jeremy and Emily Tibbetts, Sruli Fruchter, and our dearest friend Denah Emerson.In light of the terror attacks, everyone in Israel has been called to help in whatever way possible, and they’ve proven that heroism is a team effort and can take place in unexpected fo

Oct 17, 2023 • 1:17:16

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha

This podcast was recorded before the recent horrific terrorism against Israel and unspeakable atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish People. We decided to share this Torah initiative now to encourage learning the parsha each week for the protection and success of the State of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.This episode is sponsored by Janet and Lior Hod and family, with immense gratitude to Hashem.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce our new initiative “Reading Jewish History in the Parsh

Oct 11, 2023 • 1:03:12

Pray for Israel

Pray for Israel

In times like these, it feels impossible to find words. No individual has words to describe this horror, but we—the Jewish People—do have words.We turn to the only words we have left: words of prayer, of comfort, of our prophets, and of Torah. We are with Israel in love, support, and prayer. May God protect the Jewish People.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Oct 9, 2023 • 20:10

Estrangement and Reconciliation: Teshuva for Our Relationships [Teshuva 5/5]

Estrangement and Reconciliation: Teshuva for Our Relationships [Teshuva 5/5]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by Dr. Leah Younger of Younger Psychology.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, about the nuances of familial estrangement and reconciliation. Then, we hear from mindset coach Jason Blau and translator Izzy Posen about how these issues play out within the Jewish community. In this episode we discuss:What strategies can be employed by families carrying the burden of stri

Sep 19, 2023 • 2:19:39

Rabbi Michael Rosensweig: The Majesty of Torah Study [Teshuva 4/5]

Rabbi Michael Rosensweig: The Majesty of Torah Study [Teshuva 4/5]

This series is sponsored by our friends Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, a Rosh Yeshiva and the Rosh Kollel of the Beren Kollel Elyon at RIETS, about how we can return as a people to the world of Torah study. Rabbi Rosensweig is the author of the recently published book Mimini Mikhael - Essays on Yom Kippur and Teshuvah, which is the centerpiece of this conversation. In this episode we discuss: How does teaching Torah to a broad

Sep 12, 2023 • 1:36:42

Infidelity: Consequences and Aftermath [Teshuva 3/5]

Infidelity: Consequences and Aftermath [Teshuva 3/5]

This series is sponsored by our friends Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about infidelity and its consequences and aftermath. Additionally, we receive the expertise of clinical psychologist Dr. Malika Bhowmik, on re-establishing intimacy after violations of trust. We love to tell teshuva stories that have perfect and happy endings, but sometimes the most meaningful teshuva does not fix all of one’s problems immediately. In this episode

Sep 5, 2023 • 2:47:57

Martha Minow: When Law Should Forgive: On the Limitations of Teshuva [Teshuva 2/5]

Martha Minow: When Law Should Forgive: On the Limitations of Teshuva [Teshuva 2/5]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by our friends at Shikey Press, a boutique publisher of Jewish content disrupting the traditional model of book publishing.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Martha Minow, a legal scholar and a professor at Harvard Law School, about forgiveness, law, and the boundaries of teshuva.In a world of ubiquitous transgression, our desire for justice and healing feels perpetually unsatisfied. Why is reconcil

Aug 29, 2023 • 1:12:51

Rav Daniel Kalish: The Song of Teshuva [Teshuva 1/5]

Rav Daniel Kalish: The Song of Teshuva [Teshuva 1/5]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by our anonymous friend R.G. In this episode of the18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Daniel Kalish, Menahel of the Mesivta of Waterbury, about how, with the right help, every person can forge their own path of religious commitment. We also get to meet five of Rabbi Kalish’s students, as well as a Mesivta of Waterbury dorm counselor. In a Jewish world full of pre-blazed trails, one of the great challenges of our tim

Aug 22, 2023 • 2:13:45

'Everything About Her Was Worth It': The Life of Yakira Leeba Schwartz A"H

'Everything About Her Was Worth It': The Life of Yakira Leeba Schwartz A"H

This episode is sponsored by Dani and Nechamie Silberberg-Chitrik, in appreciation of the 18Forty Podcast and the work it does in having meaningful and thought-provoking conversations across all areas of Jewish life. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Sara and Avi Schwartz about the life and loss of their daughter, Yakira Leeba Schwartz A”H. Additionally, we speak with Shelley and Ruvan Cohen about Nathaniel Cohen A”H. As we move toward Tisha B'Av, we hear two stories of how ches

Jul 25, 2023 • 3:18:53

Yisroel Besser: How To Share Jewish Stories [Books II 4/4]

Yisroel Besser: How To Share Jewish Stories [Books II 4/4]

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yisroel Besser, who authored many rabbinic biographies and brought David Bashevkin to Mishpacha magazine, about sharing Jewish stories. During his prolific career, Yisroel has written about Jewish lives with an eye for the good—and encouraged others along the way. In this episode we discuss: How does Yisroel go about writing a rabbi’s biography?What is the difference between “Shabbos for c

Jul 18, 2023 • 1:50:37

Dara Horn: On Jewish Fiction and Non-Jewish Fiction [Books II 3/4]

Dara Horn: On Jewish Fiction and Non-Jewish Fiction [Books II 3/4]

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books. This episode is sponsored by Twillory. Use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders more than $139. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dara Horn, a leading contemporary Jewish writer, about how fiction and non-fiction can change the way we view our fellow Jews. While we at 18Forty love scholarly and factual writing, fiction has long enabled the Jewish people to be more imaginative and contemplative about the mea

Jul 11, 2023 • 1:31:41

Sarah Hurwitz and Alex Edelman: On Introducing Judaism [Books II 2/4]

Sarah Hurwitz and Alex Edelman: On Introducing Judaism [Books II 2/4]

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books. This episode is sponsored by Twillory. Use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders more than $139. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest comedian Alex Edelman, whose show has made it to Broadway, and his chavrusa, Sarah Hurwitz, former White House speechwriter and the author of Here All Along, about how to introduce people to a Judaism that is both inclusive and rigorous. In this episode we discuss

Jul 4, 2023 • 1:51:27

Josh Foer: How Can You Make a Digital Library for All? [Books II 1/4]

Josh Foer: How Can You Make a Digital Library for All? [Books II 1/4]

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Joshua Foer, co-founder of Sefaria, about the revolutionary digital Jewish library of which he was the visionary.Prior to Sefaria, the possibility of finding the Talmud and other central Jewish texts in translation online felt entirely out of reach. Now, we take for granted that any Jew in the world can access the fullness of the tradition. In this episode we discuss: How did Foer come up w

Jun 27, 2023 • 1:36:18

Dov Singer: Living a Prayerful Life [Prayer & Humanity 5/5]

Dov Singer: Living a Prayerful Life [Prayer & Humanity 5/5]

This episode is sponsored by our friends Rabbi Sruli and Hindy Motzen.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dov Singer, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mekor Chaim and founder of the Beit Midrash L'Hitchadshut, about how prayer can bring clarity to the essentials of our existence.Rav Singer helps us understand how we can move our concerns from the “X-axis” (the things we want) to the “Y-axis” (our innermost desires that drive us). In this episode we discuss: What does it mean to be a “pray

Jun 20, 2023 • 1:04:50

Debbie Stone: Can Prayer Be Taught? [Prayer & Humanity 4/5]

Debbie Stone: Can Prayer Be Taught? [Prayer & Humanity 4/5]

This episode is sponsored by Mosaica Press, whose books—including a range of titles on prayer—can be purchased for 18% off with the coupon code 18FORTY.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Debbie Stone, an educator of young people, about how she teaches prayer.We also speak with David’s dear friend Brad Greenbaum about the experience of prayer in serious times of need—and with Rabbi Yaakov Glasser about how he helps people who are struggling in their spiritual lives.In this epi

Jun 13, 2023 • 1:44:35

Moshe Koppel: Artificial Intelligence and Torah [Prayer & Humanity 3/5]

Moshe Koppel: Artificial Intelligence and Torah [Prayer & Humanity 3/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest Moshe Koppel—a computer scientist and Talmud scholar—about Torah and its intersection with artificial intelligence.In a world in which technology puts vast libraries of Torah at our fingertips, we are tasked with thinking more deeply about what essentially human abilities we bring to the enterprise of Torah and tefillah. In this episode we discuss: What computer-based innovations are on the horizon in the realm of Torah study?Wil

Jun 5, 2023 • 1:14:51

Dovid'l Weinberg: The Song of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 2/5]

Dovid'l Weinberg: The Song of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 2/5]

This episode is sponsored in memory of Rabbi Eliezer Skaist, HaRav Eliezer Daniel ben HaRav Eliyahu Dovid A"H, by his family.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dovid'l Weinberg—a rabbi, educator, musician, poet, and author—about the wide range of modes and levels of prayer.Rav Dovid’l speaks with us about how prayer can be our bridge between our lonely place in the world and God’s omnipresence. In this episode we discuss:What is the relationship between Creation and prayer?How do

May 29, 2023 • 1:25:23

Samuel Lebens: The Hard Problem of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 1/5]

Samuel Lebens: The Hard Problem of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 1/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens—a philosophy professor, rabbi, and Jewish educator—about the nature of consciousness.At a time when artificial intelligence can make us question what it even is that makes humans unique, we look deeply into our ability to have personal experiences and turn them into new ideas. In this episode, we discuss with Sam: Why do we each have a subjective consciousness?What is the relationship between prayer and our lives?What is the “Turin

May 23, 2023 • 1:04:23

The How and Why of Moving to Israel [Zionism 4/4]

The How and Why of Moving to Israel [Zionism 4/4]

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a series of guests who have made aliyah about the practical factors involved with building a life in Israel.Serena Benovitz, Chana Berkowitz, Yehoshua Fass, Edo Lavi, and Ahron Levi shed light on the nuances and complexities involved in moving to Israel, thou

May 15, 2023 • 2:19:54

Elli Fischer: Can Israel Follow Jewish Law? [Zionism 3/4]

Elli Fischer: Can Israel Follow Jewish Law? [Zionism 3/4]

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Elli Fischer— a writer, translator, and editor—about the relationship between Jewish law and the Jewish state.For almost 2,000 years, we were able to maintain a system of Jewish law without the convenience of a homeland. Yet now, when we have our own state, Jewish law seems more difficult and complicated to implement than ever.In this episode we discuss: What is the effect of halacha on

May 8, 2023 • 1:48:07

Bezalel Naor: Rav Kook's Mystical Vision of Zionism [Zionism: Bonus Episode!]

