18Forty Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Malka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? [Israel & Diaspora 2/5] Nov 19, 2024

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.
Noam Taragin, son of our previous guest Rabbi Moshe Taragin, was seriously injured in Lebanon. We ask to pray for his quick healing: Noam Avraham ben Atara Shlomit.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Malka Simkovich—a scholar of Jewish history, the editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society, and a three-time 18Forty guest—about previous Jewish diasporas.
We tend to think of “Israel-diaspora relations” as a modern phenomenon. But, as Dr. Simkovich reminds us, that situation existed well over 2,000 years ago, when some Jews returned to the Land of Israel following the Babylonian exile while others remained abroad. In this episode we discuss:

What are the differences between the notions of golah, diaspora, and galut?
Did ancient diaspora Jews have a political equivalent to “supporting Israel”?
How should Jews live when in a partial state of exile?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the “proto-messianic mindset” throughout Jewish history and today.
Interview begins at 8:58.
Dr. Malka Simkovich is the director and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society and previously served as 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 Master’s degree in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. She is the author of The Making of Jewish Universalism: From Exile to Alexandria (2016), Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories That Shaped Early Judaism (2018), and Letters From Home: The Creation of Diaspora in Jewish Antiquity, (2024). This is her third time speaking on 18Forty.
References:
18Forty Podcast: “Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People”
18Forty Podcast: “Malka Simkovich: The Secrets of Second Temple Judaism”
Letters from Home: The Creation of Diaspora in Jewish Antiquity by Malka Z. Simkovich
The Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus
The Elephantine Papyri in English: Three Millennia of Cross-Cultural Continuity and Change by Bezalel Porten
Rosh Hashanah 18b
Ben Sira
Zechariah 8:19
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Moshe Taragin: Does Israel Need American Jews? [Israel & Diaspora 1/5] Nov 12, 2024

This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Moshe Taragin, rosh mesivta at Yeshivat Har Etzion, about the interrelated missions of American and Israeli Jews—and the stake that each of us holds in the Jewish redemptive story.
In this episode we discuss:

How should young American Jews experience Israel in their formative years?
How has October 7 altered the diaspora community’s orientation toward Israeli society?
How can we be less intimidated by the differences between frumkeit in America and Israel’s religious culture?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to engage with the “front stage” of Jewish history.
Interview begins at 19:21
Rav Moshe Taragin has been a rosh mesivta at Yeshivat Har Etzion in the Gush since 1994. He has semikha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a BA in Computer Science from Yeshiva College, and an MA in English Literature from City University. Rabbi Taragin previously taught Talmud at Columbia University, lectured in Talmud and Bible at the IBC and JSS divisions of Yeshiva University, and served as Assistant Rabbi at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. In addition, Rabbi Taragin currently teaches at the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women of Yeshivat Har Etzion in Migdal Oz in Gush Etzion. He is a 1983 alumnus of Har Etzion.
References:
Reclaiming Redemption by Rabbi Moshe Taragin
Dark Clouds Above, Faith Below by Rabbi Moshe Taragin
“The Waste Land” by T. S. Eliot
Berakhot 5a
18Forty Podcast: “Yosef Bronstein: Only for Chabad? Modern Orthodoxy and the Rebbe”
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Haviv Rettig Gur: 'Hamas Is Upset That the Death Toll in Gaza Isn’t Higher' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers) Oct 15, 2024

We're taking a week off from our main podcast, but we want to share with you an episode of our new podcast, 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers, recorded on Sept. 9. Subscribe to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday.
Until Hamas is gone, Haviv Rettig Gur says, Gaza will be unable to recover after the war.
The Times of Israel journalist and political analyst has emerged as a leading voice for the Israeli public and the Jewish world for deeper understandings of the war's developments. Haviv has covered Israeli politics — domestic and foreign — for nearly two decades and speaks internationally about Zionism, the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, and Israel's future.
Haviv was previously the director of communications for the Jewish Agency for Israel, and currently teaches history and politics at Israeli premilitary academies.
Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the country's leadership, Western media, and the Palestinian future.
Here are our 18 questions:

As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
Do you think Western media covers the Israel-Hamas War fairly?
What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
What role should the Israeli government have in religious matters?
Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
Is the IDF the world’s most moral army?
If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — such as in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?
What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?
Where do you read news about Israel?
Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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Matisyahu: Teshuva in the Spotlight [Teshuva IV 5/5] Oct 08, 2024

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

How has the public expression of Matisyahu’s Jewish identity ebbed and flowed throughout his life?
Is there anything Matisyahu would change about the Orthodox community?
How has the inwardness of Matisyahu’s Jewish identity guided him throughout his life?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to be, in Matisyahu’s words, “a pnimius Yid.”
Grammy-nominated artist Matisyahu is a singer, songwriter, rapper, and alternative rock musician. He's known for his skill in blending reggae and hip hop as he provides a raw expression of his spirituality. His long and winding career consists of seven albums including chart-topping Light, Youth, Spark Seeker, Akeda, and Undercurrent with hits such as "One Day", "Sunshine", and "King Without A Crown". Through his lyrics, Matisyahu develops a personal, artistic, and sophisticated way to express the yearning for deep spiritual meaning, and as his own beliefs opened up to find more variety and depth, the desire for his performances to match the unpredictable flow of life developed as well.
References:
The Office
Light by Matisyahu
Akeda by Matisyahu
Holy Brother: Inspiring Stories and Enchanted Tales about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach by Yitta Halberstam Mandelbaum
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
Politics Of Experience by R.D. Laing
"Spiritual Schadenfreude: The Case of Matisyahu’s Beard" by David Bashevkin
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The Memories We Hold: How October 7 Has Forever Changed Us Oct 07, 2024

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

What is the role of memory in the Jewish experience, and what are the memories of October 7 that we will hold with us?
How has the terror attack altered the way we live and the way we understand the world?
How have our theological and ideological beliefs developed over the past year?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to be a Jew during this consequential period in the Jewish story.
Interview highlights begin at:
Rachel Goldberg-Polin: 16:17
Danny Brom: 23:27
Dina: 30:23
Jonathan Gribetz: 37:29
Doron Perez: 46:29
Noa Lewis: 59:22
References:
Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi
“The Man in the Arena” by Theodore Roosevelt
“Shomer Yisroel” by Omek Hadavar
18Forty Podcast: Rachel Goldberg-Polin: “A Hostage’s Mother Fighting for His Freedom”
18Forty Podcast: “The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel”
18Forty Podcast: “A Haredi Mother Sending Her Children To Serve”
Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter by Jonathan Marc Gribetz
Reading Herzl in Beirut: The PLO Effort to Know the Enemy by Jonathan Marc Gribetz
18Forty Podcast: “Jonathan Gribetz: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict”
18Forty Podcast: “Doron Perez: One Child Married, One Child Missing”
18Forty Podcast: “On Loss: Defending Israel on Oct. 7”
Ecclesiastes 3
18Forty Podcast: “Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel?”
Genesis 29:17
Rashi on Genesis 29:17
“Forgive Me, My King I Did Not Know You Were Also a Father” by David Bashevkin
Yoma 39b
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Emmi Polansky: Finding Agency as a Single Mother [Teshuva IV 4/5] Sep 30, 2024

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

What is it like to participate in chagim and simchas during the process of divorce?
How do we pick up the pieces when our plans for a perfect familial and spiritual life fall apart?
How did fitness help improve Emmi ‘s mental and emotional health?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to repeatedly return to God in times of apparent loneliness.
Interview begins at 12:21.
References:
Chagigah 15a
As a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg
Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
@livingemunah on Instagram
Emunah Minute on WhatsApp
Bilvavi Mishkan Evne
18Forty Podcast: “Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community?”
18Forty Podcast: “Moshe and Asher Weinberger: Heart of the Fire”
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
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Tuvia Tenenbom: How a Secular Jew Came To Love the Haredi World [Teshuva IV 3/5] Sep 24, 2024

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

How did the Haredi community respond to October 7?
What do outsiders misunderstand about Haredi Jews?
Is humor the universal Jewish language?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to truly love the entirety of the Jewish family.
Interview begins at 28:37.
Tuvia Tenenbom is an Israeli-American theater director, playwright, and author who is the founding artistic director of the Jewish Theater of New York. He authored several books that deal with themes of Jewish life, Jewish culture, antisemitism, and the Holocaust, including his well-known Catch The Jew!. He joins us to discuss the year he, a secular Jew, spent with the Haredi Jews of Mea Shearim.
References:
18Forty Podcast: “Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life”
Tosafot on Pesachim
Careful, Beauties Ahead! by Tuvia Tenenbo
Catch The Jew! by Tuvia Tenenbom
Works of Tuvia Tenenbom
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Yussie Zakutinsky: Connecting to a Disconnected Jewish People [Teshuva IV 2/5] Sep 17, 2024

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yussie Zakutinsky, rabbi of K’hal Mevakshei Hashem in Lawrence, New York, about his vision for a Judaism that unites the entire Jewish People—no matter how wide the gaps between us.
Since October 7, of the many schisms within the Jewish People, some have mended while others are torn anew. As a nation, we have much further to go. In this episode, we discuss:

How can we see the divinity in Jews with whom we profoundly disagree?
What do we mean when we say “the entirety of the Jewish People is an expression of God”?
How can we rescue the divinity within ourselves and within one another?

Tune in to hear a conversation about, as the Baal Shem Tov described it, vanquishing the dragon and redeeming the princess—i.e., elevating the good in all the Jewish People.
Interview begins at 20:27.
Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky is a rabbi and spiritual leader. He is the rabbi of K’hal Mevakshei Hashem in Lawrence, New York, and is a sought-after lecturer and leader of spiritual happenings.
References:
Mesillat Yesharim by Moses Chaim Luzzatto
Derekh Hashem by Moses Chaim Luzzatto
Avodah Zarah 9a
rabbiywilk.com
Genesis 12:5
18Forty Podcast: “Rabbi YY Jacobson: How Did the Rebbe Revolutionize Judaism?”
Works of Rav Kook
Works of Rav Tzadok HaKohen
Divrei Soferim 16
Pachad Yitzchok by Rav Yitzchok Hutner
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Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life [Teshuva IV 1/5] Sep 10, 2024

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort, married progressive activists who are reembracing traditional Jewish life.
Joshua and Shaindy grew up in Conservative and Yeshivish communities, respectively, but struggled to find a Jewish community as they joined left-wing circles, specifically those highly critical of Israel.
After October 7, Joshua resigned from the anti-Zionist magazine Jewish Currents, and in August, he published Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life, which made headlines after a Brooklyn bookstore canceled Joshua’s planned talk because it included a Zionist rabbi. In this episode we discuss:

Has October 7 changed anything for progressive Jews highly critical of Israel?
Why do left-wing circles struggle to maintain engaged Jewish life?
What differentiates the Israeli left from the American left?

Tune in to hear a conversation about return and renewal for progressive Jews seeking a life of traditional Jewishness.
Interview begins at 16:44.
Joshua Leifer is a journalist, editor, and translator. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Nation, and elsewhere, and he is the author of the new book Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life.
Shaindy Ort-Leifer is an attorney who works in the fields of strategic litigation and international law.
Joshua and Shaindy are married.
References:
Orot HaTeshuvah by Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook
Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life by Joshua Leifer
Siddur Sefard: “Upon Arising, Upon Entering Synagogue”
Jew Vs Jew: The Struggle For The Soul Of American Jewry by Samuel G. Freedman
After Virtue by Alasdair MacIntyre
Hirsch Haggadah by Samson R. Hirsch
Arukh HaShulchan by Yechiel Michel Epstein
Kitzur Shulchan Arukh by Shlomo Ganzfried
Deuteronomy
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Pawel Maciejko: Sabbateanism and the Roots of Secular Judaism [Denominations: Bonus] Sep 03, 2024

This episode is sponsored by Nishmat, the Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, whose Online Beit Midrash returns on Sept. 8. Women of all backgrounds can learn Talmud, Tanach, Halacha, and more from the comfort of home. For a full class schedule and registration, go here.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to historian and professor Pawel Maciejko about the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi, Sabbateanism, and the roots of Jewish secularism.
Gershom Scholem, the scholar of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, saw a connection between the 17th-century messianic movement of Sabbateanism and the later movement of Jewish secularism. Was he right? In this episode we discuss:

What was the impact of Sabbateanism after its messianic fervor died down?
How can studying Jewish history deepen one’s connection with Judaism?
What is Frankism, and why is it a fascination of present-day antisemitic conspiracy theorists?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what the rupture from the Sabbatean movement can teach us about the wide range of Jewish identities we see today.
Interview begins at 17:05.
Pawel Maciejko is an associate professor of history and Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Chair in Classical Jewish Religion, Thought, and Culture at Johns Hopkins University. Between 2005 and 2016 he taught at the Department of Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His first book, The Mixed Multitude: Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement, 1755–1816, was awarded the Salo Baron Prize by the American Academy of Jewish Research and the Jordan Schnitzer Book Award by the Association for Jewish Studies.
References:
Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought by David Biale
Makers of Jewish Modernity: Thinkers, Artists, Leaders, and the World They Made edited by Jacques Picard, Jacques Revel, Michael P. Steinberg, and Idith Zertal
“The Holiness of Sin” by Gershom Scholem
Mishnah Chagigah 2
Ezekiel 1
Accounting for the Commandments in Medieval Judaism by Elliot R. Wolfson
Sabbatian Heresy: Writings on Mysticism, Messianism, and the Origins of Jewish Modernity edited by Pawel Maciejko
The Mixed Multitude: Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement, 1755-1816 by Pawel Maciejko
“The Messianic Feminism of Shabbatai Zevi and Sarah Ashkenazi” by Jericho Vincent
On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Danya Ruttenberg
“A Portrait of the Kabbalist as a Young Man: Count Joseph Carl Emmanuel Waldstein and His Retinue” by Pawel Maciejko
“Gershom Scholem’s dialectic of Jewish history: the case of Sabbatianism” by Pawel Maciejko
Seforimchatter’s Sabbatai Zevi Series
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On Loss: Defending Israel on Oct. 7 Aug 11, 2024

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

What does living a life of sanctity and purpose mean, especially in the face of terror and tragedy?
How did Daniel’s siblings cope with the loss of their beloved brother?
Amid the absence of loss, how can we find the presence of purpose?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the clarity of mission that might help us heal from the trauma of October 7.
Interview begins at 28:00.
References:
Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 2:4
Parshat Sh'lach
Shuvi V'nechze Al H'torah by Rabbi Moshe Shapiro
Peri Tzadik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin
Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 1:1
Psalms 121
“Brother” by Kodaline
Ezekiel 16:6
The Bayit in every Bayit
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Yehoshua Pfeffer: 'The army is not ready for real Haredi participation' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers) Aug 06, 2024

We're taking a week off from our main podcast, but we want to share with you an episode of our new podcast, 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers Subscribe to on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday.
The Israeli government’s draft of Haredi men is no simple matter—but Yehoshua Pfeffer has some ideas for moving forward.
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer is a Haredi social thinker and activist intimately involved in Haredi affairs. He heads the Iyun Institute—which operates programs and publications in the Haredi space—is the founding editor of Tzarich Iyun journal, and serves on the executive board of Netzah Yehuda, which serves Haredi soldiers in the IDF.
While also teaching as a professor at Hebrew University’s law school, he is the rabbi of Ohr Chadash in Ramot Bet, Jerusalem. Yehoshua’s life is guided by his convictions.
Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel as a religious state, Messianism, and so much more.
This interview was held on July 2.
Here are our 18 questions:

As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?
What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?
What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?
Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?
Should Israel be a religious state?
Do you think the State of Israel is part of the final redemption?
Is Messianism helpful or harmful to Israel?
Should Israel treat its Jewish and non-Jewish citizens the same?
Should all Israelis serve in the army?
Now that Israel already exists, what is the purpose of Zionism?
Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?
If you were making the case for Israel, where would you begin?
Can questioning the actions of Israel’s government and army — even in the context of this war — be a valid form of love and patriotism?
What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?
Are political and religious divides a major problem in Israeli society?
Where do you identify on Israel’s political and religious spectrum, and do you have friends on the “other side”?
Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People?

