Shows
18Forty PodcastShais Taub: A Vulnerable Conversation About Shame, Selfhood, and Authenticity [Mysticism III 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, 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 Sha...
2025-12-231h 19
18Forty PodcastIs AI the New Printing Press? [AI 3/4]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 convers...
2025-11-111h 34
18Forty PodcastJulia Senkfor & Cameron Berg: Does AI Have an Antisemitism Problem? [AI 2/4]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 tha...
2025-11-041h 07
18Forty PodcastSteven Gotlib & Eli Rubin: What Does It Mean To Be Human? [AI 1/4]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 humanit...
2025-10-281h 08
18Forty PodcastRachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin: How Torah Gives Us Faith and HopeThis 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.orgIn 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 beco...
2025-10-121h 09
18Forty PodcastMoshe Benovitz: Why Religious Change Doesn't Always Last [Teshuva 6/6]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 migh...
2025-09-291h 26
18Forty PodcastNaftuli Moster: Leaving Haredi Education Activism [Teshuva 5/6]This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Naftuli Moster, a former activist for major changes in Hasidic education, about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.In this episode we discuss:Why did Naftuli stop campaigning for fundamental reform in Hasidic education?Why are Jews often drawn to movements that can be counterproductive to their interests? How did October 7 make Naftuli rethink his relationship with the Jewish world? Tune in to hear a conversation about fi...
2025-09-211h 36
18Forty PodcastGayle Kirschenbaum: Learning to Forgive My Mother [Teshuva 4/6]This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Gayle Kirschenbaum—author of Bullied to Besties: A Daughter’s Journey to Forgiveness—about how she repaired her fraught relationship with her mother.At the end of the podcast, we hear from her mother, Millie, herself, now over 101 years old. In this episode we discuss: What does a “forgiveness coach” teach her students? How can we repair relationships across generations? What does it take to try to understand the full humanity of our parents? ...
2025-09-161h 35
18Forty PodcastSarah Hurwitz: Reclaiming Judaism from Shame and Blame [Teshuva 3/6]This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with writer Sarah Hurwitz—author of the new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us—about what it means to be a “knowing Jew.”In a time when we often feel compelled to justify our Judaism to the world, being Jewishly educated is no longer a luxury but a necessity. In this episode we discuss:What does a proud Jew professionally associated with the Demo...
2025-09-091h 22
18Forty PodcastJoey Rosenfeld: What Does Jewish Mysticism Say About This Moment? [Teshuva Bonus Episode]This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with rabbi, psychotherapist, and “translator” Joey Rosenfeld about how our generation can understand languages of mysticism, philosophy, and suffering in today’s chaotic world.In this episode we discuss:Where should we channel our spiritual work as we near two years since October 7?Will Mashiach come in our lifetime?What is the purpose of yearning and desire? Tune in to hear a conversation about how “Yiddishkeit is the guardian of deficiency.” Intervi...
2025-08-191h 18
18Forty PodcastHadas Hershkovitz: On Loss: A Husband, Father, Soldier [Loss 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Hadas Hershkovitz, whose husband, Yossi, was killed while serving on reserve duty in Gaza in 2023—about the Jewish People's loss of this beloved spouse, father, high-school principal, and soldier.In the second year of the war, we’re grappling not only with the depth of our losses, but with how to make meaning of them as we continue to live in their aftermath. In this episode, we discuss:How has the loss of Hadas’s husband sparked a renewed urgency in her dedication to uplifting the Jewish People...
2025-07-292h 17
18Forty PodcastAyala Fader: How Do Haredi Jews Deal With Religious Doubt? [OTD 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ayala Fader—an anthropologist who studies American Haredi communities and their “hidden heretics”—about the personal, familial, and communal factors that pull us toward and push us away from different Jewish communities. In this episode we discuss: How should we respond to the discomfort we experience when the communities we live in don’t measure up to the communities we desire?How has the internet changed Hasidic and yeshivish cultures over the past three decades? How has the surge of antisemitism and anti-Zionism affected the views of Hasi...
