18Forty Podcast

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 our fellow Jews and caring about the world? 
—Why are younger Jews more antagonistic toward Israel than previous generations?
—Can American Jewry survive without a connection to Israel? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the past, present, and future of American Jewry. 

Interview begins at 6:12.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is a leader of the Reform Movement. He is the senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and former executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism, North America. He wrote two books: The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi’s Reflections on Love, Courage, and History (2023) and One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them (2003), which he co-authored with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.

References:

18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers

Leviticus 19:17

Genesis 12:3

Amos 9

The War of Return by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf

Jewish Wisdom by Joseph Telushkin

The Book of Jewish Values by Joseph Telushkin

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can receive a discount by using the coupon code 18Forty.

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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 began in the early 2000s, his views drastically shifted regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict—specifically its prospects for resolution. Praised and criticized across the political divide, Benny Morris’ work lies at the bedrock of Israeli history today. 

Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what should happen with Gaza after the war, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, whether the IDF is the world’s most moral army, and so much more. 

This interview was held on June 10.

Here are some of our 18 questions:

1. As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
2. What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
3. How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7—was it a success, in their eyes?
   
   
4. What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
5. Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
6. Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
7. Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
8. What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
   
   
9. Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
10. What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?

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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 unity. In this episode we discuss:

• What does a Conservative rabbi think about the practice of his less observant congregants? 
• How did Mia deal with religious observance as a Division I basketball player?
• How do the apparent barriers between Jewish groups play out when we interact in the world?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might think more deeply than the labels of “secular,” “frum,” “baal teshuva,” and the like.

Interview begins at 6:58.

Rabbi Adam J. Raskin is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, Maryland. Adam is a member of the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international organization of Conservative Rabbis, and is a founder of the Potomac-Area Interfaith Communities. 

Mia Raskin is a program director and Marketing Analyst for Athletes for Israel, a graduate of Binghamton University, where she played college basketball while keeping Shabbos.

References:

God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel

The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel


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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 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 the benefits of dissent, the fact that Jews seem embroiled in a perpetual state of debate remains.

• Is debate a healthy state of mind for our community?
• Should we be looking to avoid debate or embrace it?
• Does dissent cause only divide or can it be used as a means of understanding the other members of our community?

Tune in to hear Samuel discuss the roles that individual Jews play in the larger debate that is the Jewish community.



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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 this episode we discuss:

• How did the Conservative movement diverge from Orthodoxy?
• Where did the “yeshiva world” come from?
• How have Jews historically maintained friendship despite denominational divisions?

Tune in to hear a conversation about Jews’ tangled relationship between ideology and lived experience. 

Interview begins at 13:36

Dr. Marc B. Shapiro holds the Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Scranton. Marc received his PhD from Harvard, and he is the author of numerous books, articles, and reviews, including Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy, The Limits of Orthodox Theology, and Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History. 

References:

Halacha Headlines

Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy by Marc B. Shapiro

Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox by Marc B. Shapiro

Changing the Immutable by Marc B. Shapiro

Marc B. Shapiro on The Seforim Blog

Judith Berlin Lieberman: Autobiography and Reflections edited by Menachem Butler and Abraham Lieberman

A Few Good Men

Toras HaNazir by Rav Hutner

Iggerot Malkhei Rabanan by Marc B. Shapiro

Orthodox Jews in America by Jeffrey S. Gurock

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha with David Bashevkin

All Parsha

The Book And The Sword by David Weiss Halivni

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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 on-the-ground realities of a community’s practice. In this episode we discuss:

• How does a Jewish movement’s "lived religion" differ from its stated ideals?
• What is the cost of radical inclusivity?
• What misconceptions do Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews have about each other?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what Judaism means for us in our current time. 

Interview begins at 28:28.

Dr.  Jack Wertheimer is a leading thinker and professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the former provost of JTS, and was the founding director of the Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism. Jack has written and edited numerous books and articles on the subjects of modern Jewish history, education, and life. He won the National Jewish Book Award in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life in 1994 for A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America. 

References:

“Sometimes Mashiach Is Not the Solution” by Aaron Lopiansky

“Politics and the Yeshivish Language” by Cole S. Aronson

The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer

A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America by Jack Wertheimer

Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy by Samuel C. Heilman

Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal by Dana Kaplan

“What Jewish Denominations Mean to Me” by David Bashevkin

Michtav Me'Eliyahu by Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler

The 18Forty Podcast: “Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha”

“Shomer Yisroel” by Omek Hadavar



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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 especially considering Rabbi Hirsch’s leadership on issues related to Zionism, a follow-up conversation with him will follow shortly. In this episode we discuss:

• Where should the State of Israel fit into our priorities as a people? 
• How has Reform Judaism course-corrected its views on Jewish Peoplehood over time?
• How can we be a unified people when we can’t always agree on who is a Jew?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might improve the state of interdenominational relations.

Interview begins at 19:50.

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is a leader of the Reform Movement. He is the senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and former executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism, North America. He wrote two books: The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History (2023) and One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them (2003), which he co-authored with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.

References:

One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them by Ammiel Hirsch and Yaakov Yosef Reinman

The Impostor by Avner Gold

18Forty Podcast: “Altie Karper: When a Book Is Banned”

“The Believer” by Armin Rosen

“Dissent in the Reform Ranks” by Armin Rosen

The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History by Ammiel Hirsch

The Book of Jewish Values: A Day-by-Day Guide to Ethical Living by Joseph Telushkin

“Who Can Be Called Rabbi?” by Gil Student

“Shomer Yisroel” by Omek Hadavar


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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. In this episode we discuss:

• How did America’s Jewish “denominations”—better termed “movements”—as we know them come to be?
• What have the different Jewish movements each contributed to American Jewish life?
• How can we get back to not just fighting antisemitism, but uncovering the meaning of our Judaism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how previous generations of American Jews have handled the issues that, to one degree or another, threatened to divide us. 

Interview begins at 49:36.

Rabbi Dr. Zev Eleff is the president of Gratz College. Zev is the author and editor of nine books and more than 50 scholarly articles in the fields of Jewish Studies and American Religion, including Modern Orthodox Judaism: A Documentary History, Dyed in Crimson: Football, Faith, and Remaking Harvard's America, and Authentically Orthodox: A Tradition-Bound Faith in American Life. Zev’s research focuses on American Jewish history, sports, and Modern Orthodox history.

References:

Jonathan Haidt on The Daily Show

Ammi Hirsch on Campus Chaos

“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I’ve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David Bashevkin

Authentically Orthodox: A Tradition-Bound Faith in American Life by Zev Eleff

The Birth of Conservative Judaism by Michael Cohen

American Judaism by Jonathan D. Sarna

The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000 by Hasia R. Diner

Jew Vs Jew: The Struggle For The Soul Of American Jewry by Samuel G. Freedman

This Is My God by Herman Wouk

Jewish Continuity in America by Abraham J. Karp

18Forty Podcast: “Halacha as a Language”

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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 connection to the members of our family who are missing?
• What difficult thoughts and questions will we bring to the Seder table this year?
• What does it mean to express hope via the Pesach Seder amid these bitter times? 

We hope wholeheartedly that this conversation about missing our children at the time of Passover will be made irrelevant and the hostages will soon return home. 

Interview begins at 7:17.

References:

“One Tiny Seed” by Rachel Goldberg-Polin

“To the Boys in the Room” by Rachel Goldberg-Polin

Sefer HaMenucha on Mishneh Torah, Leavened and Unleavened Bread 8:2

“A Prayer for Israel To Add to Your Pesach Seder” by Yosef Zvi Rimon


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 minority of IDF parents—and what is it like being one of the comparatively few IDF parents in the Haredi community? 
• What is the experience of religiously raised soldiers remaining observant in the army?
• What is it like for a mother to send her son into battle?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might, as Dina puts it, be machmir about how we relate to others.
 
Interview begins at 7:16.

References:

“A Mother’s Miracle” by Sara Bonchek

Book Journeys are already back—and we're making them better than ever. We're partnering with Maggid Books, an imprint of Koren Publishers, to ship the books directly to you for an exclusive low price. Until April 24, all the books can be purchased and delivered to your home for $20 per book, or $60 for all three! Get your books and sign up on our website. 

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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 Yael Ruzievich of the “adoptive family” of lone soldier David Mittelman, who was killed on Oct. 7. Hashem yikkom damo. In this episode we discuss:

• How do soldiers from the Haredi world relate to their parents after joining the IDF?
• What does the “adoptive family” of a Haredi lone soldier look like? 
• How can we do more for those who make immense sacrifices to defend the Jewish People?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how to handle divisive debates—such as Haredim enlisting for Israeli military service—as a unified Jewish family. 

First soldier interview begins at 16:47.
Second soldier interview begins at 26:06.
Interview with Yael Ruzievich begins at 50:46.
Third soldier interview begins at 1:32:01.
Fourth soldier interview begins at 1:40:45.

Haredi soldiers are in a difficult place, often struggling with a lack of social and familial support, due to their community’s stance on army service. The organization Osey Chail fills this gap, supporting soldiers from Haredi backgrounds with kosher food, foster families, apartments, and unity events, among other programs. We’re honored to speak to Haredi soldiers who were part of Osey Chail, as well as families that adopted them.

References:

Shomer Yisrael

Osey Chail

נגמר by Idan Amedi

Donate Dog Tags

Donate Toward Mittelman Park

Pesach is approaching—and Twillory has what you need. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of orders of $139 or more. (Keep an eye out for their one-of-a-kind Air Suits.)

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 involve a crushing degree of pressure. In the Jewish world, perhaps the quintessential case of this is the challenge of being the scion of a prominent rabbinic family (what some might call a “dynasty”). In this episode we discuss:

• How did family, friends, and congregants react to Joshua leaving the family pulpit? 
• How can children find agency amid family expectations?
• How do leaders of Jewish institutions manage the most foundational Jewish institution: the family? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can grapple wisely with professional divergence across generations.

Interview begins at 12:53.

Rabbi Dr. Haskel Lookstein is the Rabbi Emeritus of Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan, where he served most of his entire rabbinic career. He was also the principal of the Ramaz School from 1966 through 2015. R. Lookstein has been highly involved in leadership in the Jewish community for decades. He serves as the Joseph H. Lookstein Professor of Homiletics at Yeshiva University, where he has taught since 1979. He also serves as a Vice President of the Bet Din of America. 

Rabbi Joshua Lookstein is the Associate Head of School at the Ramaz School. Rabbi Lookstein previously served as the Head of School at Westchester Day School and a Major Gifts Officer at UJA-Federation of New York, and as Executive Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Foundation. Rabbi Lookstein is responsible for ensuring the values of the school are sustained throughout a student’s education.

References:

“The Lookstein Legacy: An American Orthodox Rabbinical Dynasty?” by Adam S. Ferziger

The Shawshank Redemption

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

This episode is sponsored in honor of Robert and Sandy April, loyal congregants and students of Rabbi Lookstein for many years. May they continue to learn from Rabbi Lookstein's lessons and actions for many years to come.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 experienced in our lifetimes. And yet, it was a feeling that we somehow felt we were returning to as Jews. In this episode we discuss:

• How does trauma get passed on across generations? 
• How do the Jewish holidays teach us to cultivate resilience from within trauma? 
• How can the Jewish community be more adept at handling traumatic events?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how, together, we find the courage to continue.

