18Forty Podcast

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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

Tune in to hear a conversation about how seeking help can be a sign and source of strength.
Interview begins at 11:29.
References:
Pirkei Avot 1:6
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Millerw
Waking Up by Sam Harris
David Bashevkin on That’s An Issue
“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I’ve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David Bashevkin
“On Campus, Failure Is on the Syllabus” by Jessica Bennett
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Yakov Danishefsky: Religion and Mental Health: God and Us [Mental Health 2/6] Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

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

Show notes

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
Through the lenses of therapy, comedy, books, family history, and positive influences, David shares the experiences that have shaped the way he handles mental health challenges today. In this episode we discuss:

Is religious commitment supposed to be the cure to mental health problems?
How can we deal with the need to be liked?
What enables happy people to be so happy?

Tune in to hear a discussion about how one might “become friends with themself” despite life’s difficulties.
Message from Dr. Sara Baris begins at 24:26.
Conversation with Grandma Millie begins at 1:18:30.
Conversation with Jay Richman begins at 1:24:08.
David Bashevkin, is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He received a doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He has published two books, Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, as well as a Hebrew work B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy).
References:
Stutz (2022)
Comedian (2002)
John Mulaney And Stephen Colbert Explore Each Other's Deepest Anxieties
Introduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom
The Wisdom of No Escape: and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chödrön
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh
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Listener Feedback: Israel at War Feb 06, 2024

Show notes

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

Why are American Jews misunderstanding the Dati Leumi community?
What does it mean to be a Jew in a post–Oct. 7 world?
In what ways can diaspora Jews aspire to live more like Israeli Jews?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might continue forward in pursuit of being a unified Jewish People.
Feedback messages begin: 9:28
References:
Exodus 3:5
“Surfin' Slivovitz” by Andy Statman
“Shomer Yisrael” by Omek Hadavar
“Yossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism”
“Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict”
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Lipa Schmeltzer: How to Heal: A Personal Journey of Mental Health Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

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

What does it mean to be working for the “image company”?
How did Lipa break through the barrier to seeking professional help for mental health issues?
How can we maintain sincerity in the face of our own cynicism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the radical honesty it takes to make progress on a mental health journey.
Interview begins at 20:26.
Lipa, once described as “the Lady Gaga of Hasidic music,” has 18 solo albums to date. He is a father, singer, writer, and visual artist.
References:
“My heartfelt message of personal growth & challenges before Matan Torah 5783” with Lipa Schmeltzer
Making of a Godol by Nathan Kamenetsky
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
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Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

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

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

Tune in to hear a conversation about how a religious mindset can expand beyond personal piety to include a deep commitment to the Jewish People and the world.
Interview with Gideon Davis begins at 6:09.
Interview with Reuven and Shani Taragin begins at 36:42.
Rav Reuven Taragin is a former Wexner Fellow and Musmach of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Rav Taragin is the Dean of Overseas Students at Yeshivat Hakotel where he is responsible for the program’s quality and message and the welfare of each of its talmidim. Rav Taragin is also the Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Moshava (I.O.), and Rav of Kehillat Eretz Chemdah in Katamon.
Rabbanit Shani Taragin is a noted author and teacher at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha’alvim for Women, Lander College, and the Women’s’ Beit Midrash in Efrat and Ramat Shilo.
The Taragins are the Educational Directors of World Mizrachi and the RZA (Religious Zionists of America), and they also serve as Roshei Beit Medrash for the Beit Medrash Program in Camp Moshava IO during the summer. They have six children and live in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion.
References:
The Matrix
Adjusting Sights by Haim Sabato
Tanakh
The Rav Speaks by Joseph B. Soleveitchik
“How Will Redemption Begin?” by David Bashevkin
Meshekh Chokhmah by Meir Simha HaKohen Dvinsk
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What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker Jan 09, 2024

Show notes

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

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

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might work toward a reimagined and refocused higher education.
Interview with David Wolpe begins at 4:27.
Interview with Talia Khan begins at 29:30.
Interview with Steven Pinker begins at 1:05:12.
Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple, a Conservative shul in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart.
Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, and a Fulbright Brazil alumna.
Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language, cognition, and social relations, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.
References:
“On the Hatred of Jews” by David J. Wolpe
Israel: An Echo of Eternity by Abraham Joshua Heschel
O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
“When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding” by Michael A. Helfand
“A five-point plan to save Harvard from itself” by Steven Pinker
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
The Canceling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott
The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan Rauch
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Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Jan 02, 2024

Show notes

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

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

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might seek out the seeds of a reconciliation between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael.
Interview begins at 4:50.
Jonathan Marc Gribetz is Associate Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Judaic Studies at Princeton University, where he teaches about the history of Jerusalem, Palestine, Israel, and Jewish and Arab nationalisms. He is the author of Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter.
References:
Defining Neighbors: Religion, Race, and the Early Zionist-Arab Encounter by Jonathan Marc Gribetz
The Zionist Idea by Arthur Hertzberg
Zionism: An Emotional State by Derek J. Penslar
1929: Year Zero of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Hillel Cohen
Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East by Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki
Clima Twins
Time and Difference in Rabbinic Judaism by Sarit Kattan Gribetz
Genesis 15:15
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