Bezalel Naor: Rav Kook's Mystical Vision of Zionism [Zionism: Bonus Episode!]

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.This week, we are sponsored by the Inaugural Global Jewish Fertility Support Summit, organized by the nonprofit I Was Supposed To Have A Baby. Taking place on Sunday, May 7th, via Zoom, this summit will include some of the most prominent voices from 15 major fertility organizations worldwide. Whether you're on a fertility journey, a professional, clergy, or lay leader in the space, or if you want to know how to be more sensitive to your frien

May 1, 2023 • 1:14:29

Lahav Harkov: How to Read Media About Israel [Zionism 2/4]

Lahav Harkov: How to Read Media About Israel [Zionism 2/4]

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Lahav Harkov, senior contributing editor and diplomatic correspondent of The Jerusalem Post, about the media we consume regarding Israel.Living in the diaspora and caring deeply about Israel can be challenging when one does not have first-hand knowledge of current affairs in the land. Lahav Harkov helps us learn how to gain a deeper understanding. In this episode we discuss:How can diaspora J

Apr 25, 2023 • 1:07:35

Noam Weissman: How to Unpack Israel's Story [Zionism 1/4]

Noam Weissman: How to Unpack Israel's Story [Zionism 1/4]

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noam Weissman, executive vice president of OpenDor Media, about Israel education.In a world in which Israel is a key component of Jewish identity, young people often are given a sanitized, doctrinaire understanding of the Jewish state, rather than getting to build on an authentic experience of connection. Dr. Weissman helps us try to correct this by unpacking some recent Jewish history. In th

Apr 18, 2023 • 1:23:41

When A Child Intermarries

When A Child Intermarries

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a son who almost intermarried, the mother of a daughter who married a non-Jew, and Huvi and Brian, a couple whose intermarriage turned into a Jewish marriage—about intergenerational divergence in the context of intermarriage. This Pesach, we have the opportunity to reflect on our childhoods and how, through our families, all of our “beginnings” stretch back far beyond our own lifeti

Mar 28, 2023 • 2:26:46

Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell: When A Spouse Finds Faith

Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell: When A Spouse Finds Faith

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell about what happens when one partner wants to increase their religious practice.Liel grew up a secular Israeli, while Lisa was raised in a traditional home of loosening observance. When, eight years ago, Liel brought up the idea of keeping kosher, they realized they were moving in different directions. What first drew Liel toward growing religiosit

Mar 21, 2023 • 1:08:16

Aliza and Ephraim Bulow: When A Spouse Loses Faith

Aliza and Ephraim Bulow: When A Spouse Loses Faith

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Aliza and Ephraim Bulow, a married couple whose religious paths diverged over the course of their shared life. With the loss of a son, granddaughter, and grandson, Ephraim lost his faith in Judaism while Aliza remained an observant believer. As they describe it, now, when making kiddush, Ephraim provides the words and Aliza brings the kavanah. In this episode we discuss: What is it

Mar 14, 2023 • 1:10:24

Modi Rosenfeld: A Serious Conversation About Comedy

Modi Rosenfeld: A Serious Conversation About Comedy

In this special Purim episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we bring you a recording from our live event with the comedian Modi, for our annual discussion on humor. As a preeminent Jewish comedian of only growing popularity, Modi finds himself needing to navigate the nuances of public and private life while he brings “Moshiach energy” to audiences all over the world. In this episode we discuss: What makes laughter have ”Moshiach energy”? What guidance would Modi have for a parent of a gay child? What

Mar 4, 2023 • 1:00:34

The Cost of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 4/4]

The Cost of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 4/4]

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to three different advocates for affordable Jewish education about the state of the tuition crisis.While it is a sensitive subject to discuss, the cost of Jewish education remains one of the most vital issues at play in Jewish life today, as passing on a Torah education to the next generation is of the utmost im

Feb 28, 2023 • 2:09:58

Leslie Ginsparg Klein: The Culture of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 3/4]

Leslie Ginsparg Klein: The Culture of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 3/4]

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein—an expert on the history of Orthodox girls’ education—about the value of education for all people.With the founding of the Bais Yaakov movement, Sarah Schenirer sought to create a culture of education that was inclusive to the marginalized. Over a century later, we encounter a relate

Feb 21, 2023 • 1:58:58

Michael A. Helfand: Church, State, and Jewish Education [Jewish Education 2/4]

Michael A. Helfand: Church, State, and Jewish Education [Jewish Education 2/4]

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak to Michael A. Helfand, a Pepperdine Law professor specializing in religious liberty, about the meaning of the First Amendment as it relates to the funding of religious schools.With education so deeply essential to the modern Jewish community, we are confronted with the high cost of private schooling. In America

Feb 14, 2023 • 1:32:38

Yisroel Kaminetsky: The Goal of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 1/4]

Yisroel Kaminetsky: The Goal of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 1/4]

In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David’s rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, longtime principal of DRS Yeshiva High School, about the state of Jewish education in America.We find ourselves in a transformative time in the realm of Jewish education. Jewish literacy is at an all-time high, and yet we are still faced with existential angst. In this episode, Yisroel Kaminetsky tells us what goes into creating a yeshiva experience that delivers the most benefit to the most students — an

Feb 7, 2023 • 1:44:12

Listener Questions

Listener Questions

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, you, our listeners, feature as our guests as we listen to your responses to our series on Romance & Commitment and the Origins of Judaism. It is our double-absolute privilege to hear how 18Forty’s explorations of the big, juicy Jewish ideas have interacted with your own lives. In this episode we discuss: What are the audience’s reflections on dating, loneliness, and belonging?What are some potential future 18Forty topics?How does David remember all the

Jan 24, 2023 • 1:46:29

Malka Simkovich: The Secrets of Second Temple Judaism

Malka Simkovich: The Secrets of Second Temple Judaism

In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we are privileged with the return of Dr. Malka Simkovich—Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies and director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago—who helps us explore Second Temple Judaism and how it relates to Jewish life today. By diving deep into the Jewish past, Malka enables us to understand the narratives and commitments that have allowed the Jewish people to persist through the most existential challenges. In t

Jan 17, 2023 • 1:22:59

Yitzchak Breitowitz: Navigating Controversy

Yitzchak Breitowitz: Navigating Controversy

This episode is sponsored by Daniella and Ari Schwartz in memory of their grandfather Mr. Baruch Mappa a”h - Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz—Rav of Kehillos Ohr Somayach and host of the Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast—about the key Jewish issues of our time and how we should handle them. Rabbi Breitowitz helps us look for the correct framework for discussing intellectual difficulties, family challenges, and the n

Jan 10, 2023 • 54:46

Channah Cohen: The Crisis of Experience [Romance & Commitment 5/5]

Channah Cohen: The Crisis of Experience [Romance & Commitment 5/5]

This episode is sponsored by Anonymous who is fond of Shalom Task Force & 18Forty. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Channah Cohen, a researcher of the OU’s study on the “Shidduch Crisis.” Channah helps us unpack the two sides to this crisis—“Crisis of Process” and “Crisis of Experience”—and considers some potential solutions to the frequent cruelty of the current culture. Also in this edition, we hear the first-hand perspectives of a series of single Orthodox men and wo

Jan 3, 2023 • 1:43:37

How Different Jewish Communities Date [Romance & Commitment 4/5]

How Different Jewish Communities Date [Romance & Commitment 4/5]

This episode is sponsored by Anonymous who is fond of Shalom Task Force & 18Forty. On this episode of 18Forty, we explore the world of Jewish dating. We spoke to insiders and experts from the Chassidic community, “Yeshiva Orthodox” community, and Modern Orthodox community, looking at the commonalities and differences between each community’s approach to finding and building loving relationships. Each community emphasizes different dynamics and difficulties of the process of dating, and by co

Dec 27, 2022 • 2:22:21

2022: A Year Beyond Words (and Numbers)

2022: A Year Beyond Words (and Numbers)

In this minisode of the 18Forty Podcast, we reflect upon a year beyond words (and numbers). At every stop of the process in the wild journey that has been 18Forty, we’ve been motivated by our fantastic community members who have pushed us to ask deeper questions, to be more honest with ourselves, and to think more sharply and profoundly about what it means to be a Jew today. We’ve grown with you and for you, and we’re so thankful to be able to provide everything we can for you all.More than anyt

Dec 26, 2022 • 11:36

Zahava Moskowitz: Singled Out [Romance & Commitment 3/5]

Zahava Moskowitz: Singled Out [Romance & Commitment 3/5]

This episode was sponsored by Anonymous who is fond of Shalom Task Force & 18FortyIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Zahava Moskwowitz, host of the Singled Out podcast. Zahava shares insight into the challenges of singlehood, debates the pros and cons of pictures on shidduch resumes, and brings us into the world of singlehood in the Orthodox community.What does market information asymmetry relate to dating?How do men and women experience the struggles of dating differen