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Eli Rubin: Is the Rebbe the Messiah? [Mysticism II 4/4] Jul 30, 2024

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

At its core, what is Hasidism about, and how did the Rebbe implement these essentials in a new time and a new land?
What should we picture when we imagine moshiach?
Has Chabad splintered off from mainstream Judaism the way some have feared?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to want moshiach now.
Interview begins at 11:27.
Eli Rubin, a contributing editor at Chabad.org, is the author of Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity: An Existential History of Chabad Hasidism (forthcoming from Stanford University Press). He was a co-author of Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World (Herder and Herder, 2019). He studied Chassidic literature and Jewish Law at the Rabbinical College of America and at Yeshivot in the UK, the US and Australia, and received his PhD from the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London.
References:
Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity: An Existential History of Chabad Hasidism by Eli Rubin
Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World by Philip Wexler, Eli Rubin, and Michael Wexler
18Forty Podcast: “Eli Rubin: How Do Mysticism and Social Action Intersect”
Tanya, Part I; Likkutei Amarim 32
Tanya, Part I; Likkutei Amarim 36
Open Secret: Postmessianic Messianism and the Mystical Revision of Menahem Mendel Schneerson by Elliot R. Wolfson
Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 12
Eruvin 13b
The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference by David Berger
The Messiah Problem by Chaim Rapoport
Iggeret HaKodesh: Epistle 27
Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe by Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein
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Yosef Bronstein: Only for Chabad? Modern Orthodoxy and the Rebbe [Mysticism II 3/4] Jul 23, 2024

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yosef Bronstein—a rabbi, writer, and scholar—about the philosophy of Chabad and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
For much of the Jewish world, the Chabad movement plays a part in our lives, but it’s not necessarily something we understand deeply. Rabbi Bronstein, author of the newly published Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Koren), helps us fix that. In this episode we discuss:

What draws a Litvak to the Torah of the Lubavitcher Rebbe?
What were the Rebbe’s essential innovations of Judaism?
How might a messianic consciousness enhance our Torah lives?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what Orthodox Jews outside of the Lubavitch community can learn from Chabad.
Interview begins at 15:33
Yosef Bronstein received rabbinic ordination and a PhD in Talmudic Studies from Yeshiva University. He is the Rosh Bet Midrash of Machon Zimrat Ha’aretz, a community learning center and rabbinical training program in Efrat, Israel, and also teaches Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva University’s Isaac Breuer College. Rabbi Dr. Bronstein is a beloved lecturer, writer, and teacher on topics of Jewish thought, and is the author of The Authority of the Divine Law: A Study in Tannaitic Midrash and Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
References:
Engaging the Essence: The Philosophy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe by Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein
Tanya
The Steinsaltz Tanya
Lessons in Tanya
Heaven on Earth Reflections on the theology of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe by Faitel Levin
Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
18Forty Podcast: "Yosef Bronstein: Rav Tzadok & Rav Kook on Jewish History"
Pirkei Avot 1
Kuzari
Mishneh Torah
Open Secret by Elliot R. Wolfson
The Rebbe, the Messiah, and the Scandal of Orthodox Indifference by David Berger
Sichos
“Bittul Torah or a Taste of the World To Come? Fathers and Young Children” by Yosef Bronstein
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Chava Green: What Is Chabad’s Feminist Vision? [Mysticism II 2/4] Jul 16, 2024

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

Was the Rebbe really “the biggest feminist”?
How did the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s mysticism translate to the lived experience of his followers?
How did Green come to be a self-identified Hasidic feminist?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how both the Jewish and feminist worlds contain a wider range of ideas than one might expect.
Interview begins at 8:55.
Chava Green is a writer, teacher, and perpetual student. After graduating with her B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies, she attended Mayanot Women’s Program in Jerusalem and Machon Alta in Tzfat. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish studies at Emory University and lives with her family in Morristown, New Jersey. Her work considers the relationship between Chabad teachings and feminism.
References:
Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age by Ayala Fader
Mitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn by Ayala Fader
Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers by Stephanie Wellen Levine
Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World by Philip Wexler
Chava Green on Chabad.org
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Rabbi YY Jacobson: How Did the Rebbe Revolutionize Judaism? [Mysticism II 1/4] Jul 09, 2024

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to renowned Chabad speaker Rabbi YY Jacobson about Chassidus, Chabad, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
In honor the Rebbe’s 30th yahrtzeit, YY Jacobson helps us explore the purpose of Creation, our role in the world, and how the soul of the universe relates to the soul of the human being. In this episode we discuss:

What is Hasidic thought, and what differentiates it from Kabbalah?
How did Jewish emancipation and integration lead to Jews turning inward and focusing on the soul and God’s Presence in the world?
What was the Rebbe’s understanding of messianism and Zionism, and what might it mean for how we live our lives?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how the Rebbe brought oneness to the Jewish People during some of our most turbulent times.
Interview begins at 6:18.
Rabbi YY Jacobson, founder and dean of TheYeshiva.net, is a popular teacher of Chabad Chassidus. Having been an “oral scribe” of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Jacobson was a close follower of the Rebbe in the last stages of the Rebbe’s life. Rabbi Jacobson has additionally been the editor-in-chief of The Algemeiner Journal and the spiritual leader of Congregation Bais Shmuel.
References:
Tanya
Mishneh Torah, Kings and Wars 11
Shulchan Arukh
Shulchan Arukh HaRav
Rashi on Genesis 1:1
Likkutei Sichot
Toward a Meaningful Life by Simon Jacobson
Torah Studies by Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Turning Judaism Outwards by Chaim Miller
Rebbe by Joseph Telushkin
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Ammiel Hirsch: How To Understand Reform Judaism’s Anti-Zionist Crisis [Denominations Bonus Episode] Jul 02, 2024

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

Benny Morris: ‘We should have taken Rafah at the start’ (NEW 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers) Jun 25, 2024

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:

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

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Adam and Mia Raskin: Can Families Live with Denominational Differences? [Denominations 5/5] Jun 18, 2024

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

FROM THE VAULT: Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew? Jun 09, 2024

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

Marc B. Shapiro: Where Does Orthodox Judaism Come From? [Denominations 4/5] Jun 04, 2024

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

Jack Wertheimer: A New American Judaism? The Sociology of Jewish Practice [Denominations 3/5] May 28, 2024

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

Ammiel Hirsch: 'What Did We Do Wrong?' Peoplehood and the Reform Movement [Denominations 2/5] May 21, 2024

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

Zev Eleff: Is This the End of American Judaism? [Denominations 1/5] May 14, 2024

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

Rachel Goldberg-Polin: A Hostage’s Mother Fighting for His Freedom [Divergence 5/5] Apr 20, 2024

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.

A Haredi Mother Sending Her Children To Serve [Divergence 4/5] Apr 16, 2024

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

Finding a Home for Haredi IDF Soldiers [Divergence 3/5] Apr 09, 2024

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.

Haskel and Josh Lookstein: Finding Your Path in a Rabbinic Dynasty [Divergence 2/5] Apr 02, 2024

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.

Rachel Yehuda: Intergenerational Trauma and Healing [Divergence 1/5] Mar 26, 2024

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

Yael Muskat and Martin Galla: Entering Adulthood: Inside a College Counseling Center Mar 19, 2024

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.

Regine Galanti: Childhood: Addressing Children’s Mental Health [Mental Health 5/6] Mar 12, 2024

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.

Yoni Rosensweig: How Does Mental Health Affect Halacha? [Mental Health 4/6] Mar 05, 2024

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.

Elie Schulman: Does Therapy Work? A Patient’s Journey [Mental Health 3/6] Feb 27, 2024

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

Yakov Danishefsky: Religion and Mental Health: God and Us [Mental Health 2/6] Feb 20, 2024

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.

David Bashevkin: My Mental Health Journey [Mental Health 1/6] Feb 13, 2024

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

Listener Feedback: Israel at War Feb 06, 2024

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

Lipa Schmeltzer: How to Heal: A Personal Journey of Mental Health Jan 23, 2024

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

Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism Jan 16, 2024

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Reuven and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community. Additionally, we speak with Gideon Davis, a Religious Zionist soldier serving in Gaza.
Mistakenly, we tend to 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
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker Jan 09, 2024

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

Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Jan 02, 2024

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

Yossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism Dec 26, 2023

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

Before We Say Goodbye to 2023 Dec 21, 2023

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

Eli Paley: What’s Next: The Future of Israel’s Haredi Community Dec 19, 2023

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

Michael Eisenberg: What’s Next: The Civic Revolution in Israel Dec 12, 2023

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

Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose Dec 05, 2023

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

The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March Nov 28, 2023

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

Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing Nov 21, 2023

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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Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War? Nov 14, 2023

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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What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism? Nov 07, 2023

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

Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War Oct 31, 2023

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.

The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel Oct 24, 2023

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.

Voices from Israel Oct 17, 2023

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.

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha Oct 11, 2023

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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Pray for Israel Oct 09, 2023

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.

Estrangement and Reconciliation: Teshuva for Our Relationships [Teshuva 5/5] Sep 19, 2023

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.

Rabbi Michael Rosensweig: The Majesty of Torah Study [Teshuva 4/5] Sep 12, 2023

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.

Infidelity: Consequences and Aftermath [Teshuva 3/5] Sep 05, 2023

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.

Martha Minow: When Law Should Forgive: On the Limitations of Teshuva [Teshuva 2/5] Aug 29, 2023

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.

Rav Daniel Kalish: The Song of Teshuva [Teshuva 1/5] Aug 22, 2023

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.

'Everything About Her Was Worth It': The Life of Yakira Leeba Schwartz A"H Jul 25, 2023

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.

Yisroel Besser: How To Share Jewish Stories [Books II 4/4] Jul 18, 2023

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.

Dara Horn: On Jewish Fiction and Non-Jewish Fiction [Books II 3/4] Jul 11, 2023

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.

Sarah Hurwitz and Alex Edelman: On Introducing Judaism [Books II 2/4] Jul 04, 2023

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.

Josh Foer: How Can You Make a Digital Library for All? [Books II 1/4] Jun 27, 2023

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.

Dov Singer: Living a Prayerful Life [Prayer & Humanity 5/5] Jun 20, 2023

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.

Debbie Stone: Can Prayer Be Taught? [Prayer & Humanity 4/5] Jun 13, 2023

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.

Moshe Koppel: Artificial Intelligence and Torah [Prayer & Humanity 3/5] Jun 05, 2023

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

Dovid'l Weinberg: The Song of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 2/5] May 29, 2023

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

Samuel Lebens: The Hard Problem of Prayer [Prayer & Humanity 1/5] May 23, 2023

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

The How and Why of Moving to Israel [Zionism 4/4] May 15, 2023

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

Elli Fischer: Can Israel Follow Jewish Law? [Zionism 3/4] May 08, 2023

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.

Bezalel Naor: Rav Kook's Mystical Vision of Zionism [Zionism: Bonus Episode!] May 01, 2023

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.

Lahav Harkov: How to Read Media About Israel [Zionism 2/4] Apr 25, 2023

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.

Noam Weissman: How to Unpack Israel's Story [Zionism 1/4] Apr 18, 2023

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

When A Child Intermarries Mar 28, 2023

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.

Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell: When A Spouse Finds Faith Mar 21, 2023

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.

Aliza and Ephraim Bulow: When A Spouse Loses Faith Mar 14, 2023

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.

Modi Rosenfeld: A Serious Conversation About Comedy Mar 04, 2023

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.

The Cost of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 4/4] Feb 28, 2023

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.

Leslie Ginsparg Klein: The Culture of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 3/4] Feb 21, 2023

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.

Michael A. Helfand: Church, State, and Jewish Education [Jewish Education 2/4] Feb 14, 2023

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:
T he 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.

Yisroel Kaminetsky: The Goal of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 1/4] Feb 07, 2023

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.

Listener Questions Jan 24, 2023

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.

Malka Simkovich: The Secrets of Second Temple Judaism Jan 17, 2023

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.

Yitzchak Breitowitz: Navigating Controversy Jan 10, 2023

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.

Channah Cohen: The Crisis of Experience [Romance & Commitment 5/5] Jan 03, 2023

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.

How Different Jewish Communities Date [Romance & Commitment 4/5] Dec 27, 2022

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.

2022: A Year Beyond Words (and Numbers) Dec 26, 2022

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.

Zahava Moskowitz: Singled Out [Romance & Commitment 3/5] Dec 20, 2022

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.

Red Flags: A Conversation with Shalom Task Force Featuring Esther Williams and Shana Frydman [Romance & Commitment 2/5] Dec 13, 2022

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.

Dovid Bashevkin: My Dating Story - On Religious and & Romantic Commitment [Romance & Commitment 1/5] Dec 08, 2022

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.

Yosef Bronstein: Rav Tzadok & Rav Kook on Jewish History [Origins of Judaism 5/6] Nov 29, 2022

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.

Yonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find [Origins of Judaism 4/6] Nov 22, 2022

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
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Tova Ganzel: The Judaism of the Prophets & the People [Origins of Judaism 3/6] Nov 15, 2022

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
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Lawrence Schiffman: The World of Early Judaism [Origins of Judaism 2/6] Nov 08, 2022

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
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Anonymous: Searching for the Beginning [Origins of Judaism 1/6] Nov 01, 2022

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.

Child & Parental Alienation: Keeping Families Together [Teshuva 6/6] Oct 03, 2022

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.

Mark Moskowitz: Within: What Going to Jail Taught Me About Teshuva [Teshuva 5/6] Sep 28, 2022

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.

Shais Taub: Teshuva of Innocence and Experience [Teshuva 4/6] Sep 20, 2022

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.

Kayla Haber-Goldstein: Questioning the Answers: Rebuilding Your Faith [Teshuva 3/6] Sep 13, 2022

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.

Antonio García Martínez: Optionality and Choosing Judaism [Teshuva 2/6] Sep 06, 2022

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.

Rabbi Beryl Gershenfeld: What We Can Learn About Teshuva From Jewish Outreach [Teshuva 1/6] Aug 30, 2022

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.

Listener Questions Aug 23, 2022

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.

Ari Koretzky: In Conversation with Dovid Bashevkin Aug 16, 2022

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.

