18Forty Podcast

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we pivot to Intergenerational Divergence by talking to Rachel Yehuda, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, about intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resilience. 

In many ways, Oct. 7 reactivated a sense of Jewish trauma that many of us had never experienced in our lifetimes. And yet, it was a feeling that we somehow felt we were returning to as Jews. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 11:01.

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

References:

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

“Yonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find”

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

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

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

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

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

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



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Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we wrap up our mental health series by talking to Dr. Yael Muskat, director of Yeshiva University’s Counseling Center, and her longtime colleague Dr. Martin Galla about the mental health challenges at the forefront of early adulthood.

Young people in the Jewish community are not immune from today’s mental health crisis. They have their own, equally pressing versions of those same problems. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

References:

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

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

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

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

Berakhot 12b

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

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Regine Galanti—a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults—about mental health treatment among today's Jewish families.

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

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

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

Interview begins at 19:48.

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

References:

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

“How Anxiety Became Content” by Derek Thompson

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

The Explosive Child by Ross W Greene

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yoni Rosensweig, rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, about the intersection between mental health and halacha.

It is tempting to sometimes see halacha and mental health as being at odds. But what if, with the right guidance, we could instead understand halacha to be a system that sees the fullness of our unideal circumstances and draws us closer to God in spite of it all? In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 12:25.

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

References:

נפשי בשאלתי - הלכות בריאות הנפש by Yoni Rosensweig

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

@tzvei_dinim



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Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

This episode is sponsored by someone supporting 18Forty’s work.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen in on a conversation between David Bashevkin and his dear and longtime friend Elie Schulman about the value of therapy.

In a culture in which we can feel we’re constantly being sized up and evaluated by others, accepting our own vulnerability can be one of the hardest things to do. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 11:29.

References:

Pirkei Avot 1:6

Curb Your Enthusiasm

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

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

Waking Up by Sam Harris

David Bashevkin on That’s An Issue

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

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


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Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

This episode is sponsored by Aleph Beta in light of their newly released season of the A Book Like No Other podcast. This podcast is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder Rabbi David Fohrman, as he embarks on his most far-reaching and in-depth explorations of the Torah text. Aleph Beta takes the excitement of Torah learning to a whole new level! Become a member today and start listening— use code “18Forty” to get one month FREE! You will never see the Torah text the same way again.

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

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

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

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

Interview begins at 14:36.

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

References:

The Office

Pirkei Avot 5

Genesis 2:18

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

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

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

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

"Souls as Mirrors" by...

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.

Through the lenses of therapy, comedy, books, family history, and positive influences, David shares the experiences that have shaped the way he handles mental health challenges today. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

References:

Stutz (2022)

Comedian (2002)

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

Introduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom

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

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

The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling

Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh


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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen and respond to feedback from the 18Forty community on the conversations of our Israel at War topic.

Jews live in two different worlds—one before Oct. 7, and one after. The last few months have transformed the Jewish People across denominations, communities, and countries. Prompted by your feedback, we reflect upon those changes. Together, we reflect on those changes. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Feedback messages begin: 9:28

References:

Exodus 3:5

“Surfin' Slivovitz” by Andy Statman

“Shomer Yisrael” by Omek Hadavar

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

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

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In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce the topic of mental health with a conversation featuring world-famous Jewish singer Lipa Schmeltzer.

While many people know Lipa’s songs, far fewer know his journey of mental health—a story he never expected to unfold. With raw vulnerability and beautiful passion, Lipa opens up about every step that led him to today. His lessons are immeasurably important.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 20:26.

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

References:

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

Making of a Godol by Nathan Kamenetsky

Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Reuven and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community. Additionally, we speak with Gideon Davis, a Religious Zionist soldier serving in Gaza.