Dec 20, 2022 • 2:06:34

Red Flags: A Conversation with Shalom Task Force Featuring Esther Williams and Shana Frydman [Romance & Commitment 2/5]

Red Flags: A Conversation with Shalom Task Force Featuring Esther Williams and Shana Frydman [Romance & Commitment 2/5]

This episode is sponsored by Esther & Jerry Williams in honor of all those who support Shalom Task Force.If you are in crisis please reach out to the Shalom Task Force Hotline at 888-883-2323.On this episode of 18Forty, we have a deeply moving conversation on the topic of red flags in relationships. We speak with Esther Williams and Dr. Shoshannah Frydman from Shalom Task Force, and one person who extricated herself from an abusive relationship. The dynamics of relationships, whether healthy

Dec 13, 2022 • 1:47:14

Dovid Bashevkin: My Dating Story - On Religious and & Romantic Commitment [Romance & Commitment 1/5]

Dovid Bashevkin: My Dating Story - On Religious and & Romantic Commitment [Romance & Commitment 1/5]

This episode was sponsored by Jerry and Esther Williams in honor of 18Forty and the Shalom Task Force. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, Dovid Bashevkin dives deeply into the world of dating. As we explore the realm of relationships, Dovid uses his own journey to help us find the proper framework for balancing one’s romantic, religious, and professional identities. How can one stay connected to their religious self while simultaneously evolving? What’s Dovid’s best advice for dating and ma

Dec 8, 2022 • 1:29:09

Yosef Bronstein: Rav Tzadok & Rav Kook on Jewish History [Origins of Judaism 5/6]

Yosef Bronstein: Rav Tzadok & Rav Kook on Jewish History [Origins of Judaism 5/6]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein. A deep thinker with scholarship and experience in many areas of Jewish thought, Yosef has a PhD in Talmud, an upcoming book on the Lubavitcher Rebbe, work editing at the Reshimos Shiurim on Kiddushin of Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveitchik, and countless lectures, classes, and students on Talmud, mysticism, and Jewish philosophy. Yosef joins us to talk about R. Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, whose thought on the history of hal

Nov 29, 2022 • 1:31:52

Yonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find [Origins of Judaism 4/6]

Yonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find [Origins of Judaism 4/6]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Yonatan Adler about the intersection of halacha and archaeology. Yonatan Adler is a professor of archaeology at Ariel University in Samaria where he teaches about halacha in early Judaism as we see it through the lens of archeology. - Why do we view the past in light of the present and not the present in light of the past? - What does archeology tell us about the origins of the Jewish People? - Did ancient everyday Jews keep the Torah?Tune i

Nov 22, 2022 • 1:18:17

Tova Ganzel: The Judaism of the Prophets & the People [Origins of Judaism 3/6]

Tova Ganzel: The Judaism of the Prophets & the People [Origins of Judaism 3/6]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Tova Ganzel about biblical Judaism, and the shift of rabbinic authority over time. Tova Ganzel is a professor of Judaics at Bar Ilan University. In our discussion with her, we discuss the evolution of mitzvah observance from biblical times and the transmission of authority within Judaism. - Who gives rabbis their authority? - How did Jewish law evolve during the Second Temple Period? - What did the prophets do to popularize Judaism?  Tune in

Nov 15, 2022 • 1:28:50

Lawrence Schiffman: The World of Early Judaism [Origins of Judaism 2/6]

Lawrence Schiffman: The World of Early Judaism [Origins of Judaism 2/6]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Professor Lawrence Schiffman about Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. Lawrence Schiffman is a professor at New York University, where he lectures on topics such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, Midrashei Halacha, and Second Temple Judasim. He joins us today to discuss the evolution from early Judaism to modern observance, as well as the outcomes of superimposing ancient Judaism onto our present day understandings. - Who is a “common Jew”? - Is Jewish d

Nov 8, 2022 • 1:15:15

Anonymous: Searching for the Beginning [Origins of Judaism 1/6]

Anonymous: Searching for the Beginning [Origins of Judaism 1/6]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous email sender about life upon the bridge between the truth of fact and the truth of feeling.Our anonymous guest sent an email in to 18Forty, which we read previously on the Malka Simkovich episode. In his email, he describes struggling with the Oral Torah and clinging to his faith despite the unknown. - How has practical Jewish religious observance evolved since the canonization of the Oral Torah? - Are the struggles of modern day Je

Nov 1, 2022 • 1:45:43

Child & Parental Alienation: Keeping Families Together [Teshuva 6/6]

Child & Parental Alienation: Keeping Families Together [Teshuva 6/6]

This series is sponsored by our friends, Daniel and Mira Stokar.In this episode, we discuss parental alienation. In some way or another, almost all of us struggle with alienation. Who among us doesn’t feel too far from someone that we love? The meeting points of religion and family in religious communities can make navigating change in the family unit difficult, sometimes leading to alienation. As we approach Yom Kippur, we spoke to five people who have lived through the stressors that lead to a

Oct 3, 2022 • 1:20:32

Mark Moskowitz: Within: What Going to Jail Taught Me About Teshuva [Teshuva 5/6]

Mark Moskowitz: Within: What Going to Jail Taught Me About Teshuva [Teshuva 5/6]

This series is sponsored by our friends, Daniel and Mira Stokar.This episode is sponsored by our friends, The Aleph Institute.On this episode of 18Forty, we have a deeply moving conversation with Mark Moskowitz, an author, speaker, and coach, to talk about his search for meaning in federal prison. After being incarcerated for defrauding his investors, Mark found meaning and himself in the least likely of places. This conversation moves from the challenges of living meaningfully amidst pressures

Sep 28, 2022 • 1:48:55

Shais Taub: Teshuva of Innocence and Experience [Teshuva 4/6]

Shais Taub: Teshuva of Innocence and Experience [Teshuva 4/6]

This series is sponsored by our friends, Daniel and Mira Stokar.On this episode of 18Forty, we have a wide ranging conversation with Shais Taub, a renowned Chabad scholar and author of the book God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction, about the mechanics of teshuva. It's hard to put Rabbi Taub in a box. He is a candid speaker and an eclectic thinker who brings authenticity and honesty to otherwise formulaic topics. During our conversation we discussed:—What's th

Sep 20, 2022 • 1:28:50

Kayla Haber-Goldstein: Questioning the Answers: Rebuilding Your Faith [Teshuva 3/6]

Kayla Haber-Goldstein: Questioning the Answers: Rebuilding Your Faith [Teshuva 3/6]

This series is sponsored by our friends, Daniel and Mira Stokar.On this episode of 18Forty, we have a frank conversation with author Kayla Haber-Goldstein about her personal, painful journey to find God. Kayla proudly describes herself as FFB/BT, a reference to her identifying as a ba’al teshuvah despite growing up in a religious, rabbinic home in Australia and Jerusalem.—How do you align Judaism to your life so that religious practice doesn’t feel like a burden?—How can Orthodox education be im

Sep 13, 2022 • 1:24:19

Antonio García Martínez: Optionality and Choosing Judaism [Teshuva 2/6]

Antonio García Martínez: Optionality and Choosing Judaism [Teshuva 2/6]

This series is sponsored by our friends, Daniel and Mira Stokar.In this episode of 18Forty, tech entrepreneur Antonio Garcia Martinez discusses his powerful “Why Judaism?” essay series, chronicling his conversion to Judaism and his views on the deficiencies of secular liberalism. A formerly Orthodox man who was moved to change his life after reading Martinez’s essays chimes in.—What is the toll of a culture of optionality?—What is the value of unchosen commitments?—How does Martinez reconcile hi

Sep 6, 2022 • 1:07:35

Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld: What We Can Learn About Teshuva From Jewish Outreach [Teshuva 1/6]

Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld: What We Can Learn About Teshuva From Jewish Outreach [Teshuva 1/6]

In the first episode of our Teshuva series, R. Beryl Gershenfeld, one of the leaders of the Jewish outreach movement, joins us in talking about what we can learn about the process of transformation that occurs in Jewish outreach. - What can the Jewish world learn from Jewish outreach? - How do we engage in meaningful growth? This series has been generously sponsored by our friends Daniel and Mira Stokar.Interview begins at 15:25References: Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David

Aug 30, 2022 • 1:27:52

Listener Questions

Listener Questions

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by you, our listeners, and reflect on the community we have built beyond our conversations.- Which episode is the favorite, or least favorite, of 18Forty listeners?- Why did David Bashevkin get outraged about pagination? - Is “undoubtably” a word in the English language?Tune in to hear a conversation between Batman and the Joker, and other fun feedback. Voicemails begin at 7:24.References: “Portlandia”IFC YouTube channelMa

Aug 23, 2022 • 44:59

Ari Koretzky: In Conversation with Dovid Bashevkin

Ari Koretzky: In Conversation with Dovid Bashevkin

Among the many questions we receive at 18Forty, there are some we find recurring: Who does 18Forty serve? What is its purpose? In this episode, 18Forty Founder Rabbi David Bashevkin reflects upon those questions—except he isn’t the one interviewing. Instead, Rabbi Ari Koretzky, host of the Jews You Should Know Podcast, interviews him.—What is the story of David’s personal religious development?—What were 18Forty’s greatest challenges and successes?—Where is it heading?Interview begins at 5:44.Re

Aug 16, 2022 • 1:24:01

On Loss: A Child

On Loss: A Child

This episode is sponsored by our friends Victor and Jessica Kagan in honor of Rochel Mindel bas Noson Nuteh and Naftali ben Chaim Shraga Feivel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mirlana Morris about the loss of her son, Donny, and perpetuating the memory of a loved one.Mirlana lost her son, Donny, in last year’s Meron tragedy when he was 19 years old. Mirlana speaks about choosing to live a life of emunah instead of being angry with God, and shares how she perpetuates the legacy