2025-07-011h 34
18Forty PodcastDavid Bashevkin & Malka Simkovich: Can Judaism Survive the AI Revolution? (Fifth Year Anniversary)On June 29, Eden will be hosting a webinar to speak in detail about the vision for this project. In order to register please click here or email info@edenbeitshemesh.com to find out more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin and historian Malka Simkovich discuss the future of technology, AI, and the Jewish People. This episode was recorded live at the Moise Safra Center as 18Forty celebrated its Fifth Anniversary with our community.We begin with words from Sruli Fruchter and Mitch Eichen delivered at the program, as well as questions fr...
2025-06-171h 27
18Forty PodcastDaniel Hagler and Aryeh Englander: Can Jews Who Stay Talk With Jews Who Left? [OTD 2/3]18Forty is celebrating its fifth year LIVE in NYC on June 9. Reserve your seats today!In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a dialogue between Aryeh Englander—the ex-Orthodox Jew known as “Philo Judeas,” who is a moderator of the ambitious Frum/OTD Dialogue Facebook group—and Daniel Hagler, a frum surgeon and a moderator of the Facebook group Respectfully Debating Judaism. Together, we talk about seeking meaning, uncovering religious truths, and making the most of the precious gift we call “life.” In this episode we discuss:
2025-05-272h 07
18 Questions, 40 MysticsMalka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? (18Forty Podcast Re-Release)While we await next week's new episode, we invite you to revisit our (third) 18Forty Podcast conversation with Malka Simkovich, originally aired on November 19, 2024. 18Forty is celebrating its fifth year LIVE in NYC on June 9. Reserve your seats today!In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Malka Simkovich—a scholar of Jewish history, the editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society, and a three-time 18Forty guest—about previous Jewish diasporas.We tend to think of “Israel-diaspora relations” as a modern phenomenon. But, as Dr. Simkovich reminds us, that si...
2025-05-261h 15
18Forty PodcastMoshe Krakowski: Why Jews Leave Faith Behind [OTD 1/3]Receive our FREE newsletters at 18forty.org/join.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, talk to Moshe Krakowski, a professor at Yeshiva University, about his work on Attrition and Connection in American Orthodox Judaism, the OU’s study on what we crassly call “OTD.” Dr. Krakowski takes us “under the hood” of those who leave their religious communities to show us what factors lead Jews to leave faith behind. In this episode we discuss: Why do so many of us choose the countercultural life of Orthodox Jud...
2025-05-201h 33
18Forty PodcastThe Gopins: When a Child Cannot Read [Divergence 6/6]Receive our FREE newsletters at 18forty.org/join.Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by Yeshivat Shalshelet, which gives children with language-based learning differences the confidence and skills to thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Donate to its matching campaign at theshalsheletdifference.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bayla Gopin—a student with dyslexia— and her mother, Chana, who brought Bayla to Yeshivat Shalshelet when her previous school was ignoring her needs.We a...
2025-05-061h 25
18Forty PodcastTalia Khan: A Jewish Israel Activist and Her Muslim Father [Divergence 5/6]Receive our FREE newsletters at 18forty.org/join.Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by Ketubah.com. Find the perfect ketubah for your wedding at Ketubah.com—beautiful designs, halachic accuracy, and personalized guidance every step of the way.This episode is also sponsored by our friends at Sofer.Ai. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Talia Khan—a Jewish MIT graduate student and Israel activist—and her father, an Afghan...
2025-04-2954 min
18Forty PodcastThe Samter Family: American Parents With Israeli Sons Fighting in Gaza [Divergence 2/6]Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by an anonymous friend who supports our mission.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yehuda, Bayla, Elisha, and Avi Samter—members of a family that made aliyah from the comfortable Five Towns life a decade ago—about the divergence between Jewish life in America and in Israel. Whether one serves in the IDF has become a major realm of bifurcation within the Jewish People, and it’s a gap that we...