Mistakenly, we tend to think of the Dati Leumi community as Israel’s analog to Modern Orthodoxy. That makes us miss, however, that Religious Zionism is a rich worldview unto itself, and is something we all can learn from. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

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

References:

The Matrix

Adjusting Sights by Haim Sabato

Tanakh

The Rav Speaks by Joseph B. Soleveitchik

“How Will Redemption Begin?” by David Bashevkin

Meshekh Chokhmah by Meir Simha HaKohen Dvinsk

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe, MIT PhD student Talia Khan, and Harvard professor Steven Pinker about the new reality for Jews in higher education.

Since Simchas Torah, the hostile discourse regarding Israel has become something that no Jewish student can ignore. Jewish families have been asking: Is it even worth it to send our sons and daughters to these colleges? In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

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

References:

“

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Gribetz, a Princeton professor and scholar of Near Eastern and Judaic studies, about the history of Israel and Palestine.

At a time in which we can feel as if we’re all at war, it may be helpful to take a step back and look at the full history between Arabs and Israelis, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face in 2024. Jonathan Gribetz helps us do this. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 4:50.

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

References:

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

The Zionist Idea by Arthur Hertzberg

Zionism: An Emotional State by Derek J. Penslar

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

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

Clima Twins

Time and Difference in Rabbinic Judaism by Sarit Kattan Gribetz

Genesis 15:15


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In this episode of the18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about what it means to be a Zionist and a Jew post-October 7.

Since Simchas Torah, we’ve spent lots of time airing our political differences with others. What might be harder, though, is asking the uncomfortable questions about our own beliefs. Our guest today has decades of experience with this kind of soul-searching. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 6:54.

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

References:

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

Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor by Yossi Klein Halevi

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

Arab Strategies and Israel's Response by Yehoshafat Harkabi



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In this minisode of the 18Forty Podcast, we reflect upon a year beyond words (and numbers).

At every stop of the process in the wild journey that has been 18Forty, we’ve been motivated by our fantastic community members who have pushed us to ask deeper questions, to be more honest with ourselves, and to think more sharply and profoundly about what it means to be a Jew today.

We’ve grown with you and for you, and we’re so thankful to be able to provide everything we can for you all. More than anything, organic growth inspires us—people finding out about 18Forty from a friend who can’t stop thinking about a recent interview they listened to, articles and podcasts shared in Whatsapp groups and discussed around Shabbos tables across the world, with feedback streaming in from every corner of the Jewish world.

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

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Paley, the publisher of Mishpacha magazine, about the role of Haredi society at this pivotal moment in Israel’s history.

As we emerge from a time when Israel’s Haredi and secular cultures have experienced an upswell of unity, the Jewish People will move forward (in some way) forever changed. And Eli Paley is particularly equipped to understand the segments and the wholeness of Israeli society. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

References:

Book Journey: What is the Essence of Antisemitism?

“Mirror, Mirror of The Fall” by Maureen Dowd

Mishpacha

The Machon Hacharedi

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

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Michael Eisenberg, a venture capitalist and staunch defender of Israel, about how the people of Israel have risen to the occasion by creating a “civic revolution.”

With all that is at stake for the Jewish People right now, we’ve been forced to reconsider what our personal goals and collective mission ought to be. And Michael has been at the forefront of that discourse. In this episode we discuss:

• How does service in the IDF empower Israeli citizens at a young age?
• What is the current raison d'être of the Jewish People?
• What is Michael’s notion of “covenantal capitalism”?

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

Interview begins at 4:35.

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

References:

“Israel, Version 3.0” by Rabbi Moshe Taragin

Michael Eisenberg and Elon Musk on X (Twitter)

Altneuland: The Old-New-Land by Theodor Herzl

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

Parshat Shoftim

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

Red Notice by Bill Browder

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Sotah 49b

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noa Lewis, CEO of Echad and a volunteer with the IDF’s women’s casualty-treatment unit, about the sense of purpose it takes to unify the Jewish People with the Land of Israel.

In dire times, we are compelled to move collectively closer to fulfilling the redemptive vision of every Jew living up to their ultimate mission. And Noa, with all of the work she does for the Jewish nation, is the perfect inspiration for us to look toward. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 10:45.