Aug 2, 2022 • 1:33:52

Emanuel Feldman: On Being a Jewish Writer [Books 3/3]

Emanuel Feldman: On Being a Jewish Writer [Books 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Emanuel Feldman about writing styles. Rabbi Feldman has the unique gift to write in multiple voices for multiple audiences. He mixes his pitches so his readers never quite know what to expect. Rabbi Feldman joins us today to talk about the unique styles of Jewish writing. - What motivates a rabbi to begin a parallel career as a writer?- Why is criticism something to love? - Has Jewish writing gotten better over time? Tune in to hear a conv

Jul 26, 2022 • 1:12:54

Michelle Margolis: What Do Librarians Do? [Books 2/3]

Michelle Margolis: What Do Librarians Do? [Books 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to our favorite librarian, Michelle Margolis. Michelle is no stranger to the 18Forty Podcast — she was one of our first guests, and today, she returns to debut our new Show & Tale series, and talk with us about the role of a librarian and the hidden world of Judaica and rare books. Show & Tale is a new 18Forty video series that will take you inside some of the great libraries—both public and private—to explore books and treasures from Jewish histor

Jul 19, 2022 • 1:23:51

Three Editors: A Conversation with Heads of the Major Jewish Publishers [Books 1/3]

Three Editors: A Conversation with Heads of the Major Jewish Publishers [Books 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to the heads of the three major Jewish publishing houses, Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz of ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, Matthew Miller of Koren Publishers, and Altie Karper of Schocken Books.Aside from all rejecting David Bashevkin’s work, these three pillars of Jewish publishing all share a common goal of contributing to Jewish scholarship in order to help better cultivate the Jewish People. - How can we use storytelling to bring out the best in oth

Jul 12, 2022 • 1:39:30

Rabbi Shalom Carmy: How I Ground My Faith [Rationality 4/4]

Rabbi Shalom Carmy: How I Ground My Faith [Rationality 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shalom Carmy—philosophy and Jewish-studies professor at Yeshiva University and Editor Emeritus of Tradition—about how he grounds his faith.Rabbi Carmy joins us to discuss the anthropological, covenantal, and experiential bases for religious belief. •What should be the foundation of a person’s faith? •What is the role of personal experience in relation to rational inquiry? •How can we reinvigorate our religious outlook for the modern world?

Jul 5, 2022 • 1:10:42

Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People [Rationality 3/4]

Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People [Rationality 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Malka Simkovich—Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies and director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago—about Second Temple Judaism and how it can help us understand what it means to be a Jew in our own time. Malka explores the significance of belief and observance over the history of the Jewish people. •What is the role of mystery in how we understand covenant and chosenness?•What is the relationship

Jun 28, 2022 • 1:26:02

Steven Gotlib: Some Rabbi Grapples With His Faith [Rationality 2/4]

Steven Gotlib: Some Rabbi Grapples With His Faith [Rationality 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Steven Gotlib, a fellow at Beit Midrash Zichron Dov and Rabbinic Educator at the Village Shul, about the relationship between first principles and how we are to live. Rabbi Gotlib is some rabbi who is a lot more than just some rabbi. Steven has thought long and hard about the truth claims of Judaism and the claim Judaism makes on individuals’ lives. •How does a Conservative Jewish teenager turn into an Orthodox rabbi and outreach professio

Jun 21, 2022 • 1:25:41

Jeff Bloom: Some Guy Wrote a Book about Jewish Theology [Rationality 1/4]

Jeff Bloom: Some Guy Wrote a Book about Jewish Theology [Rationality 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jeff Bloom about the assumptions that Orthodox Judaism makes about ideology, and how we ground our faith even if we don’t have irrefutable evidence.Jeff is some guy who is a lot more than just some guy. Jeff unpacks Leo Strauss’s defense of Orthodoxy and explains how our personal life stories dictate how we see the world. - Why have we designed a system in which we don’t rummage around assumptions?- How do we read the Bible in an Orthodox lens?-

Jun 14, 2022 • 1:34:42

Listener Questions

Listener Questions

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by you, our listeners, and reflect on the community we have built beyond our conversations.- What do Pick-Up Sticks have in common with the sorites paradox?- How has wealth seeped into our subconscious Jewish intergenerational trauma?  - Does an accusation of abuse have the potential to ruin someone’s life even if they’re not convicted?Tune in to hear a conversation about leaky roofs, trench coats, and bobbing boats. Voicema

Jun 7, 2022 • 1:12:11

Shira Berkovits: Creating Safe Spaces [Abuse 3/3]

Shira Berkovits: Creating Safe Spaces [Abuse 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Shira Berkovits, president and CEO of Sacred Spaces, about institutional abuse awareness and prevention.Shira is an attorney and psychologist, as well as the founder of Sacred Spaces, which partners with Jewish institutions to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and other abuses of power. Shira explains how Jewish institutions can better respond to and prevent abuse. - What preventative measures can a Jewish institution take against abuse?- Does

May 24, 2022 • 1:32:43

Rahel Bayar: Developing Healthy Boundaries [Abuse 2/3]

Rahel Bayar: Developing Healthy Boundaries [Abuse 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rahel Bayar, founder of The Bayar Group, about abuse awareness and education in faith-based communities. Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, at times, this episode does contain mature language and listener discretion is advised.Rahel is a former assistant district attorney and now runs The Bayar Group, which provides abuse training and serves as a consultant to organizations and institutions. Rahel helps us understand some of the d

May 17, 2022 • 59:45

Aharon Schrieber: What Happens When You Call the Police? [Abuse 1/3]

Aharon Schrieber: What Happens When You Call the Police? [Abuse 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to ADA Aharon Schrieber about what actually happens when you call the police to report a domestic violence or abuse crime. Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, at times, this episode does contain mature language and listener discretion is advised.Aharon is an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County Domestic Violence Bureau where he prosecutes domestic violence cases. Aharon shares the ins and outs of what actually happens once

May 10, 2022 • 1:27:24

Adina and Eric Yoffie: A Different Path, Still Family [Divergence 5/5]

Adina and Eric Yoffie: A Different Path, Still Family [Divergence 5/5]

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel. This episode is sponsored by Ari Bergmann in appreciation of Adina's work and scholarship.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Eric and Dr. Adina Yoffie about their journey as a family through ideological differences. Rabbi Yoffie is the President Emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism and his daughter Adina is a Modern Orthodox editor and writer. As Adina journeyed to Modern Orthodoxy, she also had to navigate the impli

Apr 19, 2022 • 1:09:42

Moshe and Asher Weinberger: Heart of the Fire: Together Even With Small Differences [Divergence 4/5]

Moshe and Asher Weinberger: Heart of the Fire: Together Even With Small Differences [Divergence 4/5]

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel. This episode is sponsored by our friend, Evan Goldenberg.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Moshe Weinberger, Rebbe of Kehillas Aish Kodesh and his son Asher, CEO of Swimply.Rav Moshe Weinberger is a chassidish Rebbe who raised his son Asher in the more modern world of the Five Towns. Join us as they discuss differing trajectories and expectations, and how fathers can learn from their sons despite the small differences bet

Apr 12, 2022 • 1:10:57

Larry and Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You - A Child's Eating Disorder [Divergence 3/5]

Larry and Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You - A Child's Eating Disorder [Divergence 3/5]

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel. This episode is sponsored by Camp Morasha in appreciation for Rabbi Rothwachs's tireless dedication to his family and ours.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Larry Rothwachs and his daughter Tzipora about the relationship of a father and daughter through distance while battling an eating disorder. Larry is the rabbi of a congregation in Teaneck, New Jersey, and sees himself as someone who is sort of in the business of he

Apr 5, 2022 • 1:31:44

Bruce Feiler: The Stories That Bind Us [Divergence 2/5]

Bruce Feiler: The Stories That Bind Us [Divergence 2/5]

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Bruce Feiler about family narratives.Bruce has authored many books and articles, including longtime 18Forty favorite, The Stories that Bind Us, which argues that resilience in families is built by developing a strong family narrative. - Does The Stories that Bind Us deliberately have a Pesach theme? - What are the mistakes that people make in family dinner conversation? - Are there dif

Mar 29, 2022 • 1:06:43

Intergenerational Divergence: Recap, Reflections, and Response [Divergence 1/5]

Intergenerational Divergence: Recap, Reflections, and Response [Divergence 1/5]

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to the families from our previous series on intergenerational divergence to follow up and see what they’re up to now. As we revisit the previous interviews, we continue the conversations where we left off, drawing from the experiences and wisdom of our guests. • What advice would our guests give their younger selves during the difficult period that they went through?• What have our guests been up

Mar 22, 2022 • 1:11:06

Alex Edelman: Taking Comedy Seriously: Purim

Alex Edelman: Taking Comedy Seriously: Purim

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David is joined by comedian Alex Edelman for a special Purim discussion exploring the place of humor and levity in a world that often demands our solemnity. A Modern Orthodox Jew from Brookline, Massachusetts, who’s “tried cocaine,” but has “never tried bacon,” Alex stars in the one-man Off Broadway show Just For Us, which has to be one of the only top-tier comedy specials to mention Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.In this episode, we discuss: —How does a M

Mar 15, 2022 • 1:02:40

Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz: A Healthy Relationship with Halacha [Halacha 4/4]

Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz: A Healthy Relationship with Halacha [Halacha 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, the director of semicha at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), about the development of halacha.Rabbi Lebowitz has written numerous articles and several books on the practical applications of Jewish law and is behind the popular “Ten Minute Halacha” lecture series.•What is the role of rabbinic “intuition” in halachic rulings?•To what degree does the common practice of the community shape halachic rulings?•How

Mar 1, 2022 • 1:23:35

Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg: Discovering Your Halachic Story [Halacha 3/4]

Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg: Discovering Your Halachic Story [Halacha 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg - historian and Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows - about the history of halacha.While we take the system of halacha as we know it today for granted, many factors contributed to its current state. We discuss some of these factors, as well as some pivotal moments in halacha’s history, like the publication of the Shulchan Aruch.- Has halacha always been as standardized and abstract a system as it is today?

