Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast 18Forty Podcast

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Elliot Kaufman, a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board and co-author of In the War Room, about what happened inside Israel's war room after October 7 and how Israel came to lose the battle over its own story.

In this episode we discuss:

—Was October 7th part of a larger plan to destroy Israel?
—How did the anti-Israel narrative take hold in the West so quickly?
—What is the vision for the Jewish state once the security threats recede?

Interview begins at 3:40. 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the fight for Israel's survival on the battlefield and its fight for its narrative on the world stage. Elliot Kaufman is a member of The Wall Street Journal's editorial board, where he writes on Israel, Iran, and the Middle East, and previously served as the paper's letters editor. Raised in Toronto and a graduate of Stanford University, he has covered the war for the Journal since October 7th. He is the co-author, with Yonah Jeremy Bob, of In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel's Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis.

References:

In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel's Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Elliot Kaufman

Target Tehran by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Ilan Evyatar

One State, Two States: Resolving the Israel/Palestine Conflict by Benny Morris

The Jews of Modernity by Milton Himmelfarb

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In this episode, Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin and Nachi Weinstein discuss Jewish history, reading, publishing, podcasting, and the ideas behind Bashevkin’s book I Read This Over Shabbos.

They explore how accessible writing and serious historical study can deepen Jewish knowledge while preserving intellectual depth, historical honesty, and the centrality of Shabbos.

In this episode we discuss:

—How can Jewish history can deepen our understanding of the Jewish present? 
—Why is serious reading and careful sourcing matter for Jewish intellectual life? 
—How does I Read This Over Shabbos seek to make Jewish history accessible while preserving intellectual depth?

Tune in to hear a conversation about Jewish history, serious reading, the culture of books, and how accessible scholarship can strengthen Jewish intellectual life.

Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin is a writer, educator, and podcaster whose work focuses on Torah, Jewish history, education, and contemporary Jewish life. His writings include B'rogez Racheim Tizkor, Sinagogue, an NCSY Haggadah, Top 5, and I Read This Over Shabbos.

Nachi Weinstein is the creator of Seforim Chatter, a podcast devoted to Jewish books, scholarship, and history. His work has explored subjects including Shabbetai Tzvi, Spanish Jewry, the Ten Lost Tribes, the Zohar, and Italian Jewish history.

References: 

I Read This Over Shabbos: Reading Jewish History in the Parasha by David Bashevkin

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

B'rogez Rachem Tizkor by David Bashevkin

Just One: The NCSY Haggadah by Dovid Bashevkin

Top 5: Lists of Jewish Character and Characters by Dovid Bashevkin

"The Sabbath Is a Chance to Read Again" by David Bashevkin, Wall Street Journal

"The End of Reading Is Here" by Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic

"Sabbatai Zevi Series" on Seforim Chatter

Sabbatai Ṣevi: The Mystical Messiah, 1626–1676 by Gershom Scholem

Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History by Marc B. Shapiro

Rashi by Avraham Grossman

Hakham Tsevi Ashkenazi and the Battlegrounds of the Early Modern Rabbinate by Yosie Levine

A Woman Is Responsible for Everything: Jewish Women in Early Modern Europe by Debra Kaplan and Elisheva Carlebach

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Today, we're sharing one of our episodes from our new program Talmud Daily, featuring our dear friend Liel Leibovitz. 

You can sign up for Talmud Daily at talmuddaily.org, and you can subscribe in your podcast app by searching Talmud Daily. 

In this episode, Liel reflects on falling in love with the Talmud precisely because it is so difficult—and on how its questions, frustrations, and intricate details can transform the way we live.

This episode was sponsored by Daniel and Jessica Courtney in memory of Dr. Stuart A. Courtney.

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi YY Jacobson, one of the foremost online teachers of Torah, about how each of us can experience redemptive consciousness by feeling Hashem's infinite love and presence in this moment.

In this episode we discuss:

—Why has there been a shift in the way we approach publicly sharing Torah?
—What is the nature of the Torah approach to vulnerability?
—What are we trying to achieve with our own teshuva?

Interview begins at 5:02.

Tune in to hear a conversation about the pain of existing seemingly separately from the Divine.

Rabbi YY Jacobson is a Chabad rabbi, teacher, and scholar of Torah and Jewish mysticism. He is the founder and dean of TheYeshiva.net, where his classes reach thousands of students around the world. A sought-after speaker, Rabbi Jacobson draws on Torah, Chassidic thought, Kabbalah, and Jewish philosophy to explore contemporary questions of faith, spirituality, relationships, and Jewish life.

References:

The Dance of Teshuva by David Ebner

Likkutei Torah

Ben Porat Yosef

The Trauma of Everyday Life by Mark Epstein M.D.

To Live with an Open Heart: Tanya through the eyes of a Psychotherapist by Devorah Leah Nussbaum

Talmud Daily

Tzidkat HaTzadik

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

Join Talmud Daily! A new free program from 18Forty. Ten-minute episodes a day (video + audio). Plain English. No prior knowledge assumed. No Hebrew required. Join here: Talmuddaily.org

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Etan Epstein, the founder of The 300 Club, a program of committing to learning Torah for five minutes a day.

We also speak with two participants in the program, Richard Weissberg and Susan Sorosky. 

In this episode we discuss:

—How does one begin a path of Torah learning?
—How can we avoid burning out and maintain consistency on our learning journey?
—Why are Torah and repentance so intertwined together?

Interviews begin at 8:56.

Tune in to hear a conversation about how the process of interpretation of Torah is a mirror image of a process of interpretation of the self.

Rabbi Etan Epstein studied at Yeshivat Shaalvim after graduating from Ramaz, before earning his B.A. from Yeshiva University and spending three years at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood. He then spent seven years studying at the Brisker Kollel in Israel, developing a deep expertise in analytical Torah learning. After returning to the U.S. in 2016, Rav Etan settled in Monsey and founded the New Rochelle Torah Center, where he became known for his thoughtful, engaging, and inspiring classes. In 2023, he founded the 300 Club, dedicated to helping every Jew experience the depth and beauty of Torah every day, five minutes at a time.

References:

“Mirror, Mirror of The Fall” by Maureen Dowd

The 300 Club

Mesillat Yesharim

Sefer HaChinukh

Psalms 27

Lamentations 3

Pirkei Avot

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

Join Talmud Daily! A new free program from 18Forty. Ten-minute episodes a day (video + audio). Plain English. No prior knowledge assumed. No Hebrew required. Join here: Talmuddaily.orghttps://talmuddaily.org/

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Tania Friedlander, leadership-and-performance coach, attorney by training, and former champion athlete, about how her husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis challenged her expectations and taught her to become capable of more.

In this episode we discuss:

—What does it mean to make our expectations a central focus of our teshuva?
—How do we increase our capacity to handle the life we have?
—How can we embrace both the joy and pain that accompany the challenges of life?

Interview begins at 11:42.

Tune in to hear a conversation about taking on challenges head-on and finding the capacity to meet life as it comes.