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

References:

Parshat Korach

Genesis 22:19

Isaiah 60:21


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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eric Fingerhut—president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America—and Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff, a scholar and professor at Yeshiva University, about the need for Jewish unity and the barriers to achieving it.

In recent weeks, the Jewish community has been confronted with questions of collective Jewish existence in a way we haven’t seen in decades. In response, the Jewish world has had to join together with an achdus we previously weren’t even sure was possible. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

References:

The Glue, with Eric Fingerhut

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

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

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

Taanit 20a

“Crisis Management” by David Bashevkin

“Rafael Halperin”



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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Doron Perez, executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement, about the sacrifices the Jewish People must make to preserve the precious gift of the State of Israel.

In a single day, Rabbi Doron Perez found out that his son Yonatan had been shot and injured in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks—and his other son, Daniel, was “missing in action” and presumably held hostage. Only 10 days later, the family went on to hold Yonatan’s wedding, with Daniel’s status still completely unknown.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 5:40.

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

References:

Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:2

The Jewish State: From Opposition to Opportunity by Doron Perez

Pachad Yitzchak al Shavuot by Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner

Jeremiah 31

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, the esteemed Israeli posek, about the role of halacha during a war. Additionally, we are joined by Rabbi Shmuel Ismach, a rebbe at Yeshiva University and a rabbi at Young Israel of Great Neck.

Amid the darkest and most chaotic times, we require the guidance of halacha even more than usual. And we see from Rabbi Rimon that halacha is not just a set of laws, but also the poetry that enables us to move forward. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

References:

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

Shabbat by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to journalist Matti Friedman, author of Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai, about how the Israel-Hamas war is (mis)understood globally.

Additionally, we speak to a series of students and educators about the state of antisemitism on school campuses. Special thanks to these guests: Moshe, Micah Greenland, Derek Gormin, Ben Spanjer, Nati Stern, and Celeste.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

References:

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

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

“Who by Fire” by Rufus Wainwright and Amsterdam Sinfonietta

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

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

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

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Daniel Statman, a professor of philosophy at the University of Haifa, about what it means to wage a moral war.

Professor Statman helped revise Ruach Tzahal, the IDF’s code of ethics, which outlines the values that determine what the IDF can and can’t do during a war. Understanding these specifics is vital in a time when there is so much at stake morally and the Israeli army receives so much (often uninformed) criticism. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 10:46.

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

References:

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

Ruach Tzahal

Genesis 18

Just and Unjust Wars by Michael Walzer

War By Agreement by Yitzhak Benbaji and Daniel Statman

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

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

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk about mental health amid the current war with Dr. Danny Brom of Metiv, Mike Meyerheim and Susan Cohen of KeepOlim, Rabbi Reuven Taragin of Acheinu, Dr. Ayala Dayan, Dr. Jacob Freedman, and three students spending a gap year in Israel.

In this episode we discuss:

• What is the science of war-induced trauma?
• How can we meet the emotional needs of “lone soldiers”?
• How can we maintain unity during frightening times?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the resiliency that has enabled the Jewish people to stay together for millenia.

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

References:

Metiv

Psalms 126

KeepOlim

Acheinu

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

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

Mindfulness: A Jewish Approach by Dr. Jonathan Feiner

Off The Couch by Jacob L. Freedman

Me and Uncle Baruch by Jacob L. Freedman

Reading Jewish History in the Parsha with David Bashevkin

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to the voices of several of our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael, including Naama, Tania Hammer, Gedalia Zemel, Rabbi Dov Fendel, Rav Elyada Goldvicht, Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel, Jeremy and Emily Tibbetts, Sruli Fruchter, and our dearest friend Denah Emerson.

In light of the terror attacks, everyone in Israel has been called to help in whatever way possible, and they’ve proven that heroism is a team effort and can take place in unexpected forms. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Guest messages begin at 16:54.