Feb 22, 2022 • 1:24:27

Dr. Moshe Koppel: Halacha as a Language [Halacha 2/4]

Dr. Moshe Koppel: Halacha as a Language [Halacha 2/4]

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Moshe Koppel, professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University to discuss some of the ideas in his books Judaism Straight Up and Meta-Halakhah. We discuss how to conceptualize the halachic system and explore how Halacha's development can be seen through the prism of language and what that means for our halachic commitment today.How should halacha be legislated?What does it mean that halacha is like language?What can halacha as language teach us about the

Feb 15, 2022 • 1:39:57

Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha [Halacha 1/4]

Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha [Halacha 1/4]

In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of gentile wine. Much of his popular renown can be attributed to the publication of his article "Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Ort

Feb 8, 2022 • 1:20:01

Listener Questions and Behind the Scenes with the 18Forty Team

Listener Questions and Behind the Scenes with the 18Forty Team

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by listeners and talk to two of our editors, Denah Emerson and Yehuda Fogel.18Forty is a media company as well as a podcast. Between editing the podcast audio, writing the written material, and running the social media, there are many invaluable people who help run it behind the scenes.- What happens behind the scenes of 18Forty?- How is 18Forty’s media produced?Tune in to hear a conversation where we answer listener questio

Feb 1, 2022 • 1:37:45

Marika Feuerstein: The Mentsch of Malden Mills: A Granddaughter Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Aaron Feuerstein [Wealth 4/4]

Marika Feuerstein: The Mentsch of Malden Mills: A Granddaughter Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Aaron Feuerstein [Wealth 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Marika Feuerstein about the life of her grandfather, Aaron Feuerstein.Aaron Feuerstein was the head of a successful family business that suffered serious setbacks after a fire destroyed its factory. He became famous for his commitment to the wellbeing of his employees, paying them even while they couldn’t work, but rebuilding came with challenges that ultimately cost him the company. Marika Feuerstein tells the lesser known story of his later li

Jan 11, 2022 • 1:34:58

Ari Bergmann: Giving Wealth a Rest: The Economics of Shemittah [Wealth 3/4]

Ari Bergmann: Giving Wealth a Rest: The Economics of Shemittah [Wealth 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ari Bergmann - PhD and financier - about the benefits of shemittah.The current Hebrew year, 5782, is a shemittah year, a year when the land rests. This has extensive economic effects on Israel’s agricultural community, as farmers are not allowed to work on or profit from their land. Ari, as an expert in both Talmud and finances, weighs in on some important questions.- What are the laws and logistics of shemittah?- What is the Torah’s motivation

Jan 4, 2022 • 56:23

Eli Langer & Zevy Wolman: How We Keep Our Finances Kosher [Wealth 2/4]

Eli Langer & Zevy Wolman: How We Keep Our Finances Kosher [Wealth 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Langer and Zevy Wolman - hosts of the Kosher Money podcast - about financial literacy as it relates to Orthodox Judaism.The cost of living in Orthodox communities is tremendous, and seems to only grow. Between tuition, simchas, and more, families in America’s top one or two percent by income struggle to get by.- How severe is the issue of cost of living in the Orthodox community?- What dynamics factor into this issue?- How should we aim to s

Dec 28, 2021 • 1:24:38

Mark Trencher: Orthonomics: The Cost of Frum Life [Wealth 1/4]

Mark Trencher: Orthonomics: The Cost of Frum Life [Wealth 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mark Trencher - founder of Nishma Research - about finances in the Orthodox community.Mark Trencher founded Nishma Research to survey the Jewish community about various important questions relating to Jewish life. His surveys are of wide-ranging subject matter, including reasons that people go off the derech, political orientation, opinions about vaccines, and of course, finances.- How taxing is Orthodoxy on peoples’ finances?- What financial ar

Dec 20, 2021 • 1:17:39

Zohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah [Rationality 5/5]

Zohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah [Rationality 5/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Zohar Atkins, Rabbi and philosopher, about the role that philosophy - particularly rationalist philosophy - plays in Judaism.Zohar is a profound and poetic thinker who tries to lead an examined Jewish life. Despite being a philosopher, he is an advocate of doing, not just thinking. He takes the idea of there being 70 faces of the Torah to heart, endorsing philosophical pluralism in relation to Judaism.- How do philosophy and the Torah interact?-

Dec 14, 2021 • 1:08:09

Simi Peters: Building New Faith Foundations [Rationality 4/5]

Simi Peters: Building New Faith Foundations [Rationality 4/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Simi Peters - author and teacher - about Jewish faith and postmodernism.Simi is a scholar who is well-versed in both postmodern and Jewish thought. She has attempted to synthesize the two, grounding Jewish faith in postmodernism. While postmodernism calls into question the very ideas of truth and proof, she still believes that Judaism can be given a postmodern, rational grounding.- What is postmodernism, and what implications does it have for ra

Dec 7, 2021 • 1:04:01

Samuel Lebens: The Line Between Rationality and Mysticism [Rationality 3/5]

Samuel Lebens: The Line Between Rationality and Mysticism [Rationality 3/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens - philosophy professor and author - about the interaction of Judaism with analytic philosophy and mysticism.Samuel is an analytic philosopher, trained to analyze philosophical questions in a precise, almost mathematical framework. In his new book, The Principles of Judaism, he attempts to wed the foundations of Judaism to this framework, discussing the ways that one might formalize their Judaism on rational grounds.- How can one gr

Nov 30, 2021 • 1:03:56

Shmuel Phillips: Reclaiming Judaism [Rationality 2/5]

Shmuel Phillips: Reclaiming Judaism [Rationality 2/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Shmuel Phillips about the upsides and downsides of approaching Judaism rationally.Shmuel grew up debating religion, always thinking about why he practiced Judaism as he did. While many people practice Judaism because it’s what they grew up with, Shmuel believes that people could give more grounding to their faith. To that end, he authored a book, Judaism Reclaimed, where he explores the modern issues of Judaism in a traditional Orthodox f

Nov 23, 2021 • 1:22:05

Anxiety and Rationality: A Personal Anonymous Account [Rationality 1/5]

Anxiety and Rationality: A Personal Anonymous Account [Rationality 1/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about the anxieties he experienced in a hyper rational approach to Judaism.Our anonymous identifies as a rationalist, or someone who likes to analyze the decisions in his life through a logical lens. He applied this to his Judaism. But as time went on, he began having doubts and questions and his life started to fall apart. Eventually he found a different approach to his Judaism that allowed him to moderate his rationality and

Nov 16, 2021 • 1:03:25

The Books of Shabbos [Shabbos 3/3]

The Books of Shabbos [Shabbos 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about two impactful books about Shabbos and their authors.Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa was a seminal work about the halachos of Shabbos in the modern day. The Sabbath was an ode to the beauty and spirituality of Shabbos. Together they give two complementary perspectives, the halachic and the spiritual, on our beloved Shabbos.- Why are Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa and The Sabbath such important works?- What do they each tell us about Shabbos that the

Nov 1, 2021 • 1:26:33

The Legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

The Legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Professor Jonathan Haidt about the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in honor of his yahrtzeit.Rabbi Sacks had a profound impact on the Jewish world, with his eloquent words giving a voice to many. He has spoken at length about how to construct a good and meaningful life using Judaism, as well as about morality, consumerism, spiritual truth, politics, and antisemitism.- What is the value of commitment to Judaism?- How can Judaism contribute to o

Oct 26, 2021 • 1:20:04

Judith Shulevitz: The World of Shabbos [Shabbos 2/3]

Judith Shulevitz: The World of Shabbos [Shabbos 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and journalist Judith Shulevitz about the world of Shabbos.Through The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, Judith introduced the secular world to the concept of Shabbos. She explores the power of a day of rest and the communal aspect that elevates it.- Does a secular Shabbos of unplugging work?- What is so radical about observing Shabbos?- How important is community for one’s Shabbos practice? Tune in to hear a conversat

Oct 19, 2021 • 1:15:49

Senator Joe Lieberman: The Gift of Shabbos [Shabbos 1/3]

Senator Joe Lieberman: The Gift of Shabbos [Shabbos 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Senator Joe Lieberman - politician, lobbyist, and attorney - about the gift of Shabbos.Joe Lieberman lives a life in the public eye as an observant Jew. This exemplary dedication to his values is admirable and gives Joe a unique perspective on the benefits of Shabbos.- What gifts does Shabbos grant us that we take for granted?- What lessons can the high-powered life of a politician teach us about powering down for Shabbos?- Is it difficult livin

Oct 12, 2021 • 1:04:47

Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change [Teshuva 5/5]

Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change [Teshuva 5/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva.The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva.- Who was the Yabloner Rebbe?- Why did he leave his faith?- What inspired him to return?Tune in to hear a conver

Sep 12, 2021 • 1:24:04

Miriam Gisser: Recovery as Change [Teshuva 4/5]

Miriam Gisser: Recovery as Change [Teshuva 4/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Miriam Gisser about changing, or even rebuilding, one’s life.Miriam’s husband passed away from a drug overdose, forcing her to rebuild her life for her and her family. She offers unique insight into how one can change and rebuild their life, whether after a tragedy, to do teshuva, or something else.- What are the scariest parts of change?- How can we find the inner courage necessary for change?- How can we deal with and remember our past while l