Interview begins at 11:01.

Dr. Rachel Yehuda is a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, the vice chair for veterans affairs in the psychiatry department, and the director of the traumatic stress studies division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Yehuda also established and directs the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research. Dr. Yehuda’s research on second-generation Holocaust survivors, showing the epigenetic effects of trauma across generations, has made her a seminal figure in the field of intergenerational trauma and resilience.

References:

“The Rabbi vs. the Jewish People” by David Bashevkin

“Yonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find”

“Hazon Ish on Textual Criticism and Halakhah” by Zvi A. Yehuda

“Hazon Ish on the Future of the State of Israel” by Zvi A. Yehuda

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith Herman 

“Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectives” by Rachel Yehuda and more

“What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank” by Nathan Englander



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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. In this episode we discuss:

• How do experts deal with the mental health of college students “in between” childhood and adulthood?
• What mental health challenges to the Jewish world in particular need to address?
• How can young adults handle the mental health turmoil that can come with dating?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can get to a place where sound mental health enables spiritual growth. 

Interview with Dr. Muskat begins at 7:13.
Interview with Dr. Galla begins at 55:46.

Dr. Yael Muskat, Psy.D., is the Director of the Counseling Center at Yeshiva University and has over 20 years of clinical experience. After graduating from Yeshiva University, she received a Master’s in Special Education from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, C.W. Post. Dr. Muskat continued her clinical training by completing a Post Doctorate Leadership Fellowship at Westchester Institute for Human Development. 

Dr. Martin Galla is a former associate director at the Yeshiva University Counseling Center, where he worked for 13 years. 

References:

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue Johnson

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD: A Guide to Overcoming Obsessions and Compulsions Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Jon Hershfield and Tom Corboy

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

Berakhot 12b

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 that our material needs are largely taken care of. While this is a tremendous blessing, it’s redirected our attention to the psychological needs toward the top of Maslow's hierarchy. This is a kind of suffering that many of us are still learning how to handle, and that we anguish over figuring out how to address in our children. In this episode we discuss:

• What is going on with young people and mental health, and how can we help our children thrive?
• How can we contend with the mental health blessings and curses that come with modernity?
• What should we do when we are depressed or anxious?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might go from doom-scrolling about mental health to taking meaningful action.

Interview begins at 19:48.

Dr. Regine Galanti, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults. She is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr Galanti is the founder of Long Island Behavioral Psychology, a therapy practice in Nassau County, Long Island, and is an Educational Consultant in the Psychiatry Department of Mount Sinai Hospital. She is the author of Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress, as well as When Harley Has Anxiety: A Fun CBT Skills Activity Book for Overcoming Worries and Fears. 

References:

“Why the Kids Aren't Alright” with Bari Weiss

“How Anxiety Became Content” by Derek Thompson

Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli R. Lebowitz

The Explosive Child by Ross W Greene

The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris

10% Happier by Dan Harris


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 could instead understand halacha to be a system that sees the fullness of our unideal circumstances and draws us closer to God in spite of it all? In this episode we discuss:

• How might we enable people who are suffering mentally to live fully halachic lives?
• How can a rabbi apply modern knowledge of mental health to centuries-old rabbinic texts?
• How can we benefit from halacha even—especially—amid our difficulties?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how halacha has more to offer us than we might expect.

Interview begins at 12:25.

Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig is rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Previously, he served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Shevut Yisrael in Efrat. Rabbi Rosensweig is the author of several books including the recent Nafshi Beshe’elati on Jewish law and mental health.

References:

נפשי בשאלתי - הלכות בריאות הנפש by Yoni Rosensweig

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

@tzvei_dinim



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 someone know it’s time to get therapy?
• How can we get beyond excessively comparing ourselves with our peers?
• What does it mean to “lift up” a friend?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how seeking help can be a sign and source of strength.

Interview begins at 11:29.

References:

Pirkei Avot 1:6

Curb Your Enthusiasm

The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron

The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Millerw

Waking Up by Sam Harris

David Bashevkin on That’s An Issue

“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I’ve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David Bashevkin

“On Campus, Failure Is on the Syllabus” by Jessica Bennett


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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 month FREE! You will never see the Torah text the same way again.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yakov Danishefsky—a rabbi, author and licensed social worker—about our relationships and our mental health.

We know from Tanakh that “[i]t is not good for man to be alone.” But, when it comes to understanding our relationships, this is just the beginning, as those of us surrounded by others can still be unhappy. Psychologists can explain this phenomenon in part with the study of what they call “attachment theory.” In this episode we discuss:

• What does Abraham Maslow get wrong in his “hierarchy of needs”?
• How can attachment theory apply to our relationships with God?
• What do we really want?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how our lives are in many ways defined by the relationships around us.

Interview begins at 14:36.

Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder of Mind Body Therapy, a private group practice in Chicago. Yakov has semicha and a Master’s in Jewish Philosophy from Yeshiva University and is a popular speaker, teacher, and author on the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, and psychology. He is the author of a new book, Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach.

References:

The Office

Pirkei Avot 5

Genesis 2:18

Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach by Rabbi Yaakov Danishefsky, LCSW

What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture by Ben Horowitz

The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron

The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller

"Souls as Mirrors" by Shlomo Kassierer

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 enables happy people to be so happy?

Tune in to hear a discussion about how one might “become friends with themself” despite life’s difficulties.

Message from Dr. Sara Baris begins at 24:26.
Conversation with Grandma Millie begins at 1:18:30.
Conversation with Jay Richman begins at 1:24:08.

David Bashevkin, is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He received a doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He has published two books, Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, as well as a Hebrew work B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy).

References:

Stutz (2022)

Comedian (2002)

John Mulaney And Stephen Colbert Explore Each Other's Deepest Anxieties

Introduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom

The Wisdom of No Escape: and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chödrön

How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön

The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling

Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh


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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 community?
• What does it mean to be a Jew in a post–Oct. 7 world?
• In what ways can diaspora Jews aspire to live more like Israeli Jews?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might continue forward in pursuit of being a unified Jewish People.

Feedback messages begin: 9:28

References:

Exodus 3:5

“Surfin' Slivovitz” by Andy Statman

“Shomer Yisrael” by Omek Hadavar

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

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

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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”?
• How did Lipa break through the barrier to seeking professional help for mental health issues?
• How can we maintain sincerity in the face of our own cynicism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the radical honesty it takes to make progress on a mental health journey.

Interview begins at 20:26.

Lipa, once described as “the Lady Gaga of Hasidic music,” has 18 solo albums to date. He is a father, singer, writer, and visual artist.

References:

“My heartfelt message of personal growth & challenges before Matan Torah 5783” with Lipa Schmeltzer

Making of a Godol by Nathan Kamenetsky

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

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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 can learn from. In this episode we discuss:

• How does the Dati Leumi community differ from the American Modern Orthodox community?
• What can American Jews better understand about the sacrifices and contributions made by Religious Zionists?
• What does it mean to be a member of the Dati Leumi community in 2024?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how a religious mindset can expand beyond personal piety to include a deep commitment to the Jewish People and the world.

Interview with Gideon Davis begins at 6:09.
Interview with Reuven and Shani Taragin begins at 36:42.

Rav Reuven Taragin is a former Wexner Fellow and Musmach of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Rav Taragin is the Dean of Overseas Students at Yeshivat Hakotel where he is responsible for the program’s quality and message and the welfare of each of its talmidim. Rav Taragin is also the Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Moshava (I.O.), and Rav of Kehillat Eretz Chemdah in Katamon.

Rabbanit Shani Taragin is a noted author and teacher at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha’alvim for Women, Lander College, and the Women’s’ Beit Midrash in Efrat and Ramat Shilo.

The Taragins are the Educational Directors of World Mizrachi and the RZA (Religious Zionists of America), and they also serve as Roshei Beit Medrash for the Beit Medrash Program in Camp Moshava IO during the summer. They have six children and live in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion.

References:

The Matrix

Adjusting Sights by Haim Sabato

Tanakh

The Rav Speaks by Joseph B. Soleveitchik

“How Will Redemption Begin?” by David Bashevkin

Meshekh Chokhmah by Meir Simha HaKohen Dvinsk

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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 change the system from within, or without?
• What has changed about the Jewish experience at American colleges since Oct. 7?
• What is the way forward regarding free speech and Jewish rights on campus?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might work toward a reimagined and refocused higher education.

Interview with David Wolpe begins at 4:27.
Interview with Talia Khan begins at 29:30.
Interview with Steven Pinker begins at 1:05:12.

Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple, a Conservative shul in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart.

Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, and a Fulbright Brazil alumna.

Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language, cognition, and social relations, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.

References:

“On the Hatred of Jews” by David J. Wolpe

Israel: An Echo of Eternity by Abraham Joshua Heschel

O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre

“When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding” by Michael A. Helfand

“A five-point plan to save Harvard from itself” by Steven Pinker

The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt

The Canceling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott

The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch

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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 Arabs like during the infancy of Zionism?
• When and how did this discussion begin to deteriorate and become often counterproductive?
• What can a current Ivy League professor teach us about discussing Israel today?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might seek out the seeds of a reconciliation between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael.

Interview begins at 4:50.

Jonathan Marc Gribetz is Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Judaic Studies at Princeton University, where he teaches about the history of Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, and Jewish and Arab nationalisms. He is the author of Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter.

References:

Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter by Jonathan Marc Gribetz

The Zionist Idea by Arthur Hertzberg

Zionism: An Emotional State by Derek J. Penslar

1929: Year Zero of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Hillel Cohen

Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East by Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki

Clima Twins

Time and Difference in Rabbinic Judaism by Sarit Kattan Gribetz

Genesis 15:15


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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 State of Israel, and how seriously must we take our participation in the building and rebuilding of the nation we envision?
• How might we maintain a sense of empathy for and kinship with the Muslim world and the Palestinian people?
• Why is it so important that we continue to have a Jewish state?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the tensions that come with trying to uphold the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Interview begins at 6:54.

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. Together with Imam Abdullah Antepli of Duke University, he co-directs the Institute's Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), which teaches emerging young Muslim American leaders about Judaism, Jewish identity and Israel. Halevi’s 2013 book, Like Dreamers, won the Jewish Book Council's Everett Book of the Year Award. His latest book, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, is a New York Times bestseller. He writes for leading op-ed pages in the US, including the Times and the Wall Street Journal, and is a former contributing editor to the New Republic.

References:

“What Israelis Fear the World Does Not Understand” with Ezra Klein and Yossi Klein Halevi

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi

Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi

Arab Strategies and Israel's Response by Yehoshafat Harkabi



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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 anything, organic growth inspires us—people finding out about 18Forty from a friend who can’t stop thinking about a recent interview they listened to, articles and podcasts shared in Whatsapp groups and discussed around Shabbos tables across the world, with feedback streaming in from every corner of the Jewish world.