References:

Numbers 10

Jerusalem Talmud: Shekalim 6

Chagigah 5b

Psalms 30

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

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

This podcast was recorded before the recent horrific terrorism against Israel and unspeakable atrocities inflicted upon the Jewish People. We decided to share this Torah initiative now to encourage learning the parsha each week for the protection and success of the State of Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.

This episode is sponsored by Janet and Lior Hod and family, with immense gratitude to Hashem.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce our new initiative “Reading Jewish History in the Parsha.” Each week, David Bashevkin will take you through the original "I Read This Over Shabbos," in this series of shiurim and essays on the All Parsha app and on Substack.

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

Interview with Moshe Schwed begins at 28:55.

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

References:

Why Pick On Me? by Louis Sachar

Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen

@ShabbosReads

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim

Exodus 1:1

Megillah 9a

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

The Art of Bible Translation by Robert Alter

The Living Torah by Aryeh Kaplan

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

Likutei Moharan 19

Tiferet Yisrael 13

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In times like these, it feels impossible to find words.

No individual has words to describe this horror, but we—the Jewish People—do have words.

We turn to the only words we have left: words of prayer, of comfort, of our prophets, and of Torah.

We are with Israel in love, support, and prayer. May God protect the Jewish People.

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

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

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, about the nuances of familial estrangement and reconciliation.

Then, we hear from mindset coach Jason Blau and translator Izzy Posen about how these issues play out within the Jewish community. In this episode we discuss:

• What strategies can be employed by families carrying the burden of strife and negativity?
• What are the common triggers of family estrangement, and how can those in strained relationships move forward?
• What is the role of family in a world of optionality?

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

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

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

References:

“Of Ghosts and Ancestors” by Ari Berman

“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown

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

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

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

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

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

“The Family Reunion” by Izzy Posen

Genesis 46

“הַמַּלְאָךְ" by Izzy Posen

"Daddy Come Home" by The Yeshiva Boys Choir

Become a supporter of this podcast:

This series is sponsored by our friends Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, a Rosh Yeshiva and the Rosh Kollel of the Beren Kollel Elyon at RIETS, about how we can return as a people to the world of Torah study.

Rabbi Rosensweig is the author of the recently published book Mimini Mikhael - Essays on Yom Kippur and Teshuvah, which is the centerpiece of this conversation. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 11:47.

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

References:

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

Halakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Sefer Mishnas Avraham by Avraham Aharon Price

Sefer Madda by Maimonides

Hosea 14

Nefesh HaChayim, Gate IV, 31 by Chaim of Volozhin

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




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This series is sponsored by our friends Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about infidelity and its consequences and aftermath. Additionally, we receive the expertise of clinical psychologist Dr. Malika Bhowmik, on re-establishing intimacy after violations of trust.

We love to tell teshuva stories that have perfect and happy endings, but sometimes the most meaningful teshuva does not fix all of one’s problems immediately. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

References:

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

ברגז רחם תזכור by David Bashevkin

Sexaholics Anonymous: White Book

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

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

Lamentations 5

Genesis 3

Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel

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

The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel


Become a supporter of this podcast:

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by our friends at Shikey Press, a boutique publisher of Jewish content disrupting the traditional model of book publishing.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Martha Minow, a legal scholar and a professor at Harvard Law School, about forgiveness, law, and the boundaries of teshuva.

In a world of ubiquitous transgression, our desire for justice and healing feels perpetually unsatisfied. Why is reconciliation seemingly so hard to get right? In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 17:13.

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

References:

“Warren Studies Talmudic Law Here”

The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar by Jack H. Bloom

Makkot 13b

When Should Law Forgive? by Martha Minow

Netivot Olam, Netiv Hatshuva 2

Resisei Layla 3

Takanat HaShavin 8

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

On Apology by Aaron Lazare

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

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

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by our anonymous friend R.G.