Tania Friedlander is a leadership and performance coach, attorney by training, and former champion athlete. A Professional Certified Coach and Gallup Certified Global Strengths Coach, she works with executives and emerging leaders to leverage their strengths, overcome challenges, and achieve their professional and personal goals.

References:

Tanya

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel on the 18Forty Podcast

I'm Not Alone by Riva Pomerantz

Loving Someone Who Has Dementia by Pauline Boss

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf

Likutei Moharan, Part II 23:1

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ben and Yael de Toledo, founders of Pnima Jerusalem, a soulful community in Jerusalem, about doing teshuva by returning to community.

In this episode we discuss:

—What are the ingredients necessary for finding and building a community?
—How does one emotionally handle integrating into the Torah world without the benefit of a yeshiva background?
—How should Torah-centered communities relate to the full spectrum of Jews?

Interview begins at 6:16.

Tune in to hear a conversation about letting go of barriers, having faith in oneself, and creating space for Jewish life to thrive.

Rabbi Ben de Toledo is a Jewish educator and community builder, and a founder of Pnima Jerusalem. He and his wife, Yael, previously served as the founding rabbinic couple-in-residence at the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue at the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi.

Yael de Toledo is a Jewish educator and musician who teaches Torah and music and studies at the Shirat HaLeviim Music Academy. She helped found Pnima Jerusalem with her husband, Rabbi Ben de Toledo.

References:https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592642926?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Listening to God: Inspirational Stories for My Grandchildren by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin

Netivot Shalom

The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to rabbi, attorney, and professor Shlomo Pill about how Torah and teshuva have helped him handle his struggle with addiction.

In this episode we discuss:

—How do we bring ourselves to do teshuva when things outwardly appear to be going well?
—How can we give our children Jewish tools for processing, explaining, and coming to terms with life’s difficulties?
—How can Torah help us in the inner work of overcoming our negative impulses?

Interview begins at 4:53.

Tune in to hear a conversation about addiction, teshuva, and the ways Torah can help us make sense of life’s struggles and find a path toward growth.

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo C. Pill is a rabbi, attorney, and law professor whose scholarship focuses on Jewish, Islamic, and American law, religious liberty, and the relationship between religious traditions and the American legal system. He is an Assistant Professor of Law at Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law and previously taught at Emory University. He is the co-author of Setting the Table: An Introduction to the Jurisprudence of Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein’s Arukh Hashulchan and is also the founder of Beis Midrash Nishmas HaTorah in Houston, where he teaches Torah and Penimiyus haTorah.

References:

Tzidkat HaTzadik 154

Story of Our Lives: An Epic Quest for the Soul of our Tradition by Yaakov Klein

Attached by Yakov Danishefsky

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we return to the topic of teshuva by talking to Mendel Horowitz, a Jerusalem-based psychotherapist, researcher, and author who introduces us to the notion of having a Good Enough Elul.

You can learn more about the Good Enough Elul initiative here and read Mendel's article on psychodynamic therapy here.

In this episode we discuss:

—What is the nature of the inner work we do over Elul?
—How do our psychological and religious work overlap and interact?
—How can we detach ourselves from external expectations and learn how to live comfortably in pursuit of our purest desires?

Interview begins at 27:00.

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we discover our most essential selves.

Mendel Horowitz, M.S., is a Jerusalem-based psychotherapist, researcher, and author certified by the International Board for Certification of Group Psychotherapists. His research interests include group therapy and the intersection of masculinity, loneliness, and faith. He is a founding member of United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma & Crisis Response Unit and a member of the Public Outreach Committee of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. His essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Jerusalem Post, JTA, The Forward, and the Jewish Journal, among other publications, and his professional writing has appeared in the International Journal of Group Psychotherapy.

References:

Tur

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Song of Songs 6:3

Psychoanalysis: The Impossible Profession by Janet Malcolm

The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves by Stephen Grosz

"I'm a Psychodynamic Therapist. Here's What That Means." by Mendel Horowitz

Good Enough Elul on 18Forty

"Good Enough Elul: What This Is and Is Not" by Mendel Horowitz 

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This episode is sponsored by Dina and Daniel Heiss, in honor of the 10th yahrzeit of Dina’s father, Zev Yehudah ben HaRav Yisrael Michel. May his neshama have an aliya. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and theoretical physicist Berel Leib Epstein about rational reasons to choose to believe in Judaism and live a Jewish life.

In this episode we discuss:

—In a time without clear and open revelation and miracles, how do we find God in the modern world? —How is Kabbalah like quantum mechanics?
—Why is it worth discussing reasons to believe in God in the first place?

Interview begins at 11:40.

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we find truth and build meaning in our lives.

Dr. Berel Leib Epstein is a theoretical physicist with a background in nonlinear optics and laser physics. After studying under Dr. Phillip Sprangle at the University of Maryland, he joined the Johns Hopkins Physics Laboratory, working on innovative research projects aimed at maintaining America’s technological edge in defense. Berel lives with his wife and children in Baltimore, Maryland, where he also learns in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel.

References:https://mosaicapress.com/product/emunah-and-physics/?srsltid=AfmBOor3tLKcJo7l3p9SmhaZL9o4AtE1szvoILngpiMXoU1561VbYL4w&v=0b3b97fa6688

Emunah and Physics: A Jewish Resolve by Dr. Berel Leib Epstein

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While we await the next installment of the 18Forty Podcast, we invite you to enjoy this episode from our serires 18 Questions, 40 Mystics. 

In this insightful conversation, Rabbi YY Jacobson presents Jewish mysticism as a dynamic framework for consciousness and connection rather than abstract theology. He passionately and clearly illustrates how faith and, ultimately, surrender can redefine how we see ourselves, our pain, and the world around us. 

Before the Lubavitcher Rabbi’s passing, Rabbi Jacobson served as one of his oral scribes. As a close disciple of the Rabbi, he developed a strong foundation in the world of Chassidut [Hasidism] and Jewish mysticism. Now, Rabbi Jacobson is a world-renowned speaker and scholar.

He now joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including how Torah is the map of reality, how spirituality should inform your relationships, and the function of humility in religious growth. 

Here are our questions: 
What is Jewish mysticism?
How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?
In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?
What do you think of when you think of God?
What is the purpose of the Jewish people?
How does prayer work?
What is the goal of Torah study?
Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?
Should Judaism be hard or easy?
Why did God create the world? 
Can humans do something that is against God’s will?
What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?
Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?
What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?
How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?
What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? 
Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?
Can mysticism be dangerous?
How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?
What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?


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In our annual Tisha B'Av episode of the 18Forty Podcast on the theme of loss, we speak with Rabbi Shalom Rosner, who delivered a widely shared eulogy for Eliyahu Moshe ("Eli Mo") Zimbalist, who was killed early in the Gaza war. We also speak with Eli Mo's mother, Sara Zimbalist.

In this episode we discuss:

—How do we hold the personal experience of loss together with the larger national narrative?
—How does the experience of loss change with the passing of time?
—What is the significance of this time in Jewish history?