To another year of more growth, curiosity, and asking better questions—for everything, thank you!

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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 rebuild as a more cohesive nation?
• Can we reimagine the relationship between Haredi and secular Israelis?
• What unique contributions does Haredi society offer to Israel?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the transformation and rebirth that Israel is undergoing.
Interview begins at 12:09.

Eli Paley, an alumnus of the Chevron Yeshiva, is owner of Mishpacha Media Group and publisher of the Mishpacha weekly magazine for the Haredi and Dati sectors, in Israel and abroad, in Hebrew and English. He is a businessman and social activist, and is chairman of the Paley Family Foundation which supports and promotes Torah centers and social initiatives in the Haredi community. He is a member of the Jewish Funders Network and is active in several philanthropic organizations.

References:

Book Journey: What is the Essence of Antisemitism?

“Mirror, Mirror of The Fall” by Maureen Dowd

Mishpacha

The Machon Hacharedi

Real Jews: Secular Versus Ultra- Orthodox: The Struggle For Jewish Identity In Israel by Noah Efron

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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 citizens at a young age?
• What is the current raison d'être of the Jewish People?
• What is Michael’s notion of “covenantal capitalism”?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how, together, we summon the agency to transform our lives and uplift the world.

Interview begins at 4:35.

Michael Eisenberg is a General Partner at Aleph, an early-stage venture capital fund with $850M under management. Since 2006, he has been writing the blog “Six Kids and a Full Time Job,” on topics ranging from politics to technology, Judaism, and macroeconomics. Michael has also published numerous books, including The Tree of Life and Prosperity, The Vanishing Jew, and Ben Barukh. In 2020, he established the Nevo Network, a first-of-its-kind fellowship program to elevate olim (immigrants to Israel) working in high-tech and serves as the organization’s chairman. Michael lives in Jerusalem with his wife and eight children.

References:

“Israel, Version 3.0” by Rabbi Moshe Taragin

Michael Eisenberg and Elon Musk on X (Twitter)

Altneuland: The Old-New-Land by Theodor Herzl

“Transactional thinking can only take humanity so far” by Michael Eisenberg

Parshat Shoftim

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein

Red Notice by Bill Browder

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Sotah 49b

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha with David Bashevkin

Book Journey with Malka Simkovich

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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 we discuss:

• What makes someone feel called to do the holy work of caring for the dead bodies of Chayalim?
• What has been the atmosphere of everyday life in Israel during the war?
• What does it mean to live a purpose-driven life?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can use our ordinary human bodies to carry out the extraordinary responsibility of being a part of Am Yisroel.

Interview begins at 10:45.

Born in Jerusalem and having lived in the Ukraine and Australia, Noa is the founder and CEO of ECHAD and the director of OLAH, a program that brings European Jewish women together for learning, community involvement, and entrepreneurship. Noa has founded and managed a youth program in the Ukraine, opened and managed a women’s Jewish learning center in Australia and initiated many community activities including international group tours to Israel and has project managed many community events. Noa has a wealth of experience initiating and developing community projects connecting different Jewish communities around the world and is an active volunteer in a unit for emergency services.

References:

Parshat Korach

Genesis 22:19

Isaiah 60:21


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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 weren’t even sure was possible. In this episode we discuss:

• What went into planning the historic and enormous March for Israel?
• What are the opportunities and challenges for Jewish unity in times of crisis?
• What can the current movement for Jewish solidarity learn from past moments from American and Jewish history?

Tune in to hear a conversation about mobilizing a people known for its proclivity for disagreement.

Interview with Eric Fingerhut begins at 7:26.
Interview with Rabbi Rakeffet begins at 56:31

Eric Fingerhut is the President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America. Prior to his appointment at JFNA, Fingerhut served as the President and CEO of Hillel International from 2013-19. He was an Ohio state senator from 1997 to 2006, and he represented Ohio’s 19th congressional district in the U.S. Congress from 1993 to 1994.

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff is a renowned scholar, historian, author, and teacher, and he is currently professor of rabbinic literature at Yeshiva University’s Caroline and Joseph S. Gruss Institute in Jerusalem. Rabbi Rakeffet has written many entries for Encyclopedia Judaica, including the one on Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Rabbi Rakeffet served in the Israel Defense Forces until the maximum allowable age, and served in Lebanon during the 1982 Lebanon War. In 1980, he was recruited by Aryeh Kroll to join Mossad's clandestine Nativ operation to teach Torah in the Soviet Union.

References:

The Glue, with Eric Fingerhut

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis

Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi

“Rabbinic Authority and Leadership On the Contemporary Scene” by Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff

Taanit 20a

“Crisis Management” by David Bashevkin

“Rafael Halperin”



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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, with Daniel’s status still completely unknown.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the experience of a parent with a child who is held hostage?
• How does family life go on when a child is missing?
• What is the role of joy in a time of tragedy?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the tears of suffering that fuel our future tears of simcha.

Interview begins at 5:40.

Rabbi Doron Perez is the executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement, a position he has held since he returned to Israel in 2014 from Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the author of the book Leading the Way, and a sought-after speaker and scholar-in-residence in communities in Israel and around the world. At World Mizrachi, Doron’s major focus is on organizational transformation and invigorating the global Religious Zionist movement with its dual focus on Jewish and Zionist identity and destiny.

References:

Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2

The Jewish State: From Opposition to Opportunity by Doron Perez

Pachad Yitzchak al Shavuot by Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner

Jeremiah 31

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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 episode we discuss:

• What kinds of halachic questions does a rabbi need to answer when a war breaks out?
• Should a soldier donate a kidney during a war? Can a couple get married when people are dying? Should we really believe that God is with us when we’re being attacked?
• What kinds of questions does Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon ask to the soldiers?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the redemption we can find even when it seems out of reach.

Rabbi Shmuel Ismach joins at 15:22.
Interview with Rabbis Shmuel Ismach and Yosef Zvi Rimon begins at 23:13.

Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon is a prolific author of Halachic books which reflect his unique approach, taking the reader from the sources to the practical application of Halacha in our modern reality. Rav Rimon is Founder and Chairman of the Halacha Education Center which develops innovative educational curricula for Jewish studies using cutting-edge technologies, in Israel and abroad. In 2015, Rav Rimon was appointed the Rabbinic Head of Jerusalem College of Technology and Head of its Batei Midrash. A popular lecturer, Rav Rimon is frequently invited by communities in Israel, North America, the UK and Australia. He also serves as the Rabbi of Alon Shvut South in Gush Etzion. As Founder and Chairman of JobKatif, Rav Rimon was awarded the President’s Prize for Volunteerism in 2008 and the Moskowitz Prize for Zionism in 2014. Some of his published works in English include a commentary on the Haggadah, Shemita: From the Sources to Practical Halacha, and a Yom Kippur Machzor, available in both Nusach Ashkenaz and Nusach Sefarad editions.

References:

Shemita: From the Sources to Practical Halacha by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

Shabbat by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

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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 notions of racism and colonialism onto the Middle East?
• What drew Leonard Cohen to go to Israel during the Yom Kippur War?
• What help is being offered right now to Jewish students in American public schools?

Tune in to hear a conversation about Jewish identity, moral clarity, and human resilience in times of crisis.

Interview with Matti Friedman begins at 11:45.
Campus interviews begin at 37:46.

Matti Friedman’s work as a reporter has taken him from Lebanon to Morocco, Cairo, Moscow and Washington, D.C., and to conflicts in Israel and the Caucasus. He has been a correspondent for the Associated Press, and his writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Tablet Magazine, and elsewhere. He grew up in Toronto and lives in Jerusalem. The Aleppo Codex, his first book (Algonquin, 2012) won the 2014 Sami Rohr Prize and the ALA's Sophie Brody Medal, among other honors. His second book, Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story (Algonquin, May 2016) won starred reviews in Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, and was compared by the New York Times to Tim O'Brien's masterpiece The Things They Carried.

References:

Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at the Birth of Israel by Matti Friedman

Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai by Matti Friedman
“Who by Fire” by Leonard Cohen

“Who by Fire” by Rufus Wainwright and Amsterdam Sinfonietta

The Aleppo Codex: In Pursuit of One of the World’s Most Coveted, Sacred, and Mysterious Books by Matti Friedman

“An Insider’s Guide to the Most Important Story on Earth” by Matti Friedman

“Israel’s Problems Are Not Like America’s” by by Matti Friedman

Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition by David Nirenberg

“The Decolonization Narrative Is Dangerous and False” by Simon Sebag Montefiore

“Leonard Cohen speaks about G-d consciousness and Judaism (1964)”

“The Anguished Fallout from a Pro-Palestinian Letter at Harvard” by Eren Orbey

“We Stand Together With Israel Against Hamas”

“Modernity and Messiah: On Parshas Noach and the Human Capacity for Revolution” by David Bashevkin

“Why Jews Cannot Stop Shaking Right Now” by Dara Horn







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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:

• How does an Israeli moral philosopher react to the recent terror attacks and their repercussions?
• What are the ethics of fighting a war in a civilian-populated area?
• What can Avraham Avinu teach us about restraint in battle?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the complexities of the permissions of war.

Interview begins at 10:46.

Daniel Statman chairs the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, Israel. His recent books are State and Religion in Israel (Cambridge 2019, with Gidi Sapir) and War By Agreement (Oxford 2019, with Yitzhak Benbaji).

References:

Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism by Jeffrey Toobin

Ruach Tzahal

Genesis 18

Just and Unjust Wars by Michael Walzer

War By Agreement by Yitzhak Benbaji and Daniel Statman

Remarks by the President at the Acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize

“War Is a Very Ugly Thing but Not the Ugliest” by Dov Lerner

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 resiliency that has enabled the Jewish people to stay together for millenia.

Interview with Danny Brom begins at 7:55.
Interview with Mike Meyerheim and Susan Cohen begins at 32:66.
Message from Ayala Dayan begins at 51:38.
Interview with Reuven Taragin begins at 1:00:20.
Interviews with students begin at 1:08:56.
Interview with Jacob Freedman begins at 1:13:43.

References:

Metiv

Psalms 126

KeepOlim

Acheinu

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Living in the Presence: A Jewish Mindfulness Guide to Everyday Life by Benjamin Epstein

Mindfulness: A Jewish Approach by Dr. Jonathan Feiner

Off The Couch by Jacob L. Freedman

Me and Uncle Baruch by Jacob L. Freedman

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha with David Bashevkin

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 forms. In this episode we discuss:

• How do we stay collectively anchored during upside-down times?
• Does God cry?
• How can we stay strong in the face of crisis?

Tune in to hear the stories of those who have been on the ground during this transformative event.

Guest messages begin at 16:54.

References:

Numbers 10

Jerusalem Talmud: Shekalim 6

Chagigah 5b

Psalms 30

To support the incredible work of our guests like Tania and get much needed supplies to chayalim, please consider a donation to the Michael Levin Lone Soldier Center.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 Parsha.” Each week, David Bashevkin will take you through the original "I Read This Over Shabbos," in this series of shiurim and essays on the All Parsha app and on Substack.