On Loss: A Child Aug 02, 2022

This episode is sponsored by our friends Victor and Jessica Kagan in honor of Rochel Mindel bas Noson Nuteh and Naftali ben Chaim Shraga Feivel.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mirlana Morris about the loss of her son, Donny, and perpetuating the memory of a loved one.
Mirlana lost her son, Donny, in last year’s Meron tragedy when he was 19 years old. Mirlana speaks about choosing to live a life of emunah instead of being angry with God, and shares how she perpetuates the legacy of her beloved son.
- Where does a mother find the strength to move forward after confronting a loss of such large magnitude?
- How can one comfort the bereaved with sensitivity?
- What does mourning have in common with Chol HaMoed and what does it teach us?
Tune in to hear a conversation on love, loss, and moving forward.
Interview begins at 12:21
Musical Credit: Im Eshkachech by Itzhak Azulai
References:
Kedusha, Shabbos Davening
“Mimkomcha” as sung at the funeral of Donny Morris
“Donny Morris’ schedule”
Daniel Ish Chamudot: A Parsha Companion in Bein Adam L'chaveiro in Memory of Donny Morris z”l by Yeshivat Sha’alvim
Living Emunah by Rabbi David Ashear
“B’Yadcha” by Rinas Amcha
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Emanuel Feldman: On Being a Jewish Writer [Books 3/3] Jul 26, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Emanuel Feldman about writing styles.
Rabbi Feldman has the unique gift to write in multiple voices for multiple audiences. He mixes his pitches so his readers never quite know what to expect. Rabbi Feldman joins us today to talk about the unique styles of Jewish writing.
- What motivates a rabbi to begin a parallel career as a writer?
- Why is criticism something to love?
- Has Jewish writing gotten better over time?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Yinglish, thumb-driven computers, and Mrs. Cooperman.
Interview begins at 22:49
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman is the rabbi emeritus of Beth Jacob synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia. He previously served as editor-in-chief of Tradition Magazine and has authored 11 books. Additionally, he was editor of the Ariel Rashi Translation Project for 17 years.
References:
Tractate Sukkah
Mishpacha Magazine
Top Five List of Jewish Character and Characters by Dovid Bashevkin
David the Divided Heart by David Wolpe
Tradition Magazine
The Shul Without a Clock by Emanuel Feldman
“Tefillin in a A Brown Paper Bag” by Emanuel Feldman
“An Imagined Symposium” by Emanuel Feldman
Tales Out of Shul by Emanuel Feldman
“Yaakov and Jay: A Tale of Two Worlds” by Emanuel Feldman
"Tablet Magazine on the Talmud" by Dovid Bashevkin
“On His Blindness” by John Milton
“God and Mrs. Cooperman” by Emanuel Feldman
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
“Reconciling Opposites: Uncommon Connections in the Halakha of Mourning” by Emanuel Feldman
Sin-a-gogue: Sin, and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Michelle Margolis: What Do Librarians Do? [Books 2/3] Jul 19, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to our favorite librarian, Michelle Margolis.
Michelle is no stranger to the 18Forty Podcast — she was one of our first guests, and today, she returns to debut our new Show & Tale series, and talk with us about the role of a librarian and the hidden world of Judaica and rare books.
Show & Tale is a new 18Forty video series that will take you inside some of the great libraries—both public and private—to explore books and treasures from Jewish history.
Michelle Margolis is the Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University. We spoke with her at Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library, located in Butler Library.
- Where’s the best place to buy rare Jewish books?
- Why would a siddur need to be politically correct?
- Where should rare Judaica live?
Tune in to hear a conversation about edible glue, fake ivory, and death masks.
Interview begins at 15:04
Michelle Margolis is the Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University; co-director of Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place; and President of the Association of Jewish Libraries. Michelle is a favorite past guest at 18Forty and joins us to talk about the work of a librarian.
References:
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The Story of Dovid Bashevkin by Meaningful People Podcast
Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehudah Mirsky
Gershom Scholem: Kabbalah and Counter-History by David Biale
Pursuit of Heresy, Rabbi Moses Hagiz and the Sabbatian Controversy by Elisheva Carlebach
Pulp Fiction
Making of a Gadol by Nathan Kamenetsky
Columbia Hebrew Manuscripts
Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place
The Sarajevo Haggadah
The Prince of the Press by Josh Teplitsky
Encyclopedia of Jewish Book Cultures edited by Emil Schrijver
The Hebrew Book in Early Italy edited by Joseph R. Hacker and Adam Shear
A Sign and a Witness: 2,000 Years of Hebrew Books and Illuminated Manuscripts by William Gross, Orly Tzion, and Falk Wiesemann
“Books Weeping for Someone to Visit and Admire Them: Jewish Library Culture in the United States, 1850–1910” by Robert Singerman
“Top Five” by Dovid Bashevkin
“Top 5 Stuff that Get Yeshiva Guys Into Jewish Studies”
Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy: The Life and Works of Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg, 1884-1966 by Marc B. Shapiro
“The Dual Role of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Chajes: Traditionalist and Maskil” by Bruria Hutner David
“Rupture and Reconstruction” by Haym Soloveitchik
“Facing the Truths of History” by Jacob J. Schacter
Lithuanian Yeshivas of the Nineteenth Century: Creating a Tradition of Learning by Shaul Stampfer
Jew Vs Jew: The Struggle For The Soul of American Jewry by Samuel G. Freedman
American Judaism: A History by Jonathan D. Sarna
The Shul without a Clock: Second Thoughts from a Rabbi's Notebook by Emanuel Feldman
Tales Out of Shul: The Unorthodox Journal of an Orthodox Rabbi by Emanuel Feldman
“The Haredim: A Defense” by Aharon Rose
By His Light: Character and Values in the Service of God by Aharon Lichtenstein
The Book and the Sword: A Life of Learning in the Shadow of Destruction by David Weiss Halivni
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Three Editors: A Conversation with Heads of the Major Jewish Publishers [Books 1/3] Jul 12, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to the heads of the three major Jewish publishing houses, Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz of ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, Matthew Miller of Koren Publishers, and Altie Karper of Schocken Books.
Aside from all rejecting David Bashevkin’s work, these three pillars of Jewish publishing all share a common goal of contributing to Jewish scholarship in order to help better cultivate the Jewish People.
- How can we use storytelling to bring out the best in others?
- How was Koren revitalized?
- How did some department stores in Germany turn into one of the most successful publishing houses?
Tune in to hear a conversation about books, books, books.
Interview begins at 13:59
Gedaliah Zlotowitz
Rabbi Gedalia Zlotowitz is the president of ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, as well as the president of Mesorah Heritage Foundation.
Matthew Miller
Matthew Miller is the owner and publisher of Koren Press. Miller founded Toby Press, which published Yehuda Avner’s The Prime Ministers along with other works, and purchased Koren Press in 2007.
Altie Karper
Altie Karper is the editorial director of Schocken Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schocken, has a long history as a major publisher of Jewish literature and an early publisher of great thinkers such as Kafka, Rosenzweig, Buber, and Agnon, among many others.
References:
““Let Me Make You Famous”: How Hollywood Invented Ben Shapiro” by Tina Nguyen
The Jewish Bookshelf as a Site of Self-fashioning: Reflections on a Historical Phenomenon in a Contemporary Moment by Elli Fischer and David Bashevkin
Top Five, A List of Jewish Character and Characters by Dovid Bashevkin
The Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan Library of Jewish Thought by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
The Megillah: The Book of Esther
Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz by Yisrael Besser
All for the Boss by Ruchoma Shain
The Koren Tanakh
Amadeus
18Forty: Larry and Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You — A Child’s Eating Disorder
Biblical Images by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
The Covenant Kitchen: Food and Wine for the New Jewish Table: A Cookbook by Jeff and Jodie Morgan
The Patron, A Life of Salman Schocken by Anthony David
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbi Shalom Carmy: How I Ground My Faith [Rationality 4/4] Jul 05, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shalom Carmy—philosophy and Jewish-studies professor at Yeshiva University and Editor Emeritus of Tradition—about how he grounds his faith.
Rabbi Carmy joins us to discuss the anthropological, covenantal, and experiential bases for religious belief.
•What should be the foundation of a person’s faith?
•What is the role of personal experience in relation to rational inquiry?
•How can we reinvigorate our religious outlook for the modern world?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how we handle questions that don’t come with definitive answers.
Interview begins at 14:04
Rabbi Shalom Carmy is a rabbi and professor, teaching philosophy and Jewish studies at Yeshiva University, where he is Chair of Bible and Jewish philosophy at Yeshiva College and an affiliated scholar at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Shalom is Editor Emeritus of Tradition, Contributing Editor of First Things, and has published hundreds of articles on Jewish thought, Tanach, and other subjects, along with being the mentor of many students over his years of teaching.
References:
Sefer HaChinukh
Chidushei Rabeinu Chaim Halevi – Rambam by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk
“A Room With a View, But a Room of Our Own” by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
“A Peshat in the Dark: Reflections on the Age of Cary Grant” by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
Forgive Us, Father-in-Law, For We Know Not What To Think: Letter To A Philosophical Dropout From Orthodoxy by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
Strauss, Spinoza & Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith edited by Jeffrey Bloom, Alec Goldstein, and Gil Student
"Editor’s Note: Homer and the Bible" by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
“Of Eagle’s Flight and Snail’s Pace” by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
“Editors Note: Lost Cause: A Conclusion in Which Nothing is Concluded” by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Rashi on Tanakh
Ramban on Torah
Rif on Talmud
Henry More: The Rational Theology of a Cambridge Platonist by Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People [Rationality 3/4] Jun 28, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Malka Simkovich—Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies and director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago—about Second Temple Judaism and how it can help us understand what it means to be a Jew in our own time.
Malka explores the significance of belief and observance over the history of the Jewish people.
•What is the role of mystery in how we understand covenant and chosenness?
•What is the relationship between religious life in the ancient world and the Jewish practice we know today?
•How does belief facilitate the continuity of the Jewish tradition throughout time?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the history and mystery of the Jewish nation.
Interview begins at 27:40
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:
The Formation of the Talmud: Scholarship and Politics in Yitzhak Isaac Halevy's Dorot Harishonim by Ari Bergmann
Introduction to the Mishnah by Maimonides
How Do We Know This?: Midrash and the Fragmentation of Modern Judaism by Jay M. Harris
From Text to Tradition, A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence H. Schiffman
Strauss, Spinoza & Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith edited by Jeffrey Bloom, Alec Goldstein, and Gil Student
Response to Michael Wyschogrod by David Novak
The Making of Jewish Universalism: From Exile to Alexandria by Malka Z. Simkovich
Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories That Shaped Early Judaism by Malka Z. Simkovich
Heritage and Hellenism: The Reinvention of Jewish Tradition by Erich S. Gruen
Diaspora: Jews amidst Greeks and Romans by Erich S. Gruen
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Steven Gotlib: Some Rabbi Grapples With His Faith [Rationality 2/4] Jun 21, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Steven Gotlib, a fellow at Beit Midrash Zichron Dov and Rabbinic Educator at the Village Shul, about the relationship between first principles and how we are to live.
Rabbi Gotlib is some rabbi who is a lot more than just some rabbi. Steven has thought long and hard about the truth claims of Judaism and the claim Judaism makes on individuals’ lives.
•How does a Conservative Jewish teenager turn into an Orthodox rabbi and outreach professional?
•Should the pursuit of truth override pragmatism?
•What factors should go into someone’s decision to be Orthodox?
•Should experiential knowledge take precedence over rational arguments?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the path and process of a rabbi’s struggle with faith and philosophy.
Interview begins at 15:37.
Rabbi Steven Gotlib received rabbinic ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, certificates in Mental Health Counseling and Spiritual Entrepreneurship, and a BA in Communication and Jewish Studies from Rutgers University.
Read his review on Lehrhaus of the book, "Strauss, Spinoza, and Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith," titled “(How) Can we Know Orthodox Judaism is True?” (https://thelehrhaus.com/timely-thoughts/how-can-we-know-orthodox-judaism-is-true/#)
References:
Torah Umadda by Rabbi Norman Lamm
Another Way, Another Time: Religious Inclusivism and the Sacks Chief Rabbinate by Meir Persoff
Mystical Experience of God: A Philosophical Inquiry by Jerome Gellman
The Principles of Judaism by Samuel Lebens
God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism by Abraham Joshua Heschel
And from There You Shall Seek by Joseph B. Soloveitchik
Nefesh HaChayim by Chaim of Volozhin
Tanya by Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jeff Bloom: Some Guy Wrote a Book about Jewish Theology [Rationality 1/4] Jun 14, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jeff Bloom about the assumptions that Orthodox Judaism makes about ideology, and how we ground our faith even if we don’t have irrefutable evidence.
Jeff is some guy who is a lot more than just some guy. Jeff unpacks Leo Strauss’s defense of Orthodoxy and explains how our personal life stories dictate how we see the world.
- Why have we designed a system in which we don’t rummage around assumptions?
- How do we read the Bible in an Orthodox lens?
- Is Orthodoxy merely a warm infrastructure or is it a rationally grounded approach to life?
Tune in to hear a conversation about intellectual authenticity and the axioms of belief.
Interview begins at 14:25
Jeffrey Bloom is a graduate of the University of Chicago. After college, he studied in a number of Orthodox yeshivot in Israel and now lives with his wife and family in New Jersey. He works as an analyst at a hedge fund and is the co-editor of Strauss, Spinoza & Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith. To get an entry point into Jeff’s thinking, read his thoughtful introduction to the book, and once you are there, check out Jeremy Kagan’s thought-provoking article on the history of rational thinking as well as the crucial conclusion to the work, accessible here.
References:
18Forty - Samuel Lebens: The Line Between Rationality and Mysticism
18Forty - Zohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah
18Forty - Simi Peters: Building New Faith Foundations
18Forty - Shmuel Phillips: Reclaiming Judaism
18Forty - Anxiety and Rationality: A Personal Anonymous Account
Strauss, Spinoza & Sinai: Orthodox Judaism and Modern Questions of Faith edited by Jeffery Bloom, Alec Goldstein & Gil Student
Judaism Straight Up by Moshe Koppel
“Children of Skeptics” by Thomas Merrill
Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver: Honoring the Work of Leon R. Kass edited by Yuval Levin, Thomas W. Merrill and Adam Schulman
18Forty - Agnes Callard: A Philosophy of Change
“An Argument for Businessmen” by Shalom Carmy
Permission to Believe: Four Rational Approaches to God's Existence by Lawrence Kelemen
Permission to Receive by Lawrence Kelemen
Reason To Believe: Rational Explanations of Orthodox Jewish Faith by Chaim Jachter
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré
Ani Maamin: Biblical Criticism, Historical Truth, and the Thirteen Principles of Faith by Joshua Berman
The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesis by Leon Kass
Founding God's Nation: Reading Exodus by Leon Kass
The Revelation at Sinai: What Does “Torah from Heaven” Mean? by Gil Student and Yoram Hazony
Jewish Self: Recovering Spirituality in the Modern World by Jeremy Kagan
The Choice to Be: A Jewish Path to Self and Spirituality by Jeremy Kagan
The Intellect and the Exodus: Authentic Emuna for a Complex Age by Jeremy Kagan
“The Nature and Pursuit of Truth in Different Cultural Context” by Jeremy Kagan
The book of Daniel
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Listener Questions Jun 07, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by you, our listeners, and reflect on the community we have built beyond our conversations.
- What do Pick-Up Sticks have in common with the sorites paradox?
- How has wealth seeped into our subconscious Jewish intergenerational trauma?
- Does an accusation of abuse have the potential to ruin someone’s life even if they’re not convicted?
Tune in to hear a conversation about leaky roofs, trench coats, and bobbing boats.
Voicemails begin at 11:42.
References:
Saturday Night Live - Father-Son Podcasting Microphone
BoJack Horseman
The Little Rascals
Introduction to Love's Executioner : & Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom
18Forty - Alex Edelman: Taking Comedy Seriously: Purim
Megillat Esther
Megillat Eicha
Tinyana, Likutei Moharan by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Pachad Yitzchak by Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner
Pirkei Avot 2:1
Frum/OTD Dialogue
Respectfully Debating Judaism
18Forty - Listener Questions and Behind the Scenes with The 18Forty Team
"The View from Pew: Where Do We Go from Here?"
18Forty - Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz: A Healthy Relationship with Halacha
The Rav Rimon Bencher
18Forty - Larry And Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You — A Child’s Eating Disorder
18Forty - Rav Aaron Lopiansky: What Tribes Do You Contain Inside?
10 Minute Halacha
18Forty - Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg: Discovering Your Halachic Story
18Forty - Marika Feuerstein: The Mentsch of Malden Mills: A Granddaughter Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Aaron Feuerstein
"What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank" by Nathan Englander
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon
18Forty - Aharon Schrieber: What Happens When You Call the Police?
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Shira Berkovits: Creating Safe Spaces [Abuse 3/3] May 24, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Shira Berkovits, president and CEO of Sacred Spaces, about institutional abuse awareness and prevention.
Shira is an attorney and psychologist, as well as the founder of Sacred Spaces, which partners with Jewish institutions to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and other abuses of power. Shira explains how Jewish institutions can better respond to and prevent abuse.
- What preventative measures can a Jewish institution take against abuse?
- Does religious affiliation make responding to incidents of abuse easier or harder?
- How do we begin to heal following incidents of abuse?
Tune in to hear a conversation about protecting our safe spaces.
Interview begins at 20:17.
Shira Berkovits is President and CEO of Sacred Spaces. A behavioral psychologist with a research background in creating large-scale organizational change, and an attorney specialized in criminal law, Shira has spent years studying the intersection of psychology and law as related to sexual offending in faith communities. Shira partners with Jewish leaders to build healthy and accountable institutions, working with a uniquely Jewish lens to foster sacredness and reduce the risk of harassment, abuse, and other interpersonal harm. Shira joins us to talk about creating and cultivating safe spaces in our communities.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please get help.
If you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911.
Shalom Task Force Hotline: 718.337.3700; Toll Free: 888.883.2323
Jewish Board Of Family And Children’s Services Domestic Violence Services: 212.262.7655
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): 212.613.5000
References:
The Apostle
Doubt
“Crisis Change and the Continuous Art of Individual Interpretation and Negotiation: The Aftermath of Clerical Abuse in Newfoundland” by Marion Bowman
“God is at Stake: Crisis Communications Following Religious Leadership Crises” by David Bashevkin
Sin-a-gogue: Sin, and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsk
The Grand Inquisitor by Fyodor Dostoevsk
Sacred Spaces
“Institutional Abuse in the Jewish Community” by Shira Berkovits
Center for Court Innovation
The Innocence Project
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center
2013 Resolution: Preventing Sexual Abuse in our Community
Aleinu Safeguarding Children Campaign
Keilim Policy Toolkit
The Office: "Search Committee" (Season 7, Episode 24)
“The 10 Best Practices”
“Institutional Child Sexual Abuse—Not Just a Catholic Thing” by Kelly Clark
Leviticus 18
Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
“I Was Shamed and Shunned for Revealing My Abuse” by Ruth Krevsky
Mishna Torah - Hilchot Teshuva by Maimonides
Stop It Now
What's OK?
Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse
Genesis 27
The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide by Shira Berkovits and Basyle Tchividjian
“Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-serving Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Procedures”
“Debunking Common Myths”
Moed Katan 17a
Malachi 2:7
Kiddushin 54a
YUTorah
TorahAnytime
Additional Resources:
“Preventing Abuse in Jewish Organizations that Serve Youth: Ten Policies to Create Safer Environments” by Shira Berkovits
“Vayikra as a Model for Transparent Communal Governance” by Shira Berkovits, Esq., Ph.D. and Rabbi Steven Exler
“Closing the Gap in Best Practices for Prevention and Response to Sexual Abuse of Minors in Jewish Organizations”
“A Conversation on Safeguarding Youth in Jewish Communities” by Shira Berkovits and Daniella Pitkoff
Sacred Spaces Protocols for Safeguarding Children and Teens in Online Communication Training
Cheshbon Hanefesh Guide
Protocols for Safeguarding Children and Teens in Online Communications
“An Assessment of Menlo’s Church Report” by Zero Abuse Project and Sacred Spaces
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rahel Bayar: Developing Healthy Boundaries [Abuse 2/3] May 17, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rahel Bayar, founder of The Bayar Group, about abuse awareness and education in faith-based communities.
Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, at times, this episode does contain mature language and listener discretion is advised.
Rahel is a former assistant district attorney and now runs The Bayar Group, which provides abuse training and serves as a consultant to organizations and institutions. Rahel helps us understand some of the difficult definitions we hear and discusses the importance of establishing boundaries in order to identify red flags.
- Why don't we see abuse before it happens?
- What can we do to establish healthy boundaries and prevent abuse?
- What conversations should we be having with our children to prevent and identify abuse?
Tune in to hear a conversation about education, boundaries, and abuse prevention.
Interview begins at 5:01.
Rahel Bayar is the CEO of the Bayar Group, a group that provides sexual abuse and harassment prevention training for schools, camps, and organizations to create lasting change. Rahel is a former sex crimes and child abuse prosecutor who has worked in the field of sexual misconduct and abuse prevention for over a decade. Rahel served as a Managing Director in the Sexual Misconduct Consulting & Investigations division of a global security and consulting firm, and spent many years as an Assistant District Attorney in both the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes and Domestic Violence Bureaus at the Bronx District Attorney’s office. Rahel is a sought-after speaker for her workshops on sexual misconduct, abuse prevention & detection, safe social media and electronic communication practices, boundary guidelines, and consent. Rahel joins us to talk about establishing healthy boundaries.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please get help.
If you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911.
Shalom Task Force Hotline: 718.337.3700; Toll Free: 888.883.2323
Jewish Board Of Family And Children’s Services Domestic Violence Services: 212.262.7655
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): 212.613.5000
References:
Gittin 56B
The Bayar Group
Law and Order SVU
CSI
“I Started the Media Men List” by Moira Donegan
@Rahel.Bayar on Instagram
Your Whole Body by Lizzie Charbonneau
Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian
Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Aharon Schrieber: What Happens When You Call the Police? [Abuse 1/3] May 10, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to ADA Aharon Schrieber about what actually happens when you call the police to report a domestic violence or abuse crime.
Due to the sensitive nature of this conversation, at times, this episode does contain mature language and listener discretion is advised.
Aharon is an assistant district attorney in the Bronx County Domestic Violence Bureau where he prosecutes domestic violence cases. Aharon shares the ins and outs of what actually happens once a crime is reported and how the case gets handled from a law enforcement perspective.
- How does one practically go about reporting a crime to the police?
- What can we do to understand and prevent abuse better in our communities?
- What messages does Aharon hope to hear more from our community when abuse occurs?
Tune in to hear a conversation about abuse, safety, and how we can do better as a community.
Interview begins at 17:12.
Aharon Schrieber is an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) in the Domestic Violence Bureau of the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, where he prosecutes domestic violence offenses and crimes between intimate partners. Aharon is a graduate of NYU School of Law, and is proud to be on the path that he is on, and to have been rejected from many educational institutions and employment opportunities. Tweets @baronaharon, mostly about Star Wars. Aharon joins us to walk us through the specifics of what happens when the police are brought into an abuse case.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please get help.
If you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance, call 911.
- Shalom Task Force Hotline: 718.337.3700; Toll Free: 888.883.2323
- Jewish Board Of Family And Children’s Services Domestic Violence Services: 212.262.7655
- New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): 212.613.5000
References:
Unholy Catholic Ireland : Religious Hypocrisy, Secular Morality, and Irish Irreligion by Hugh Turpin
Safe Horizon
Law and Order: SVU
The Innocence Project
Serial Podcast
“An Unbelievable Story of Rape” by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica and Ken Armstrong, The Marshall Project
Inventing Anna
“Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It” by Jessica Pressler
“Soft Power” by Joseph S. Nye
“On Star Wars, Sunsets, and Hopes for a Better Tomorrow” by Aharon Schrieber
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Adina and Eric Yoffie: A Different Path, Still Family [Divergence 5/5] Apr 19, 2022

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by Ari Bergmann in appreciation of Adina's work and scholarship.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Eric and Dr. Adina Yoffie about their journey as a family through ideological differences.
Rabbi Yoffie is the President Emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism and his daughter Adina is a Modern Orthodox editor and writer. As Adina journeyed to Modern Orthodoxy, she also had to navigate the implications of her observance to her Reform family, and how she could live by her newfound truth without disrupting her family life.
- How does one best respect religious approaches other than their own?
- How does one take a principled stand without making someone within their own family feel like their own life and their own practice does not have any standing?
- How did Adina’s Orthodoxy affect Rabbi Yoffie’s approach to Reform Judaism?
Tune in to hear a conversation about seeing legitimacy in another camp at the same time while holding on to one’s own beliefs and convictions.
Interview begins at 16:09
Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie (father) is a Reform rabbi, and President Emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism. Since retiring in 2012, he has been a lecturer and writer; his writings have been published in The Huffington Post, The Jerusalem Post, and Haaretz.
Dr. Adina M. Yoffie (daughter) is a tutor, editor, and writer living in Manhattan. She earned a Master's and PhD in European History from Harvard University and a Bachelor's in History from Princeton. She has published in the leading journals of her field and has received a Fulbright Award to Germany.
Adina can be found at https://www.adinayoffie.com
References:
Mishna Halachos by Rav Menashe Klein
The Formation of the Talmud: Scholarship and Politics in Yitzhak Isaac Halevy's Dorot HaRishonim by Dr. Ari Bergmann
Op-Ed: Judaism is always ‘tikkun olam’ — and more by Eric Yoffie
Kosher USA: How Coke Became Kosher and Other Tales of Modern Food by Roger Horowitz
The Rebbe's Army by Sue Fishkoff
The French Enlightenment and the Jews by Rabbi Dr. Arthur Hertzberg
The Fate of Zionism by Rabbi Dr. Arthur Hertzberg
Judaism, Human Values, and the Jewish State by Yeshayahu Leibowitz
Words on Fire: The Unfinished Story of Yiddish by Dovid Katz
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Moshe and Asher Weinberger: Heart of the Fire: Together Even With Small Differences [Divergence 4/5] Apr 12, 2022