Interview with Rabbi Rosner begins at 27:09.
Interview with Sara Zimbalist begins at 1:18:10

Tune in to hear a conversation about what continues to ache in the collective heart of the Jewish People—and how we manage to continue to cultivate gratitude.

Rabbi Shalom Rosner is the Rosh Beis Medrash of the English-speaking program at JCT Machon Lev and the rabbi of the Nofei Hashemesh community in Beit Shemesh. A musmach of RIETS and graduate of Yeshiva University, he is widely known for his online Daf Yomi and other Torah shiurim, followed by thousands of learners worldwide. Renowned for his clarity in teaching complex sugyot, Rabbi Rosner has taught at Yeshiva University, Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim, and Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh.

References:

Numbers 14

Taanit 29a

Lamentations 2

Sanhedrin 104b 

Exodus 1:15 with Rashi

Eliyahu Moshe Zimbalist eulogy by R’ Shalom Rosner

Shabbat 33b

Seder HaYom by Moshe ben Machir

Lamentations 3

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jewish communal executive Carmi Schwartz about lessons he’s learned in his 90-plus years as a member and leader of the Jewish community. 

In this episode we discuss: 

—What draws a professional to Jewish communal work rather than business pursuits or Torah scholarship?
—How does one imbue organizational and Zionist work with religious Jewish content?
—What has it been like to directly witness the Jewish community’s tensions around driving on Shabbat, patrilineal descent, and recognition of non-Orthodox conversions?

Interview begins at 10:20.

Tune in to hear a conversation about all of the forks in the road that brought us to this moment in American Jewish history.

Carmi Schwartz is a longtime leader in the North American Jewish federation system. He served as Executive Vice President of the Council of Jewish Federations (CJF), one of the organizations that later merged into today's Jewish Federations of North America. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with Jewish federations in Metropolitan New Jersey, Baltimore, Utica, Miami, and Montreal.

References:

No Country for Old Men (2007)

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jenna Weissman Joselit, a professor of Jewish studies and history, about the everyday expressions of Judaism that reinforce the identity and distinctiveness of the Jewish People. 

In this episode we discuss:

—What consequential institutional decisions shaped the trajectory of American Judaism?
—What overlooked personalities and phenomena contributed to the development of American Judaism?
—What is the role of the tallis in American Jewish aesthetics?

Interview begins at 10:42.

Tune in to hear a retrospective reflection on modern Jewish life and culture.

Jenna Weissman Joselit is the Charles E. Smith Professor of Judaic Studies and Professor of History at The George Washington University. She specializes in the history and culture of America’s Jews, U.S. cultural history, and the relationship between material culture and identity. She is the author of Set in Stone: America’s Embrace of the Ten Commandments, The Wonders of America: Reinventing Jewish Culture, 1880–1950, which received the National Jewish Book Award in History, and A Perfect Fit: Clothes, Character, and the Promise of America. She writes a monthly column on American Jewish culture for Tablet and has been a frequent contributor to the Jewish Review of Books, The New Republic, TNR Online, Gastronomica, and the Forward.

References:

American Judaism: A History by Jonathan D. Sarna

Mordecai M. Kaplan: Restless Soul by Jenna Weissman Joselit

New York's Jewish Jews: The Orthodox Community in the Interwar Years by Jenna Weissman Joselit

Our Gang : Jewish Crime and the New York Jewish Community, 1900-1940 by Jenna Weissman Joselit

Set in Stone: America's Embrace of the Ten Commandments by Jenna Weissman Joselit

Jenna Weissman Joselit in Tablet

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to historian Zev Eleff about what 250 years of Jewish life in America can teach us about religion, identity, and the future of American Judaism.

In this episode we discuss:

—Why did colonial Jews support the American Revolution despite knowing the dangers of opposing those in power?
—How did Jewish denominations and institutions as we know them emerge in America, and what roles did Zionism and U.S. immigration policy play in this?
—Where are we headed on our American Jewish journey, and what have we learned along the way?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the intersection of the Jewish story and American exceptionalism.

Interview begins at 11:00.

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. His research focuses on American Jewish history, sports, and Modern Orthodox history.

References:https://www.sefaria.org/Jeremiah.29.7?ven=english%7CTanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&lang=bi&with=Translations&lang2=en

Jeremiah 29:7

The Greatest of All Time: A History of an American Obsession by Zev Eleff

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

18Forty Podcast: “Zev Eleff: Is This the End of American Judaism?”

American Judaism: A History by Jonathan D. Sarna

The Rag Race: How Jews Sewed Their Way to Success in America and the British Empire by Adam D. Mendelsohn

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Elana Moskowitz, an educator at Michlelet Mevasseret Yerushalayim, about how her American Jewish upbringing shaped her life and worldview.

Moskowitz grew up Orthodox in America in the 1990s—alongside her brother David Bashevkin—before moving to Israel and joining a Haredi community in Jerusalem. 

In this episode we discuss: 

—What is the unique new contribution of American Judaism to the Jewish story? 
—What have been the successes and failures of Judaism on American shores? 
—How do familial and institutional influences shape the lives we believe we ought to lead?

Tune in to hear an inside conversation about the Bashevkin family and what it means to live in a medina shel chesed.

Interview begins at 19:40. 

Mrs. Elana Moskowitz grew up in New York and earned her B.Ed in English from Michlalah Jerusalem College. She is a passionate and energetic educator who has been teaching and mentoring in various seminaries in Eretz Yisrael for the past 25 years. She currently teaches at Michlelet Mevasseret Yerushalayim (MMY) where she heads their second-year program. In addition to guest lecturing for both Anglo and Israeli-American women, Elana is a writer for Mishpacha magazine where she develops and contributes Torah content. She lives with her husband and children in Yerushalayim.

References:

"Thank You from an American Jewish Child" by David Bashevkin

“An apology from your American Jewish parents” by David Magerman

“A Kosher Home” by Elana Moskowitz

“​​The Grandfather I Thought I Knew” by Elana Moskowitz

"Sounds of My Childhood” by Elana Moskowitz

Reb Mendel and His Wisdom by Yisroel Greenwald

“When life is like weaving a quilt” with Frieda Vizel

“Yiddishkeit Without Ideology: A Letter To My Son” by Moshe Koppel

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In this annual debate episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a discussion on finances within the Orthodox Jewish community. 

The specific resolution is: The current state of semachot in our community and the level of spending on them, as well as extravagance in lifestyle in general, is problematically excessive and should be significantly curtailed.

Rabbi Larry Rothwachs defends the affirmative, while Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein argues the negative.

In this episode we discuss:

—Are extravagant weddings a detriment to the Jewish community, or do the benefits outweigh the negative externalities?
—What should the Jewish community spend more and less money on?
—Could financial education in Jewish schools alleviate cultural financial pressures?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what we desire as a community and how we can attain it.

Debate begins at 6:17.

Rabbi Larry Rothwachs is a rabbi, therapist, and educator who has led Congregation Beth Aaron in Teaneck, New Jersey since 2002. A longtime teacher and leader within Yeshiva University and RIETS, he currently serves as Director of Professional Rabbinics at RIETS, head rabbi of Camp Morasha, and founding rabbi of Meromei Shemesh, a new community in Ramat Beit Shemesh. He lives with his wife, Chaviva, and their family.

Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein is Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Gratz College and a scholar of Jewish education and history. Formerly Academic Dean at the Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary & College, she is a widely sought speaker on Jewish history, Tanakh, leadership, and communication. She earned her Ph.D. from New York University researching Orthodox girls’ education and the Bais Yaakov movement, and lives in Baltimore with her family.

References:

18Forty Podcast: “A Debate Between Yitzchak Blau & Itamar Rosensweig: Does Morality Exist Outside of Judaism?”

Eruvin 13b

Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life by Luke Burgis

The Index Card: Why Personal Finance Doesn't Have to Be Complicated by Helaine Olen and Harold Pollack

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin responds to listeners’ feedback and comments, in conversation with Denah Emerson.

In this episode we discuss:

—Should every Jew be Orthodox?
—Is the gap year in Israel “just a business”?
—How does one develop their own Jewish identity at a phase in life when it’s no longer mediated by institutions?

Tune in to hear what the 18Forty community has been thinking about regarding the conversations we’ve shared.

Voicemails begin at 9:40.

David Bashevkin is the founder and host of 18Forty. He is also the Clinical Assistant Professor of Jewish Values at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business. He completed rabbinic ordination at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School, and his doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs. He has published four books, including Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought and a Hebrew work, B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy).

References: 

18Forty Podcast: “Michael Eisenberg: Iran, USA, Israel: What Comes Next”

Genesis 15

18Forty Podcast: “Michael Olshin: Reimagining the Gap Year in Israel”

18Forty Podcast: “Diana Fersko: An Orthodox Rabbi Interviews a Reform Rabbi”

18Forty Podcast: “Dovid Bashevkin: A Reform Rabbi Interviews an Orthodox Rabbi”

How Judaism Became a Religion: An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought by Leora Batnitzky

“The Future Is Sephardic” by Mijal Bitton

Joshua 7

18Forty Podcast: “Mark Wildes: Is Modern Orthodox Outreach the Way Forward?”

18Forty Podcast: “Elisheva Carlebach & Debra Kaplan: The Unknown History of Women in Jewish Life”

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Ahead of the next episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we invite you to hear David Bashevkin's appearance on 18 Questions, 40 Mystics.

What does it mean to live a Judaism that fits into our lives? David Bashevkin explores the meeting point of mysticism and modernity. 

The founder of 18Forty, Rabbi Dr. David Bashevkin is the director of education at NCSY as well as an instructor at Yeshiva University. He is the author of four books, and has been rejected from many prestigious fellowships and awards.

Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including how to embrace holiness, the purpose of prayer, and the search for meaning in an age of distraction. 

Here are our questions: 
What is Jewish mysticism?
How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism?
In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics?
What do you think of when you think of God?
What is the purpose of the Jewish people?
How does prayer work?
What is the goal of Torah study?
Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same?
Should Judaism be hard or easy?
Why did God create the world? 
Can humans do something that is against God’s will?
What do you think of when you think about Moshiach?
Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption?
What is the greatest challenge facing the world today?
How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism?
What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? 
Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism?
Can mysticism be dangerous?
How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others?
What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we revisit the topic of agunot by talking to Sarah Nissel and Yona Elishis, who run the Jewish Divorce Assistance Center of Los Angeles.

We’re also joined by Keshet Starr, CEO of Shalom Task Force. In this episode we discuss:

• How do potentially amicable divorces escalate to being high-conflict? 
• Why does adversarial divorce seem to be increasingly common in the Jewish community?  
• What do experts in the area of agunot think of the related social-media movements? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the integrity of our marriages in the Jewish community. 

Interview begins at 15:16.
Keshet Starr joins at 53:20. 

Sarah M. Nissel is the founding Executive Director of the Jewish Divorce Assistance Center and a visiting professor of law and religion at Pepperdine Caruso school of law, where she leads the Faith & Family Mediation Clinic. A Yale and NYU Law graduate, she previously worked in white-collar and complex litigation, served at the Innocence Project, and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and four children.

Yona Elishis is a family law mediator and Adjunct Clinical Professor at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, where she teaches in the Faith & Family Mediation Clinic in partnership with the Jewish Divorce Assistance Center of Los Angeles (JDAC). Trained at Osgoode Hall Law School, Columbia Law School, and New York University School of Law, she previously practiced family and corporate law in Toronto and New York and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and five children.

Keshet Starr is the CEO of Shalom Task Force, which works to combat and prevent domestic abuse in the Jewish community. Previously, she led the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot. She lives in Hillside, New Jersey, with her family. 

References:

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden

See What You Made Me Do: Power, Control and Domestic Violence by Jess Hill

Marriage Story (2019)

Gett (2014)


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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Adam Ferziger, a historian of modern Jewish movements, about how American Jews have helped shape the evolution of Israeli Judaism.

In this episode we discuss:

—Why are Jewish religious boundaries in Israel often “more porous” than those in America?
—Why did McDonald’s succeed in Israel while Starbucks failed?
—What can Israelis take from the thick communal culture of American Judaism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about Religious Zionism, American aliyah, and the emergence of a distinctly Israeli Judaism shaped by sovereignty, Hebrew culture, and modern religious life.

Interview begins at 9:32.

Professor Adam S. Ferziger is a historian of modern Jewish religious movements and responses to secularization. He holds the Samson Raphael Hirsch Chair at Bar-Ilan University and is a senior associate at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies. He is the author of several influential books, including Beyond Sectarianism: The Realignment of American Orthodox Judaism, winner of the National Jewish Book Award.

References:

“Orthodoxy in American Jewish Life” by Charles S. Liebman

Beyond Sectarianism: The Realignment of American Orthodox Judaism by Adam S. Ferziger

Agents of Change: American Jews and the Transformation of Israeli Judaism by Adam S. Ferziger

The Israeli Century: How the Zionist Revolution Changed History and Reinvented Judaism by Yossi Shain

18Forty Podcast: “Shayna Goldberg: Inside Israel’s Religious Zionist Community”

“Conan O’Brien on Failure and Conviction”

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alana Newhouse, the founder and editor-in-chief of Tablet Magazine, about why seemingly everyone is arguing about Zionism. 

In this episode we discuss:

—What causes spikes in antisemitism?
—What is the role of rapid technological change in flattening the differences between people?
—What makes Israel a model for a nation that other countries should consider following?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can bring redemption through the Jewish People to the entire world.

Interview begins at 10:00.

Alana Newhouse is the founder and editor-in-chief of Tablet Magazine, which she launched in 2009 after serving as a reporter and editor at The Forward and beginning her career with publicist David Garth. An editor who writes occasional essays for The New York Times and elsewhere, she is known for “Everything Is Broken” and “Brokenism.” Raised between the Five Towns and Sheepshead Bay, she is married to journalist David Samuels and serves as president of the Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, whose work has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal.