Here, we speak to Rabbi Moshe Schwed, creator of All Parsha. Tune in to hear about shnayim mikrah and the art of translation.

Interview with Moshe Schwed begins at 28:55.

Rabbi Schwed serves as the Director of the OU Daf Yomi Initiative. After receiving semicha from Beth Medrash Govoha, Rabbi Schwed taught in Yeshiva Gedolah Kesser Torah. Rabbi Schwed is an alumnus of Yeshivos Long Beach and Brisk.

References:

Why Pick On Me? by Louis Sachar

Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen

@ShabbosReads

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim

Exodus 1:1

Megillah 9a

Printer's Error: Irreverent Stories from Book History by Rebecca Romney

The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter

The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan

Community, Covenant And Commitment: Selected Letters And Communications by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Likutei Moharan 19

Tiferet Yisrael 13

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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.

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 strife and negativity?
• What are the common triggers of family estrangement, and how can those in strained relationships move forward?
• What is the role of family in a world of optionality?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can make peace with the “ghosts” of our past.

Interview with Joshua Coleman begins at 8:54.
Interview with Jason Blau begins at 54:42.
Interview with Izzy Posen begins at 1:15:42.

Dr. Joshua Coleman is a psychologist in private practice and a Senior Fellow with the Council on Contemporary Families, an organization of sociologists, historians, psychologists and demographers dedicated to providing the public with the latest research and best practice findings about American families. He has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and other publications, and often speaks on television about issues of estrangement, relationships, and families. Dr. Coleman also writes music for television which has been used on many shows.

References:

“Of Ghosts and Ancestors” by Ari Berman

“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown

Where to Draw the Line: How to Set Healthy Boundaries Every Day by Anne Katherine

Why Won't You Apologize?: Healing Big Betrayals and Everyday Hurts by Harriet Lerner

The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner

Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict by Joshua Coleman

When Parents Hurt: Compassionate Strategies When You and Your Grown Child Don't Get Along by Joshua Coleman

“The Family Reunion” by Izzy Posen

Genesis 46

“הַמַּלְאָךְ" by Izzy Posen

"Daddy Come Home" by The Yeshiva Boys Choir

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 audience compare with teaching high-level students?
• What should we hope to achieve on Yom Kippur?
• What is the relationship between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how a teshuva sheleima begins with a return to the majesty of Torah.

Interview begins at 11:47.

Rabbi Dr. Michael Rosensweig is a Rosh Yeshiva and the Rosh Kollel of the Beren Kollel Elyon at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Rosensweig is one of the foremost Talmudists in the world today, and studied under Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveitchik and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein. Rabbi Rosensweig received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Medieval Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, where he wrote his dissertation under Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik.

References:

Mimini Mikhael - Essays on Yom Kippur and Teshuvah by Rabbi Dr. Michael Rosensweig

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Sefer Mishnas Avraham by Avraham Aharon Price

Sefer Madda by Maimonides

Hosea 14

Nefesh HaChayim, Gate IV, 31 by Chaim of Volozhin

“Elu va-Elu Divre Elokim Hayyim: Halakhic Pluralism and Theories of Controversy” by Michael Rosensweig




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 we discuss:

• What does it mean to save a relationship that can no longer continue?
• How does one rebuild their religious identity after having their “good guy” image destroyed?
• Should an unfaithful spouse “come clean,” or should they “bear the brunt of the guilt” in secret?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can strengthen our essential relationships and revitalize the excitement, joy, and sweetness of our religious lives.

Interview with our anonymous guest begins at 16:10.
Interview with Dr. Bhowmik begins at 1:49:00.

Dr. Malika Bhowmik is a clinical psychologist in private practice, where she works with individuals and couples. Dr. Bhowmik received her doctorate in clinical psychology at the Graduate Center at City University of New York, where she wrote her dissertation on “A Grounded Theory Investigation of the Subjective Responses From Partners in Couples Where Infidelity Has Occurred.” Dr. Bhowmick was mentored by Esther Perel, LMFT, one of the most acclaimed thinkers and therapists on relationships, especially after crisis.

References:

Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin

ברגז רחם תזכור by David Bashevkin

Sexaholics Anonymous: White Book

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Single On Purpose: Redefine Everything. Find Yourself First by John Kim

Lamentations 5

Genesis 3

Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel

After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful by Janis A. Spring

The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 reconciliation seemingly so hard to get right? In this episode we discuss:

• How is doing teshuva different from confessing in court?
• What is the role of reparations in reconciliation?
• Why is forgiveness such an important part of human culture?

Tune in to hear a conversation about why teshuva transcends our systems of justice.

Interview begins at 17:13.

Martha Minow is a legal scholar and professor at Harvard Law School, where she has taught since 1981. Martha serves as the 12th dean of Harvard Law School, was a candidate mentioned to replace Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens upon his retirement, and has served as chair of the MacArthur Foundation. Martha clerked for Judge David Bazelon of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and then for Justice Thurgood Marshall of the Supreme Court of the United States, and is the author of many articles and books on matters of civil procedure, constitutional law, and human and religious rights.

References:

“Warren Studies Talmudic Law Here”

The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar by Jack H. Bloom

Makkot 13b

When Should Law Forgive? by Martha Minow

Netivot Olam, Netiv Hatshuva 2

Resisei Layla 3

Takanat HaShavin 8

The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness by Simon Wiesenthal

On Apology by Aaron Lazare

Mea Culpa: A Sociology of Apology and Reconciliation by Nicholas Tavuchis

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 time is the task of harnessing our passions to find our own way. In this episode we discuss:

• How can teenagers acquire a newfound fire in their spiritual lives?
• What goes into a positive parent-child relationship?
• What is the relationship between song, teshuva, and Torah?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how all of us have the power to find the song of teshuva in our lives.

Interview begins at 18:12.

Rabbi Daniel Kalish is the Menahel of the Mesivta of Waterbury. Rav Kalish has gained wide acclaim for his radical warmth, creative approach with his students, and genuine openness to students of widely varying stages of life. Rav Kalish is beloved by many students who have learned from him from close and far, and is seen as innovative in his insistence on unconditional acceptance of students above all else.

References:

#MKY מי כעמך ישראל

Tractate Nedarim

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant

“Stone Cave” by Waterbury Mesivta

“Tatty My King” by Waterbury Mesivta



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 chesed has brought comfort to individuals enduring the most devastating losses. In this episode we discuss:

• What does it mean to live the fullest life possible with a disease such as muscular dystrophy?
• What is it like to care for a child who is very sick?
• What occurs during the days after the loss of a child?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we stay anchored and full of faith and loving-kindness amid the most difficult times.

Shelley and Ruvan Cohen interview begins: 11:40.
Sara and Avi Schwartz interviews begin at 57:29.

References:

Pirkei Avot 1:2

“A Mother’s Kaddish: Mourning for My Son, From the Women’s Section” by Shelley Richman Cohen

Elokai Neshama

Lamentations 3

Rashi on Lamentations 3:21

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 children” and “Shabbos for grown-ups”?
• What unexpected topic does Yisroel wish he could write about?

Tune in to hear a conversation about looking at others with “beautiful eyes,” to tell their stories with a capacity to uplift.

Interview begins at 19:44.

Yisroel Besser is an author and journalist. Yisroel writes for Mishpacha magazine, and has authored several books, such as Reb Shayele: The Warmth and Wonder of Kerestir, The Tosher Rebbe, and Reb Leizer - The life and legacy of Rabbi Eliezer Geldzahler, among others. Yisroel joins us to talk about how we share Jewish stories.

References:

Top 5 by David Bashevkin

ברגז רחם תזכור by David Bashevkin

Reb Shlomo - The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld by Yisroel Besser

Reb Meilech on the Haggadah by Yisroel Besser

Warmed By the Fire (Intimate Glimpses of Inspiring Leaders) by Yisroel Besser

Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz: His Vision, Wisdom, and Warmth Lit Up the World by Yisroel Besser

I Samuel 22

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 meaning of Jewish identity and memory in our collective past, present, and future. In this episode we discuss:

• What is Dara Horn’s writing process?
• What is the role of belief in literature?
• Are there living Jews whom we struggle to love?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how, as Dara says, “the uncomfortable moments are where the story is.”

Interview begins at 7:17. Dara Horn is a Jewish American novelist, essayist, and professor of literature. She has written five novels and in 2021, released a non-fiction essay collection titled People Love Dead Jews, which was a finalist for the 2021 Kirkus Prize in non-fiction. Her other books include All Other Nights, The World to Come, Eternal Life, and A Guide for the Perplexed. Dara joins us to talk about Jewish stories, in fiction and non-fiction.

References:

Eternal Life by Dara Horn Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin

Breakdown & Bereavement by Yosef Haim Brenner

“Becoming Anne Frank” by Dara Horn

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn

“Savoring the Haterade: Why Jews Love Dara Horn’s ‘People Love Dead Jews’” by Shaul Magid

“American Jews Know How This Story Goes” by Dara Horn

Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi

All Other Nights by Dara Horn

College Commons Podcast from Hebrew Union College

Adventures with Dead Jews from Dara Horn

Mr. Mani by A. B. Yehoshua

Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error by Kathryn Schulz

“Message” by Avi Shafran

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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:

• How does Alex Edelman write a one-man show “chavrusa-style”?
• What, according to Sarah Hurwitz, is the difference between “writing to be read” and “writing to be heard”?
• How does a writer bring a rich and relevant body of Jewish knowledge to the masses?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the “neon entrance signs” of Jewish life and how every Jew can find a way into appreciating their inheritance.

Alex Edelman interview begins at 13:32.
Sarah Hurtwitz interview begins at 54:09.

Alex Edelman is a product of Massachusetts’s Maimonides School and has been featured on Conan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2020, he was the head writer and executive producer of the “Saturday Night Seder” YouTube extravaganza, which raised over $3.5 million for the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. His show Just For Us is running on Broadway! While nights tend to sell out quickly, tickets are available here.

Sarah Hurwitz is an American speechwriter. Sarah was a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama from 2010 to 2017, and was appointed to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by Barack Obama shortly before he left the White House. Sarah is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).

References:

“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I’ve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David Bashevkin

This Is My God by Herman Wouk

People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara Horn

For the Relief of Unbearable Urges: Stories by Nathan Englander

White nights: The story of a prisoner in Russia by Menachem Begin

The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

God in Search of Man : A Philosophy of Judaism by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Suddenly, a Knock on the Door: Stories by Etgar Keret

From Text to Tradition, a History of Judaism in Second Temple and Rabbinic Times: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence H. Schiffman

To the End of the Land by David Grossman

My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah Hurwitz

As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 with the idea for a comprehensive website of Jewish texts?
• What was Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s role in Sefaria putting his translation of the Talmud online?
• How does digitization change our relationship to Jewish books?
• What does having a “gender-sensitive” Tanakh actually mean?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how to make the depth and breadth of Torah available to the entire Jewish community.

Interview begins at 30:30.

Joshua Foer is an author and founder. His book Moonwalking with Einstein was an international bestseller, and he is the co-founder of Atlas Obscura, Sefaria, the design competition Sukkah City, and most recently the Lehrhaus in Boston, Massachusetts. Josh joins us to talk about books real and virtual, and how to build a digital library.

