18Forty Podcast

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

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

Tune in to hear a conversation about the Jewish people, the Jewish land, and the Jewish state.
Interview begins at 18:03.
Dr. Noam Weissman is the Senior Vice President of OpenDor Media. Noam is also the Founder and Director of LaHaV. Noam previously served as Principal of Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles. Noam earned a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California, with a focus on curriculum design. His dissertation, entitled “Approaching Israel Education,” argues for a new vision in learning about the modern State of Israel, focusing on Zionist identity development, narrative formation, and the ability to have a mature and loving relationship with Israel without sacrificing empathy.
References:
Seinfeld
“Could Judaism Survive Israel?” by Gary Epstein
Jewish History Unpacked
Genesis 12:1
OpenDor Media
The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People by Walter Russell Mead
The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity by Micah Goodman
Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine
Israel: A History by Anita Shapira
Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel Gordis
Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert
The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership by Yehuda Avner
Bonus References from Unpacking Israeli History:
Altalena
Munich Massacre
Kishinev
War of Independence
Yom Kippur War
Entebbe
Deir Yassin
Six-Day War
UN Resolution 3379
Black Panthers
Rabin's Assassination
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When A Child Intermarries Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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
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