References:https://www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/take-one

Take One

“Everything Is Broken” by Alana Newhouse

“Zionism for Everyone” by Alana Newhouse

Genesis 12:3

Pluribus

Idiocracy (2006)

Independence Day (1996)

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge M.D.

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This episode is sponsored by Brett and Susan Nadritch, who support creative initiatives that strengthen our love for and connection to the People and Land of Israel, in honor of all the lone soldiers in the most recent Hesder draft, the class of Nisan 5786. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Michael Olshin, educational director of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, about the purpose of the gap year in Israel.

In this episode we discuss: 

—What should our hopes and expectations be for the gap year in Israel?
—How can we improve students’ Hebrew proficiency?
—Is it time to reimagine what the gap year in Israel could be, with a focus on contributing to the State of Israel in addition to Torah learning?

Tune in to hear a conversation about our responsibility to create a Yiddishkeit that touches the lives of the wider world.

Interview begins at 14:40.

Rabbi Michael Olshin is the Educational Director of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, bringing over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience from roles at Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim, Yeshivat Shaalvim, Bet Midrash L'Torah, and youth programs including NCSY, NCSY Kollel, and Camp Mesorah. He also serves as an educator and guide with Jroots, leading educational journeys across Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Ukraine. He lives in Bet Shemesh with his family, and his children have served in elite commando units of the Israel Defense Forces.

References:

If You're Reading These Words by Shlomo Kavas and Racheli Palant-Rozen

A Dreamer and A Fighter: Reflections and Journal Entries by Capt Amitai Zvi Granot

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Michael Eisenberg—a venture capitalist and Torah scholar—about the state of the Jewish People in Israel and the diaspora. 

In this episode we discuss:

—What lies ahead for the Jewish People amid the war with Iran?
—What can Israel and America teach one another about Jewish innovation?
—What should be the religious vision for “secular” Jews in Israel?

Tune in to hear a conversation about where we hope to go together, and how we can get there.

Interview begins at 6:13.

Michael Eisenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner at Aleph, an early-stage venture capital fund managing $850 million, where he has spent over 25 years partnering with Israeli entrepreneurs to build impactful global companies; since 2013, Aleph has invested in more than 50 startups, including Melio, Lemonade (NYSE: LMND), Bringg, JoyTunes, and Healthy.io. He writes the blog Six Kids and a Full Time Job and contributes to Calcalist and TheMarker, is the author of The Hummus Manifesto and five Hebrew books, and frequently lectures on venture capital, Israel, and entrepreneurship. He serves on the boards of Yeshivat Har Etzion and The Shomer Hachadash, and lives in Jerusalem with his wife and eight children.

References:

The Vanishing Jew: A Wake-Up Call From the Book of Esther by Michael Eisenberg

The Tree of Life and Prosperity: 21st Century Business Principles from the Book of Genesis by Michael Eisenberg

Meshekh Chokhmah, Bekhukotai

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a father and daughter who were estranged and then reunited. We also speak with Adam Pollock, the estrangement specialist who inspired them to reconcile. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• Are there specific struggles that lead to estrangement in the Orthodox Jewish world?
• How do we handle the tension between the need to heal and the need to be right? 
• How do we avoid regression once family members have been reunited? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about our essential and unchanging identities that transcend our circumstances.  

Interview begins at 20:50. 

Adam N. Pollock is the founder of Aaron’s Legacy, where he specializes in mediating family estrangement using a blend of ancient wisdom and modern conflict resolution techniques. Since 2015, he has helped individuals and families navigate some of their most painful relational fractures with compassion, rigor, and creativity. A former attorney and business executive, Adam brings decades of experience in negotiation, arbitration, and high-stakes decision-making to his work as an estrangement mediator. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from The George Washington University and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and is the author of Secrets From the Legal Pad (2023).

References:

Genesis 37:31 https://www.amazon.com/Count-Monte-Cristo-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449264

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Psalms 121

Titles by C.B. Weinfeld

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

Third-Party Peacemakers in Judaism: Text, Theory, and Practice by Daniel Roth

Exodus 13:19

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to philanthropist David Magerman and his daughter Sydney, who decided to make aliyah while on her gap year in Israel.  

In this episode we discuss:

• What should we do with the freedom we’ve been given?
• What is it like to make the journey toward Orthodoxy as a family? 
• What is it like to make aliyah when one’s family is in America?

Tune in for a conversation about building bridges and pipelines across generations and geography. 

Interview begins at 11:57.

David Magerman is the co-founder and managing partner of Differential Ventures, a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on AI, machine learning, and data science. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University and brings over 25 years of experience in data-driven research and innovation. Previously, he was a founding member and head of production for the equities trading group at a quantitative hedge fund. 

References:

A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World's Oldest Religion by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

The Steinsaltz Tanya

Genesis 12:1

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shaanan Gelman and his son Ziggy about the persistence of a parent-child relationship when the latter faces addiction.  

In this episode we discuss:

• How does habitual drug use evolve into addiction?
• How does a parent help a child struggling with substance abuse?
• How do such a parent and child manage the expectations and perceptions of the outside world? 

Tune in for a conversation about how a parent-child relationship survives and emerges resilient from a harrowing ordeal.

Interview begins at 15:05.

Shaanan Gelman, rabbi of Chovevei Tzion in Chicago, holds a degree in Computer Science from Yeshiva College and received semicha from RIETS at Yeshiva University. He studied in Israel at Yeshivat Hakotel and the Gruss Institute, and later served as a Kollel Fellow in Boca Raton, where he held leadership and educational roles. He is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America’s executive board, active in the Chicago Rabbinical Council, and serves on the board of Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago. A committed Zionist, he is active in AIPAC and has led initiatives supporting Israel.

References:

God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction by Shais Taub

“Being Kevin, Watching ‘Being Charlie’” by Kevin Jack McEnroe

The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath by Leslie Jamison

Alcoholics Anonymous: The Big BookIn the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté 

Addict in the House: A No-Nonsense Family Guide Through Addiction and Recovery by Robin Barnett

Psalms 37

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yakov Danishefsky—a licensed clinical social worker and the author of The Attached Haggadah—about the imperfect ways in which we transmit the Jewish story. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How do we deal with the lived reality that the Passover Seder isn’t a perfect transmission of our foundational beliefs? 
• Why do some people try to leave Yiddishkeit while others stay in the community?
• What is the deeper significance of chametz and matza?

Tune in for a conversation about the role of broken expectations in the story of our redemption.

Interview begins at 12:29.

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 Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach.

References:

Home Is Where We Start From: Essays by a Psychoanalyst by D. W. Winnicott

Reb Meilech on the Haggadah by Yisroel Besser

The Attached Haggadah by Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky

Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach by Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky

Berakhot 3a

Tzidkat HaTzadik 154

The Baderech Haggadah by Rav Judah Mischel

18Forty Podcast: Yakov Danishefsky: Religion and Mental Health: God and Us

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This week of learning is sponsored by Zachary Schreiber in honor of Tova Bashevkin, because behind every great man is an even greater woman.