References:

Book Journey with Elli Fischer

Sefaria

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer

Talmud: The William Davidson Edition

“Is Sefaria Kosher?” by Gil Student

THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition

Berakhot 22a

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 “prayer man”?
• How can one effectively set the intention to bring their prayer to a more profound place?
• What does it mean to have a “chavrusa in davening”?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the role of deep desire within the routine of daily prayer.

Interview begins at 21:00.

Rabbi Dov Singer is a trailblazing Israeli educator, spiritual thinker, and thinker. Rav Dov is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mekor Chaim, the founder of the Beit Midrash L'Hitchadshut, and an international lecturer. He is the author of the Hebrew bestseller on prayer, Tikon Teffilati, which is available in English as Prepare My Prayer. He is well known in Israel for his workshops, prayer events, and teacher trainings, as well as a spiritual leader of many.

References:

Prologue to Love’s Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom

“Theologies of Prayer: Dov Singer and Arthur Green in ‘Conversation’” by Steven Gotlib

Olat Reiyah by Rav Kook

Prepare My Prayer by Dov Singer

Likutei Halakhot by Reb Noson of Breslov

“Give Me One Prayer” by Shmuel

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 episode we discuss:

• What did Debbie learn about our relationship with prayer in the process of creating a siddur for teenagers?
• How can educators better accommodate for the discomfort with tefillah often felt by newcomers?
• What is the role of “real estate” in prayer?

Tune in to hear a conversation about all that goes into cultivating a practice of thankfulness within our communities.

Brad Greenbaum interview begins at 14:55.
Debbie Stone interview begins at 33:55.
Yaakov Glasser interview begins at 1:20:48.

Dr. Debbie Stone is an educator and lecturer. Dr. Stone serves as the Associate Head for Judaics at the Jewish Leadership Academy in Miami. She received her Doctorate in Education from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School. Dr. Stone previously served as the associate director of education for NCSY, and authored the Koren NCSY Siddur, helping students learn and connect to prayer in Judaism.

References:

Three Steps Forward by Menachem Tenenbaum

The Musaf Prayer by Elchanan Adler

DMC: The Amidah by Ira Kosowsky

The Feigenbaum Teen Siddur by Yitzchak Feigenbaum

The Song of Shabbos by Yitzchok Alster

The Art of Tefillah by Shlomo David and Daniel Glanz

The Koren NCSY Siddur by Debbie Stone and Daniel Rose

“In Her Place” by Yisroel Besser

Netiv Ha'Avodah 10 by the Maharal of Prague

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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?
• Will AI ever be able to reliably answer our halachic questions?
• Will advances in technology drastically change the experience of Shabbos observance?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how AI has the potential to make our Jewish lives richer—if we use it wisely.

Interview begins at 18:21.

Dr. Moshe Koppel is a computer scientist, Talmud scholar, and political activist. Moshe is a professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University, and a prolific author of academic articles and books on Jewish thought, computer science, economics, political science, and other disciplines. He is the founding director of Kohelet, a conservative-libertarian think tank in Israel, and he advises members of the Knesset on legislative matters. Dr. Koppel is the author of three sharply thought books on Jewish thought and previously joined 18Forty to talk about Halacha as Language.

References:

“Funes the Memorious” by Jorge Luis Borges

The Mind of a Mnemonist by A.R. Luria

Surfaces and Essences: Analogy as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking by Douglas R. Hofstadter & Emmanuel Sander

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

Meta-Halakhah: Logic, Intuition, and the Unfolding of Jewish Law by Moshe Koppel

2001: A Space Odyssey

DICTA: Analytical tools for Hebrew texts

“Digital Discourse and the Democratization of Jewish Learning” by Zev Eleff

Tzidkat HaTzadik: 211 by Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin


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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 does communication between people relate to our communication with the Divine?
• If it often doesn’t seem to affect very much, why does prayer matter?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how finite humans seek to speak with an infinite God.

Interview begins at 10:24.

Rav Dovid'l Weinberg is an educator, musician, poet, and author. Rav Dovid’l teaches as a Ra’am in Yeshivat Orayta; is the Rosh Kollel of Camp HASC's Kollel Toras Chesed; is a co-founder of The Mishna Project, an educational tool which aids the memorization of mishnayos through music; played guitar for the band Omek Hadavar; and writes his own music. He is the author of Birth of the Spoken Word: Personal Prayer as the Goal of Creation and the recently published Reflections on Oros HaTorah.

References:

“Only You” by Dovid'l Weinberg

The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Birth of the Spoken Word: Personal Prayer as the Goal of Creation by Dovid'l Weinberg.

Pirkei Avot

Genesis

Chiddushei Rabbeinu Chaim Halevi Gilyonos Chazon Ish by Chaim Brisker and Chazon Ish

Halakhic Man by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Worship of the Heart: Essays on Jewish Prayer by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Rav Schwab on Prayer by Shimon Schwab

Siddur Tehillat Hashem

Sichot HaRan by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

To Have or To Be? by Erich Fromm

Berogez Racheim Tizkor by David Bashevkin

Olat Reiyah by Rav Kook

A Call to the Infinite by Aryeh Kaplan

Chassidus Mevueres - Avodas Hatefillah by Schneur Zalman of Liadi

Tikkun HaKlali by Rebbe Nachman

Reflections on Oros HaTorah by Dovid'l Weinberg

Shemoneh Esrei: Exploring the Fundamentals of Faith through the Amida Prayer by Ezra Bick


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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 “Turing test,” and how does it relate to prayer?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how consciousness gives us the ability to transform words into prayer, to “sing a new song.”

Interview begins at 31:28.

Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is an associate professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, as well as a rabbi and Jewish educator. Samuel holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and his academic interests cover the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Samuel teaches at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Samuel’s most recent book, of several, is A Guide for the Jewish Undecided, groundbreaking work has an engaging style that makes it accessible to all readers, while not losing the clarity and rigor characteristic of analytic philosophy. Samuel’s first book was a study of Bertrand Russell’s dynamic theories about the nature of meaning. Samuel previously joined us to talk about rationality and mysticism.

References:

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter

Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff

“Perpetual Prophecy: An Intellectual Tribute to Reb Zadok Ha-Kohen of Lublin on His 110th Yahrzeit” by David Bashevkin

Being John Malkovich

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Anomalisa

Netivot Olam by the Maharal of Prague

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam Harris

Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy by Haym Soloveitchik

“God and his imaginary friends: a Hassidic metaphysics” by Samuel Lebens

2001: A Space Odyssey

“A Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled” by Kevin Roose

The Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian Christian

Shemot Rabbah

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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, though for many of us, the mere thought of uprooting our lives and going to an unfamiliar place is intimidating enough. In this episode we discuss:

• What inspires people to leave their homes and begin anew in Israel?
• What are the difficulties that come with making aliyah?
• What does the process of moving to Israel generally involve?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what is unique about deciding to lead a Jewish life in the Jewish state.

Serena Benovitz Interview: 11:58
Chana Berkowitz Interview 37:17
Yehoshua Fass Interview: 43:27
Edo Lavi Interview: 1:40:10
Ahron Levi Interview: 2:08:18

Aliyah—the "pilgrimage" of moving to Israel that literally translates to "ascent"—is a multi-layered subject. We are joined by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass of Nefesh B'Nefesh to break it down.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass is Co-Founder of Nefesh B’Nefesh and has served as the organization’s Executive Director since 2002. After receiving his rabbinic ordination and degrees in biology and education from Yeshiva University, Rabbi Fass assumed the position of Associate Rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue of Florida and served as a member of the Beit Din of the Orthodox Rabbinical Council.

This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity. The shiur moves swiftly through the daf, while still managing to explain well the difficult portions of the sugya. The shiur is available daily on all podcast platforms, All Daf, and on Torah Anytime.

References:

The Koren Mahzor for Yom Haatzma'ut and Yom Yerushalayim by Jonathan Sacks

Genesis 12

Nefesh B’Nefesh

Tzidkas HaTzadik

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

הארץ אשר אראך by Rabbi Shnayor Burton



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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 the Jewish state and the effect of the Jewish state on halacha?
• How can halacha and society be integrated in Israel?
• What is it about the nature of halacha that puts it outside the domain of the current systems of government?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the role of Jewish religion in the Israeli government.

Interview begins at 19:27.

R. Elli Fischer is an independent writer, translator, and rabbi. Previously, he was the OU-JLIC rabbi and campus educator at the University of Maryland. He holds BA and MS degrees from Yeshiva University, rabbinical ordination from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, and is working toward a doctorate in Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. He is a founding editor of The Lehrhaus, a web magazine of contemporary Jewish thought. His original writing on religion and politics in Israel, the interplay between legal and nonlegal elements of the Talmud, Jewish religious culture, and Central European Jewish History have been widely published. He is the translator of By Faith Alone: The Story of R. Yehuda Amital and the editor of R. Eliezer Melamed’s Peninei Halakha series in English.

References:

Ezekiel
The Invention of Jewish Theocracy: The Struggle for Legal Authority in Modern Israel by Alexander Kaye
Halakha and the Challenge of Israeli Sovereignty by Asaf Yedidya
Isaiah
Sefer Lev ha-Ivri by Rabbi Akiva Joseph Schlesinger
“Ivri Anochi” by Benny Friedman
Rabbi Elli Fischer's translation of Peninei Halakha
State of Halakha: Israel's History in Jewish Law by Aviad Tabory
The Politics of Torah: The Jewish Political Tradition and the Founding of Agudat Israel by Alan L. Mittleman

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 friends and family, this summit is for you! Learn more and register for FREE at iwassupposedtohaveababy.org.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bezalel Naor—author, translator, and expert on Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook—about Rav Kook’s relationship to the Land of Israel.

Rabbi Naor helps us see the bigger picture of the Zionist project by exploring the spiritual dimensions of Zionism as demonstrated in Rav Kook’s thought. In this episode we discuss:

• How did Rav Kook’s love for the Land of Israel begin?
• Where should one begin when learning the works of Rav Kook?
• What is the relationship between the nefesh, ruach, and neshama?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how the Land of Israel went from an abstract concept in the Jewish imagination to a concrete part of our lived reality.

Interview begins at 11:04.

Bezalel Naor is a teacher, translator, and author of many books on Rav Kook and Jewish mysticism. His works include Orot (Maggid, 2015); When God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook (Kodesh, 2016); The Koren Rav Kook Siddur (2017); and Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays (Kodesh, 2021), among other books.