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by our friend, Evan Goldenberg.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Moshe Weinberger, Rebbe of Kehillas Aish Kodesh and his son Asher, CEO of Swimply.
Rav Moshe Weinberger is a chassidish Rebbe who raised his son Asher in the more modern world of the Five Towns. Join us as they discuss differing trajectories and expectations, and how fathers can learn from their sons despite the small differences between them.
- How does a chassidishe father react to his son cutting off his peyos?
- Does being the son of a Rav play a role in paving one’s own path and journey?
- What does it mean to go back to the year 1840?
Tune in to hear a conversation about chassidus shniya [renewed (or secondary) Hasidic commitment] and the evolution of fatherhood.
Interview begins at 11:25.
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger (father) is the founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, New York, and is Mashpia at RIETS at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Weinberger is one of the leading spiritual leaders in the contemporary Jewish community, and is a key figure in the spiritual revitalization of the Orthodox world.
Asher Weinberger (son) is the co-founder and COO of Swimply, an online marketplace for renting private swimming pools. Asher is the president of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs.
References:
Sefer HaRokeach by Eleazar of Worms
2.0 by Mishpacha Magazine
Miniver Cheevy and Other Poems by Edwin Arlington Robinson
Tzidkas HaTzaddik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin
Haggadah - In the Heart of the Fire by Rav Moshe Weinberger
Likkutei Moharan by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
Hararei Kedem by Rabbi Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Larry and Tzipora Rothwachs: Here Without You - A Child's Eating Disorder [Divergence 3/5] Apr 05, 2022

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by Camp Morasha in appreciation for Rabbi Rothwachs's tireless dedication to his family and ours.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Larry Rothwachs and his daughter Tzipora about the relationship of a father and daughter through distance while battling an eating disorder.
Larry is the rabbi of a congregation in Teaneck, New Jersey, and sees himself as someone who is sort of in the business of helping people. His daughter Tzipora was diagnosed with an eating disorder as a pre-teen. As Tzipora’s disorder got more severe, she was distanced from her family—both physically and emotionally. During this time, she and her parents were forced to redefine and strengthen their relationship in ways they couldn’t have otherwise.
- How can absence become a relationship in and of itself?
- What did this journey teach Tzipora about being a daughter, about family, about her relationship with her father, and for Larry as a parent, how did this change his relationship, not just to Tzipora, but his relationship to being a parent in general?
- How can parents and children remain connected even when so far apart?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how distance can make a relationship grow stronger than it ever was before.
Interview begins at 11:43.
Rabbi Larry Rothwachs (father) serves as rabbi of Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck, NJ, and is the Director of Professional Rabbinics at RIETS at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Rothwachs has served as president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County and on the executive committee of the Rabbinical Council of America. In May 2016, he was named by the Jewish Forward among ‘America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis.’
Tzipora Rothwachs (daughter) grew up in Teaneck, NJ, and studied Business at Yeshiva University. After graduating from Yeshiva University, Tzipora Rothwachs began working as a property associate for JLL in New York City. She enjoys running and the outdoors and lives in Bergen County, NJ.
References:
The Fifth Son by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson
Top Five Pictures of the Four Sons by Dovid Bashevkin
The Animated Haggadah by Rony Oren
Father of the Bride
Here Without You by Three Doors Down
Little House on the Prairie
Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Bruce Feiler: The Stories That Bind Us [Divergence 2/5] Mar 29, 2022

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Bruce Feiler about family narratives.
Bruce has authored many books and articles, including longtime 18Forty favorite, The Stories that Bind Us, which argues that resilience in families is built by developing a strong family narrative.
- Does The Stories that Bind Us deliberately have a Pesach theme?
- What are the mistakes that people make in family dinner conversation?
- Are there differences in the ways that we cope with different types of life transitions?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Pesach and building family narratives.
Interview begins at 16:27.
Bruce is an American author of 15 books. Bruce’s book The Secrets of Happy Families: Improve Your Mornings, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smarter, Go Out and Play, and Much More is a moving exploration of the ways different families have built healthy homes. Bruce writes the "This Life" column in the New York Times and the PBS miniseries Walking the Bible and Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feiler. His powerful article “The Stories That Bind Us,” in which Bruce explores the non-linear narratives of families from many different walks of life, was an early inspiration for 18Forty’s series on Intergenerational Divergence. Bruce joins us to discuss the stories that families tell.
References:
Shel Ma'alah, Shel Matah: Seders Ideal and Real by Joanna Samuels
Believe In Your Own Seder by Rabbi Judah Mischel
Just One - The NCSY Haggadah
Haggadah Encyclopedia Talmudic
The Mesivta Haggadah
The Stories that Bind Us by Bruce Feiler
Sin-a-gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin
Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age by Bruce Feiler
Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses by Bruce Feiler
The Do-You-Know Scale by Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush
The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler
Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler
The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler
The Nonlinear Life Newsletter
The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Intergenerational Divergence: Recap, Reflections, and Response [Divergence 1/5] Mar 22, 2022

This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to the families from our previous series on intergenerational divergence to follow up and see what they’re up to now. As we revisit the previous interviews, we continue the conversations where we left off, drawing from the experiences and wisdom of our guests.
• What advice would our guests give their younger selves during the difficult period that they went through?
• What have our guests been up to and what has the feedback been since sharing their stories on 18Forty?
• What is the role of disappointment and expectations in the idea of identity?
Tune in to hear a conversation about family, about dissonance, and about unconditional love.
References:
The Europeans by Orlando Figes
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
18Forty Interview with Rabbi Daniel and Aliza Grama
18Forty Interview with Rabbi Robyn Frisch
Reform, Conservative, Haredi — it’s all in the family by Robyn Frisch
18Forty Interview with Rabbi Menachem Penner and Gedalia Penner Robinson
18Forty Interview with Andrew Solomon
Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon
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Alex Edelman: Taking Comedy Seriously: Purim Mar 15, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David is joined by comedian Alex Edelman for a special Purim discussion exploring the place of humor and levity in a world that often demands our solemnity.
A Modern Orthodox Jew from Brookline, Massachusetts, who’s “tried cocaine,” but has “never tried bacon,” Alex stars in the one-man Off Broadway show Just For Us, which has to be one of the only top-tier comedy specials to mention Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.
In this episode, we discuss:
—How does a Modern Orthodox kid become a mainstream professional comic?
—What makes particularly Jewish stories resonate so much with wider audiences?
—Why hasn’t he left traditional Judaism amid his secular fame?
Tune in to hear how a bona fide star holds onto both his humor and his values to bare to the world his authentic self.
Interview begins at 26:56.
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 at the SoHo Playhouse in New York City. While nights tend to sell out quickly, tickets are available here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35583/production/1107251.
References:
The World as Will and Idea by Arthur Schopenhauer
Is It Funny for the Jews? by Jason Zinoman
Here All Along by Sarah Hurwitz
My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander
Dinner at the Center of the Earth by Nathan Englander
Kaddish.com by Nathan Englander
Baseball as a Road to God by John Sexton
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Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz: A Healthy Relationship with Halacha [Halacha 4/4] Mar 01, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, the director of semicha at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), about the development of halacha.
Rabbi Lebowitz has written numerous articles and several books on the practical applications of Jewish law and is behind the popular “Ten Minute Halacha” lecture series.
•What is the role of rabbinic “intuition” in halachic rulings?
•To what degree does the common practice of the community shape halachic rulings?
•How has the focus of rabbinical studies shifted over time?
•Does the concept of emunas chachamin, faith in the rabbis, mean blind adherence?
•How are the personal circumstances of the individuals seeking a halachic ruling factored into a posek’s decision?
Tune in to hear a conversation about halacha and its practical applications.
Interview begins at 21:32.
Rabbi Lebowitz is the rabbi of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere and the director of semicha at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). He previously taught at Lander's College for Men and at the DRS Yeshiva High School (HALB).
References:
Ten Minute Halacha
Tales Out of Shul: The Unorthodox Journal of an Orthodox Rabbi by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman
Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz’s halachic guide to showering on Yom Tov
Gray Matter by Rabbi Chaim Jachter
Contemporary Halakhic Problems by Rabbi J. David Bleich
Shabbat by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon
Orchot Shabbat by Rabbi Shalom Yosef Gelber & Rabbi Yitzchak Mordechai Rubin
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Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg: Discovering Your Halachic Story [Halacha 3/4] Feb 22, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg - historian and Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows - about the history of halacha.
While we take the system of halacha as we know it today for granted, many factors contributed to its current state. We discuss some of these factors, as well as some pivotal moments in halacha’s history, like the publication of the Shulchan Aruch.
- Has halacha always been as standardized and abstract a system as it is today?
- What factors have contributed to the state of halacha today?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the history of halacha.
Interview begins at 16:47.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/halacha/.
Dr. Tamara Morsel-Eisenberg is a scholar of early modern Jewish intellectual and cultural history. She received her BA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania’s history department, where she wrote her thesis on the transmission of halakhic knowledge in 16th-century Ashkenaz. Tamara has held fellowships and prizes, including from the Center for Jewish History, the AJS, the Leo Baeck Institute. She is a Junior Fellow at Harvard’s society of Fellows and a Starr Fellow at its Center for Judaic Studies, as well as a Berkovitz Fellow at NYU Law, and lectures widely on Jewish history and law. Tamara lives in Manhattan with her husband Ori and three sons.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Dr. Moshe Koppel: Halacha as a Language [Halacha 2/4] Feb 15, 2022

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Moshe Koppel, professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University to discuss some of the ideas in his books Judaism Straight Up and Meta-Halakhah. We discuss how to conceptualize the halachic system and explore how Halacha's development can be seen through the prism of language and what that means for our halachic commitment today.
How should halacha be legislated?
What does it mean that halacha is like language?
What can halacha as language teach us about the development and legislation of halacha?
Tune in to hear this fascinating conversation about halacha's development.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/halacha
Interview begins at 26:58
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. Moshe is the author of three sharply thought books on Jewish thought.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha [Halacha 1/4] Feb 08, 2022

In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.
Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of gentile wine. Much of his popular renown can be attributed to the publication of his article "Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy" in Tradition (Summer 1994 28:4). The essay explores how halacha developed following the rupture of the Holocaust and moved from a mimetic tradition into a text based tradition. Following the article's publication, there have been several critical exchanges, collections of reflections, and conversations—a testimony to its enduring impact. The article and many of the critical exchanges have been collected into a new volume that has recently been published by the Littman Library of Jewish Civilization. It was a unique privilege to have Professor Solovetichik as a guest on 18Forty. In this episode, we discuss:
- How has the shift from a mimetic tradition to a text based tradition affected Jewish life?
- How does the approach of Professor Soloveitchik differ from the notion found within the Conservative movement of Catholic Israel?
- Where can the sense of yirat shamayim—awe of heaven—found instinctively in previous generations, be discovered today?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the implications of the development of halacha from a world renowned scholar and how these changes can affect our lives.
Interview starts at 30:40.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/halacha
References:
Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy, Haym Soloveitchik (Tradition, Summer 1994, 28:4)
On Haym Soloveitchik's "Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodox Society": A Response, Isaac Chavel (The Torah U-Maddah Journal 1997 vol. 7)
Clarifications and Reply, Haym Soloveitchik (The Torah U-Maddah Journal 1997 vol. 7)
Responding to Rupture and Reconstruction, Hillel Goldberg (Tradition 1997 31:2)
Rupture and Reconstruction Reconsidered, Tradition Symposium (free e-book)
On the Reception of Rupture and Reconstruction, Zev Eleff
Thoughts on Rupture and Reconstruction Twenty Five Years Later, David Brofsky
Rabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik graduated from the Maimonides School which his father founded in Brookline, Massachusetts and then received his B.A. degree from Harvard College in 1958 with a major in history. After two years of postgraduate study at Harvard, he moved to Israel and began his studies toward an M.A. and PhD at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, under the historian Professor Jacob Katz. He wrote his Master's thesis on the halacha of gentile wine in medieval Germany. His doctorate, which he received in 1972, concentrated on laws of pawnbroking and usury. He is considered a pioneer and leader in the study of the history of Jewish law.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Listener Questions and Behind the Scenes with the 18Forty Team Feb 01, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by listeners and talk to two of our editors, Denah Emerson and Yehuda Fogel.
18Forty is a media company as well as a podcast. Between editing the podcast audio, writing the written material, and running the social media, there are many invaluable people who help run it behind the scenes.
- What happens behind the scenes of 18Forty?
- How is 18Forty’s media produced?
Tune in to hear a conversation where we answer listener questions and give a behind the scenes look at 18Forty.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Marika Feuerstein: The Mentsch of Malden Mills: A Granddaughter Reflects on the Life and Legacy of Aaron Feuerstein [Wealth 4/4] Jan 11, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Marika Feuerstein about the life of her grandfather, Aaron Feuerstein.
Aaron Feuerstein was the head of a successful family business that suffered serious setbacks after a fire destroyed its factory. He became famous for his commitment to the wellbeing of his employees, paying them even while they couldn’t work, but rebuilding came with challenges that ultimately cost him the company. Marika Feuerstein tells the lesser known story of his later life, and how the Feuerstein family regrouped in the wake of the fire.
- What happened in the aftermath of the fire?
- What were its effects on the Feuerstein family, who, until that point, had all worked in the business?
- How did Aaron Feuerstein, as well as the rest of his family, recover from the setbacks to lead a healthy life?
Tune in to hear a conversation about wealth as it relates to family identity.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/wealth/.
References:
Hospital by Julie Salamon
https://www.amazon.com/Hospital-Infinity-Behavior-Diversity-Steroids/dp/0143115367
Aaron Feuerstein was an American businessman and philanthropist. Feuerstein gained national acclaim for his decision to continue to compensate his employees after a fire destroyed his Massachusetts factory. Feuerstein became known as the “Mentsch of Malden Mills,” and the decision caused him to sustain significant personal financial losses. Marika Feuerstein is Aaron Feuerstein’s granddaughter. Marika is a Boston native, and has been a top Residential Real Estate Agent. A true entrepreneur at heart, she started Keto bakery company, Sweet Finale, runs a non-profit, Purim Unity, where she puts on mega events for the Boston Jewish community, and is an executive producer on a new documentary called The American Question. Marika joins us to talk about the life and legacy of her grandfather.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Ari Bergmann: Giving Wealth a Rest: The Economics of Shemittah [Wealth 3/4] Jan 04, 2022