In this special Purim episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin speaks about the late, great comedian Garry Shandling in honor of his 10th yahrzeit, which is this Purim.

In this episode we discuss:

• What does pop culture tell us about the Torah of our time?
• What can Garry Shalndling teach us about Purim?
• What does it mean to see divinity and significance within one another? 

Tune in for a conversation about how we find joy and inspiration in this impossible life. 

References:

It's Garry Shandling's Show

The Larry Sanders Showhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/

The Office

30 Rock

The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling

“It’s Garry Shandling’s Shpiel” by David Bashevkin 

“Garry Shandling's Knockout First Appearance | Carson Tonight Show”

Iron Man 2

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Book of Esther

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This month of learning is sponsored by our dear friends Matt and Mollie Landes of Riverdale for the neshama of Dovid Yehonatan ben Yitzchak Yehuda.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Yehuda Geberer—a researcher, educator, and tour guide—about the history of the yeshiva world.

In this episode we discuss:

• How did we get from the start of the Lithuanian yeshiva movement to the American yeshiva world of today?
• What were the premodern precursors to yeshivas? 
• What effect did the Vietnam War have on the development of the American yeshiva world?

Tune in for a conversation about “change in service of perpetuating the eternal.” 

Interview begins at 22:43.

Yehuda Geberer is a Jewish history researcher, educator, and licensed tour guide who leads heritage tours in Europe and Israel focused on the modern Jewish story. He guides at Yad Vashem, where he also interviews Holocaust survivors, lectures internationally, hosts the popular Jewish History Soundbites podcast, and writes the “For the Record” column for Mishpacha Magazine. A former Mir Yeshiva student with a business degree from Ono Academic College, he is currently studying Jewish history at Hebrew University and lives in Beit Shemesh with his family.

References:

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

The Jewish Self by Jeremy Kagan 

Lithuanian Yeshivas of the Nineteenth Century: Creating a Tradition of Learning by Shaul Stampfer

Making of a Godol by Nathan Kamenetsky

Psalms 89

Jewish History Soundbites

The Golden Age of the Lithuanian Yeshivas by Ben-Tsiyon Klibansky

The World of the Yeshiva: An Intimate Portrait of Orthodox Jewry by William B. Helmreich

Bava Batra 21a

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This month of learning is sponsored by our dear friends Matt and Mollie Landes of Riverdale for the neshama of Dovid Yehonatan ben Yitzchak Yehuda.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbi Aaron Kotler, president of the Beth Medrash Govoha and a grandson of Rav Aharon Kotler, about the beginnings of the American yeshiva world.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the difference between “Modern Orthodox” and “American yeshivish”?
• What does it mean to truly learn Torah lishmah?
• Why did Lakewood become the center of the yeshiva world over New York City?

Tune in for a conversation about how the entire Jewish community can build on the successes of the yeshiva world. 

Interview begins at 28:07.

Rabbi Aaron Kotler is the president of the Beth Medrash Govoha, also known as the Lakewood Yeshiva. As Lakewood has grown, Rabbi Kotler has been active in public policy matters, serving on various boards devoted to the expansion of regional health care, transportation, housing, education, and economic development. He is the son of Rav Shneur Kotler zt”l and grandson of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l.

References:

“Bret Stephens' State of World Jewry Address” 

“A Moving Appeal for Kosher Food for Jewish Soldiers in the Polish Army With the Signature of Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin”

World of the Yeshiva: An Intimate Portrait of Orthodox Jewry by William B. Helmreich

Field of Dreams (1989)

The Talmud

“Overklalified” by Avigdor Goldberger

For more 18Forty:
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This month of learning is sponsored by our dear friends Matt and Mollie Landes of Riverdale for the neshama of Dovid Yehonatan ben Yitzchak Yehuda.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Professors Elisheva Carlebach and Debra Kaplan, scholars of early modern Jewish history, about women’s religious, social, and communal roles in early modern Jewish life.

In this episode we discuss:

• How have women’s prayer and shul-going habits changed over time? 
• When did the women’s chevra kadisha become a Jewish institution? 
• How did Jewish emancipation alter the structure of Jewish life and its implications for women? 

Tune in for a conversation about how women shaped—and were shaped by—the structures of the early modern kehillah.

Interview begins at 9:13.

Elisheva Carlebach is the Salo Wittmayer Baron Professor of Jewish History, Culture, and Society at Columbia University and Director of its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. A specialist in Early Modern European Jewish history, her work explores Jewish–Christian relations, religious dissent, conversion, messianism, and communal life. She is the award-winning author of The Pursuit of Heresy, Divided Souls, and Palaces of Time, and has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities and honors including Columbia’s Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award.

Debra Kaplan teaches early modern Jewish history at Bar-Ilan University. A social historian, she is the author of Beyond Expulsion (2011) and The Patrons and their Poor (University of Pennsylvania 2020; winner of the Rosl und Paul Arnsberg-Preis).

References:

“Notes Toward Finding the Right Question” by Cynthia Ozick

A Woman Is Responsible for Everything: Jewish Women in Early Modern Europe by Debra Kaplan and Elisheva Carlebach

Women and the Messianic Heresy of Sabbatai Zevi, 1666 - 1816 by Ada Rapoport-Albert

Mothers and Children: Jewish Family Life in Medieval Europe by Elisheva Baumgarten

Coming of Age in Medieval Egypt: Female Adolescence, Jewish Law, and Ordinary Culture by Eve Krakowski

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbis Eitan Webb and Ari Israel, head of a campus Chabad and Hillel respectively, about Jewish life on college campuses today. 

In this episode we discuss:

• Has there been a recent Jewish awakening on college campuses?
• How much attention should we pay to campus antisemitism?
• Are Chabad and Hillel able to work together on college campuses?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what comes next for Jewish students in secular colleges. 

Interview begins at 18:01.

Rabbi Eitan Webb co-founded the Princeton University Chabad House in 2002, with his wife Gitty. He has been a Jewish Chaplain at Princeton University since 2007. In addition to his Princeton activities, Eitan serves on the board of directors of the Chabad on Campus International Foundation, and of the Sinai Scholars Society. 

Rabbi Ari Israel serves as Maryland Hillel’s Executive Director—a role he has held for more than 20 years. In addition to Rabbinic ordination, Ari has Master's degrees in Medieval Jewish History as well as Secondary Education. Ari is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland where he teaches a Jewish Leadership course. 

References:

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Tanya by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi

Likkutei Sichot - Volume 10

This Is My God by Herman Wouk


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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox outreach.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why aren’t more aspiring rabbis attracted to kiruv? 
• How can we help people make the transition from outreach programs to the “real world”?
• How can we make the case for Shabbos for the masses? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the “non-professional kiruv” of the Modern Orthodox community.

Interview begins at 22:45.

Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all.

References:https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Name-God-Honoring-Transform/dp/B0FPPV48PB

Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life by Charlie Kirk

The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

This Is My God by Herman Wouk

“Is Modern Orthodox Kiruv Possible?” by Steven Gotlib

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This podcast is in partnership with Rabbi Benji Levy and Share. Learn more at 40mystics.com.