Sep 3, 2021 • 1:22:00

Agnes Callard: A Philosophy of Change [Teshuva 3/5]

Agnes Callard: A Philosophy of Change [Teshuva 3/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Agnes Callard - professor of philosophy and author - about the philosophy of change.Many decisions in life can be made by weighing our values: if an action accords with our values, then we do it, and if it doesn’t, then we don’t. But when it comes to deciding what our values should be, we may need a different paradigm.- How do we make decisions in relation to our values?- What decisions don’t function in this normal paradigm?- How can we decide

Aug 31, 2021 • 1:09:26

Alex Clare: Changing in Public [Teshuva 2/5]

Alex Clare: Changing in Public [Teshuva 2/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alex Clare - singer and baal teshuva - about changing identity and what if questions.Alex was a rising music star who left the music industry to pursue a religious life - what's known as a baal teshuva - then returned following international commercial success. He has faced many life-changing choices, and so has experience with navigating change in a healthy way.- How can one ensure that the changes they make are navigated healthily?- What if on

Aug 23, 2021 • 1:15:00

Rav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress [Teshuva 1/5]

Rav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress [Teshuva 1/5]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Judah Mischel - executive director of Camp HASC and founder of Tzama Nafshi - about change and teshuva.Change is one of the most difficult things in life. We often wish we could snap our fingers and choose to live differently, but change usually takes time. We can think of change as a journey rather than a destination.- How can one appreciate the process of change, the ride, as much as we appreciate the destination?- How can we navigate the

Aug 17, 2021 • 1:46:08

Summer Unwind: Documentary Film [Summer Unwind 3/3]

Summer Unwind: Documentary Film [Summer Unwind 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Grady - documentary filmmaker of One of Us and Jesus Camp - about the expressive power of documentaries.While fiction and non-fiction literature are powerful creative tools to explore an issue, documentaries have a unique power to portray communities from the inside. And while these portrayals may be uniquely powerful, they can also be uniquely controversial.- What can documentaries achieve that other mediums can’t?- How can documentaries

Aug 9, 2021 • 53:56

Summer Unwind: Fiction [Summer Unwind 2/3]

Summer Unwind: Fiction [Summer Unwind 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David Hopen - law student and author of The Orchard - about finding truth in fiction, and particularly in myths.Though fiction and myths are by definition not true, they can still have great significance. Religious stories in particular can help guide us regardless of whether or not they’re literally true. In his book The Orchard, David tries to illustrate this, using fiction to tell deep truths about the place myth can have in the modern world.

Aug 3, 2021 • 54:11

Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt: Non-Fiction [Summer Unwind 1/3]

Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt: Non-Fiction [Summer Unwind 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt - journalist - about her relationship with writing.Having appeared in publications like the New York Times and Haaretz, Avital is an accomplished author. Writing since her childhood, she has found inspiration in a variety of arenas, like reporting, Judaism, and advocacy.- What inspired Avital to start writing, and how did she turn it into a career?- What are some of the challenges of publishing in the public eye?- How

Jul 27, 2021 • 1:22:50

On Loss: A Parent

On Loss: A Parent

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dani Ritholtz - rabbi and author - about the loss of his father to further explore Tisha B’Av’s relationship to loss.Dani Ritholtz lost his father to Pancreatic cancer in 2014. As part of his grieving process, he wrote a book exploring the development of his relationship to his loss throughout the ordeal. Here Dani talks about the book and its subject matter: how he dealt with the loss of his father.- How does it feel for a family member to batt

Jul 16, 2021 • 1:17:06

On Loss: A Spouse

On Loss: A Spouse

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Josh Grajower - rabbi and educator - about the loss of his wife, as well as the loss that Tisha B’Av represents for the Jewish People.The Jewish people mourn every year on Tisha B’Av, but it can still be hard to connect with the feelings of the day. Mourning is felt most strongly with those closest to us, and while the things we mourn on Tisha B’Av are of great religious and historical significance, they can feel foreign. Rabbi Grajower lo

Jul 13, 2021 • 1:14:26

Jewish Peoplehood Roundup

Jewish Peoplehood Roundup

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, our host, David Bashevkin, reflects on 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood episodes.David reassesses 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood topic from September 2020, which featured Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Laura Adkins, Bethany Mandel, and Samuel Freedman. Using highlight clips from those episodes, David explores what brings together a group of people to form a peoplehood, the ways the Jewish community is divided, and the effect these divisions have on the larger people.- Why d

Jul 6, 2021 • 1:16:40

Comedy Roundup

Comedy Roundup

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on 18Forty’s comedy episodes.David revisits 18Forty’s comedy exploration from July of 2020, featuring comedians Gary Gulman and Leah Forster and Rabbi Daniel Feldman. David once again explores the connections between comedy and life, and how comedy can help cope with tragedy. He also explores some of the qualities of Jewish humor.- Why did 18Forty choose comedy as a topic, and why so early?- What life

Jun 29, 2021 • 1:10:51

David Bashevkin: The Anniversary Episode

David Bashevkin: The Anniversary Episode

In this anniversary episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on the last year of episodes.18Forty has explored many important and interesting topics and has helped build a community of people interested in exploring these ideas. But it has been a big undertaking involving many unforeseen factors and complications.- How has 18Forty decided what topics and guests to feature?- What has David learned about the process of interviewing?- How has 18Forty be

Jun 22, 2021 • 57:49

Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter: Should We Censor Jewish History? [Censorship 3/3]

Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter: Should We Censor Jewish History? [Censorship 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter - rabbi, professor, and historian - about censorship as it relates to Jewish history.Though censorship exists in many areas, it is particularly interesting to analyze it from the lens of Jewish history. It can be tempting to idealize the lives of gedolim when writing about them, or to whitewash parts of history that don’t fit with our modern conceptions. It can be tricky to navigate history while preserving a given set of

Jun 15, 2021 • 1:30:59

Jonathan Rosenblum: Communal Boundaries and Cancel Culture [Censorship 2/3]

Jonathan Rosenblum: Communal Boundaries and Cancel Culture [Censorship 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Rosenblum - journalist and author of multiple ArtScroll biographies - about censorship and specifically how it applies to biographies.One of the many areas in which censorship can be exercised is biography writing. Certain biographies of gedolim have been criticized for censoring their life stories to mask their imperfections, distorting history in the process. But censorship isn’t always about distorting the facts and may instead be ab

Jun 8, 2021 • 1:03:04

Altie Karper: When a Book Is Banned [Censorship 1/3]

Altie Karper: When a Book Is Banned [Censorship 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Altie Karper, editorial director of Schocken Books, about censorship and cancel culture.Every community has boundaries, and every community needs a way to enforce those boundaries. As Altie’s experience publishing a book that received religious pushback tells us, it can be hard to gauge if something will be deemed appropriate. If a public figure says something that doesn’t fit within the boundaries of a community, there should be criticism, but

Jun 1, 2021 • 1:15:02

Protecting us from Ourselves: An Anonymous Perspective on Divorce [Agunah Crisis 4/4]

Protecting us from Ourselves: An Anonymous Perspective on Divorce [Agunah Crisis 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous divorced man who gives us his perspective on the divorce process and the need to protect oneself from his own darkest inclinations.While one would never assume themselves capable of get (divorce document) refusal, the emotions of uncoupling run high and it's possible to find yourself considering using the get as a bargaining chip. We sit down with a man who was in this exact predicament and he explains why the get should never be us

May 11, 2021 • 1:07:36

Bari Mitzmann: Social Media & Agunah Advocacy [Agunah Crisis 3/4]

Bari Mitzmann: Social Media & Agunah Advocacy [Agunah Crisis 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bari Mitzmann - Instagram content creator and host of the Women of Valor podcast - about social media advocacy, particularly in regard to the agunah crisis.With an Instagram audience of 30,000 followers, Bari is often asked to promote causes. One such cause was the recent #FreeChava campaign where Bari's promotion helped spark recent support for agunot. While posting about advocacy on social media seems like a natural thing to do, it can be hard

May 4, 2021 • 1:10:45

Keshet Starr: How Should we Advocate for Agunot? [Agunah Crisis 2/4]

Keshet Starr: How Should we Advocate for Agunot? [Agunah Crisis 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Keshet Starr - CEO of ORA - about what it’s like to work on the front lines of agunah activism. As the CEO of ORA - the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot - Keshet is directly involved with many cases of get-refusal, working with both parties to ensure a satisfactory resolution. She is also involved in agunah advocacy - both for specific agunot and to raise awareness for the issue in general - and prevention. While many are averse to the

Apr 27, 2021 • 1:03:12

Rabbi Shlomo Weissman: The Rabbinic Will and Agunot [Agunah Crisis 1/4]

Rabbi Shlomo Weissman: The Rabbinic Will and Agunot [Agunah Crisis 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shlomo Weissman - head of Beth Din of America, YU Professor, and former lawyer - about the halakhic complexities of, and attempted solutions for, the agunah crisis. A halakhic divorce contract, called a “get,” must be given from the husband to wife, and the parties must give/receive the get willingly. When one or the other party doesn’t willingly participate in this process, the marriage cannot be ended, leaving the woman unable to remarry

Apr 20, 2021 • 1:28:30

Andrew Solomon: Far from the Tree [Divergence 4/4]

Andrew Solomon: Far from the Tree [Divergence 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Andrew Solomon - a Pulitzer Prize finalist - about intergenerational divergence, as well as his book, Far from the Tree, which was in some ways the very inspiration for this topic. Andrew’s experience with intergenerational divergence began as a child, when his gay identity imbued him with a sense of outsiderness that is evident in his work. His book, Far from the Tree, deals with this topic explicitly, exploring the impact of things like deafne