2025-04-011h 23
18Forty PodcastSylvia and Simon Jacobson: How Different Generations Talk About Jewish Life [Divergence 1/6]Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.This episode is sponsored by an anonymous friend who supports our mission.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Simon Jacobson—a leading rabbi in the internet age who previously worked closely with the Lubavitcher Rebbe—and his mother, Silvia, who was born into a Chabad family in Europe nearly 90 years ago.Together, they have witnessed and experienced the development of the Chabad movement and the Jewish People over several historic eras. In this...
2025-03-251h 49
18 Questions, 40 MysticsRuby Chen: My Son is Likely a Deceased Hostage. Don't Forget Him in Gaza.Sgt. Itay Chen was taken captive by Hamas on October 7. The IDF believes he is dead—but his family is still holding out hope.Ever since Itay was declared Missing in Action, Ruby and Chagit Chen—and the Chen family—have tirelessly fought to bring him home. Ruby and Itay are American citizens, so they hoped that would play to their advantage. In March of 2024, the IDF declared that Itay was killed on Oct. 7 and his body is being held by Hamas.Itay’s family has chosen not to sit shiva until his body is return...
2025-03-2444 min
18Forty PodcastEitan Hersh: Can the Jewish Left Talk With the Jewish Right? [Outreach: Bonus]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eitan Hersh, a professor of political science at Tufts University, about teaching students of radically different political and religious views how to speak to one another.College campuses have been a hotbed of contentious conversations, especially on issues around Israel, and Prof. Hersh is someone who’s been teaching his students to turn their disputes productive. In this episode we discuss:What happens when Hersh brings up Jewish topics in his college classes? How are students discussing the issue of removing int...
2025-03-181h 12
18 Questions, 40 MysticsJonathan Dekel-Chen: My Son was a Hostage in Gaza for 43 Million Seconds. He Felt Every One.Sagui Dekel-Chen was held hostage in Gaza for 498 days—or 43 million seconds. He came home on Feb. 15.An American-Israeli citizen who was living in Kibbutz Nir Oz, Sagui left behind a pregnant wife and two daughters when Hamas took him captive in Gaza. Sagui had no idea of their fate—until two days before his release.Jonathan Dekel-Chen, Sagui's father, joins Sruli Fruchter to speak about his tireless advocacy to bring Sagui home, his family's experiences over the last 500 days, and where they go from here.This interview was held on March 10.For...
2025-03-171h 06
18 Questions, 40 MysticsYossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism (18Forty Podcast Re-Release)We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit our 18Forty Podcast conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi, originally aired on Dec. 26, 2023. In this episode of the 18Forty 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 thi...
2025-03-031h 16
18Forty PodcastHaym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha (Halacha Series Re-Release)We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit our initial conversation with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, originally aired on Feb. 8, 2022.In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of gentile wine. Much of his popular renown can be attributed to the publication of his article "Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Cont...
2025-01-211h 20
18Forty PodcastListener Feedback with David BashevkinIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we hear questions, criticisms, complaints, thoughts, and feedback from our listener community. We respond to your comments about the direction of the podcast, the diversity of Jewish experience, and the increased centrality of Israel of our lives. In this episode we discuss:How has the 18Forty mission evolved in light of changes in the world and in Jewish life?Is there an opposite phenomenon to “gvir culture”?How should we discuss important issues that are contentious and divisive, such as the Haredi draft and the identity of the m...
2025-01-141h 24
18 Questions, 40 MysticsShayna Goldberg: Inside Israel’s Religious Zionist Community (18Forty Podcast Re-Release)We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit David Bashevkin's conversation with Shayna Goldberg about the unique features of Israel’s Religious Zionist community, originally aired Nov. 26, 2024.This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Shayna Goldberg—a teacher, mashgicha ruchanit, yoetzet halacha, and author—about the unique features of Israel’s Religious Zionist community.Jews in America are proud of the institutions...