As a Chabad Hasid, Rabbi Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidut and Kabbala. This upbringing provided him with a unique lens through which he continues to learn, study, and connect with others. 

Drawing on his background, Slavin created “Seekers of Unity,” a Youtube channel dedicated to exploring the philosophy and history of mysticism across diverse traditions. He founded this channel with the goal of forming a community focused on creating a more intimate world together. 

Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including people’s inherent divinity, tapping into the potential of modernity, and the perpetual experience of mount Sinai.

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.

In this episode we discuss:

• How did David become an Orthodox rabbi with an interest in the broader Jewish world?
• Where does David get his sense of commandedness and obligation from? 
• How should Israel factor into our thinking about Jewish unity?

Tune in to hear a conversation about what it would mean for us to speak Judaism as a “first language.”

Interview begins at 29:05. 

Diana Fersko is the Senior Rabbi of The Village Temple, a Reform synagogue at the heart of downtown Jewish life in New York City.  An internationally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader, she is a defining voice in the contemporary Jewish world, known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to bring Jewish tradition into meaningful dialogue with modern life.

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References:

“Judaism as a First Language” by Moshe Koppel

Judaism Straight Up by Moshe Koppel

Tzidkat HaTzadik 41

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

B'Rogez Rachem Tizkor by David Bashevkin

Taanit 20a


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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How do we re-determine how to be Jews in America?
• Is there really an “education gap” between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews? 
• How should we handle the question of “who is a Jew” across denominations?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might see beyond our proverbial “three blocks."

Interview begins at 22:11. 

Diana Fersko is the Senior Rabbi of The Village Temple, a Reform synagogue at the heart of downtown Jewish life in New York City.  An internationally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader, she is a defining voice in the contemporary Jewish world, known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to bring Jewish tradition into meaningful dialogue with modern life. 

References:

View of the World from 9th Avenue

Tzidkat HaTzadik 54https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477348/

No Country for Old Men

The Tapestry of Jewish Time: A Spiritual Guide to Holidays and Life-Cycle Events by Nina Beth Cardin

A Letter in the Scroll by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

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Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, originally released in 2021, 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

The Amazing Return of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner

The Astonishing Story of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner

Mavericks, Mystics & False Messiahs by Rabbi Pini Dunner

Rabbi Pini Dunner Website

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

Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—created in collaboration with Amudim—we speak with Shais Taub, the rabbi behind the organization SoulWords, about shame, selfhood, and authenticity. 

In this episode we discuss:

• How are we to deal with the pain of embodiment and individuation?
• How does one uncover their mission in the world and align their life with the transcendent?
• How can we work to reorient our desires toward the right things? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the interior experience of fragmentation from Ultimate Being. 

Interview begins at 10:28.

Rabbi Shais Taub is a well-known figure in Jewish teachings and personal development and delivers Torah lectures and classes worldwide. He is renowned for his ability to make complex ideas accessible. He heads SoulWords.org and serves as scholar-in-residence at Chabad of the Five Towns in Long Island, New York.

References:

God of Our Understanding by Shais Taub

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

Top 5 by David Bashevkin

Seinfeld: “The Soul Mate”

"Eric Adams on Dyslexia, Trauma, and Fixing What's Broken in Politics”

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

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Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Philip Goff—a philosophy professor who devotes much of his work to investigating the ultimate nature of reality—about consciousness, mysticism, and God. 

We also hear from Rabbi Eli Rubin about the possibility of “Jewish panpsychism.”

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the relationship between consciousness and scientific observation?
• How should people find purpose in their lives?
• How does a secular philosopher make the decision to turn to religion?

Tune in to hear a conversation about whether mysticism has scientific credibility. 

Interview begins at 9:22.

Philip Goff is a philosophy professor at Durham University, UK, where he devotes much of his work to investigating the ultimate nature of reality. He publishes weekly interviews and articles on his Substack. Goff is known for defending panpsychism as the best available theory of consciousness; his TEDx talk, "Is there consciousness beyond the brain?" presents this view to a wider audience. His recent book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2023), explores panpsychism as a middle ground between traditional belief in God and secular atheism. He is a recent convert to a form of “heretical Christianity".

References:

Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity by Eli Rubin

Galileo's Error by Philip Goff

My Bright Abyss by Christian Wimanhttps://csrs.nd.edu/assets/59930/williams_1902.pdf

The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James

Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. Hofstadter

Tanya Chapter 2

Why? The Purpose of the Universe by Philip Goff

Mind & Cosmos by Thomas Nagelhttps://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Universe-metaphysical-Ananthropocentric-Purposivism/dp/0199646147

Purpose in the Universe by Tim Mulgan​​

Universes by John Leslie

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Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Alon Shalev, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about how Rav Hutner found existential meaning.In this episode we discuss:

• How do we find and build purpose within our short lives?
• What is the role of individualism and self-expression in Jewish life? 
• How should we respond to the crisis of perceived meaninglessness in the modern world? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the coming together of machshavah, nigleh, and nistar.

Interview begins at 23:20.

Alon Shalev is a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a Research Associate at the Jonathan Sacks Institute at Bar-Ilan University. He holds a doctorate in Jewish Thought from the Hebrew University. He deals with the question of meaning in life in Jewish thought and philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy. His book Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner’s Theology of Meaning was published by Brill. Alon lives in Tzur Hadassah, and is married with three children.

References:

Terror in Black September: The First Eyewitness Account of the Infamous 1970 Hijackings by David Raab

Pachad Yitzchak Shavuos by Rav Yitzchok Hutner

Pachad Yitzchak Purim by Rav Yitzchok Hutner

“Letters of Love and Rebuke From Rav Yitzchok Hutner” by David Bashevkin

Berakhot Chapter 2

Between Berlin and Slobodka: Jewish Transition Figures from Eastern Europe by Hillel Goldberg

Great Jewish Letters by Moshe Bamberger

Proverbs 24:16

Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner’s Theology of Meaning by Alon Shalev

Heidegger and Kabbalah by Elliot R. Wolfson

Heidegger and His Jewish Reception by Daniel M. Herskowitz

Mesillat Yesharim by Moses Chaim Luzzatto

Who Is Man? by Abraham J. Heschel

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Dr. Alon Shalev on The Podcast of Jewish Ideas

Pachad Yitzchok Chanukah Rav Yitzchok Hutner

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This podcast is in partnership with Rabbi Benji Levy and Share. Learn more at 40mystics.com.
Rav Joey Rosenfeld’s entryway into mystical thought began with the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Discussing Jewish mysticism with Rav Joey is not just a conversation about ancient texts and ideas, but it is a journey into the soul, wherein he describes how mystical principles can transform relationships, heal trauma, and guide us in a modern world.Rav Joey Rosenfeld is a practicing psychotherapist in the field of addiction, focusing on the interface between philosophy, spirituality, and psychology. He regularly gives shiurim on Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah, and the inner workings of the human soul. Here, he sits down to discuss 18 questions on Jewish mysticism, including the various dimensions of redemption and the paradoxical nature of God.