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ari Bergmann - PhD and financier - about the benefits of shemittah.
The current Hebrew year, 5782, is a shemittah year, a year when the land rests. This has extensive economic effects on Israel’s agricultural community, as farmers are not allowed to work on or profit from their land. Ari, as an expert in both Talmud and finances, weighs in on some important questions.
- What are the laws and logistics of shemittah?
- What is the Torah’s motivation for introducing shemittah?
- How do the laws of shemittah affect power differences created by wealth?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the shemittah year.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/wealth
Ari Bergmann is the founder and managing principal/CIO of Penso Advisors LLC, A New York-based manager and advisory boutique specializing in derivatives structuring/trading and systemic risk management. Ari attended Ner Yisrael, holds an MA and PhD in comparative religion from Columbia University, and has taught at Yeshiva University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Ari lectures widely on the topics of finance, Talmud, and Jewish thought, and is beloved for his knowledge and depth.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Eli Langer & Zevy Wolman: How We Keep Our Finances Kosher [Wealth 2/4] Dec 28, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Langer and Zevy Wolman - hosts of the Kosher Money podcast - about financial literacy as it relates to Orthodox Judaism.
The cost of living in Orthodox communities is tremendous, and seems to only grow. Between tuition, simchas, and more, families in America’s top one or two percent by income struggle to get by.
- How severe is the issue of cost of living in the Orthodox community?
- What dynamics factor into this issue?
- How should we aim to solve this issue long term?
- How can financial literacy help?
Tune in to hear a conversation about financial literacy and the cost of living in the Orthodox community.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/wealth/.
References:
Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
https://www.amazon.com/Thou-Shall-Prosper-Commandments-Making/dp/0470485884
You Revealed by Rabbi Naftali Horowitz
https://www.amazon.com/You-Revealed-Torah-Path-Success/dp/1422627462
The Index Card by Helaine Olen
https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680
Dovid Bashevkin on Kosher Money
https://livingsmarterjewish.org/dovid-bashevkin-has-very-interesting-takes-on-money-kosher-money-episode-15/
Watch Kosher Money here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI8a9R9xblEbj3S5R7i35kBL9n8sF6rCl
Listen to Kosher Money here:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1572928547?to=page
More info here:
https://www.livinglchaim.com/
Eli Langer is the CEO of Harvesting Media, and previously worked as social media producer for CNBC. Eli is the host of the Kosher Money podcast, where Eli meets with visiting experts on the financial realities and challenges of life as an observant Jew.
Zevy (Isaac) Wolman is an entrepreneur and CEO of Make it Real, a global toy company. Zevy is a founding member of Living Smarter Jewish, Relief of Baltimore, Bobbie’s Place of Baltimore, and Baltimore Business Loan fund and a board member of the Orthodox Union.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Mark Trencher: Orthonomics: The Cost of Frum Life [Wealth 1/4] Dec 20, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mark Trencher - founder of Nishma Research - about finances in the Orthodox community.
Mark Trencher founded Nishma Research to survey the Jewish community about various important questions relating to Jewish life. His surveys are of wide-ranging subject matter, including reasons that people go off the derech, political orientation, opinions about vaccines, and of course, finances.
- How taxing is Orthodoxy on peoples’ finances?
- What financial areas do Orthodox families struggle with most?
- Are Orthodox people able to save for retirement?
- How does this financial strain affect peoples’ religiosity?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Orthodox Judaism and finances.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/wealth/.
References:
Rupture and Reconstruction by Haym Soloveitchik
https://traditiononline.org/rupture-and-reconstruction-the-transformation-of-contemporary-orthodoxy/
Wanting by Luke Burgis
https://www.amazon.com/Wanting-Power-Mimetic-Desire-Everyday/dp/1250262488
All Who Go Do Not Return by Shulem Deen
https://www.amazon.com/All-Who-Go-Not-Return/dp/1555977057
The Index Card by Helaine Olen
https://www.amazon.com/Index-Card-Personal-Finance-Complicated/dp/1591847680
Nishma Research
http://nishmaresearch.com/
Kosher Money Podcast
https://livingsmarterjewish.org/series/kosher-money-podcast/
https://twitter.com/awilkinson
Mark Trencher is the founder of Nishma Research, which has conducted nine broad Jewish communal studies since 2015, as well as eight Jewish organizational studies. Mark previously headed research departments at two Fortune 200 financial firms and has taught business statistics on an undergraduate and graduate level. Through Nishma, Mark has studied under-examined issues in the Orthodox community relating to the community’s beliefs, practices, and attitudes. Mark currently sits on the Board of Directors of both the National Council of Young Israel and PORAT (People for Orthodox Renaissance and Torah), and president of the Hartford Kashrut Commission.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Zohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah [Rationality 5/5] Dec 14, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Zohar Atkins, Rabbi and philosopher, about the role that philosophy - particularly rationalist philosophy - plays in Judaism.
Zohar is a profound and poetic thinker who tries to lead an examined Jewish life. Despite being a philosopher, he is an advocate of doing, not just thinking. He takes the idea of there being 70 faces of the Torah to heart, endorsing philosophical pluralism in relation to Judaism.
- How do philosophy and the Torah interact?
- Does the Torah espouse any one true philosophy, or is it open to multiple philosophical interpretations?
- What role in Jewish life can rationalism play, and what role should it play?
Tune in to hear a conversation about philosophy and Judaism.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.
References:
Dialogues of Plato by Plato
https://www.amazon.com/Dialogues-Plato-Enriched-Classics/dp/1439169489
The Kuzari by Rabbi Yehuda Halevi
https://www.amazon.com/Kuzari-Defense-Despised-Faith/dp/0765799707
https://slatestarcodex.com/
https://www.lesswrong.com/
https://twitter.com/ZoharAtkins?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Zohar is the founder of Etz Hasadeh, a fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, and a popular public thinker. Zohar holds a Dphil in theology from Oxford, where he was a Rhodes scholar, and rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Zohar is the author of An Ethical and Theological Appropriation of Heidegger’s Critique of Modernity (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018), Nineveh (2019), a collection of poems, and thinks aloud about a daily question at What is Called Thinking. Zohar writes a much-loved and deeply contemplative column on the Parsha at Etz Hasadeh.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Simi Peters: Building New Faith Foundations [Rationality 4/5] Dec 07, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Simi Peters - author and teacher - about Jewish faith and postmodernism.
Simi is a scholar who is well-versed in both postmodern and Jewish thought. She has attempted to synthesize the two, grounding Jewish faith in postmodernism. While postmodernism calls into question the very ideas of truth and proof, she still believes that Judaism can be given a postmodern, rational grounding.
- What is postmodernism, and what implications does it have for rationality?
- How can one ground their faith in a postmodern world view?
- Where does the education system go right, and where does it go wrong, in attempting to ground its students’ faith?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Judaism and postmodernism.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.
References:
David Foster Wallace - The Problem with Irony by Will Schoder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2doZROwdte4
The Most Human Human by Brian Christian
https://www.amazon.com/Most-Human-Talking-Computers-Teaches-ebook/dp/B004FEG2S6
The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs
https://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-Literally-Possible/dp/0743291484
Learning to Read Midrash by Simi Peters
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Read-Midrash-Simi-Peters/dp/9657108578
The Road Back by Mayer Schiller
https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-Discovery-Judaism/dp/0873062647
Simi is the author of Learning to Read Midrash (2004) and has been a teacher at Nishmat for over 25 years. Simi has dedicated her life to adult Jewish education and teacher education, specializing in Tanach, Midrash, and Biblical commentary. Simi holds a master’s degree in linguistics from the Graduate Center of CUNY and currently teaches at Matan’s Bellows-Eshkolot Educator’s Program.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Samuel Lebens: The Line Between Rationality and Mysticism [Rationality 3/5] Nov 30, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens - philosophy professor and author - about the interaction of Judaism with analytic philosophy and mysticism.
Samuel is an analytic philosopher, trained to analyze philosophical questions in a precise, almost mathematical framework. In his new book, The Principles of Judaism, he attempts to wed the foundations of Judaism to this framework, discussing the ways that one might formalize their Judaism on rational grounds.
- How can one ground their Judaism in precise, rational terms?
- How certain can one be of their Judaism?
- What is the place of mysticism in a rational framework?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Judaism and analytic philosophy.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.
References:
The Principles of Judaism by Samuel Lebens https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Judaism-Studies-Analytic-Theology/dp/0198843259
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Ludwig-Wittgenstein/dp/0486404455/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=0486404455&psc=1
The Nineteen Letters by Joseph Elias https://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Letters-World-Rabbi-Hirsch/dp/0873066960
Covenant and Conversation by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks https://www.amazon.com/Covenant-Conversation-Genesis-Book-Beginnings/dp/1592640206
Two Dozen (or so) Arguments for God by Jerry Walls, Trent Dougherty https://www.amazon.com/Two-Dozen-Arguments-God-Plantinga/dp/0190842229
Samuel 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 The Principles of Judaism, a strikingly sharp analysis of the fundamentals of the Jewish religion. Samuel’s first book was a study of Bertrand Russell’s dynamic theories about the nature of meaning.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Shmuel Phillips: Reclaiming Judaism [Rationality 2/5] Nov 23, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Shmuel Phillips about the upsides and downsides of approaching Judaism rationally.
Shmuel grew up debating religion, always thinking about why he practiced Judaism as he did. While many people practice Judaism because it’s what they grew up with, Shmuel believes that people could give more grounding to their faith. To that end, he authored a book, Judaism Reclaimed, where he explores the modern issues of Judaism in a traditional Orthodox framework.
- How can one reconcile the Torah with the morality and science of the modern day?
- How much should rationality factor into one’s religious experience?
- How can rationality and an experiential relationship with Hashem complement each other?
Tune in to hear a conversation about Judaism in the modern day.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.
References:
Forgive Us, Father-in-Law, For We Know Not What To Think by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
https://www.amazon.com/Forgive-Father-Law-Know-Think/dp/9657324009
My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wiman
https://www.amazon.com/My-Bright-Abyss-Meditation-Believer/dp/0374534373
Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah by Rabbi Shmuel Phillips
https://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Reclaimed-Philosophy-Theology-Torah/dp/1946351784
Ani Maamin by Joshua Berman
https://www.amazon.com/Ani-Maamin-Criticism-Historical-Principles/dp/1592645380
Shmuel is an author and Torah scholar based in Jerusalem. Shmuel holds a law degree, and spent two decades studying Torah in Yeshiva and Kollel. Over this time, he wrote an analysis of some of the greatest challenges and opportunities of traditional faith in the contemporary era, Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Anxiety and Rationality: A Personal Anonymous Account [Rationality 1/5] Nov 16, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about the anxieties he experienced in a hyper rational approach to Judaism.
Our anonymous identifies as a rationalist, or someone who likes to analyze the decisions in his life through a logical lens. He applied this to his Judaism. But as time went on, he began having doubts and questions and his life started to fall apart. Eventually he found a different approach to his Judaism that allowed him to moderate his rationality and live a more meaningful life.
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of rationality?
- What balance should one attempt to draw?
- How can rationalists with doubts about Judaism moderate their mindset to have a more meaningful life?
Tune in to hear a conversation about rationality and Judaism.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.
References:
Why Is It so Hard to Be Rational? By Joshua Rothman https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/23/why-is-it-so-hard-to-be-rational
The Secret of Our Success by Joseph Henrich https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Our-Success-Evolution-Domesticating/dp/0691166854
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

The Books of Shabbos [Shabbos 3/3] Nov 01, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about two impactful books about Shabbos and their authors.
Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa was a seminal work about the halachos of Shabbos in the modern day. The Sabbath was an ode to the beauty and spirituality of Shabbos. Together they give two complementary perspectives, the halachic and the spiritual, on our beloved Shabbos.
- Why are Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa and The Sabbath such important works?
- What do they each tell us about Shabbos that the other doesn’t?
- How do the perspectives they bring, that of halacha and that of spirituality, complement each other, and how are they similar?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the books of Shabbos.
References:
Shemiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa by Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth
https://www.amazon.com/Shemirath-Shabbath-Set-Yehoshua-Neuwirth/dp/1583304940
The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
https://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Classics-Abraham-Joshua-Heschel/dp/0374529752
A Passion for Truth by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Jewish-Lights-Classic-Reprint/dp/1879045419
Moral Grandeur and Spiritual Audacity by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Grandeur-Spiritual-Audacity-Essays/dp/0374524955
Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism by Gershom Scholem
https://www.amazon.com/Trends-Jewish-Mysticism-Gershom-Scholem/dp/0805210423
The Earth is the Lord’s by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Lords-Eastern-Classic-Reprint/dp/1879045427
Man is Not Alone by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Not-Alone-Philosophy-Religion/dp/0374513287
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

The Legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks Oct 26, 2021

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Professor Jonathan Haidt about the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in honor of his yahrtzeit.
Rabbi Sacks had a profound impact on the Jewish world, with his eloquent words giving a voice to many. He has spoken at length about how to construct a good and meaningful life using Judaism, as well as about morality, consumerism, spiritual truth, politics, and antisemitism.
- What is the value of commitment to Judaism?
- How can Judaism contribute to our morality?
- How can Judaism contribute to our community?
- How can one keep faith in Judaism in the modern world?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the world of Rabbi Sacks.
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl-ebook/dp/B009U9S6FI
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777
The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Hypothesis-Finding-Modern-Ancient/dp/0465028020
The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt https://www.amazon.com/Coddling-American-Mind-Intentions-Generation/dp/0735224897
Religion and the Rise of Capitalism by Benjamin Friedman https://www.amazon.com/Religion-Rise-Capitalism-Benjamin-Friedman/dp/059331798X
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Judith Shulevitz: The World of Shabbos [Shabbos 2/3] Oct 19, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and journalist Judith Shulevitz about the world of Shabbos.
Through The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, Judith introduced the secular world to the concept of Shabbos. She explores the power of a day of rest and the communal aspect that elevates it.
- Does a secular Shabbos of unplugging work?
- What is so radical about observing Shabbos?
- How important is community for one’s Shabbos practice?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the world of Shabbos.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/shabbos/.
Judith is a journalist, editor, author, and critic. She is currently a contributing op-ed writer for The New York Times. Judith’s book, The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, is a deep exploration of our favorite day of rest, from its ancient origins until today. This book weaves together the story of a day but also the story of one person, with ideas and memories melting into each other. Judith joins us to talk about the complex beauty, and challenges, of Shabbos.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Senator Joe Lieberman: The Gift of Shabbos [Shabbos 1/3] Oct 12, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Senator Joe Lieberman - politician, lobbyist, and attorney - about the gift of Shabbos.
Joe Lieberman lives a life in the public eye as an observant Jew. This exemplary dedication to his values is admirable and gives Joe a unique perspective on the benefits of Shabbos.
- What gifts does Shabbos grant us that we take for granted?
- What lessons can the high-powered life of a politician teach us about powering down for Shabbos?
- Is it difficult living as a politician who observes Shabbos?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the gift of Shabbos.
References:
In the Driver’s Seat by Jenna Weissman Joselit https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/jose/Joselit-Jewish%20leadership.pdf
Half Shabbos is No Shabbos by Jonathan Rosenblum https://jewishaction.com/religion/shabbat-holidays/half-shabbos-is-no-shabbos/
Is Half Shabbos Really No Shabbos? By Rabbi Shalom Baum https://jewishaction.com/letters/is-half-shabbos-really-no-shabbos/
Shabbos: The Political Significance of Jewish Law by Avi Garelick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKvuRm3RzvQ
Everything Is for Sale Now. Even Us. by Dr. Ruth Whippman https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/24/opinion/sunday/gig-economy-self-promotion-anxiety.html
America the Anxious by Dr. Ruth Whippman https://www.amazon.com/America-Anxious-Pursuit-Happiness-Creating/dp/1536628972
The Gift of Rest by Joe Lieberman https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Rest-Rediscovering-Beauty-Sabbath/dp/1451627319
The 39 Avoth Melacha of Shabbath by Baruch Chait https://www.amazon.com/39-Avoth-Melacha-Shabbath-Regular/dp/0873065867
Senator Joe Lieberman is a politician, lobbyist, and attorney, who served as a senator from Connecticut from 1989 to 2013, and was the nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2000 election. Senator Lieberman is an observant Jew, and his thoughtful book The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath is a fascinating look into the spiritual journey from within the halls of power. Above all else, Joe Lieberman’s kindness, humility, and dedication to living a life of service are powerful lessons for all of us who spend our days on Netflix and nights on Youtube. The senator joins us to talk Shabbos, spirituality, and living a life of dedication and balance.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change [Teshuva 5/5] Sep 12, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva.
The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva.
- Who was the Yabloner Rebbe?
- Why did he leave his faith?
- What inspired him to return?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the astounding story of the Yabloner Rebbe.
References:
The God of Loneliness by Philip Schultz https://www.amazon.com/God-Loneliness-Selected-New-Poems/dp/0547249659
The Amazing Return of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/amazing-yabloner-rebbe
The Astonishing Story of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner https://rabbidunner.com/the-astonishing-story-of-the-yabloner-rebbe/
Rabbi Pini Dunner Website https://rabbidunner.com/
Mavericks, Mystics & False Messiahs by Rabbi Pini Dunner https://www.amazon.com/Mavericks-Mystics-False-Messiahs-Episodes/dp/1592645100
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva.
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Miriam Gisser: Recovery as Change [Teshuva 4/5] Sep 03, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Miriam Gisser about changing, or even rebuilding, one’s life.
Miriam’s husband passed away from a drug overdose, forcing her to rebuild her life for her and her family. She offers unique insight into how one can change and rebuild their life, whether after a tragedy, to do teshuva, or something else.
- What are the scariest parts of change?
- How can we find the inner courage necessary for change?
- How can we deal with and remember our past while looking to the future?
Tune in to hear a conversation about resilience and change.
References:
Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions https://www.amazon.com/Al-Anons-Twelve-Steps-Traditions/dp/0910034435
God of Our Understanding by Rabbi Shais Taub https://www.amazon.com/God-Our-Understanding-Spirituality-Addiction/dp/1602801533
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva.
Miriam Gisser is a teacher, who currently resides in Ohio. Miriam’s first husband was an addict, and after his untimely death Miriam rebuilt her life from the ground up. Miriam joins 18Forty to speak about the complexities of her family’s path through life, growth, and change.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Agnes Callard: A Philosophy of Change [Teshuva 3/5] Aug 31, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Agnes Callard - professor of philosophy and author - about the philosophy of change.
Many decisions in life can be made by weighing our values: if an action accords with our values, then we do it, and if it doesn’t, then we don’t. But when it comes to deciding what our values should be, we may need a different paradigm.
- How do we make decisions in relation to our values?
- What decisions don’t function in this normal paradigm?
- How can we decide to change our values themselves?
Tune in to hear a conversation about the philosophy of change.
References:
Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming by Agnes Callard https://www.amazon.com/Aspiration-Agency-Becoming-Agnes-Callard/dp/0190639482
Transformative Experience by L. A. Paul https://www.amazon.com/Transformative-Experience-L-Paul/dp/0198777310
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce https://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Artist-As-Young-Man/dp/1503221431
The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante https://www.amazon.com/The-Neapolitan-Novels-Boxed-Set/dp/1609455053
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva.
Professor Agnes Callard is a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, specializing in ancient philosophy and ethics. Professor Callard received a Masters of Arts in Classics and a PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. Unlike many academics of philosophy, her writing is powerfully accessible, making her a popular voice on issues of contemporary ideas. Agnes’s book Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming is a stunningly deep exploration of the foundational aspects of change, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the philosophy and psychology of personal growth. Agnes joins us to talk about self-creation, growth, and the philosophy of transformation.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Alex Clare: Changing in Public [Teshuva 2/5] Aug 23, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alex Clare - singer and baal teshuva - about changing identity and what if questions.
Alex was a rising music star who left the music industry to pursue a religious life - what's known as a baal teshuva - then returned following international commercial success. He has faced many life-changing choices, and so has experience with navigating change in a healthy way.
- How can one ensure that the changes they make are navigated healthily?
- What if one regrets the choices they have made?
- Is it useful to think about what if questions?
Tune in to hear a conversation about healthy change and what if questions.
References:
Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalom
https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Executioner-Other-Tales-Psychotherapy/dp/0465020119
Grendel by John Gardner https://www.amazon.com/Grendel-John-Gardner/dp/0679723110
What Ifs of Jewish History by Gavriel Rosenfeld https://www.amazon.com/What-Ifs-Jewish-History-Abraham/dp/110703762X
A Student's Obligation by the Piaseczno rebbe https://www.amazon.com/Students-Obligation-Advice-Warsaw-Ghetto/dp/1568215177
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel https://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Classics-Abraham-Joshua-Heschel/dp/0374529752
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva.
Alex Clare is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer. His song “Too Close” went double platinum in the United States and was in the top-ten in five different countries. Alex, a native of the UK, made the decision to become a religious Jew several years ago, and now resides in Jerusalem, where he creates music inspired by his spiritual life. Alex’s personal path to religion, and his decision to become an Orthodox Jew, has intrigued many, and he joins us to talk about music, religion, and the complex road to growth.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress [Teshuva 1/5] Aug 17, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Judah Mischel - executive director of Camp HASC and founder of Tzama Nafshi - about change and teshuva.
Change is one of the most difficult things in life. We often wish we could snap our fingers and choose to live differently, but change usually takes time. We can think of change as a journey rather than a destination.
- How can one appreciate the process of change, the ride, as much as we appreciate the destination?
- How can we navigate the waters between hoping for change and embracing ourselves as we are?
Tune in to hear a conversation on change and teshuva, today.
References:
Tzidkas HaTzadik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen MiLublin https://www.sefaria.org/Tzidkat_HaTzadik.4?lang=bi
Baderech: Along The Path of Teshuvah by Rav Judah Mischel https://mosaicapress.com/product/baderech/
Peninei Halakha by Rav Eliezar Melamed https://www.amazon.com/Peninei-Halakha-Laws-Shabbat-Vol/dp/1592644473
For more, visit https://18forty.org/teshuva/.
Rav Judah Mischel is the executive director of Camp HASC, the founder of Tzama Nafshi, and a widely beloved teacher and travel guide to the soul of Jewish life. Rav Judah’s new book, Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva, is a poignant road map to the pathways of penitence, so check it out now. Rav Judah joins 18Forty to talk about change, authenticity, and what teshuva means to him.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Summer Unwind: Documentary Film [Summer Unwind 3/3] Aug 09, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Grady - documentary filmmaker of One of Us and Jesus Camp - about the expressive power of documentaries.
While fiction and non-fiction literature are powerful creative tools to explore an issue, documentaries have a unique power to portray communities from the inside. And while these portrayals may be uniquely powerful, they can also be uniquely controversial.
- What can documentaries achieve that other mediums can’t?
- How can documentaries help their audiences explore unfamiliar communities?
- How are documentaries suited to exploring religious communities specifically?
Tune in to hear a conversation on documentary filmmaking, and for Rachel's recommendations for which documentaries you should watch next.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/rachel-grady-documentary-film/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Summer Unwind: Fiction [Summer Unwind 2/3] Aug 03, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David Hopen - law student and author of The Orchard - about finding truth in fiction, and particularly in myths.
Though fiction and myths are by definition not true, they can still have great significance. Religious stories in particular can help guide us regardless of whether or not they’re literally true. In his book The Orchard, David tries to illustrate this, using fiction to tell deep truths about the place myth can have in the modern world.
- How can fiction tell truths despite it not being true by definition?
- How can myths help forge our identities?
- What truths did David try to tell in The Orchard?
Tune in to hear a conversation on fiction and myths.
References:
The Orchard by David Hopen https://www.amazon.com/Orchard-Novel-David-Hopen/dp/0062974742
The Client by John Grisham https://www.amazon.com/Client-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0345531922
Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me? By Louis Sachar https://www.amazon.com/Why-Pick-Marvin-Redpost-paper/dp/0679819479
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Stories-Wayside-School-Sachar/dp/0380731487
Matilda by Roald Dahl https://www.amazon.com/Matilda-Roald-Dahl/dp/0670824399
Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen, Jennifer Bricking https://www.amazon.com/Mollys-Pilgrim-Barbara-Cohen/dp/0062870947
The Secret History by Donna Tartt https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Donna-Tartt/dp/1400031702
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer https://www.amazon.com/Here-Am-Jonathan-Safran-Foer/dp/1250135753
On Beauty by Zadie Smith https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Novel-Zadie-Smith/dp/0143037749
With All My Heart, With All My Soul by B. D. Da’Ehu https://www.amazon.com/All-My-Heart-Soul/dp/1880880016
Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Jews-Joshua-Harmon/dp/0573702578
What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander https://www.amazon.com/What-Talk-About-When-Frank/dp/0307949605
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver https://www.amazon.com/What-Talk-About-When-Love/dp/0679723056
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/david-hopen-fiction/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt: Non-Fiction [Summer Unwind 1/3] Jul 27, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt - journalist - about her relationship with writing.
Having appeared in publications like the New York Times and Haaretz, Avital is an accomplished author. Writing since her childhood, she has found inspiration in a variety of arenas, like reporting, Judaism, and advocacy.
- What inspired Avital to start writing, and how did she turn it into a career?
- What are some of the challenges of publishing in the public eye?
- How does Avital get ideas about what to write about?
- Why does she find it meaningful?
Tune in to hear a conversation on non-fiction writing, and to hear about her favorite non-fiction reads.
References:
Tefillin in a Brown Paper Bag by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman https://traditiononline.org/tefillin-in-a-brown-paper-bag/
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/avital-chizhik-goldschmidt-non-fiction/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