In this episode of the18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Daniel Kalish, Menahel of the Mesivta of Waterbury, about how, with the right help, every person can forge their own path of religious commitment. We also get to meet five of Rabbi Kalish’s students, as well as a Mesivta of Waterbury dorm counselor.

In a Jewish world full of pre-blazed trails, one of the great challenges of our time is the task of harnessing our passions to find our own way. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 18:12.

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

References:

#MKY מי כעמך ישראל

Tractate Nedarim

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

“Stone Cave” by Waterbury Mesivta

“Tatty My King” by Waterbury Mesivta



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

This episode is sponsored by Dani and Nechamie Silberberg-Chitrik, in appreciation of the 18Forty Podcast and the work it does in having meaningful and thought-provoking conversations across all areas of Jewish life.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Sara and Avi Schwartz about the life and loss of their daughter, Yakira Leeba Schwartz A”H. Additionally, we speak with Shelley and Ruvan Cohen about Nathaniel Cohen A”H.

As we move toward Tisha B'Av, we hear two stories of how chesed has brought comfort to individuals enduring the most devastating losses. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

References:

Pirkei Avot 1:2

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

Elokai Neshama

Lamentations 3

Rashi on Lamentations 3:21

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

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yisroel Besser, who authored many rabbinic biographies and brought David Bashevkin to Mishpacha magazine, about sharing Jewish stories.

During his prolific career, Yisroel has written about Jewish lives with an eye for the good—and encouraged others along the way. In this episode we discuss:

• How does Yisroel go about writing a rabbi’s biography?
• What is the difference between “Shabbos for children” and “Shabbos for grown-ups”?
• What unexpected topic does Yisroel wish he could write about?

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

Interview begins at 19:44.

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

References:

Top 5 by David Bashevkin

ברגז רחם תזכור by David Bashevkin

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

Reb Meilech on the Haggadah by Yisroel Besser

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

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

I Samuel 22

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

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. Use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders more than $139.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dara Horn, a leading contemporary Jewish writer, about how fiction and non-fiction can change the way we view our fellow Jews. While we at 18Forty love scholarly and factual writing, fiction has long enabled the Jewish people to be more imaginative and contemplative about the meaning of Jewish identity and memory in our collective past, present, and future. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

References:

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

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

Breakdown & Bereavement by Yosef Haim Brenner

“Becoming Anne Frank” by Dara Horn

People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn

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

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

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.

This episode is sponsored by Twillory. Use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders more than $139.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest comedian Alex Edelman, whose show has made it to Broadway, and his chavrusa, Sarah Hurwitz, former White House speechwriter and the author of Here All Along, about how to introduce people to a Judaism that is both inclusive and rigorous.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

References:

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

This Is My God by Herman Wouk

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

For the Relief of Unbearable Urges: Stories by Nathan Englander

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

This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Joshua Foer, co-founder of Sefaria, about the revolutionary digital Jewish library of which he was the visionary.

Prior to Sefaria, the possibility of finding the Talmud and other central Jewish texts in translation online felt entirely out of reach. Now, we take for granted that any Jew in the world can access the fullness of the tradition.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 30:30.

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

References:

Book Journey with Elli Fischer

Sefaria

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

Talmud: The William Davidson Edition

“Is Sefaria Kosher?” by Gil Student

THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition

Berakhot 22a

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

This episode is sponsored by our friends Rabbi Sruli and Hindy Motzen.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dov Singer, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mekor Chaim and founder of the Beit Midrash L'Hitchadshut, about how prayer can bring clarity to the essentials of our existence.

Rav Singer helps us understand how we can move our concerns from the “X-axis” (the things we want) to the “Y-axis” (our innermost desires that drive us). In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 21:00.

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

References:

Prologue to Love’s Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom

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

Olat Reiyah by Rav Kook

Prepare My Prayer by Dov Singer

Likutei Halakhot by Reb Noson of Breslov

“Give Me One Prayer” by Shmuel

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

This episode is sponsored by Mosaica Press, whose books—including a range of titles on prayer—can be purchased for 18% off with the coupon code 18FORTY.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Debbie Stone, an educator of young people, about how she teaches prayer.