Apr 5, 2021 • 1:11:50

Menachem Penner and Gedalia Robinson: A Child's Orientation [Divergence 3/4]

Menachem Penner and Gedalia Robinson: A Child's Orientation [Divergence 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Menachem Penner—dean of RIETS at Yeshiva University—and his son Gedalia—a musician, cantor-in-training, and member of the LGBTQ community—about their experience in reconciling their family’s religious tradition with Gedalia’s sexual orientation. When Gedalia realized he was gay as a young teenager, his parents weren’t sure how best to deal with the information. They initially attempted conversion therapy, now known to be ineffective at bes

Mar 22, 2021 • 1:19:29

Robyn Frisch & Benji Frisch: A Child Becomes Orthodox [Divergence 2/4]

Robyn Frisch & Benji Frisch: A Child Becomes Orthodox [Divergence 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Robyn Frisch—a Reform rabbi who works with interfaith families—and her son Benji—who now identifies as Orthodox and learns in the Mir Yeshiva—about the rewards and challenges of religious diversity in the family. Robyn is a Reform rabbi whose organizational work relates to interfaith families. Though she didn’t raise her family Orthodox, her son Benji was drawn to Orthodoxy in high school, culminating in his attending Ner Yisroel and now t

Mar 15, 2021 • 1:30:43

Daniel Grama & Aliza Grama: A Child in Recovery [Divergence 1/4]

Daniel Grama & Aliza Grama: A Child in Recovery [Divergence 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Daniel Grama—rabbi of Westside Shul and Valley Torah High School—and his daughter Aliza—a former Bais Yaakov student and recovered addict—about navigating their religious and other differences. Daniel is a rabbi in Los Angeles, and has, to some extent, dedicated his life to teaching others about Orthodox Judaism. Aliza experienced a rebellious teenhood in which she left religious observance and succumbed to addiction. As Aliza’s devi

Mar 8, 2021 • 1:28:59

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel: How Can God be Found After Trauma? [God 3/3]

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel: How Can God be Found After Trauma? [God 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel—speaker, educator, and yoetzet halacha— about the effects of tragedy on emunah. In 2014, Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel’s son Naftali was kidnapped and murdered in a tragic terror attack. The week before the world learned of his fate was sad but hopeful, leaving many feeling crushed by the outcome. Despite this impossible situation, Rachelle was lauded as displaying emunah, faith, in Hashem, remaining optimistic but

Feb 23, 2021 • 1:22:57

Dr. Aaron Segal: Can God Be Proven? [God 2/3]

Dr. Aaron Segal: Can God Be Proven? [God 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Segal, philosophy professor and student of both Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Alvin Plantinga, to discuss God from the perspective of analytic philosophy. Analytic philosophy is mathematical, breaking claims into small pieces to rigorously analyze the language and concepts. The cost of this approach is its unwieldiness and high standards, which Aaron believes has precluded it from providing a capital-P proof of God’s existence. But

Feb 16, 2021 • 1:28:10

Rabbi David Aaron: How Should We Talk About God? [God 1/3]

Rabbi David Aaron: How Should We Talk About God? [God 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Aaron, author, thinker, and educator, to discuss what God is and isn’t. People often think of God as a powerful, heavenly figure giving commandments, but to Rabbi Aaron, God is more of an experience of awe or good that morally inspires. This experience is impacted by our past experiences, often most prominently by those involving our parents. Rabbi Aaron thinks that many atheists are truly believers and would connect to their f

Feb 9, 2021 • 1:16:10

OTD Highlights

OTD Highlights

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special session with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss one of the podcast’s first topics: going off the derech. There are many preconceptions that come with leaving one’s religious life. People often claim to know the precise psychological reasons that caused someone to leave and what kind of life they’re currently living. There are always reasons, but these reasons can be varied and unexpected, and can lead people to very different p

Jan 26, 2021 • 56:00

Talmud Highlights

Talmud Highlights

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to review the first topic that 18Forty covered: Talmud. Though Judaism has many facets to its practice, Talmud study has long been one of its hallmarks. It is a sprawling text with many commentaries, and so can be analyzed from any number of perspectives. This episode highlight three: those of Ari Bergmann, Chaim Saiman, and Michelle Chesner. From its historical formation to its ideas to its

Jan 19, 2021 • 1:00:20

Why 1840?

Why 1840?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840. Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for

Jan 12, 2021 • 37:53

Eli Rubin: How do Mysticism and Social Action Interact? [Social Justice 3/3]

Eli Rubin: How do Mysticism and Social Action Interact? [Social Justice 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Eli Rubin – writer and researcher at chabad.org – to think about the stereotypes associated with social justice and vision, and how those seeming boundaries have been transcended. Social reform requires that one embrace at least some change, leading some to think that it is antithetical to conservative worldviews. While the compatibility of Judaism and social justice movements is not guaranteed, it is often the case, even in some of what a

Jan 5, 2021 • 1:09:57

Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz: How Should We Educate About Social Justice? [Social Justice 2/3]

Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz: How Should We Educate About Social Justice? [Social Justice 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz – Shalom Hartman Institute Fellow, SAR Associate Principal, and Princeton PhD – to think about ways in which social justice can be incorporated into Orthodox education systems. History has seen many hierarchical class systems that benefit some to the detriment of others. The Jewish people have not often been the beneficiaries, yet we enjoy much economic and social success in much of the world today. Dr. Press Schwa

Dec 29, 2020 • 1:17:41

Rabbi Jeremy Wieder: Is There a Torah Approach to our Social Responsibility? [Social Justice 1/3]

Rabbi Jeremy Wieder: Is There a Torah Approach to our Social Responsibility? [Social Justice 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Jeremy Wieder – rosh yeshiva, PhD, Bible professor, and passionate Orthodox moral voice – to discuss what the Torah has to say about social justice. The Torah serves as a moral guidebook for many, with some citing the avos as exemplifying generosity, even towards those they didn’t know. One might therefore expect that those most engrossed in Torah learning would fight on the front lines for social justice issues, but many make the op

Dec 22, 2020 • 1:18:21

Rabbi Meir Triebitz: How Should We Approach the Science of the Torah? [Science 4/4]

Rabbi Meir Triebitz: How Should We Approach the Science of the Torah? [Science 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Meir Triebitz – Rosh Yeshiva, PhD, and expert on matters of science and the Torah – to discuss what kind of science we can learn from the Torah. The Torah, and especially the Talmud, addresses a wide subject matter including theology, morality, metaphysics, and science. It is sometimes said to contain all knowledge – meaning that we could learn anything from the Torah, which seems to imply that all of the Torah’s scientific claims ar

Dec 8, 2020 • 54:30

Rabbi David Fohrman: Does the Torah Teach Science? [Science 3/4]

Rabbi David Fohrman: Does the Torah Teach Science? [Science 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Fohrman - author, lecturer, and founder of the Aleph Beta Academy - to discuss in what genre the Torah is meant to be, and how that should influence the way we think about it. There are many approaches one could take when confronted with science that seem to contradict parts of the Torah. Some, including Nathan Aviezer, orchestrate elaborate readings of the beginning of Bereishis in accordance with Biblical concordism. Some, li

Dec 1, 2020 • 1:15:38

Professor Allison Coudert: How did Religion Influence Science? [Science 2/4]

Professor Allison Coudert: How did Religion Influence Science? [Science 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor Allison Coudert, of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Davis, to discuss the historical interplay of science with religion, and specifically with Kabbalah. During a 1917 lecture talking about the rational mindset underlying science, Max Weber famously declared that “This means that the world is disenchanted.” Though this sentiment has permeated the public consciousness, Allison thinks the real story is more complicated. Sh

Nov 24, 2020 • 59:55

Dr. Jeremy England: What Does a Scientist See in the Torah? [Science 1/4]

Dr. Jeremy England: What Does a Scientist See in the Torah? [Science 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeremy England, physicist and biologist, to discuss his lives as a Jew and an academic, and how, if at all, those lives interact. Jeremy grew up a barely-affiliated Jew and obtained a degree in biochemistry from Harvard, but discovered his love for Judaism and began reading authors like Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Ruth Weiss. He is an accomplished scientist, having posited the theory of dissipative adaptation to explain abiogenesis, but s

Nov 17, 2020 • 1:49:14

Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community? [Mysticism 3/3]

Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community? [Mysticism 3/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Moshe Weinberger, rabbi and educator, to discuss the role of mysticism in modern-day Judaism. Rav Weinberger grew up Modern Orthodox and became attracted to Chassidus at a young age. Though he is a fan of the yeshiva system and believes that Halakha cannot be compromised, he has long watched with anguish as countless products of the system have been turned off by the dry, inhumane version of Yiddishkeit taught to them. Rav Weinberger b

Nov 3, 2020 • 1:12:08

Dr. Ora Wiskind: How do you Read a Mystical Text? [Mysticism 2/3]

Dr. Ora Wiskind: How do you Read a Mystical Text? [Mysticism 2/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ora Wiskind, professor and author, to discuss her life journey, both as a Jew and as an academic, and her attitude towards mysticism.Ora grew up in a Reform family in Ohio, receiving a top-notch secular education but a minimal Jewish one. After studying in France and Germany she found herself in Israel, eventually becoming Orthodox despite her rebellious nature. With her background in literature, she has contributed unique, hermeneutic

Oct 27, 2020 • 1:05:06

Joey Rosenfeld: Can Mysticism Heal Us? [Mysticism 1/3]