2025-01-131h 58
18 Questions, 40 MysticsJonathan Gribetz: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict (18Forty Podcast Re-Release)We don't have a new episode this week, but we invite you to revisit David Bashevkin's conversation with Jonathan Gribetz teaching about Israel in the Ivy League, originally aired Jan. 12, 2024.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Gribetz, a Princeton professor and scholar of Near Eastern and Judaic studies, about the history of Israel and Palestine.At a time in which we can feel as if we’re all at war, it may be helpful to take a step back and look at the full history between Arabs and Israelis, to gain a d...
2025-01-061h 18
18Forty PodcastMalka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? [Israel & Diaspora 2/5]This episode is sponsored by Eden Beit Shemesh. Contact Rina Weinberg at info@edenbeitshemesh.com for more details. Noam Taragin, son of our previous guest Rabbi Moshe Taragin, was seriously injured in Lebanon. We ask to pray for his quick healing: Noam Avraham ben Atara Shlomit.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Malka Simkovich—a scholar of Jewish history, the editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society, and a three-time 18Forty guest—about previous Jewish diasporas. We tend to think of “Israel-diaspora relations” as a modern phe...
2024-11-191h 15
18Forty PodcastThe Memories We Hold: How October 7 Has Forever Changed UsIn this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, in honor of the anniversary of October 7, we revisit and reflect on the conversations we’ve had that have helped us process this tumultuous time. The past year has been long and painful, and we’ve been constantly reminded that the trajectory of Jewish history is still at stake. This makes it imperative for us to examine our lives and our relationship to God and to the Jewish People during these Ten Days of Repentance. In this episode we discuss:What is the role of me...
2024-10-071h 21
18Forty PodcastEmmi Polansky: Finding Agency as a Single Mother [Teshuva IV 4/5]This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Emmi Polansky, known on social media as @livingemunah, about her journey finding agency as a single mother. Sometimes, when we talk about teshuva, we’re referring to repentance for our specific sins. Another type of teshuva, as we explore, is a return to God as we celebrate our own worthiness and tzelem Elokim. In this episode we discuss:What is it like to partic...
2024-09-301h 14
18Forty PodcastBefore We Say Goodbye to 2023In 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, organi...
2023-12-2126 min
18Forty PodcastLeslie Ginsparg Klein: The Culture of Jewish Education [Jewish Education 3/4]This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein—an expert on the history of Orthodox girls’ education—about the value of education for all people.With the founding of the Bais Yaakov movement, Sarah Schenirer sought to create a culture of education that was inclusive to the marginalized. Over a century later, we encounter a related but simultaneously new set of challenges. In this episode...
2023-02-211h 58
18Forty PodcastListener QuestionsIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, you, our listeners, feature as our guests as we listen to your responses to our series on Romance & Commitment and the Origins of Judaism. It is our double-absolute privilege to hear how 18Forty’s explorations of the big, juicy Jewish ideas have interacted with your own lives. In this episode we discuss: What are the audience’s reflections on dating, loneliness, and belonging?What are some potential future 18Forty topics?How does David remember all the things he reads?And of course, what pronunciation corrections do listeners have for David?Tune...
2023-01-241h 46
18Forty Podcast2022: A Year Beyond Words (and Numbers)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, organi...
2022-12-2611 min18Forty PodcastDovid Bashevkin: My Dating Story - On Religious and & Romantic Commitment [Romance & Commitment 1/5]This episode was sponsored by Jerry and Esther Williams in honor of 18Forty and the Shalom Task Force. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, Dovid Bashevkin dives deeply into the world of dating. As we explore the realm of relationships, Dovid uses his own journey to help us find the proper framework for balancing one’s romantic, religious, and professional identities. How can one stay connected to their religious self while simultaneously evolving? What’s Dovid’s best advice for dating and marriage? Why are we afraid to commit to no? How can we...