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by Dr. Leah Younger of Younger Psychology.

In 2023, we talked to psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, about the nuances of familial estrangement and reconciliation.

We also heard 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

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, Rabbi Gil Student speaks with Rabbi Aryeh Klapper and Sofer.ai CEO Zach Fish about how AI is reshaping questions of Jewish practice.

As AI simulates more and more human activities, we can’t help but wonder: Will AI replace rabbis? In this episode we discuss:

—What happens when centuries of halachic process meet a radically new technology?
—Can AI responsibly or accurately answer halachic questions?
—What are the ethical responsibilities of those who build and deploy AI?

Tune in for a conversation about the possibilities and limits of our digital tools.

Panel begins at 8:36. 

Rabbi Gil Student is the director of Jewish media publications and editorial communications at the Orthodox Union.

Rabbi Aryeh Klapper is the dean of the Center for Modern Torah Leadership, the author of Divine Will and Human Experience, and a frequent writer on the ethical dimensions of Jewish law.

Zach Fish is the creator of Sofer.ai, a cutting-edge transcription service designed for the Jewish community.

References:

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

David Bashevkin on Rabbis

Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era by Gil Student

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Moshe Koppel, Malka Simkovich, and Tikvah Wiener about what the AI revolution will mean for the Jewish community.

In this episode we discuss:

• How is AI going to change the dynamics, cadence, and rhythm of Jewish life? 
• Should we panic about AI replacing the role of creative human work? 
• What can Jewish and world history teach us about this moment? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about what AI can teach us about our own needs, especially the need for Shabbos. 

Interview begins at 14:26.

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. 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. 

Tikvah Wiener is Founder and Co-Director of The Idea Institute, which, since 2014, has trained close to 2000  educators in project-based learning and innovative pedagogies. From 2018-2023, she was also Head of School of The Idea School, a Jewish, project-based learning high school in Tenafly, NJ.

References:

“Lazy Sunday - SNL Digital Short”

Mechkarim Be-sifrut Ha-teshuvot by Yitzchak Ze'ev Kahane

"In the Shadow of the Emperor: The Hatam Sofer’s Copyright Rulings" by David Nimmer

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

Judaism Straight Up by Moshe Koppel

“Yiddishkeit Without Ideology: A Letter To My Son” by Moshe Koppel

@ShabbosReads

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with ASF’s Julia Senkfor and AI researcher Cameron Berg about the relationship between artificial intelligence and antisemitism. 

 In this episode we discuss: 

• Why do large language models have an antisemitism problem? 
• Is antisemitism inextricably embedded in Western culture? 
• What can we do to reduce antisemitic bias in AI?

Tune in for a conversation about the Jewish lives we want to create in a world that often seeks to define us negatively.

Interview begins at 15:33.

Julia Senkfor manages research and operations for American Security Fund. Prior to ASF, she worked as the lead researcher and subject matter expert on Iran (including Iran’s nuclear program), Lebanon, Hezbollah, Yemen, and the Houthis at the American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC). She earned her BA in International Affairs and minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Legal Studies from Washington University in St. Louis.

Cameron Berg is an AI researcher working at the intersection of cognitive science and machine intelligence. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale and former Meta AI Resident, he builds systems that enhance—rather than replace—human capabilities. His work focuses on alignment, cognitive science, and the emerging science of AI consciousness, with tools and research used across Fortune 500s, startups, and public institutions.

References:

Inception (2010)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)

Anti-Judaism by David Nirenberg

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Rabbi Eli Rubin and Rabbi Steven Gotlib about what differentiates human intelligence from artificial intelligence.

In this episode we discuss:

• What does AI teach us about what it means to be human? 
• What is the soul, and how do we interact with it? 
• Should we be frightened or encouraged by the development of AI? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about the role of language in our humanity. 

Interview begins at 16:49.

Steven Gotlib is Associate Rabbi at Mekor Habracha/Center City Synagogue and Director of the Center City Beit Midrash in Philadelphia. Steven 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.

Eli Rubin, a contributing editor at Chabad.org, is the author of Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity: An Existential History of Chabad Hasidism and a co-author of Social Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Transformative Paradigm for the World. 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:

“Basketball: The One And Only”

Genesis 7;23

Rashi on Genesis 7:23

“Remembering my chavruta: Rabbi Moshe Hauer, z”l” By Rabbi Rick Jacobs

“18Forty: Exploring Big Questions (An Introduction)”

18Forty Podcast: “The Cost of Jewish Education”

18Forty Podcast: “Steven Gotlib: Some Rabbi Grapples with His Faith” 

18Forty Podcast: “Eli Rubin: How Do Mysticism and Social Action Intersect”

18Forty Podcast: “Eli Rubin: Is the Rebbe the Messiah?”

Torah Ohr by Shneur Zalman of Liadi

Tanya by Shneur Zalman of Liadi

Nefesh HaChayim by Chaim of Volozhin

Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

The Conscious Mind by David J. Chalmers“

Adam, The Speaking Creature: On Humanity and Language in the Era of AI” by Eli Rubin

“Toward a Jewish Theology of Consciousness” by Steven Gotlib

Ludwig Wittgenstein: Philosophy in the Age of Airplanes by Anthony Gottlieb

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This episode is brought to you by Simchat Torah Challenge, a Jewish communal project inspiring tens of thousands of Jews of all backgrounds to read the weekly parsha. The weekly English-language email newsletter and website bring Torah and insights from trusted sources. Join for free at SimchatTorahChallenge.org

In this special Simchas Torah episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin—parents of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Hashem yikkom damo—about their relationship to Torah. 

For two years, we’ve been struggling with the paradox of how Simchas Torah has become eternally intertwined with October 7. So, at Koren’s celebration of Rabbi Sacks’s Humash, we could think of no two better people to talk to. In this episode we discuss:

• How can we find redemption specifically within our exile? 
• How can we move on when we’ve been permanently broken? 
• How can we work to live our lives through the lens of Torah? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about how Torah gives us strength and hope in even the darkest times. 

Interview was held on Sept. 8 and begins at 18:26. 

References:

18Forty Podcast: “Chaim Saiman: Is Talmud the Jewish Constitution?”

“The Inverted Halakhah of Simhat Torah” by Chaim Saiman

Parshat Beha'alotcha

Ezekiel 37

Genesis 32:27

The Koren Shalem Humash

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As a hint at our next new series, we want to share with you our 2023 episode with 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.

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel, about what makes religious change real and sustainable.

In this episode we discuss:

—What is the difference between behavior modification and personality development?
—How does one translate yeshiva skills to a life of kedusha? 
—What is the value of being less emotionally reactive to criticism?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might do teshuva that lasts throughout the year and beyond.

Interview begins at 16:00.

Rabbi Moshe Benovitz has been the director of NCSY Kollel for over two decades. David Bashevkin considers him the “Lorne Michaels” of Jewish education. 

References:

Resisei Layla 50

Mishnah Kelim 17

Saturday Night Live

Mishneh Torah, Repentance

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