We also speak with David’s dear friend Brad Greenbaum about the experience of prayer in serious times of need—and with Rabbi Yaakov Glasser about how he helps people who are struggling in their spiritual lives.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

References:

Three Steps Forward by Menachem Tenenbaum

The Musaf Prayer by Elchanan Adler

DMC: The Amidah by Ira Kosowsky

The Feigenbaum Teen Siddur by Yitzchak Feigenbaum

The Song of Shabbos by Yitzchok Alster

The Art of Tefillah by Shlomo David and Daniel Glanz

The Koren NCSY Siddur by Debbie Stone and Daniel Rose

“In Her Place” by Yisroel Besser

Netiv Ha'Avodah 10 by the Maharal of Prague

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

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest Moshe Koppel—a computer scientist and Talmud scholar—about Torah and its intersection with artificial intelligence.

In a world in which technology puts vast libraries of Torah at our fingertips, we are tasked with thinking more deeply about what essentially human abilities we bring to the enterprise of Torah and tefillah. In this episode we discuss:

• What computer-based innovations are on the horizon in the realm of Torah study?
• Will AI ever be able to reliably answer our halachic questions?
• Will advances in technology drastically change the experience of Shabbos observance?

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

Interview begins at 18:21.

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

References:

“Funes the Memorious” by Jorge Luis Borges

The Mind of a Mnemonist by A.R. Luria

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

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

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

2001: A Space Odyssey

This episode is sponsored in memory of Rabbi Eliezer Skaist, HaRav Eliezer Daniel ben HaRav Eliyahu Dovid A"H, by his family.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dovid'l Weinberg—a rabbi, educator, musician, poet, and author—about the wide range of modes and levels of prayer.

Rav Dovid’l speaks with us about how prayer can be our bridge between our lonely place in the world and God’s omnipresence. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 10:24.

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

References:

“Only You” by Dovid'l Weinberg

The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

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

Pirkei Avot

Genesis

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

Halakhic Man by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

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

Rav Schwab on Prayer by Shimon Schwab

Siddur Tehillat Hashem

Sichot HaRan by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens—a philosophy professor, rabbi, and Jewish educator—about the nature of consciousness.

At a time when artificial intelligence can make us question what it even is that makes humans unique, we look deeply into our ability to have personal experiences and turn them into new ideas. In this episode, we discuss with Sam:

• Why do we each have a subjective consciousness?
• What is the relationship between prayer and our lives?
• What is the “Turing test,” and how does it relate to prayer?

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

Interview begins at 31:28.

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

References:

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

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

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

Being John Malkovich

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Anomalisa

Netivot Olam by the Maharal of Prague

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

Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary...

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.

This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a series of guests who have made aliyah about the practical factors involved with building a life in Israel.

Serena Benovitz, Chana Berkowitz, Yehoshua Fass, Edo Lavi, and Ahron Levi shed light on the nuances and complexities involved in moving to Israel, though for many of us, the mere thought of uprooting our lives and going to an unfamiliar place is intimidating enough. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

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

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

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

References:

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

Genesis 12

Nefesh B’Nefesh

Tzidkas HaTzadik

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

הארץ אשר אראך by Rabbi Shnayor Burton



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

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Elli Fischer— a writer, translator, and editor—about the relationship between Jewish law and the Jewish state.

For almost 2,000 years, we were able to maintain a system of Jewish law without the convenience of a homeland. Yet now, when we have our own state, Jewish law seems more difficult and complicated to implement than ever.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 19:27.

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

References:

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

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

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.

This week, we are sponsored by the Inaugural Global Jewish Fertility Support Summit, organized by the nonprofit I Was Supposed To Have A Baby. Taking place on Sunday, May 7th, via Zoom, this summit will include some of the most prominent voices from 15 major fertility organizations worldwide. Whether you're on a fertility journey, a professional, clergy, or lay leader in the space, or if you want to know how to be more sensitive to your friends and family, this summit is for you! Learn more and register for FREE at iwassupposedtohaveababy.org.