References:

Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays (2006-2020) by Bezalel Naor
Orot by Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, translated by Bezalel Naor
Towards the Mystical Experience of Modernity: The Making of Rav Kook, 1865-1904 by Yehudah Mirsky
Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehudah Mirsky
Rosh Milin: Kabbalistic Insights into the Hebrew Alphabet by Rav Kook
Jerusalem Talmud
Igorot HaRaiyah, The Collected Letters of Rav Kook Volume Three by Rav Kook
Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides
When God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook edited by Bezalel Naor
The Legends of Rabbah Bar Bar Hannah with the Commentary of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook translated by by Bezalel Naor
Nine and a Half Mystics: The Kabbala Today by Herbert Weiner
The Souls of the World of Chaos by Rav Kook, translated by Bezalel Naor
Shemonah Kevatzim by Rav Kook

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 Jews be best informed about what is happening in Israel?
• What do people feel is at stake in the debate over Israeli judicial reform?
• What are the key differences between American and Israeli politics?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can experience Israeli issues in a way that doesn’t feel like a “translation.”
Interview begins at 20:07.

Lahav Harkov is the Senior Contributing Editor of The Jerusalem Post and the Post’s Diplomatic Correspondent, analyzing and reporting on Israel’s relations with the world, the Prime Minister’s office, the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and more. She was the Post’s top analyst and reporter in the Knesset for over 8 years and was The Jerusalem Post‘s news editor and managing editor of JPost.com.

References:

Good Will Hunting
Print to Fit: The New York Times, Zionism and Israel (1896-2016) by Jerold S. Auerbach
Real Jews: Secular Versus Ultra- Orthodox: The Struggle For Jewish Identity In Israel by Noah Efron
Khaled Abu Toameh at The Jerusalem Post
JPost Podcast
Sayed Kashua at Haaretz
Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein Halevi

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 this episode we discuss:

• How should we provide Israel education in the contemporary world?
• How can we further uplift and inspire our enduring connection with the Land of Israel?
• What is the difference between education and indoctrination?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the Jewish people, the Jewish land, and the Jewish state.
Interview begins at 18:03.

Dr. Noam Weissman is the Senior Vice President of OpenDor Media. Noam is also the Founder and Director of LaHaV. Noam previously served as Principal of Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles. Noam earned a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California, with a focus on curriculum design. His dissertation, entitled “Approaching Israel Education,” argues for a new vision in learning about the modern State of Israel, focusing on Zionist identity development, narrative formation, and the ability to have a mature and loving relationship with Israel without sacrificing empathy.

References:

Seinfeld

“Could Judaism Survive Israel?” by Gary Epstein

Jewish History Unpacked

Genesis 12:1

OpenDor Media

The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People by Walter Russell Mead

The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity by Micah Goodman

Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine
Israel: A History by Anita Shapira

Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis

Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert

The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership by Yehuda Avner

Bonus References from Unpacking Israeli History:

Altalena

Munich Massacre

Kishinev

War of Independence

Yom Kippur War

Entebbe

Deir Yassin

Six-Day War

UN Resolution 3379

Black Panthers

Rabin's Assassination

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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 lifetimes.

• How can a Jewish family navigate the prospect of intermarriage?
• How can we maintain familial bonds with members of interfaith families?
• What ruptures can happen within families and communities when a Jew dates, or marries, a non-Jew, and how can those ruptures be repaired?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how an apparent disaster doesn’t need to be the end of the story.

First interview: 16:16
Second interview: 50:23
Third Interview: 1:17:23

References:

“Big Gedalia Goomber” by Uncle Moishy

Arukh HaShulchan, Yoreh De'ah 345 by Yechiel Michel Epstein

“Absolute Beginners” by David Bashevkin

Genesis 12

“Family Ties” by David Bashevkin

Shevet Sefer, Yoreh Deah 108 by Simcha Bunim Schreiber

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 religiosity?
• How did Lisa react to the changes in Liel’s worldview and lifestyle?
• How are they able to run a home, marriage, and family together despite being on separate and dynamic paths?

Tune in to hear a conversation about being a “helpmate,” someone who both challenges and uplifts their spouse.

Interview begins at 11:21.

Lisa Ann Sandell is the author of the young-adult books The Weight of the Sky, Song of the Sparrow, and A Map of the Known World.

Liel Leibovitz is editor at large for Tablet Magazine and a host of its weekly culture podcast Unorthodox and daily Talmud podcast Take One.

References:

8 Minute Daf

Take One

“Eli, the Fanatic” by Philip Roth

Lincoln

Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

How the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book by Liel Leibovitz

Isaiah 54:10

“Everlasting Love” by Rabbi Shlomo & Eitan Katz

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 like to stay committed to a marriage when one partner loses their religious faith?
• Is there any public embarrassment in having a spouse who is less observant than oneself?
• What might make it worthwhile to keep a religiously divergent marriage intact?
• Which Jewish experiences do Aliza and Ephraim still share?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the love and trust needed to hold a marriage with religious differences together.

Interview begins at 12:02.

References:

Song of Songs

“Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)” by Allan Sherman

“Seventy-Six Sol Cohens” by Allan Sherman

Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir by Elizabeth Ehrlich



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 is Modi’s favorite prayer to lead as a chazan?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the element of redemption we find in humor amid a broken world.

Interview begins at 5:08.

Voted one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter, Modi is one of the comedy circuit’s most sought-after performers. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Modi emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of seven and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until his first open-mic night made him realize that stand-up was his true calling. Equipped with a sharp wit and a knack for reading an audience, Modi has gone on to become a successful fixture in New York's vibrant comedy scene, often doing bits that incorporate his heritage, and he is a hit with diverse Jewish audiences as well as fans of all backgrounds and beliefs.

References:

And Here's Modi - Episode 14 (Rabbi Manis Friedman)

Chasing Spielberg

Taanit 22a

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 importance.

• Why is Jewish education so expensive?
• How exactly does the process of providing financial aid work?
• What large-scale measures can be taken to attack the tuition crisis?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can be more effective in our effort to provide a Torah education for all Jewish children.

Interview with Richard Hagler begins at 7:20
Interview with Chavie Kahn begins at 59:30
Interview with Maury Litwack begins at 1:11:42

Richard Hagler has been a longtime executive director of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach schools. Chavie Kahn is the director of school strategy and policy at UJA-Federation of New York. Maury Litwack is the managing director of the Orthodox Union and founder of Teach Coalition.

References:

Teach Coalition

18Forty Podcast: “Michael A. Helfand: Church, State, and Jewish Education”

America in the King Years trilogy by Taylor Branch


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 related but simultaneously new set of challenges. In this episode we discuss:

• What made the early Bais Yaakov movement both controversial and revolutionary?
• What would Sarah Schenirer think of the state of Jewish education in the 21st century?
• Are graduating adults still in need of education and youth programming?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the indispensability of Jewish education from the early 20th century to today.

Interview begins at 29:30.

Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein is the Academic Dean of Women's Institute of Torah Seminary & College, an Orthodox Jewish college for women. A scholar and author, Dr. Klein speaks on Jewish history, Tanach, leadership and communication skills across the United States and internationally. Dr. Ginsparg Klein received her Ph.D. from New York University, where she researched the history of Orthodox girls’ education in America and the Bais Yaakov Movement.

References:
18Forty Podcast: “Yitzchak Breitowitz: Navigating Controversy”
18Forty Podcast: “Yisroel Kaminetsky: The Goal of Jewish Education”
Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaakov Movement: A Revolution in the Name of Tradition by Naomi Seidman
Reading Jewish Women: Marginality and Modernization in Nineteenth-Century Eastern European Jewish Society by Iris Parush
In Her Hands: The Education of Jewish Girls in Tsarist Russia by Eliyana R. Adler
Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920 by Melissa R. Klapper
Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein on Bais Yaakov Education and Culture Across North America, at Harvard Law School

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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, is the government able to step in and help? Should it?

• Why doesn’t the government fully fund religious schools?
• What is the “Lemon test”?
• Does “separation of the church and state” mean the government cannot support any religious institution, or only that it must support all religious institutions equally?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the history and status of religious schools in American law.
Interview begins at 9:58.

Professor Michael Helfand is an expert on religious law and religious liberty. A frequent author and lecturer, his work considers how U.S. law treats religious law, custom and practice, focusing on the intersection of private law and religion in contexts such as religious arbitration, religious contracts and religious torts. He is currently an associate professor at Pepperdine University School of Law and co-director of Pepperdine University’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute for Jewish Studies. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. Professor Helfand is an executive board member of the Beth Din of America, where he serves as a consultant on the enforceability of rabbinical arbitration agreements and awards in U.S. courts.

References:
The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer

“Remembering Rabbi Norman Lamm” by Michael A. Helfand

To Build a Wall by Gregg Ivers

Religion and State in the American Jewish Experience by Jonathan D. Sarna and David G. Dalin

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 — and how we can avoid instances of people falling through the cracks.

• How can we build a Jewish-education system that provides a “path home” for every Jew?
• How can parents supplement the education their children get at school?
• How should we define success, and in what ways can a yeshiva, God forbid, fail a student?

Tune in to hear a conversation about laying the groundwork for a strong Jewish future.

Interview begins at 25:58.

References:

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Lithuanian Yeshivas of the Nineteenth Century by Shaul Stampfer

Families, Rabbis and Education by Shaul Stampfer

Memorable Encounters by Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky

“I Want Arvei Psachim with Rabeinu Dovid Rishus Cold Rishus Seltzer CHECK OUT OF LIFE” on YouTube

Mesilat Yesharim by Moshe Chaim Luzzatto

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 things he reads?
• And of course, what pronunciation corrections do listeners have for David?

Tune in as we check in on the 18Forty audience and hear the thoughts that have been most pressing on your minds. Please do leave us your own voicemail with feedback or questions that we may plan on a future episode, at 917-720-5629.

Voicemails begin at 4:40.

References:

18Forty Podcast: “How Different Jewish Communities Date”

18Forty Podcast: “Channah Cohen: The Crisis of Experience”

18Forty Podcast: “Lawrence Schiffman: The World of Early Judaism”

18Forty Podcast: “Tova Ganzel: The Judaism of the Prophets & the People”

The Shame Borne in Silence: Spouse Abuse in the Jewish Community by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski

Pri Tzadik by Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin

18Forty Podcast: “Ari Koretzky: In Conversation with Dovid Bashevkin”

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 this episode we discuss:

• What was the relationship between the ancient Jews and the surrounding dominant cultures?
• How did the Jewish world respond to the destruction of the Second Temple?
• What are the differences between Jewish and Christian notions of truth?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the central practices and distinctions that have marked and preserved the Jewish people across the millenia.

Interview begins at 25:53.

Dr. Malka Simkovich is the Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies and director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She earned a doctoral degree in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism from Brandeis University and a Masters degree in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. She is the author of The Making of Jewish Universalism: From Exile to Alexandria (2016), and Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories That Shaped Early Judaism (2018).

References:

Malka Simkovich on 18Forty: The Mystery of the Jewish People

Tzidkat HaTzadik by Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin

“God’s First Love: The Theology of Michael Wyschogrod” by Meir Y. Soloveichik

Outside the Bible: Ancient Jewish Writings Related to Scripture edited by Louis H. Feldman, James L. Kugel, and Lawrence H. Schiffman

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 nature of the expanding and diverse Jewish tradition.

• How should we discuss sensitive topics on public forums?
• What is Rabbi Breitowitz’s advice for 18Forty?
• What sources can people turn to when they’re losing faith in Judaism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to address the big and fraught questions.