On Loss: A Parent Jul 16, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dani Ritholtz - rabbi and author - about the loss of his father to further explore Tisha B’Av’s relationship to loss.
Dani Ritholtz lost his father to Pancreatic cancer in 2014. As part of his grieving process, he wrote a book exploring the development of his relationship to his loss throughout the ordeal. Here Dani talks about the book and its subject matter: how he dealt with the loss of his father.
- How does it feel for a family member to battle a possibly fatal illness?
- How did Dani and those around him cope with their loss?
- What effects did it have on their mental health?
- Why did Dani write his book?
Tune in to hear a conversation on grief and coping.
Musical Credit:
Eim Eshkachech by Itzhak Azulai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0tldz_-0yU
References:
As a Ram Yearns for the Brook by Dani Ritholtz https://www.amazon.com/As-Ram-Yearns-Brook-Journey-ebook/dp/B08FBCX11Z
Time Travel: A History by James Gleick https://www.amazon.com/Time-Travel-History-James-Gleick/dp/0307908798
Kol Dodi Dofek by Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik https://www.amazon.com/Kol-Dodi-Dofek-Listen-Beloved/dp/0881258970
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

On Loss: A Spouse Jul 13, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Josh Grajower - rabbi and educator - about the loss of his wife, as well as the loss that Tisha B’Av represents for the Jewish People.
The Jewish people mourn every year on Tisha B’Av, but it can still be hard to connect with the feelings of the day. Mourning is felt most strongly with those closest to us, and while the things we mourn on Tisha B’Av are of great religious and historical significance, they can feel foreign. Rabbi Grajower lost his wife, Danielle Grajower, giving him intense insight into the mourning process.
- How does it feel to lose someone close to you?
- How do you deal with the finality?
- How does time affect the emotional wound?
- How can your loss affect your relationship with God?
Tune in to hear a conversation on loss and mourning.
Musical Credit:
Eim Eshkachech by Itzhak Azulai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0tldz_-0yU
References:
Holocaust Commemoration and Tish'a be-Av: The Debate Over "Yom ha-Sho'a" by Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter https://www.jstor.org/stable/23263711
A Grief Observed by CS Lewis https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Observed-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652381
It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine https://www.amazon.com/Its-That-Youre-Not-Understand/dp/1622039076
The Unwinding of a Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams
https://www.amazon.com/Unwinding-Miracle-Memoir-Death-Everything/dp/0525511350
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jewish Peoplehood Roundup Jul 06, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, our host, David Bashevkin, reflects on 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood episodes.
David reassesses 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood topic from September 2020, which featured Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Laura Adkins, Bethany Mandel, and Samuel Freedman. Using highlight clips from those episodes, David explores what brings together a group of people to form a peoplehood, the ways the Jewish community is divided, and the effect these divisions have on the larger people.
- Why did 18Forty choose this topic?
- What constitutes a peoplehood?
- How does a peoplehood remain united in the face of internal conflict?
- Can it overcome division, even when the division stems from conflicting, deep-seated values, to remain united?
- Can someone truly love a whole nation?
Tune in to hear David reflect on 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood exploration.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/jewish-peoplehood-roundup/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Comedy Roundup Jun 29, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on 18Forty’s comedy episodes.
David revisits 18Forty’s comedy exploration from July of 2020, featuring comedians Gary Gulman and Leah Forster and Rabbi Daniel Feldman. David once again explores the connections between comedy and life, and how comedy can help cope with tragedy. He also explores some of the qualities of Jewish humor.
- Why did 18Forty choose comedy as a topic, and why so early?
- What life lessons can comedy teach?
- What are some of the characteristics of Jewish comedy and Jewish comedians?
Tune in to hear David reflect on 18Forty’s comedy topic.
References:
https://natebargatze.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_Hedberg
http://www.joanrivers.com/
https://18forty.org/articles/gary-gulman-this-impossible-life/
The Most Human Human by Brian Christian https://www.amazon.com/Most-Human-Talking-Computers-Teaches-ebook/dp/B004FEG2S6
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0807014273/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/comedy-roundup/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