2022-12-081h 29
18Forty PodcastYonatan Adler: What Archeologists Find [Origins of Judaism 4/6]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Yonatan Adler about the intersection of halacha and archaeology. Yonatan Adler is a professor of archaeology at Ariel University in Samaria where he teaches about halacha in early Judaism as we see it through the lens of archeology. - Why do we view the past in light of the present and not the present in light of the past? - What does archeology tell us about the origins of the Jewish People? - Did ancient everyday Jews keep the Torah?Tune...
2022-11-221h 18
18Forty PodcastAnonymous: Searching for the Beginning [Origins of Judaism 1/6]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous email sender about life upon the bridge between the truth of fact and the truth of feeling.Our anonymous guest sent an email in to 18Forty, which we read previously on the Malka Simkovich episode. In his email, he describes struggling with the Oral Torah and clinging to his faith despite the unknown. - How has practical Jewish religious observance evolved since the canonization of the Oral Torah? - Are the struggles of modern day Jews the same struggles Jews faced in...
2022-11-011h 45
18Forty PodcastAri Koretzky: In Conversation with Dovid BashevkinAmong the many questions we receive at 18Forty, there are some we find recurring: Who does 18Forty serve? What is its purpose? In this episode, 18Forty Founder Rabbi David Bashevkin reflects upon those questions—except he isn’t the one interviewing. Instead, Rabbi Ari Koretzky, host of the Jews You Should Know Podcast, interviews him.—What is the story of David’s personal religious development?—What were 18Forty’s greatest challenges and successes?—Where is it heading?Interview begins at 5:44.References: Jews You Should KnowSaturday Night Live – "Father-Son Podcasting Microph...
2022-08-161h 24
18Forty PodcastMichelle Margolis: What Do Librarians Do? [Books 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to our favorite librarian, Michelle Margolis. Michelle is no stranger to the 18Forty Podcast — she was one of our first guests, and today, she returns to debut our new Show & Tale series, and talk with us about the role of a librarian and the hidden world of Judaica and rare books. Show & Tale is a new 18Forty video series that will take you inside some of the great libraries—both public and private—to explore books and treasures from Jewish history.Michelle Margolis is the Norman E. Ale...
2022-07-191h 23
18Forty PodcastJeff Bloom: Some Guy Wrote a Book about Jewish Theology [Rationality 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jeff Bloom about the assumptions that Orthodox Judaism makes about ideology, and how we ground our faith even if we don’t have irrefutable evidence.Jeff is some guy who is a lot more than just some guy. Jeff unpacks Leo Strauss’s defense of Orthodoxy and explains how our personal life stories dictate how we see the world. - Why have we designed a system in which we don’t rummage around assumptions?- How do we read the Bible in an Orthodox lens?...
2022-06-141h 3418Forty PodcastListener QuestionsIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by you, our listeners, and reflect on the community we have built beyond our conversations.- What do Pick-Up Sticks have in common with the sorites paradox?- How has wealth seeped into our subconscious Jewish intergenerational trauma? - Does an accusation of abuse have the potential to ruin someone’s life even if they’re not convicted?Tune in to hear a conversation about leaky roofs, trench coats, and bobbing boats. Voicemails begin at 11:42.References:Sa...
2022-06-071h 12
18Forty PodcastBruce Feiler: The Stories That Bind Us [Divergence 2/5]This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Bruce Feiler about family narratives.Bruce has authored many books and articles, including longtime 18Forty favorite, The Stories that Bind Us, which argues that resilience in families is built by developing a strong family narrative. - Does The Stories that Bind Us deliberately have a Pesach theme? - What are the mistakes that people make in family dinner conversation? - Are there differences in the ways that we cope with different types...
2022-03-291h 06
18Forty PodcastIntergenerational Divergence: Recap, Reflections, and Response [Divergence 1/5]This series is sponsored by our friend, Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to the families from our previous series on intergenerational divergence to follow up and see what they’re up to now. As we revisit the previous interviews, we continue the conversations where we left off, drawing from the experiences and wisdom of our guests. • What advice would our guests give their younger selves during the difficult period that they went through?• What have our guests been up to and what has the feedback been since sharing their storie...