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

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

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

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

Interview begins at 11:04.

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

References:

Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays (2006-2020) by Bezalel Naor
Orot by Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, translated by Bezalel Naor
Towards the Mystical Experience of Modernity: The Making of Rav Kook, 1865-1904 by Yehudah Mirsky
Rav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehudah Mirsky
Rosh Milin: Kabbalistic Insights into the Hebrew Alphabet by Rav Kook
Jerusalem Talmud
Igorot HaRaiyah, The Collected Letters of Rav...

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Lahav Harkov, senior contributing editor and diplomatic correspondent of The Jerusalem Post, about the media we consume regarding Israel.

Living in the diaspora and caring deeply about Israel can be challenging when one does not have first-hand knowledge of current affairs in the land. Lahav Harkov helps us learn how to gain a deeper understanding. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

References:

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

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

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noam Weissman, executive vice president of OpenDor Media, about Israel education.

In a world in which Israel is a key component of Jewish identity, young people often are given a sanitized, doctrinaire understanding of the Jewish state, rather than getting to build on an authentic experience of connection. Dr. Weissman helps us try to correct this by unpacking some recent Jewish history.

In this episode we discuss:

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

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

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

References:

Seinfeld

“Could Judaism Survive Israel?” by Gary Epstein

Jewish History Unpacked

Genesis 12:1

OpenDor Media

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

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

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

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

Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert

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

Bonus References from Unpacking Israeli History:

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a son who almost intermarried, the mother of a daughter who married a non-Jew, and Huvi and Brian, a couple whose intermarriage turned into a Jewish marriage—about intergenerational divergence in the context of intermarriage.

This Pesach, we have the opportunity to reflect on our childhoods and how, through our families, all of our “beginnings” stretch back far beyond our own lifetimes.

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

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

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

References:

“Big Gedalia Goomber” by Uncle Moishy

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

“Absolute Beginners” by David Bashevkin

Genesis 12

“Family Ties” by David Bashevkin

Shevet Sefer, Yoreh Deah 108 by Simcha Bunim Schreiber

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

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell about what happens when one partner wants to increase their religious practice.

Liel grew up a secular Israeli, while Lisa was raised in a traditional home of loosening observance. When, eight years ago, Liel brought up the idea of keeping kosher, they realized they were moving in different directions.

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

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

Interview begins at 11:21.

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

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

References:

8 Minute Daf

Take One

“Eli, the Fanatic” by Philip Roth

Lincoln

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

Daniel Deronda by George Eliot

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

Isaiah 54:10

“Everlasting Love” by Rabbi Shlomo & Eitan Katz

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

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Aliza and Ephraim Bulow, a married couple whose religious paths diverged over the course of their shared life.

With the loss of a son, granddaughter, and grandson, Ephraim lost his faith in Judaism while Aliza remained an observant believer. As they describe it, now, when making kiddush, Ephraim provides the words and Aliza brings the kavanah. In this episode we discuss:

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

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

Interview begins at 12:02.

References:

Song of Songs

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

“Seventy-Six Sol Cohens” by Allan Sherman

Miriam's Kitchen: A Memoir by Elizabeth Ehrlich



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

In this special Purim episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we bring you a recording from our live event with the comedian Modi, for our annual discussion on humor.

As a preeminent Jewish comedian of only growing popularity, Modi finds himself needing to navigate the nuances of public and private life while he brings “Moshiach energy” to audiences all over the world. In this episode we discuss:

• What makes laughter have ”Moshiach energy”?
• What guidance would Modi have for a parent of a gay child?
• What is Modi’s favorite prayer to lead as a chazan?

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

Interview begins at 5:08.

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

References:

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

Chasing Spielberg

Taanit 22a

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

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