David Bashevkin: The Anniversary Episode Jun 22, 2021

In this anniversary episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on the last year of episodes.
18Forty has explored many important and interesting topics and has helped build a community of people interested in exploring these ideas. But it has been a big undertaking involving many unforeseen factors and complications.
- How has 18Forty decided what topics and guests to feature?
- What has David learned about the process of interviewing?
- How has 18Forty been affected by the community growing around it?
- How has 18Forty dealt with controversy?
Tune in to hear David reflect on 18Forty’s beginning and growth over the last year.
References:
Top Five by David Bashevkin https://www.amazon.com/Top-5-Dovid-Bashevkin/dp/1600918174
For more, visit https://18forty.org/
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter: Should We Censor Jewish History? [Censorship 3/3] Jun 15, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter - rabbi, professor, and historian - about censorship as it relates to Jewish history.
Though censorship exists in many areas, it is particularly interesting to analyze it from the lens of Jewish history. It can be tempting to idealize the lives of gedolim when writing about them, or to whitewash parts of history that don’t fit with our modern conceptions. It can be tricky to navigate history while preserving a given set of values.
- How should we study Jewish history?
- Is there room for idealization or censorship?
- Or should we always seek the historical truth?
- What should we do when history is problematic in the face of our values?
Tune in to hear a conversation on censorship and Jewish history.
References:
Zakhor by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi https://www.amazon.com/Zakhor-Jewish-History-Lectures-Studies/dp/0295975199
On the Morality of the Patriarchs: Must Biblical Heroes be Perfect by Rabbi JJ Schacter https://www.academia.edu/37135943/Jacob_J_Schacter_On_the_Morality_of_the_Patriarchs_Must_Biblical_Heroes_be_Perfect_in_Zvi_Grumet_ed_Jewish_Education_in_Transition_Proceedings_of_the_First_International_Conference_on_Jewish_Education_Teaneck_2007_1_9
Changing the Immutable by Marc Shapiro https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Immutable-Orthodox-Judaism-Rewrites/dp/1904113605
Facing the Truths of History by Rabbi JJ Schacter https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/704426/rabbi-dr-jacob-j-schacter/facing-the-truths-of-history/
Rabbi Jacob Emden: Life and Major Works by Rabbi JJ Schacter https://www.google.com/books/edition/Rabbi_Jacob_Emden/-wMmAQAAIAAJ?hl=en
For more, visit https://18forty.org/censorship/.
Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter is a rabbi and historian of intellectual trends in Orthodox Judaism. As a Rosh Yeshiva and professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought at Yeshiva University, Rabbi Schachter lives at the crossroads of the religious and academic worlds. Rabbi Schachter holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages from Harvard University, where he wrote his dissertation on Rabbi Yaakov Emden. He is the author of several works, and is a mentor to many rabbis in the Jewish community. Rabbi Schachter brings to 18Forty his knowledge, wisdom, and nuanced thinking about the questions of censorship and how we approach Jewish history.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Jonathan Rosenblum: Communal Boundaries and Cancel Culture [Censorship 2/3] Jun 08, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Rosenblum - journalist and author of multiple ArtScroll biographies - about censorship and specifically how it applies to biographies.
One of the many areas in which censorship can be exercised is biography writing. Certain biographies of gedolim have been criticized for censoring their life stories to mask their imperfections, distorting history in the process. But censorship isn’t always about distorting the facts and may instead be about cultivating a certain look or feel.
- What is the goal of censoring the biographies of gedolim?
- What impact does it have?
- What are the intended effects of the biographies in the first place?
- What effects would the uncensored versions have?
Tune in to hear a conversation on biographical censorship.
References:
The Censor, the Editor, and the Text by Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin
Hidden Diaries and New Discoveries by Avinoʻam Rozenaḳ
Pachad Yitzchak: Igrot U’ketavim by Rav Yitzchok Hutner
Sin•a•gogue by David Bashevkin
They Called Him Mike by Jonathan Rosenblum
Between Berlin and Slobodka by Hillel Goldberg
For more, visit https://18forty.org/censorship/.
Jonathan Rosenblum is a journalist who writes for several Orthodox media publications, most notably through his weekly column in Mishpacha. Before entering journalism, Jonathan attended the University of Chicago, Yale Law School, and Ohr Somayach. Jonathan has written several biographies on Jewish figures, and was a founding writer of the Cross-Currents journal. Jonathan brings to 18Forty his commitment and dedication to the spheres of Jewish public opinion, politics, and religious culture.
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Altie Karper: When a Book Is Banned [Censorship 1/3] Jun 01, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Altie Karper, editorial director of Schocken Books, about censorship and cancel culture.
Every community has boundaries, and every community needs a way to enforce those boundaries. As Altie’s experience publishing a book that received religious pushback tells us, it can be hard to gauge if something will be deemed appropriate. If a public figure says something that doesn’t fit within the boundaries of a community, there should be criticism, but this criticism can easily become sharp and unjust. We must ultimately remember that there are people behind the mistakes and they deserve to be given some benefit of the doubt.
- What amount of censorship is ok and what amount is too far?
- How should one criticize a public figure for saying something inappropriate?
- What kinds of criticism go too far?
- What is the difference between communal boundaries and cancel culture?
Tune in to hear a conversation on censorship, criticism, and cancellation.
References:
One People, Two Worlds by Ammiel Hirsch, Yaakov Yosef Reinman
For more, visit https://18forty.org/censorship/.
Altie Karper is the editorial director of Schocken Books, a division of Penguin Random House. Schocken has a long history as a major publisher of Jewish literature and an early publisher of great thinkers such as Kafka, Rosenzweig, Buber, and Agnon, among many others. As one of the leading names in Jewish publishing, Altie has worked on many of the great (and controversial) books of our time. No stranger to censorship battles, Altie brings to 18Forty her decades of thoughtful experience in the world of books, the Jewish community, and the boundaries around our ideas.
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Protecting us from Ourselves: An Anonymous Perspective on Divorce [Agunah Crisis 4/4] May 11, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous divorced man who gives us his perspective on the divorce process and the need to protect oneself from his own darkest inclinations.
While one would never assume themselves capable of get (divorce document) refusal, the emotions of uncoupling run high and it's possible to find yourself considering using the get as a bargaining chip. We sit down with a man who was in this exact predicament and he explains why the get should never be used in this way and how signing a halakhic prenup protects both people in the dissolving marriage.
-What role do community leaders, rabbeim, and therapists play in a couple's divorce process?
-What should one do post divorce to better themselves?
-What can men do to protect themselves from even the consideration of get refusal?
-How important is the halakhic prenup for all communities?
Tune in to hear a conversation on divorce, granting a get, and what can be done to protect against our baser instincts.
References:
To Heal a Fractured World by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck
Game Plan for Life by Joe Gibbs
For more, visit https://18forty.org/agunah
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Bari Mitzmann: Social Media & Agunah Advocacy [Agunah Crisis 3/4] May 04, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bari Mitzmann - Instagram content creator and host of the Women of Valor podcast - about social media advocacy, particularly in regard to the agunah crisis.
With an Instagram audience of 30,000 followers, Bari is often asked to promote causes. One such cause was the recent #FreeChava campaign where Bari's promotion helped spark recent support for agunot. While posting about advocacy on social media seems like a natural thing to do, it can be hard to verify information about the causes being posted. Bari therefore likes to be careful about what she posts, posting sparingly to ensure maximum effectiveness.
Does Bari use her account for advocacy? What kind of advocacy works best on social media? Why did she choose to advocate regarding the agunah crisis? What boundaries can be established on social media to maintain agency and sanity? Tune in to hear Bari Mitzmann reflect on her social media advocacy and the role she played in recent agunah advocacy.
References:
Women of Valor podcast with Bari Mitzmann
For more, visit https://18forty.org/agunah/.
Bari Mitzmann is a content creator, wife, and mother of two, who partners with women of all backgrounds to provide personal growth support. Bari holds a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Education, and has a large following on Instagram, where she thinks and talks about nutrition, social change, and the world of Jewish women. Bari is the host of the Woman of Valor podcast, which offers candid conversation and practical advice for the modern woman. Bari joins 18Forty to discuss social advocacy, change, and how to build a better world through social media.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Keshet Starr: How Should we Advocate for Agunot? [Agunah Crisis 2/4] Apr 27, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Keshet Starr - CEO of ORA - about what it’s like to work on the front lines of agunah activism.
As the CEO of ORA - the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot - Keshet is directly involved with many cases of get-refusal, working with both parties to ensure a satisfactory resolution. She is also involved in agunah advocacy - both for specific agunot and to raise awareness for the issue in general - and prevention. While many are averse to the concept of prenups, as it makes them uncomfortable, Keshet works to normalize and publicize the halakhic prenup, as well as other agunah prevention tactics.
What does a typical agunah case look like? What steps does ORA take when helping an agunah? Do they protest on social media and at the get-refuser’s home immediately, or first verify the details of the case and develop a plan of action? Who does the prenup benefit and how does it give newlyweds insurance? Does it create a standard for marriage that’s better for everyone? Tune in to hear Keshet Starr reflect on her work in agunah advocacy, and the contributions she’s made as the CEO of ORA.
References:
Tears of the Oppressed by Aviad Hacohen
Meishiv Milchama by Rav Goren
Marriage, Divorce, and the Abandoned Wife in Jewish Law by Michael Broyde
Gray Matter by Chaim Jachter
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
For more, visit https://18forty.org/agunah/.
Mrs. Keshet Starr, Esq., is the Executive Director of the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA), the leading nonprofit organization addressing the agunah (Jewish divorce refusal) crisis worldwide. At ORA, Keshet oversees advocacy, early intervention, and prevention initiatives to eliminate abuse from the Jewish divorce process. Keshet is a Wexner field fellow and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Keshet has written and lectured widely on issues relating to divorce, domestic abuse, and the intersection between civil and religious divorce processes. Keshet brings to 18Forty her passion, wisdom, and commitment to bringing change to individuals and the Jewish world.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbi Shlomo Weissman: The Rabbinic Will and Agunot [Agunah Crisis 1/4] Apr 20, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shlomo Weissman - head of Beth Din of America, YU Professor, and former lawyer - about the halakhic complexities of, and attempted solutions for, the agunah crisis.
A halakhic divorce contract, called a “get,” must be given from the husband to wife, and the parties must give/receive the get willingly. When one or the other party doesn’t willingly participate in this process, the marriage cannot be ended, leaving the woman unable to remarry by Jewish law. Traditionally this has lead to women being unable to remarry when their husbands disappeared, but the issue of get-refusal - of husbands refusing to divorce their wives, maybe for leverage or spite, leaving them unable to remarry - is a more recent phenomenon.
Among the topics covered, we discuss the following: What is the scope of the agunah crisis, and more specifically of get-refusal? What halakhic mechanisms does it involve? What makes this problem harder to solve than other problems relating to halakhic contracts? What solutions have been proposed in the past? Tune in to hear Rabbi Shlomo Weissman explain the complexities of this issue, and help contextualize it both in Torah and in modern society.
References:
The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
Scholarly References:
Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz
For more, visit https://18forty.org/agunah/.
Rabbi Shlomo Weissman serves as the Menahel/Director of the Beth Din of America, one of the foremost institutions for rabbinic legal adjudication. Shlomo received rabbinic ordination from RIETS and is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to his association with the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann worked as an attorney at several prominent law firms, including Debevoise and Plimpton LLP. Shlomo lectures widely on the interface of Jewish and secular law, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. Shlomo brings his decades of knowledge, experience, and dedication to helping agunot to his conversation with 18Forty.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Andrew Solomon: Far from the Tree [Divergence 4/4] Apr 05, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Andrew Solomon - a Pulitzer Prize finalist - about intergenerational divergence, as well as his book, Far from the Tree, which was in some ways the very inspiration for this topic.
Andrew’s experience with intergenerational divergence began as a child, when his gay identity imbued him with a sense of outsiderness that is evident in his work. His book, Far from the Tree, deals with this topic explicitly, exploring the impact of things like deafness on a family’s ability to relate to and provide for their child. Andrew’s distinction between vertical and horizontal identities, referring to the ways in which the child relates to and is distinct from their family, is profound and underlies much of the message 18Forty has tried to convey this month.
Among the topics covered, we discuss the following: What can lead a child to seek support outside of their family? How can parents best prepare for the possibility that their child will be different than they imagined? In such a situation, how can parents best help their child? In the event that they are unable to provide the support the child needs, how should the parents proceed? Tune in to hear Andrew Solomon give his thoughts on coping with generational differences.
References:
Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon
Welcome to Holland by Emily Perl Kingsley
The Noonday Demon by Andrew Solomon
Sound of Metal on Amazon
Far and Away by Andrew Solomon
An Epistle to the Hebrews by Emma Lazarus
Torn in Two by Rozsika Parker
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/divergence.
Andrew Solomon, Ph.D., is a writer and lecturer on politics, culture and psychology; winner of the National Book Award; and an activist in LGBTQ rights, mental health, and the arts. He is Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry) at Columbia University Medical Center, Lecturer in Psychiatry at Yale University, and a former President of PEN American Center.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Menachem Penner and Gedalia Robinson: A Child's Orientation [Divergence 3/4] Mar 22, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Menachem Penner—dean of RIETS at Yeshiva University—and his son Gedalia—a musician, cantor-in-training, and member of the LGBTQ community—about their experience in reconciling their family’s religious tradition with Gedalia’s sexual orientation.
When Gedalia realized he was gay as a young teenager, his parents weren’t sure how best to deal with the information. They initially attempted conversion therapy, now known to be ineffective at best and harmful at worst. They have since come to a happier, closer place in their relationship, characterized by love and mutual respect - but the road to this happy ending was long and indirect.
Among the topics covered, we discuss the following: When did Gedalia and his parents realize he was gay? How did they react to this information? What was their initial course of action, and how has that changed over the years? Do they have any regrets? And what would they advise others in similar situations? Tune in to hear Gedalia and Rabbi Penner discuss their journey towards acceptance and mutual understanding.
References:
Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon
When by Daniel Pink
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
JQY
Eshel
Keshet
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/divergence.
Rabbi Menachem Penner (father) is the dean of RIETS, the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University, and previously served as the rabbi of the Young Israel of Holliswood in Queens. Rabbi Penner is an eloquent speaker and chazzan, well-known for his rousing lectures on prayer. Gedalia Robinson (son) is a singer-songwriter, musician, and cantor-in-training at the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at JTS. Gedalia is well known for his powerful original music, his work with the Y-Studs, and as a member of Hadar’s Rising Song Residency. Gedalia came out as gay while in Yeshiva University and is a strong advocate and supporter of LGBTQ+ people living in and out of the Orthodox Jewish community. Gedalia currently lives in Philadelphia with his husband, Caleb, and dog, Booker.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Daniel Grama & Aliza Grama: A Child in Recovery [Divergence 1/4] Mar 08, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Daniel Grama—rabbi of Westside Shul and Valley Torah High School—and his daughter Aliza—a former Bais Yaakov student and recovered addict—about navigating their religious and other differences.
Daniel is a rabbi in Los Angeles, and has, to some extent, dedicated his life to teaching others about Orthodox Judaism. Aliza experienced a rebellious teenhood in which she left religious observance and succumbed to addiction. As Aliza’s deviation from her Orthodox upbringing became more pronounced, she and her family were forced to come to terms with their differences, and eventually learned to love, understand, and compromise with each other.
Among the topics covered, we discuss the following: When did each side realize their lives were very different? How did they process this during the early years? How did Daniel and Aliza come to terms with the unfulfilled religious expectations of a parent? How have they been able to build a healthy relationship? And what would they have done differently? Tune in to hear Daniel and Aliza ruminate on the difficult years of their relationship and what has happened since.
References:
Mishpacha Magazine
The Body Keeps the Score
Scholarly Mentions:
Donald Winnicott
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/divergence.
Daniel Grama (father) is the rabbi of the Westside Shul in Los Angeles, and a rabbi in Valley Torah Yeshiva High School.
Aliza Grama (daughter) lives in the Los Angeles area, and hosts a weekly parsha class with her father on her Instagram, where they model a shared appreciation for Torah that shines through their many differences.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel: How Can God be Found After Trauma? [God 3/3] Feb 23, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel—speaker, educator, and yoetzet halacha— about the effects of tragedy on emunah.
In 2014, Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel’s son Naftali was kidnapped and murdered in a tragic terror attack. The week before the world learned of his fate was sad but hopeful, leaving many feeling crushed by the outcome. Despite this impossible situation, Rachelle was lauded as displaying emunah, faith, in Hashem, remaining optimistic but devoid of expectation.
-How did or didn’t Rachelle’s tragedy impact her emunah in God?
-What expectations can people have of God when they pray?
-What expectations can people not have of themselves when they pray?
-What should our relationship with God be during difficult times?
-And how should we console those who are themselves going through difficult times?
Tune in to hear Rachelle talk about emunah in the face of tragedy, and how one can blend optimism and realism.
References:
Yosl Rakover Talks to God by Zvi Kolitz
The Blessing of a Broken Heart by Sherri Mandell
Scholarly Mentions:
Emmanuel Levinas
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/god.
Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel is a teacher of Torah at Nishmat and the director of Matan’s Hilchata Institute. After her son Naftali was kidnapped and killed along with Gilad Sha’er and Eyal Yifrah in 2014, Rachelle became an international speaker and teacher. Rachelle speaks from the sharpest edges of human experience and her words are marked by a deep wisdom. Listen to Rachelle to hear from a profoundly learned and experienced teacher of Torah and life.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Dr. Aaron Segal: Can God Be Proven? [God 2/3] Feb 16, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Segal, philosophy professor and student of both Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Alvin Plantinga, to discuss God from the perspective of analytic philosophy.
Analytic philosophy is mathematical, breaking claims into small pieces to rigorously analyze the language and concepts. The cost of this approach is its unwieldiness and high standards, which Aaron believes has precluded it from providing a capital-P proof of God’s existence. But one can still reason about God, and though some would claim belief in God is irrational, Aaron thinks its rationality is justified.
-What are the approaches one can take to belief in God?
-What are the limits of analytic philosophy in talking about God?
-What are the limits of a philosophy like Plantinga’s reformed epistemology?
-Can one’s knowledge of God be purely experiential?
Tune in to hear Aaron talk about both the power and limits of reasoning applied to God.
References:
Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus by Ludwig Wittgenstein
Kuzari by Yehuda HaLevi
Metaphysics by Peter van Inwagen
Advice to Christian Philosophers by Alvin Plantinga
The Source of Faith is Faith Itself by Rav Aharon Lichtenstein
"The Source of Faith..." Examined by Aaron Segal
Kurt Godel's ontological argument - https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/#GodOntArg
Scholarly Mentions:
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, Alvin Plantinga, Kurt Godel, Bertrand Russel, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Yehuda HaLevi, David Hilbert, Immanuel Kant, David Chalmers, Georg Cantor, John Locke, David Hume, David Johnson (YU)
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/god.
Dr. Aaron Segal is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and formerly taught philosophy in Yeshiva University. Aaron received his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, where Alvin Plantinga was one of his thesis directors. He has co-authored and co-edited books on Jewish philosophy, such as Jewish Philosophy in an Analytic Age. Aaron is masterful in his knowledge and comfort in the profound questions of analytic philosophy, and also received Semicha from the Chief Rabbinate in Israel.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Rabbi David Aaron: How Should We Talk About God? [God 1/3] Feb 09, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Aaron, author, thinker, and educator, to discuss what God is and isn’t.
People often think of God as a powerful, heavenly figure giving commandments, but to Rabbi Aaron, God is more of an experience of awe or good that morally inspires. This experience is impacted by our past experiences, often most prominently by those involving our parents. Rabbi Aaron thinks that many atheists are truly believers and would connect to their faith through therapy, not philosophy.
- What is and isn’t God?
- What does it mean to believe in God, and what does it mean to be an atheist?
- Why do people believe in God?
- How does one find and experience God?
Tune in to hear Rabbi David Aaron discuss his views on God and how the subject should be taught in our education.
References:
Tzidkas HaTzadik by Rav Tzadok
The Secret Life of God by Rabbi David Aaron
Getting the Love You Want by Harville Hendrix
Seeing God by Rabbi David Aaron
Ahavas Tzedek
For more, visit https://18forty.org/topics/god.
Rabbi David Aaron is an educator, thinker, and writer, who has put the dynamic God at the center of his life’s work. Uncompromisingly lucid, David puts the deepest and most pressing questions of Jewish theology in human terms. He received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat ITRI and is the Dean & Founder of Isralight (an international organization and center for Jewish learning in Jerusalem’s Old City) and Yeshivat Orayta (which offers a 1 to 2 year program for high school graduates). David is the author of eight books, including Endless Light, Seeing G-d, Love is My Religion, The Secret Life of G-d, Inviting G-d In, Living a Joyous Life and The God Powered Life. Listen to David to hear how Jewish theology can be a personal endeavor.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

OTD Highlights Jan 26, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special session with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss one of the podcast’s first topics: going off the derech.
There are many preconceptions that come with leaving one’s religious life. People often claim to know the precise psychological reasons that caused someone to leave and what kind of life they’re currently living. There are always reasons, but these reasons can be varied and unexpected, and can lead people to very different places. Some don’t even think of themselves as having left, as they have found a different derech that works for them.
-Why do people leave religion?
-Where do people go instead?
-What struggles do people experience in leaving their old communities?
-How does the desire for community manifest in trying to build a new life?
Tune in to hear David reflect on his conversations with past podcast guests about this phenomenon of leaving one’s religious community, or going OTD.
References:
Shulem Deen interview - http://18forty.org/otd/#deen
Philo Judaeus interview - http://18forty.org/otd/#judaeus
Kelsey Osgood interview - http://18forty.org/otd/#osgood
Judaism and the Twice-Born by Kelsey Osgood
All Who Go Do Not Return by Shulem Deen
For more, visit https://18forty.org/otd.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Talmud Highlights Jan 19, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to review the first topic that 18Forty covered: Talmud.
Though Judaism has many facets to its practice, Talmud study has long been one of its hallmarks. It is a sprawling text with many commentaries, and so can be analyzed from any number of perspectives. This episode highlight three: those of Ari Bergmann, Chaim Saiman, and Michelle Chesner. From its historical formation to its ideas to its format, the Talmud was analyzed at length for its 18Forty topic, and this episode highlights some of the key questions raised.
-How was the Talmud written?
-What should one make of the often confusing mix of ideas it presents?
-Does the text format itself hold any significance?
-Is Talmud study useful for anything besides Talmud study?
-What similarities does it have to other fields of knowledge?
Tune in to hear David review and reflect on his past conversations with podcast guests about the Talmud.
References:
Ari Bergmann interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#bergmann
Chaim Saiman interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#saiman
Michelle Chesner interview - http://18forty.org/talmud/#chesner
Take One podcast - https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/take-one
Legal Theology: The Turn to Conceptualism in Nineteenth-Century Jewish Law by Chaim Saiman
Nomos and Narrative by Robert Cover
Jewish Thought: A Process, Not a Text by David Bashevkin
Arba-ah Turim by Jacob Ben Asher
Halakhah: The Rabbinic Idea of Law by Chaim Saiman
For more, visit https://18forty.org/talmud/.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Why 1840? Jan 12, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840.
Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for the first time. Most of modern Jewry has been affected in some way or another by this modernization of its members.
-What historical significance does the year 1840 have?
-What challenges did it bring for Judaism and other traditions?
-How did Judaism respond to those challenges?
-And in the end, how does modern Judaism differ from its other historical iterations?
Tune in to hear David share why the year 1840 holds such significance for him, and how he feels its effects in his life.
References:
The Europeans Review - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/books/review/the-europeans-orlando-figes.html
Israel Bartal article - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10835-005-5978-7
Zohar
The Europeans by Orlando Figes
Jewish Continuity in America - Abraham J. Karp
Zichron Yaakov by Rabbi Yaakov Lipschutz
Sapiens by Yuval Harari
For more, visit https://18forty.org/why-1840.
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Eli Rubin: How do Mysticism and Social Action Interact? [Social Justice 3/3] Jan 05, 2021