2022-03-221h 11
18Forty PodcastRabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halacha [Halacha 1/4]In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.Professor Soloveitchik is a world-renowned scholar whose research has focused on the development of halacha—including martyrdom, pawn-broking and usery, as well as the laws of gentile wine. Much of his popular renown can be attributed to the publication of his article "Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy" in Tradition (Summer 1994 28:4). The essay explores how halacha developed following the rupture of the Holocaust and moved from a mimetic tradition into a text based traditio...
2022-02-081h 2018Forty PodcastListener Questions and Behind the Scenes with the 18Forty TeamIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen to voicemails sent in by listeners and talk to two of our editors, Denah Emerson and Yehuda Fogel.18Forty is a media company as well as a podcast. Between editing the podcast audio, writing the written material, and running the social media, there are many invaluable people who help run it behind the scenes.- What happens behind the scenes of 18Forty?- How is 18Forty’s media produced?Tune in to hear a conversation where we answer listener questions and give a behind th...
2022-02-011h 37
18Forty PodcastEli Langer & Zevy Wolman: How We Keep Our Finances Kosher [Wealth 2/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eli Langer and Zevy Wolman - hosts of the Kosher Money podcast - about financial literacy as it relates to Orthodox Judaism.The cost of living in Orthodox communities is tremendous, and seems to only grow. Between tuition, simchas, and more, families in America’s top one or two percent by income struggle to get by.- How severe is the issue of cost of living in the Orthodox community?- What dynamics factor into this issue?- How should we aim to solve th...
2021-12-281h 24
18Forty PodcastMark Trencher: Orthonomics: The Cost of Frum Life [Wealth 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Mark Trencher - founder of Nishma Research - about finances in the Orthodox community.Mark Trencher founded Nishma Research to survey the Jewish community about various important questions relating to Jewish life. His surveys are of wide-ranging subject matter, including reasons that people go off the derech, political orientation, opinions about vaccines, and of course, finances.- How taxing is Orthodoxy on peoples’ finances?- What financial areas do Orthodox families struggle with most?- Are Orthodox people able to save for retirement?...
2021-12-201h 17
18Forty PodcastZohar Atkins: Between Philosophy and Torah [Rationality 5/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Zohar Atkins, Rabbi and philosopher, about the role that philosophy - particularly rationalist philosophy - plays in Judaism.Zohar is a profound and poetic thinker who tries to lead an examined Jewish life. Despite being a philosopher, he is an advocate of doing, not just thinking. He takes the idea of there being 70 faces of the Torah to heart, endorsing philosophical pluralism in relation to Judaism.- How do philosophy and the Torah interact?- Does the Torah espouse any one true philosophy, or is...
2021-12-141h 08
18Forty PodcastSimi Peters: Building New Faith Foundations [Rationality 4/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Simi Peters - author and teacher - about Jewish faith and postmodernism.Simi is a scholar who is well-versed in both postmodern and Jewish thought. She has attempted to synthesize the two, grounding Jewish faith in postmodernism. While postmodernism calls into question the very ideas of truth and proof, she still believes that Judaism can be given a postmodern, rational grounding.- What is postmodernism, and what implications does it have for rationality?- How can one ground their faith in a postmodern world view?
2021-12-071h 04
18Forty PodcastSamuel Lebens: The Line Between Rationality and Mysticism [Rationality 3/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens - philosophy professor and author - about the interaction of Judaism with analytic philosophy and mysticism.Samuel is an analytic philosopher, trained to analyze philosophical questions in a precise, almost mathematical framework. In his new book, The Principles of Judaism, he attempts to wed the foundations of Judaism to this framework, discussing the ways that one might formalize their Judaism on rational grounds.- How can one ground their Judaism in precise, rational terms?- How certain can one be of their Judaism?