Interview begins at 19:51

Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Ner Israel Rabbinical College, and Harvard Law School. He’s been a rav in Silver Spring, Maryland, as well as a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law. He currently teaches at Ohr Somayach.

References:

The Q & A with Rabbi Breitowitz Podcast

Siftei Chaim - Emunah Ve'Bechirah by Rabbi Chaim Friedlander

Tzidkat HaTzadik by Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin

Nineteen Letters by Samson Raphael Hirsch

Horeb by Samson Raphael Hirsch

Rav Hirsch on Torah by Samson Raphael Hirsch

Tanya by Shneur Zalman of Liadi

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 women. In this episode we discuss:

• What really is the Shidduch Crisis?
• How can we improve the experience of looking for love in the Orthodox world?
• What do we make of our messy, non-linear life stories while we’re still living them?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the highs and lows of being single in Orthodox Judaism today—and what we can do to treat unmarried community members with friendship and humanity.

Interview starts at: 9:49

Channah Cohen has held several positions in the OU, including an Applied Researcher for the Center for Communal Research, a Project Manager for the Department of Community Projects and Partnerships, and a Torah Educator for the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus. Channah majored in Psychology at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, and was chosen for the Murray Adler Leadership and Vision Award. She completed a master’s degree in Adult Learning & Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, and is studying coaching at the School of Positive Transformation. Channah is interested in the intersection of religious education and psychology, and strives to learn and teach means of spiritual living that are resonant with the human experience. She lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband and three children.

References:
“A Polite Request for Basic Sensitivity” by Dovid Bashevkin
“We Are Not a ‘Crisis’: Changing the Singlehood Narrative” by Anonymous
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky
The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life by Boyd Varty
Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 considering them together and independently we can gain a greater understanding of the pressure points around love. How a community approaches dating is a test case for so many of a community’s values and vulnerabilities. In this episode, you’ll hear from representatives of each community that are intimately involved with the project of communal norms around dating, and be asked to think about your own assumptions and hopes for love.

In this interview, we discussed:

• How does each Jewish community approach dating, from shadchans to dating apps and everything in between?
• What does a community’s approach to dating tell us about the Jewish approaches to love and commitment?
• What can we learn from the dating practices of communities that are different from our own?

Interviews start at 10:31

Dr. Yosef Sokol, one of our representatives from the yeshiva world, is a psychologist and the lead researcher of the recent study on the data behind the “shidduch crisis.” We also speak with Dr. Isaac Schechter, another author of the study, Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky, director of the YUConnects matchmaking-and-education program, and Dr. Devorah Mansdorf Agami, an endodontist who met her husband on JSwipe.

References:
Rabbi Mordechai Lightstone
“Examining Average Age at First Marriage within Orthodox Judaism: A Large Community-Based Study” by Yosef Sokol, Naomi Rosenbach, Chayim Rosensweig, Chynna Levin, Shifra Hubner, and Isaac Schechter
Bikur Cholim of Rockland County
ARRC Institute
YUConnects
JSwipe

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 anything, organic growth inspires us—people finding out about 18Forty from a friend who can’t stop thinking about a recent interview they listened to, articles and podcasts shared in Whatsapp groups and discussed around Shabbos tables across the world, with feedback streaming in from every corner of the Jewish world.

To another year of more growth, curiosity, and asking better questions—for everything, thank you.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

This episode was sponsored by Anonymous who is fond of Shalom Task Force & 18Forty

In 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 differently?
• What are the biggest controversies behind shidduch resumes?
• Do we have more than one soulmate?

Tune in to hear a conversation on the challenges that lie beneath the surface of dating in the Orthodox world.

Interview starts at 20:51

References:
Singled Out Podcast by Zahava Moskowitz
“The Market for "Lemons": Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism” by George Akerlof
The Office
“Younger Siblings Getting Married First” on the Singled Out Podcast by Zahava Moskowitz
“The Truth about Health” on the Singled Out Podcast by Zahava Moskowitz
“The Truth about Soulmates” on the Singled Out Podcast by Zahava Moskowitz
Bridesmaids
Sefer Akedat Yitzchak by Rabbi Yitzchak Arama
Marry Him, The Case For Settling For Mr. Right by Lori Gottlieb
Hilchot Teshuva by Maimonides

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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, unhealthy, or anywhere in between are complex, and we set out to better our understanding of the signs of relational abuse. Whether or not you have personally struggled with the issues we discuss here, we are all better off when we are more informed about the what and why of relational health, so tune in now.

In this interview, we discuss:

- What are the signs of an unhealthy relationship?

- How can we foster understanding and awareness of the dynamics of healthy and unhealthy relationship dynamics from an earlier age?

- What are the steps one can take to extricate themself or heal from a challenging relationship?

First interview starts at 10:35

The Shalom Task Force, Inc (STF) is a non-profit community organization that aims to combat and prevent domestic violence and foster safe and healthy relationships and families. The STF focuses on helping those in the Jewish community that may not have access to traditional services and that need culturally sensitive programming. The STF runs a free, anonymous hotline that helps individuals find the services they need, provides assistance through legal services, supportive counseling, and referral information, and offers prevention and psychoeducational workshops, trainings, and community programs to increase awareness of relationship abuse and promote healthy relationships.

Dr. Shoshannah Frydman, PhD, LCSW is the executive director of Shalom Task Force. Dr. Frydman is a trauma-informed therapist and advocate who has worked in the field of domestic abuse and family violence in the Jewish community for close to 20 years. Dr. Frydman co-chairs the UJA Taskforce on Family Violence, and was recently appointed to the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence COVID-19 Response Group. Dr. Frydman previously served as the managing director of Family Violence and Social Services at the Met Council. Dr. Frydman received her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and her PhD at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York/Hunter College Silberman School of Social Work.

Esther Williams is the President of the Shalom Task Force and a past board member and executive vice president of the Orthodox Union.

References:
Shalom Task Force
“Dealbreakers Talk Show #0001” on 30 Rock
18Forty – Teshuva Series
National Domestic Abuse Hotline
The Patient
“The Quick Shift: Orthodox Jewish Women's Early Marital Sexual Experience” by Shoshannah D. Frydman
“Tradition and Transition. Orthodox Women's Experience with Kallah Classes and Early Marital Intimacy” by Shoshannah D. Frydman
The Vow
The Greatest Average American by Nate Bargatze
This Is Us
The NCSY box
Shalom Task Force Guides and Educational Materials
I'm so Confused, Am I Being Abused? Guidance for the Orthodox Jewish Spouse and Those Who Want to Help by Lisa G. Twersky
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men by Lundy Bancroft
Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship by Lisa A. Fontes
No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 marriage?
Why are we afraid to commit to no?
How can we ensure that the years ahead are the best years yet?
Tune in to hear a conversation on love, commitment, and commitment to commitment.


References:

Shalom Task Force

The Orchard: A Novel by David Hopen

Tehillim 27:10

“Evolving Religiously During Singlehood” on Singled Out Podcast by Zahava Moskowitz

Bambi

Garden State

Dovid Bashevkin on Twitter

“Spending the Seder Alone” by Dovid Bashevkin

Solitude, A Philosophical Encounter by Philip Koch

Cast Away

18Forty - “Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become A Community?”

“Bashert: My One and Only?” on YUConnects CandiDate Podcast

“The Paradox of Choice” by Barry Schwartz

“The Howard Stern Show: Actor And Comedian Aziz Ansari Visits The Show”

“Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Dovid Bashevkin

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 halacha, the relationship between human and God, and the ascending evolution of Jewish thought are deeply fascinating. How do we make sense of change in our religious systems and laws, and the development of our traditions? Listen now to find out.

In this interview, we discuss:

- How does Rav Kook think about change in Jewish life and law from the Temple times until today?
- How can we work through dissonance between our individual moral sensitivities and the halacha?
- Can and should our relationship to Jewish people and law change over time?

Yosef Bronstein received rabbinic ordination and a PhD in Talmudic Studies from Yeshiva University. He currently teaches halacha and Jewish philosophy at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY) and online for Yeshiva University’s Isaac Breuer College. Rabbi Dr. Bronstein is a beloved lecturer, writer, and teacher on topics of Jewish thought, and his book, Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe is forthcoming.

Interview starts at 25:52

Resources:

“To the Process of Ideas in in Israel” (LeMehalech HaEideot BaYisrael) by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
Jewish Thought: A Process, Not a Text by David Bashevkin
B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor by Dovid Bashevkin
Iggrot HaRav Kook - Letter #90 by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
Moreh L’Nevuchei HaDor by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
״Derech HaTechiyah״ in Ma’amarei Ha’Reiyah by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
“Chacham Adif M’Navi” in Orot by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
Introduction to Ein Ayah by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
״Tzimaon L’Keil Chai״ in Orot by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
When God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook by Betzalel Naor
Progressive Derash and Retrospective Peshat: Nonhalakhic Considerations in Talmud Torah by Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Elman
Mevakshei Panekha: Sichot im Ha-Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, In Quest of Your Presence -- Conversations with Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein by Chaim Sabato

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 in to hear a conversation on the blueprint of creation, the invention of the term 'Judaism', and more.

Interview begins at 23:15

References:

Rav Ari Waxman on Twitter
Tradition Magazine
“Hazon Ish on Textual Criticism and Halakhah” by Tzvi A. Yehuda
18Forty - “Andrew Solomon: Far From the Tree”
“Hazon Ish on Textual Criticism and Halakhah - A Rejoinder” by Shnayer Leiman
Exodus 23:2
“The Role of Manuscripts in Halakhic Decision-Making: Hazon Ish, his Precursors and Contemporaries” by Moshe Bleich
Iggrot HaRav Kook - Letter #423 by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook
The Origins of Judaism by Yonatan Adler
Jurassic Park
Judaism: The Genealogy of a Modern Notion by Daniel Boyarin
“This is Water” by David Foster Wallace
Greek and Latin Authors on Jews and Judaism by Menahem Stern
The New Testament
Josephus: The Complete Works by Flavius Josephus
Book of Leviticus
The Zohar 2:161b:1
The Jewish War by Flavius Josephus
“The Archaeology of Purity: Archaeological Evidence for the Observance of Ritual Purity in Ereẓ-Israel from the Hasmonean Period until the End of the Talmudic Era (164 BCE – 400 CE)" by Yonatan Adler
Drashos Beis Yishai - Essay #23 by Shlomo Fisher
18Forty - “Tova Ganzel: The Judaism of the Prophets & the People”
Psalms 73

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 to hear a conversation on authoritative figures, authoritative texts, and accepting authority . 

Interview begins at 15:09

Tova Ganzel is a Senior Lecturer at the Multidisciplinary Department of Jewish Studies at the Bar-Ilan University and Head of the Cramim Jewish Studies Honors Program. Tova was the director of the Midrasha – Institute for Advanced Torah Studies at Bar-Ilan University and is a certified women’s halakhic advisor (yo’etzet halakha). She holds a Ph.D. in Bible from Bar- Ilan and is a renowned figure in the world of Jewish education for women. Her work is widely published, and she is the recipient of numerous academic awards. She lives in Jerusalem with her husband and family.