Joey Rosenfeld: Can Mysticism Heal Us? [Mysticism 1/3]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Joey Rosenfeld, social worker and kabbalist, to talk about the differences between mysticism and rationalism and the roles they should play in our lives. Mysticism is often misunderstood and dismissed by rationalists without much thought, but what is mysticism? One might define it by what it’s not: reductionism, which combined with complexity is science. But what if we saw things as their whole instead of their constituent parts? Maybe we’

Oct 20, 2020 • 1:24:16

Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew? [Peoplehood 4/4]

Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew? [Peoplehood 4/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor of Journalism at Columbia and author, Samuel G. Freedman, to talk about dissent not as a cause of ugliness and divide, but of beauty and unity. Some would say that disagreement isn’t a bug of the Jewish community, but a feature. We have a rich history of debate in the Talmud and haven’t been able to shake this dubious quality even in the modern day United States. The internet has only exaggerated this, and while one can argue for

Sep 29, 2020 • 45:39

Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community [Peoplehood 3/4]

Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community [Peoplehood 3/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with conservative journalist and cultural commentator, Bethany S. Mandel, to talk about the entrances and exits of her life, reconstructing Jewish identity, and creating a Jewish home outside of the Jewish community. Bethany has written for the New York Times and Washington Post, and now serves as an opinion columnist for the Forward, a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beyond the Beltway blog, and is an editor at Richocet.com. She is a

Sep 22, 2020 • 43:40

Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community

Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with conservative journalist and cultural commentator, Bethany S. Mandel, to talk about the entrances and exits of her life, reconstructing Jewish identity, and creating a Jewish home outside of the Jewish community. Bethany has written for the New York Times and Washington Post, and now serves as an opinion columnist for the Forward, a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beyond the Beltway blog, and is an editor at Richocet.com. She is a

Sep 22, 2020 • 45:43

Laura E. Adkins: Is There Room for All Opinions? [Peoplehood 2/4]

Laura E. Adkins: Is There Room for All Opinions? [Peoplehood 2/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Laura E. Adkins, the JTA’s opinion editor and an adjunct professor of journalism at Stern College for Women, to talk about how she stays grounded while engaging with so many disparate viewpoints. Many people live in a perpetual bubble, never allowing themselves to step too far from the lifestyle they feel is comfortable. They may only ever engage with straw man versions of others’ opinions, and therefore may never be exposed to a diversity

Sep 15, 2020 • 46:45

Rav Aaron Lopiansky: What Tribes do you Contain Inside? [Peoplehood 1/4]

Rav Aaron Lopiansky: What Tribes do you Contain Inside? [Peoplehood 1/4]

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, to talk about the challenges facing American Orthodoxy, life-long education, and value education.Rav Lopiansky speaks the language of the particular; much of his insight is situated for those in the Yeshiva-oriented Jewish communities, but his thought is important for all. As he navigates his understanding of the many roles we all occupy, he promotes a loving accepta

Sep 10, 2020 • 1:17:21

Reflections Four Months After Launch

Reflections Four Months After Launch

18Forty launched in May 2020 and since then we’ve explored Talmud, OTD: Leaving Religion, Comedy, and Biblical Criticism. As we take a two-week break before exploring our next topic, we want to spend some time reflecting on what we’ve learned.Learn more at https://18forty.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Aug 25, 2020 • 1:00:55

Gil Student: Where are the Lines?

Gil Student: Where are the Lines?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Gil Student, an infamous blogger who created Torah Musings, to talk about the credibility of modern Biblical scholarship. Gil grew up learning the Bible from the perspective of Biblical criticism, but its conclusions never jived with him. Though many are quick to note places where the Torah uses inconsistent characterizations as evidence that it has been written by multiple authors, he has always noted the implicit assumptions that the

Aug 17, 2020 • 53:47

Biblical Criticism Conclusion

Biblical Criticism Conclusion

As we confront the questions that Biblical criticism has presented, we must ask ourselves how we can keep that transcendent, atemporal view of the Torah. Perhaps considering the seemingly temporal idiosyncrasies of the Torah can actually strengthen our appreciation of its timelessness. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Aug 17, 2020 • 8:36

Joshua Berman: What Should We Believe?

Joshua Berman: What Should We Believe?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Joshua Berman, a professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, to talk about the relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Biblical criticism. Many Orthodox educators avoid dealing with Biblical criticism, leaving their students feeling that they’ve been duped. Religious Bible critics are a minority in the field, giving some the impression that the questions raised cannot be adequately addressed. Though Joshua grew up with a strong intern

Aug 3, 2020 • 1:01:57

Biblical Criticism Intro

Biblical Criticism Intro

David explains how, despite his initial apprehensiveness towards the topic, he has come to appreciate the different approaches to Biblical criticism offered by this month’s three guests: Joshua Berman, Gil Student, and Sara Susswein Tesler. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jul 26, 2020 • 13:57

Daniel Feldman: Punchlines with Boundaries and Opportunities

Daniel Feldman: Punchlines with Boundaries and Opportunities

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Rabbi Daniel Feldman, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and an author to discuss the role of comedy in Jewish thought and practice. We usually think of learning Torah as something serious and of comedy as incompatible with it. It is therefore natural to assume that comedy doesn’t have value, or at least that it doesn’t have inherent value, according to the Torah. The Torah even prohibits something called “leitzanus,” which many tran

Jul 19, 2020 • 33:01

Comedy Conclusion

Comedy Conclusion

As we live through the ups and downs of life, laughter begins to play an invaluable role in our mental well-being. Perhaps comedy can provide a helpful lens through which to view the sometimes stressful responsibilities of our life.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jul 19, 2020 • 7:43

Leah Forster: Of Comedy and Community

Leah Forster: Of Comedy and Community

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Leah Forster, an ex-Hasidic comedian to talk about how her journey has affected her comedy. Leah found comedy at a young age and pioneered comedy by women for women in the ultra-Orthodox world. She realized that the ultra-Orthodox life she grew up with caused a deep conflict within herself and she left to remain true to her authentic self. She was later at the center of a controversy where two bookings at kosher restaurants were cancel

Jul 12, 2020 • 44:12

Gary Gulman: This Impossible Life

Gary Gulman: This Impossible Life

This episode is sponsored by Louis and Debby FlancbaumIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Gary Gulman, a world-famous comedian with comedy specials on Netflix and HBO, to talk about the relationship between comedy and the art of living.Gary grew up with a close relationship to God and was deeply depressed as a child. He thought he would be happy if he mastered something, so he resolved to become a good basketball player, then a successful accountant. But a change in pers

Jul 5, 2020 • 56:47

Comedy Intro

Comedy Intro

David explains how comedy and humor can uncover a mystical oneness that allows us to construct meaning and community from mundane occurrences.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jun 28, 2020 • 9:30

OTD: Leaving Religion Conclusion

OTD: Leaving Religion Conclusion

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May 28, 2020 • 6:15

Kelsey Osgood: A Conversion Narrative of Sorts

Kelsey Osgood: A Conversion Narrative of Sorts

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May 28, 2020 • 40:17

Philo Judaeus: Is There a Room for Dialogue?

Philo Judaeus: Is There a Room for Dialogue?

In this episode of the 18Forty podcast, David invites a man who goes by the pseudonym Philo Judaeus – former member of the Orthodox Jewish community and moderator of the ambitious Frum/OTD Dialogue Facebook group – to discuss the intersection of philosophy and religiosity. According to Philo, even most of the greatest atheistic cosmologists would concede that there are compelling arguments for the existence of a divine being, and yet these same scientists remain atheist. Our deep-rooted motivati

May 28, 2020 • 1:18:09

Shulem Deen: Faith, without Faith

Shulem Deen: Faith, without Faith

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David discusses with special guest and former member of the Ultra-Orthodox community, Shulem Deen, the struggle and importance of balancing one’s individual needs with those of the community. Though many of us are aware of the extreme disconnect that exists between the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and the secular world, the result of this unfortunate dynamic offers powerful insight. In particular, the intense and likely under-discussed experience of ex-

May 28, 2020 • 59:31

OTD: Leaving Religion Intro

OTD: Leaving Religion Intro

David introduces the next series of the 18Forty Podcast: why people join and leave religion and what we can learn from their decisions.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

May 27, 2020 • 11:01

Why 1840?

Why 1840?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840. Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for

May 5, 2020 • 25:45

Talmud Conclusion

Talmud Conclusion

It’s hard to make sense and order within the Talmud. But maybe that’s the point. Listen to some brief closing thoughts on the value of building meaning specifically when it is not apparent.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Apr 21, 2020 • 6:34

Is Talmud the Jewish Constitution? A Conversation with Chaim Saiman

Is Talmud the Jewish Constitution? A Conversation with Chaim Saiman

In this episode, David discusses the mystifying qualities of the Talmud and how we find meaning in the nuance of Talmudic law with special guest Chaim Saiman, professor at Villanova Law School.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mar 18, 2020 • 1:00:24

Talmud as an Agent of Chaos: A Conversation with Ari Bergmann

Talmud as an Agent of Chaos: A Conversation with Ari Bergmann

Talmud as an Agent of Chaos: A Conversation with Ari Bergmann by 18FortyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mar 18, 2020 • 27:53

A Page is Worth A Thousand Worlds: A Conversation with Michelle Chesner

A Page is Worth A Thousand Worlds: A Conversation with Michelle Chesner

In this episode, David and special guest, Michelle Chesner, Columbia University’s Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies, discuss how the formatting of sacred Jewish texts has developed throughout Jewish history and impacted religious Judaism.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mar 18, 2020 • 52:25

Talmud Intro

Talmud Intro

Why start here? In a brief opening thought, David explains the role of Talmud in finding meaning amid chaos.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mar 17, 2020 • 12:36

Journey to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen

Journey to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen

Journey to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen by 18FortyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mar 16, 2020 • 52:18

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