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Eli Rubin – writer and researcher at chabad.org – to think about the stereotypes associated with social justice and vision, and how those seeming boundaries have been transcended.
Social reform requires that one embrace at least some change, leading some to think that it is antithetical to conservative worldviews. While the compatibility of Judaism and social justice movements is not guaranteed, it is often the case, even in some of what are seen as the more right-wing parts of modern Judaism. The modern history of social justice involves figures ranging from Rabbi AJ Heschel to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and challenges some common assumptions.
-Has social justice been associated with mysticism and/or rationalism?
-What might social justice, or tikkun olam, mean within Judaism?
-What have various historical figures interpreted it to mean?
-What association does the Lubavitcher Rebbe have with social justice?
Tune in to hear Eli Rubin share his views on the historical relationship between social justice and the Torah.
References:
Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World by Philip Wexler, Michael Wexler, and Eli Rubin
To Heal the World? - Jonathan Neumann
Hasidism Beyond Modernity - Naftali Loewenthal
For more, visit https://18forty.org/socialjustice/#rubin.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz: How Should We Educate About Social Justice? [Social Justice 2/3] Dec 29, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz – Shalom Hartman Institute Fellow, SAR Associate Principal, and Princeton PhD – to think about ways in which social justice can be incorporated into Orthodox education systems.
History has seen many hierarchical class systems that benefit some to the detriment of others. The Jewish people have not often been the beneficiaries, yet we enjoy much economic and social success in much of the world today. Dr. Press Schwartz thinks that while this success is in part due to our own willpower, certain fluke historical factors have played in our favor, giving us a leg up. She believes that the Torah is compatible with a social view that involves recognizing social privileges and attempting to mitigate them.
-What is privilege?
-How privileged have the Jewish people been throughout history?
-What, if anything, should be done when privileges are identified?
-What does the Torah have to say about this?
Tune in to hear Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz share her views on the Torah, the Jewish people, privilege, and broader social justice.
References:
Dr. Press Schwartz article "Privilege, Perspective, and Modern Orthodox Youth" - https://18forty.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/privilege-perspective-press-schwartz.pdf
Dr. Press Schwartz and David Bashevkin Twitter Exchange - https://twitter.com/DBashIdeas/status/1283400224191504389
Yuval Levin election day NYT op ed - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/03/opinion/2020-election.html
A Time to Build by Yuval Levin
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
For more, visit https://18forty.org/socialjustice/#pressschwartz.
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Rabbi Jeremy Wieder: Is There a Torah Approach to our Social Responsibility? [Social Justice 1/3] Dec 22, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Jeremy Wieder – rosh yeshiva, PhD, Bible professor, and passionate Orthodox moral voice – to discuss what the Torah has to say about social justice.
The Torah serves as a moral guidebook for many, with some citing the avos as exemplifying generosity, even towards those they didn’t know. One might therefore expect that those most engrossed in Torah learning would fight on the front lines for social justice issues, but many make the opposite association. It seems that there may be more to morality than studying Halakhah alone.
-What kind of morality does Halakhah espouse?
-Why is the Beit Midrash not typically associated with social justice if the Torah is our moral guidebook?
-Is Halakhah the only element to the picture the Torah paints of morality, or is there more?
-And as Halakhah is mostly immutable, to what degree, and in what fashion, can the Torah evolve in response to the times?
Tune in to hear Rabbi Jeremy Wieder share his ideas about the Torah’s view on social justice.
References:
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks interview with Tim Ferriss - https://tim.blog/2020/08/26/rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks-2/
Rabbi Sacks interviews with David Bashevkin - https://ncsy.org/remembering-rabbi-sacks/
To Heal a Fractured World by Rabbi Sacks
Social Vision by Philip Wexler
There Shall Be No Needy by Rabbi Jill Jacobs
For more, visit https://18forty.org/socialjustice/#wieder.
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Rabbi Meir Triebitz: How Should We Approach the Science of the Torah? [Science 4/4] Dec 08, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Meir Triebitz – Rosh Yeshiva, PhD, and expert on matters of science and the Torah – to discuss what kind of science we can learn from the Torah.
The Torah, and especially the Talmud, addresses a wide subject matter including theology, morality, metaphysics, and science. It is sometimes said to contain all knowledge – meaning that we could learn anything from the Torah, which seems to imply that all of the Torah’s scientific claims are true. Some welcome this perspective, while others object to it.
-What is the Torah’s subject matter?
-Does it contain irreconcilable scientific claims?
-Should a statement’s subject matter change how we interpret it?
-What if we aren’t supposed to interpret a statement as scientifically true, but our Halakhah today is in some way predicated on the statement being true?
-And does our not interpreting a statement literally mean it isn’t true, or just that we can’t understand it?
Tune in to hear Rabbi Meir Triebitz discuss his perspective on these age-old science and Torah questions.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/science/#triebitz.
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Rabbi David Fohrman: Does the Torah Teach Science? [Science 3/4] Dec 01, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Fohrman - author, lecturer, and founder of the Aleph Beta Academy - to discuss in what genre the Torah is meant to be, and how that should influence the way we think about it.
There are many approaches one could take when confronted with science that seem to contradict parts of the Torah. Some, including Nathan Aviezer, orchestrate elaborate readings of the beginning of Bereishis in accordance with Biblical concordism. Some, like Natan Slifkin, feel comfortable reading the pesukim metaphorically, feeling less need to provide literal reconciliations. Rabbi David Fohrman feels that many people could benefit from thinking more about how the Torah and science coexist, particularly the words of the first few chapters in Bereishis.
- In what genre is the Torah?
- How should we treat its content?
- Does it ever try to teach us empirical facts about the world, or is it trying to give perspective on life?
- What other kinds of patterns should we look for in the Torah?
Tune in to hear Rabbi David Fohrman discuss the many ways in which we could think about the pesukim in the Torah.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/science/#fohrman.
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Professor Allison Coudert: How did Religion Influence Science? [Science 2/4] Nov 24, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor Allison Coudert, of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Davis, to discuss the historical interplay of science with religion, and specifically with Kabbalah.
During a 1917 lecture talking about the rational mindset underlying science, Max Weber famously declared that “This means that the world is disenchanted.” Though this sentiment has permeated the public consciousness, Allison thinks the real story is more complicated. She thinks that science and enlightenment philosophy only heightened the magic we humans could experience, and that enlightenment movements have done so historically. In her mind, religion and science aren’t opponents, as they’re so often framed, but engage in a mutually-beneficial relationship, each inspiring and strengthening the other.
- What has the historical interplay of science and religion been?
- What influence has Kabbalah specifically had on scientists’ thought?
- What connotations do the words “modernity” and “enlightenment” tend to evoke in listeners?
- And are these evocations justified?
Tune in to hear Allison Coudert discuss the influence that Jewish thought has had since the Scientific Revolution.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/science/#coudert.
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Dr. Jeremy England: What Does a Scientist See in the Torah? [Science 1/4] Nov 17, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeremy England, physicist and biologist, to discuss his lives as a Jew and an academic, and how, if at all, those lives interact.
Jeremy grew up a barely-affiliated Jew and obtained a degree in biochemistry from Harvard, but discovered his love for Judaism and began reading authors like Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Ruth Weiss. He is an accomplished scientist, having posited the theory of dissipative adaptation to explain abiogenesis, but still sees a depth and meaning to the words of the Torah. Though science plays an important role in his life, he feels that has managed to find a role for Torah despite this fact without compromising on the ideals of either.
- What are the abilities and limitations of science?
- What are the abilities and limitations of Torah?
- As a scientist, how did Jeremy reconcile the two as he became more religious?
- How does the study of each compare to the other?
- And what role should they ultimately play in one’s life?
Tune in to hear Jeremy England discuss his theory of abiogenesis and of living an intellectually complete life.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/science/#england.
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Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community? [Mysticism 3/3] Nov 03, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Moshe Weinberger, rabbi and educator, to discuss the role of mysticism in modern-day Judaism.
Rav Weinberger grew up Modern Orthodox and became attracted to Chassidus at a young age. Though he is a fan of the yeshiva system and believes that Halakha cannot be compromised, he has long watched with anguish as countless products of the system have been turned off by the dry, inhumane version of Yiddishkeit taught to them. Rav Weinberger believes that Jewish education must evolve over time, and that Chassidus is as good an approach as any for the current generation.
-How can one go about strengthening their connection to Hashem?
-What are the educational challenges of today’s generation?
-Where does the modern-day yeshiva system succeed, and where does it fail its students?
-And how can we attempt to tweak the system to suit everyone’s needs?
Tune in to hear Rav Moshe Weinberger discuss the challenges that he sees facing today’s generation of young Jews.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/mysticism/#weinberger.
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Dr. Ora Wiskind: How do you Read a Mystical Text? [Mysticism 2/3] Oct 27, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ora Wiskind, professor and author, to discuss her life journey, both as a Jew and as an academic, and her attitude towards mysticism.
Ora grew up in a Reform family in Ohio, receiving a top-notch secular education but a minimal Jewish one. After studying in France and Germany she found herself in Israel, eventually becoming Orthodox despite her rebellious nature. With her background in literature, she has contributed unique, hermeneutic perspectives on some Hasidic masters, like Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and continues to break new ground with her scholarship on mysticism.
-What are mysticism and rationalism, and what are the appeals of both mindsets?
-How did someone with Ora’s background end up writing about the mystical works of Rebbe Nachman?
-How has her background in literature influenced her writings?
-How does she approach her work as a religious academic, where she must stay objective about the content she studies despite it giving her religious inspiration?
-And how has being an Orthodox woman shaped her career?
Tune in to hear Ora Wiskind discuss mysticism in the modern world and its relation to her academic work.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/mysticism/#wiskind.
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Joey Rosenfeld: Can Mysticism Heal Us? [Mysticism 1/3] Oct 20, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Joey Rosenfeld, social worker and kabbalist, to talk about the differences between mysticism and rationalism and the roles they should play in our lives.
Mysticism is often misunderstood and dismissed by rationalists without much thought, but what is mysticism? One might define it by what it’s not: reductionism, which combined with complexity is science. But what if we saw things as their whole instead of their constituent parts? Maybe we’re limiting ourselves by reducing the big picture to a list of atomic components; maybe seeing the unfiltered unity in all things would be freeing.
Joey Rosenfeld began to learn Kabbalah in depth in yeshiva, when he was supposed to be dedicating his time to Talmud, and found its ideas to be profoundly life-changing. He does not fit the stereotype of the secluded, white-bearded mystic, as he is a social worker and addiction counselor. As someone with a unique window into people’s vulnerabilities, Joey sees deep connections between Kabbalah and psychology, particularly in the theory behind Alcoholics Anonymous, which drew from the work of Carl Jung.
-What are the differences between rationalism and mysticism?
-Are they compatible or incompatible?
-What approach should people take when learning Kabbalah?
-Are there parallels between mysticism and therapy?
-And how is or isn’t mysticism suited for a modern audience?
Tune in to hear Joey discuss the role that mysticism plays in his life, and how one can find peace in transcending rationality.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/mysticism/#rosenfeld.
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Samuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew? [Peoplehood 4/4] Sep 29, 2020

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.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/peoplehood/#freedman
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Bethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community [Peoplehood 3/4] Sep 22, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with conservative journalist and cultural commentator, Bethany S. Mandel, to talk about the entrances and exits of her life, reconstructing Jewish identity, and creating a Jewish home outside of the Jewish community.
Bethany has written for the New York Times and Washington Post, and now serves as an opinion columnist for the Forward, a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beyond the Beltway blog, and is an editor at Richocet.com. She is a sharp writer and speaker about Jewish communal life, particularly about conversion, and has written about the impact of the Freundel affair on her life.
-Can one be a member of the Jewish community while living outside the institutions that constitute the community?
-Can you love Judaism, but not Jews?
-How does one deal with disappointment in Judaism, particularly at the hands of a Jewish leader?
-How can we build reconciliation and create a more empathetic community?
Tune in to hear Bethany discuss the relationship between Jews and the Jewish community, and why her Jewish community is her home. For more, visit https://18forty.org/peoplehood/#mandel
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Laura E. Adkins: Is There Room for All Opinions? [Peoplehood 2/4] Sep 15, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Laura E. Adkins, the JTA’s opinion editor and an adjunct professor of journalism at Stern College for Women, to talk about how she stays grounded while engaging with so many disparate viewpoints.
Many people live in a perpetual bubble, never allowing themselves to step too far from the lifestyle they feel is comfortable. They may only ever engage with straw man versions of others’ opinions, and therefore may never be exposed to a diversity of ideas and people. As a seasoned journalist - currently the opinion editor of the internationally-syndicated Jewish Telegraphic Agency - Laura is no stranger to subversive opinions and pluralistic attitudes. She is also a baalas teshuva, having forged her Jewish identity by the force of her own will.
-How has she been able to stay grounded and centered in her identity as a person while engaging with so many different people and opinions?
-How has her experience as a baalas teshuva contributed to this?
-What was her journey as a baalas teshuva like?
-How do groundedness and a plurality of opinions and information play a role in modern kiruv (Jewish outreach)?
-And how should they play a role?
Tune in to hear Laura reflect on her journey as a baalas teshuva, the state of kiruv, and the art of remaining true to one’s identity.
For more, visit https://18Forty.org/peoplehood/#adkins
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Rav Aaron Lopiansky: What Tribes do you Contain Inside? [Peoplehood 1/4] Sep 10, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, to talk about the challenges facing American Orthodoxy, life-long education, and value education.
Rav Lopiansky speaks the language of the particular; much of his insight is situated for those in the Yeshiva-oriented Jewish communities, but his thought is important for all. As he navigates his understanding of the many roles we all occupy, he promotes a loving acceptance of diversity within the community, with the goal of appreciation for the whole Jewish people.
-How can one person love a whole nation?
-How can the love for a nation be a textured love, an appreciation that runs deeper than ethnocentrism or love of the similar?
-Can deep engagement with one’s own cultural experience engender a deeper appreciation for other cultures?
-Or do the lines of difference between one’s culture and others demand demarcation?
Tune in to hear Rav Lopiansky discuss differentiating education for all ages, the challenges facing the Jewish people in 2020, and his thoughtful commentary on Jewish life today. For more, visit https://18forty.org/peoplehood/#lopiansky.
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Reflections Four Months After Launch Aug 25, 2020

18Forty launched in May 2020 and since then we’ve explored Talmud, OTD: Leaving Religion, Comedy, and Biblical Criticism. As we take a two-week break before exploring our next topic, we want to spend some time reflecting on what we’ve learned.
Learn more at https://18forty.org/
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Biblical Criticism Conclusion Aug 17, 2020

As we confront the questions that Biblical criticism has presented, we must ask ourselves how we can keep that transcendent, atemporal view of the Torah. Perhaps considering the seemingly temporal idiosyncrasies of the Torah can actually strengthen our appreciation of its timelessness. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible.
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Gil Student: Where are the Lines? Aug 17, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Gil Student, an infamous blogger who created Torah Musings, to talk about the credibility of modern Biblical scholarship.
Gil grew up learning the Bible from the perspective of Biblical criticism, but its conclusions never jived with him. Though many are quick to note places where the Torah uses inconsistent characterizations as evidence that it has been written by multiple authors, he has always noted the implicit assumptions that these lines of thinking entail. Through his years developing and evolving opinions, Gil has experienced firsthand how subjectively we humans think, and he is loath to call any conclusion objectively true.
-Are the conclusions put forth by Bible critics indisputable, or at least strongly convincing?
-Do traditional commentaries have anything to say that’s of value?
-How flexible can we be before crossing the lines denoted by Orthodox Judaism?
-And how should we strike a balance between adhering to traditional curriculums and accounting for modern scholarship when teaching the next generations?
Tune in to hear Gil discuss the different views on the Bible, from those of traditional commentators to secular Bible scholars. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible#student.
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Joshua Berman: What Should We Believe? Aug 03, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Joshua Berman, a professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, to talk about the relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Biblical criticism.
Many Orthodox educators avoid dealing with Biblical criticism, leaving their students feeling that they’ve been duped. Religious Bible critics are a minority in the field, giving some the impression that the questions raised cannot be adequately addressed. Though Joshua grew up with a strong internally-driven sense of faith, he too has been struck by some of these questions when his colleagues have pointed them out.
-Are there strong questions to be asked on the Orthodox view of the Bible?
-Are there scholars who feel they have answers that can adequately quell the doubts raised by these questions?
-Is this approach falsifiable?
-And is it merely apologetics, or is this scholarship just as legitimate, if not more, than the opposing scholarship?
Tune in to hear Joshua reflect on his journey as a Jew and an academic, as well as the state of Biblical scholarship. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible#berman.
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Biblical Criticism Intro Jul 26, 2020

David explains how, despite his initial apprehensiveness towards the topic, he has come to appreciate the different approaches to Biblical criticism offered by this month’s three guests: Joshua Berman, Gil Student, and Sara Susswein Tesler. For more, visit https://18Forty.org/bible.
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Comedy Conclusion Jul 19, 2020

As we live through the ups and downs of life, laughter begins to play an invaluable role in our mental well-being. Perhaps comedy can provide a helpful lens through which to view the sometimes stressful responsibilities of our life.
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Daniel Feldman: Punchlines with Boundaries and Opportunities Jul 19, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Rabbi Daniel Feldman, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University and an author to discuss the role of comedy in Jewish thought and practice.
We usually think of learning Torah as something serious and of comedy as incompatible with it. It is therefore natural to assume that comedy doesn’t have value, or at least that it doesn’t have inherent value, according to the Torah. The Torah even prohibits something called “leitzanus,” which many translate loosely to mean “humor.” Is there any value in humor beyond helping us cope with life’s hardships? What is the prohibited act of “leitzanus,” and how does that tie into the Torah’s view on humor in general? Are there any examples of humor in the Torah? Can we make jokes about the Torah and other important topics? And if we can, how far is too far?
Tune in as Rabbi Daniel Feldmand discusses the sometimes surprising answers to these questions.
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Leah Forster: Of Comedy and Community Jul 12, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Leah Forster, an ex-Hasidic comedian to talk about how her journey has affected her comedy.
Leah found comedy at a young age and pioneered comedy by women for women in the ultra-Orthodox world. She realized that the ultra-Orthodox life she grew up with caused a deep conflict within herself and she left to remain true to her authentic self. She was later at the center of a controversy where two bookings at kosher restaurants were cancelled, with their kashrus organizations threatening to pull their certifications because she was lesbian. How has Leah kept her comedy positive and free of bitterness and cynicism? How has she stayed positive in her personal life when dealing with these hardships? What lessons has she learned from them? And does she see herself as a role model to religious people who are realizing that they don’t fit within their community?
Tune in as Leah reflects on her journey in between demonstrations of her many comedic personas.
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Gary Gulman: This Impossible Life Jul 05, 2020

This episode is sponsored by Louis and Debby Flancbaum
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Gary Gulman, a world-famous comedian with comedy specials on Netflix and HBO, to talk about the relationship between comedy and the art of living.
Gary grew up with a close relationship to God and was deeply depressed as a child. He thought he would be happy if he mastered something, so he resolved to become a good basketball player, then a successful accountant. But a change in perspective led him to try comedy, and he has since felt much more fulfilled. How does one construct meaning in their life? Does comedy help construct meaning or have any other value? Can one feel fulfilled if they feel average, or does one have to excel to be happy? And how does Gary’s Jewish identity play into his life philosophy?
Tune in to hear Gary reflect on his comedic journey and the role it has played in finding meaning in his life.
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Comedy Intro Jun 28, 2020

David explains how comedy and humor can uncover a mystical oneness that allows us to construct meaning and community from mundane occurrences.
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OTD: Leaving Religion Conclusion May 28, 2020

Kelsey Osgood: A Conversion Narrative of Sorts May 28, 2020

Philo Judaeus: Is There a Room for Dialogue? May 28, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty podcast, David invites a man who goes by the pseudonym Philo Judaeus – former member of the Orthodox Jewish community and moderator of the ambitious Frum/OTD Dialogue Facebook group – to discuss the intersection of philosophy and religiosity.
According to Philo, even most of the greatest atheistic cosmologists would concede that there are compelling arguments for the existence of a divine being, and yet these same scientists remain atheist. Our deep-rooted motivations behind religious commitment may often go unquestioned, and Philo suggests this as a worthy mental exercise. In our commitment to religious observance, or lack thereof, how prevalent are the elements of logic? Pragmatism? Blind faith? How deep into these philosophical rabbit-holes must we venture, as individuals, to achieve fulfilment? Many times, it’s the way we resolve these philosophical questions that direct us one way or another. Tune in to join David and Philo Judaeus as they explore how we can build understanding between the frum and OTD community, perhaps first by understanding ourselves.
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Shulem Deen: Faith, without Faith May 28, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David discusses with special guest and former member of the Ultra-Orthodox community, Shulem Deen, the struggle and importance of balancing one’s individual needs with those of the community.
Though many of us are aware of the extreme disconnect that exists between the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and the secular world, the result of this unfortunate dynamic offers powerful insight. In particular, the intense and likely under-discussed experience of ex-Ultra-Orthodox community members (a group referred to by many as ‘Off The Derech’ or OTD) raises important questions about the reality of this intercommunity conflict and life as a modern Jew. In what ways do the religious and secular worlds misunderstand each other? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Ultra-Orthodox and secular worlds in facilitating a positive life for their members? How can we as individuals combat the inescapable myopia of living within a social bubble? Tune in to join David and Shulem in seeking answers to these important questions.
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OTD: Leaving Religion Intro May 27, 2020

David introduces the next series of the 18Forty Podcast: why people join and leave religion and what we can learn from their decisions.
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Why 1840? May 05, 2020

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840.
Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for the first time. Most of modern Jewry has been affected in some way or another by this modernization of its members.
What historical significance does the year 1840 have? What challenges did it bring for Judaism and other traditions? How did Judaism respond to those challenges? And in the end, how does modern Judaism differ from its other historical iterations? Tune in to hear David share why the year 1840 holds such significance for him, and how he feels its effects in his life.
For more, visit https://18forty.org/why-1840.
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Talmud Conclusion Apr 21, 2020

It’s hard to make sense and order within the Talmud. But maybe that’s the point. Listen to some brief closing thoughts on the value of building meaning specifically when it is not apparent.
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Talmud as an Agent of Chaos: A Conversation with Ari Bergmann Mar 18, 2020

Talmud as an Agent of Chaos: A Conversation with Ari Bergmann by 18Forty
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Is Talmud the Jewish Constitution? A Conversation with Chaim Saiman Mar 18, 2020

In this episode, David discusses the mystifying qualities of the Talmud and how we find meaning in the nuance of Talmudic law with special guest Chaim Saiman, professor at Villanova Law School.
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A Page is Worth A Thousand Worlds: A Conversation with Michelle Chesner Mar 18, 2020

In this episode, David and special guest, Michelle Chesner, Columbia University’s Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies, discuss how the formatting of sacred Jewish texts has developed throughout Jewish history and impacted religious Judaism.
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Talmud Intro Mar 17, 2020

Why start here? In a brief opening thought, David explains the role of Talmud in finding meaning amid chaos.
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Journey to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen Mar 16, 2020

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