References:

The Jewish Self by Jeremy Kagan
Tractate Yoma 69b
Tractate Sanhedrin 64a
Book of Nechemiah 
Pachad Yitzchak - “Letter #19” by Rav Yitzchak Hutner 
"I Am The Least Interesting Person In My Family" - Alex Edelman Performs Stand-Up on The Late Show
Seder Olam Rabbah 30 by Rav Eliyahu of Vilna
Ezekiel: From Destruction to Restoration by Tova Ganzel
Shir HaShrim Rabbah 5:5
Book of Ezra
Megillat Esther
Megillat Taanit
Yechezkel 1
Parshat Yitro
Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Yosef Karo
Pninei Halacha by HaRav Eliezer Melamed
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch by Rav Shlomo Ganzfried 
Mekor Chaim HaShalem by Rabbi Chaim David HaLevi
Mishna Berurah by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yirmiyahu 17:21
״יש צורות רבות ומגוונות לייצר דיון הלכתי, תקיפה היא לא אחת מהן״ by Tova Ganzel
“Responsa: The Law as Seen By Rabbis for 1,000 Years" by Israel L. Shenker
Malachi 3:22-24
Megillot Midbar Yehuda - HaChiburim HaIvriim by Elisha Kimron
Megillot in Qumran by Menahem Kister
From Qumran to the Tannaic Time by Vered Noam
The Bar Kokhba Revolt - The Archaeological Evidence by Hanan Eshel and Boaz Zissu
Maccabees I & II
Book of Jubilees
Mishna Torah, Hilchot Mamarim by Maimonides
The 13 Principles of Torah Elucidation by Rav Yishmael
Kovetz Shiurim: Divrei Sofrim by Rav Elchanan
Drashos Beis Yishai 15 by Rav Shlomo Fisher

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 disunity as modern as we think it is?

- Why would one cling to modern Judaism despite its evolution over history?

Tune in to hear a conversation on the development of Judaism and how faith must be the answer when history fails us.

Interview begins at 23:48

Lawrence Schiffman is a professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University and Director of the Global Institute for Advanced Research in Jewish Studies. Dr. Schiffman is a specialist in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaism in Late Antiquity, the history of halacha, and Talmud. He has served as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Professor of Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University. Dr. Schiffman was featured in the PBS Nova series documentary, Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and several other documentaries. Dr. Schiffman’s book, From Text to Tradition, is a journey through the history of the emergence of rabbinic Judaism in the Second Temple era. Dr. Schiffman joins us to talk about the world of Early Judaism.

References:

“The Rambam’s Introduction to the Mishna” by Maimonides
Zakhor: Jewish History And Jewish Memory by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi
The Formation of the Talmud: Scholarship and Politics in Yitzhak Isaac Halevy's Dorot HaRishonim by Dr. Ari Bergmann
Dorot HaRishonim by Rav Yitzhak Isaac Halevy
“Wissenschaft Des Judentums, Historical Consciousness, and Jewish Faith: The Diverse Paths of Frankel, Auerbach, and Halevy” by David Ellenson
From Text to Tradition, a History of Judaism in Second Temple and Rabbinic Times: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence Schiffman
Josephus: The Complete Works by Flavius Josephus
Comparing Judaism and Christianity: Common Judaism, Paul, and the Inner and the Outer in Ancient Religion by E.P. Sanders
Book of Jeremiah
Tractate Yadayim
Pirkei Avot 1:1
Book of Ezra
Book of Nechemia
Divrei HaYamim II 35:13
The Four Stages of Rabbinic Judaism by Jacob Neusner
Matthew 12, The New Testament
Miktzat Ma'ase Ha-Torah
Der Babylonische Talmud by Lazarus Goldschmidt
Sefer HaIkkarim by Rav Yosef Albo
Texts and Traditions: A Source Reader for the Study of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence Schiffman
Sefer HaChinuch by Anonymous

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 Jews the same struggles Jews faced in the Second Temple period ?

- Where does the divinity of the Jewish People lie?

- Is Judaism intended to be a socially arbitrated system?

Tune in to hear a conversation on authenticity within spirituality.
Interview begins at 16:39

References:

Torah Musings Blog by Gil Student
18Forty - “Malka Simkovich: The Mystery Of The Jewish People”
Zakhor: Jewish History And Jewish Memory by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi
Stories Of Your Life And Others by Ted Chiang
Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang
Arrival
18Forty - “Moshe And Asher Weinberger: Heart Of The Fire: Together Even With Small Differences”
18Forty - “Larry And Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You — A Child’s Eating Disorder”
18Forty - “Andrew Solomon: Far From The Tree”
“Welcome To Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley
18Forty - “The Legacy Of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks”
18Forty - “Chaim Saiman: Is Talmud The Jewish Constitution?”
18Forty - “Ari Bergmann: Talmud As An Agent Of Chaos”
18Forty - “Joshua Berman: What Should We Believe?”
“Is It Really the Torah, Or Is It Just the Rabbis?” by Tzvi Freeman
Josephus: The Complete Works by Flavius Josephus
From Text to Tradition, a History of Judaism in Second Temple and Rabbinic Times: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence Schiffman
The Rambam’s Introduction to the Mishna
Iggeres d'Rav Shrira Gaon
The Thirteen Principles of Torah Elucidation by Rav Yishmael
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
The Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Yoseph Karo
”Left and Right Brain Judaism” by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
COVID responsa from Rav Herschel Schachter
Show & Tale: Pinny Stieglitz
Game of Thrones
The Matrix
18Forty - Intergenerational Divergence
Mishna Berurah by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan
“Rupture and Reconstruction” by Haym Soloveitchik
Judaism Straight Up by Moshe Koppel
Sin-a-gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories That Shaped Early Judaism by Malka Z. Simkovich
Outside the Bible: Ancient Jewish Writings Related to Scripture by Louis H. Feldman

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 alienation. These guests are people that might be your neighbors, your rabbis, your siblings, or your parents, talking about the cost and challenge of keeping family close, no matter how hard it might be.

In this interview, we discuss:

— How does parental alienation start, and where might it lead?
— What can someone do to avoid or rectify alienation?
— What can we learn from those who have struggled with familial alienation?

Thank you to each of these guests for sharing their stories with openness, vulnerability, and honesty, and thank you to Eitan Katz for permission to use his song, Ki Karov.

Resources:
"Somebody’s Son," Richard Pindell
Kesher Nafshi
Toldos Support Group for parental alienation

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 to perform your success to the challenging work of teshuva. Our episode with Mark also features Rabbi Sholom Lipskar, founder of Aleph Institute.

In this interview, we discussed:
—How does one find a sense of self when they are expected to be someone for other people?
—How does someone start to veer towards crime, and how do they come back from a mistake of that magnitude?
—What can we learn about teshuva from the experience of prison?

Interview begins at 6:34.

Mark Moskowitz is an author, speaker, and coach, who speaks 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. You can learn more about Mark on the profile on him at Aish.com, “Mark Moskowitz's Story: In Prison for Defrauding Investors, I Turned My Life Around.”

You can pre-order his book, Within: How I Found My Happy and Authentic Self in Federal Prison, here (https://www.markjmoskowitz.com/offers/9jpH7Z2k/checkout) and use the coupon code 18FORTY to receive 20% off.

References:
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
Real Power by Dr. Dovid Lieberman
Joe Dispenza
The Shawshank Redemption

We'd like to thank our dear friends at the Aleph Institute for their help coordinating this episode. If you would like to be a part of the amazing work they do, especially in these days of Yimei din vrachamim - days of judgment and mercy - then you can head on over to https://aleph-institute.org/wp/ and donate to their annual matching fundraising campaign and help them reach their goal for the coming year. Their work is entirely made possible by caring people like you.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 the difference between teshuva of innocence and teshuva of experience?
—What does Kafka have to do with teshuva?
—Why did the Alter Rebbe, the first Rebbe of Chabad, call his work the Sefer of Beinonim, the book for people in the middle?

Interview begins at 4:35

Rabbi Shais Taub is a rabbi and author. He writes about Jewish spirituality, addiction, and mysticism, and is the author of God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction. Rabbi Taub is a noted speaker, and he currently serves as scholar-in-residence of Chabad of the Five Towns.

References:
Franz Kafka's The Trial
Tanya
SoulWords.org
Franz Kafka's The Trial
Tanya
SoulWords.org
B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor by David Bashevkin
The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein
Laughing with Kafka by David Foster Wallace
Vidui HaTeshuvah by Tzemech Tzedek (Part 1, Part 2)
Orot HaKodesh by Rav Kook
Kabbalistic Writings on the Nature of Masculine and Feminine by Sarah Schneider

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 improved to encourage spiritual-seeking?
—How can you make changes to your life while under intense social scrutiny?

Kayla Haber-Goldstein is an interior designer living in New York. Born to a rabbinic family, Kayla set out to explore her own relationship with Judaism, resulting in her book, Questioning The Answers. Kayla is passionate about questioning the answers—and questions—of Judaism, in order to be consciously religious.

Interview begins at 15:30.

References:
Questioning the Answers by Kayla Haber-Goldstein
Crash Course in Jewish History by Ken Spiro
Orot Hatorah by Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 his deeply scientific worldview with Judaism?

Interview begins at 10:21.

Antonio García Martínez is a New York Times best-selling author and tech entrepreneur. He is a former product manager for Facebook, the CEO-founder of AdGrok, and a former quantitative analyst for Goldman Sachs. His book Chaos Monkeys: Obscene Fortune and Random Failure in Silicon Valley, an insider look into Silicon Valley, was a New York Times bestseller. Antonio reflected on his choice to engage with Judaism in a deeply thoughtful piece, “Why Judaism? On abandoning secular modernity.”

References:

Why Judaism? On abandoning secular modernity by Antonio García Martínez
Why Judaism?, part שני: On the question of God in modernity by Antonio García Martínez
Nineteen Letters by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch
The Benedict Option by Rod Dreher
Rethinking Sex by Christine Emba
Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray
The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 15:25

References:

Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by M. Scott Peck
Sefiras Haomer: The Link Between Tushuva And Torah by Yaakov Elman
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing by Pete Davis
Mesilas Yesharim
Chovot HaLevavot
Or HaTzafun
Aspiration by Agnes Callard

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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 channel
Malka Simkovich: The Mystery Of The Jewish People
Bnei Yissaschar by Tzvi Elimelech Spira of Dinov
Tzidkas HaTzaddik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin
Oz VeHadar Mesivta Talmud
“Show and Tale”
“I Read This Over Shabbos”
Jewish Mediation: A Practical Guide by Aryeh Kaplan
The Birth of the Spoken Word by Dovid’l Weinberg
If You Were God by Aryeh Kaplan
Tefillin by Aryeh Kaplan
Waters of Eden by Aryeh Kaplan

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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.

References: 

Jews You Should Know
Saturday Night Live – "Father-Son Podcasting Microphone"
"Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community?"
The Bedwetter by Sarah Silverman
"Journey to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen"
"Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People"
"Dr. Ora Wiskind: How do you Read a Mystical Text?"
Introduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.