2021-11-301h 03
18Forty PodcastShmuel Phillips: Reclaiming Judaism [Rationality 2/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Shmuel Phillips about the upsides and downsides of approaching Judaism rationally.Shmuel grew up debating religion, always thinking about why he practiced Judaism as he did. While many people practice Judaism because it’s what they grew up with, Shmuel believes that people could give more grounding to their faith. To that end, he authored a book, Judaism Reclaimed, where he explores the modern issues of Judaism in a traditional Orthodox framework.- How can one reconcile the Torah with the morality and science of th...
2021-11-231h 22
18Forty PodcastAnxiety and Rationality: A Personal Anonymous Account [Rationality 1/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous guest about the anxieties he experienced in a hyper rational approach to Judaism.Our anonymous identifies as a rationalist, or someone who likes to analyze the decisions in his life through a logical lens. He applied this to his Judaism. But as time went on, he began having doubts and questions and his life started to fall apart. Eventually he found a different approach to his Judaism that allowed him to moderate his rationality and live a more meaningful life.- What are the...
2021-11-161h 03
18Forty PodcastJudith Shulevitz: The World of Shabbos [Shabbos 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and journalist Judith Shulevitz about the world of Shabbos.Through The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time, Judith introduced the secular world to the concept of Shabbos. She explores the power of a day of rest and the communal aspect that elevates it.- Does a secular Shabbos of unplugging work?- What is so radical about observing Shabbos?- How important is community for one’s Shabbos practice? Tune in to hear a conversation about the world of...
2021-10-191h 15
18Forty PodcastYabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change [Teshuva 5/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva.The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva.- Who was the Yabloner Rebbe?- Why did he leave his faith?- What inspired him to return?Tune in to hear a conversation...
2021-09-121h 24
18Forty PodcastMiriam Gisser: Recovery as Change [Teshuva 4/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Miriam Gisser about changing, or even rebuilding, one’s life.Miriam’s husband passed away from a drug overdose, forcing her to rebuild her life for her and her family. She offers unique insight into how one can change and rebuild their life, whether after a tragedy, to do teshuva, or something else.- What are the scariest parts of change?- How can we find the inner courage necessary for change?- How can we deal with and remember our past while looking to t...
2021-09-041h 22
18Forty PodcastAgnes Callard: A Philosophy of Change [Teshuva 3/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Agnes Callard - professor of philosophy and author - about the philosophy of change.Many decisions in life can be made by weighing our values: if an action accords with our values, then we do it, and if it doesn’t, then we don’t. But when it comes to deciding what our values should be, we may need a different paradigm.- How do we make decisions in relation to our values?- What decisions don’t function in this normal paradigm?- How ca...
2021-08-311h 09
18Forty PodcastAlex Clare: Changing in Public [Teshuva 2/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alex Clare - singer and baal teshuva - about changing identity and what if questions.Alex was a rising music star who left the music industry to pursue a religious life - what's known as a baal teshuva - then returned following international commercial success. He has faced many life-changing choices, and so has experience with navigating change in a healthy way.- How can one ensure that the changes they make are navigated healthily?- What if one regrets the choices they have made?
2021-08-231h 15
18Forty PodcastRav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress [Teshuva 1/5]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Judah Mischel - executive director of Camp HASC and founder of Tzama Nafshi - about change and teshuva.Change is one of the most difficult things in life. We often wish we could snap our fingers and choose to live differently, but change usually takes time. We can think of change as a journey rather than a destination.- How can one appreciate the process of change, the ride, as much as we appreciate the destination?- How can we navigate the waters between...
2021-08-171h 46
18Forty PodcastSummer Unwind: Documentary Film [Summer Unwind 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Grady - documentary filmmaker of One of Us and Jesus Camp - about the expressive power of documentaries.While fiction and non-fiction literature are powerful creative tools to explore an issue, documentaries have a unique power to portray communities from the inside. And while these portrayals may be uniquely powerful, they can also be uniquely controversial.- What can documentaries achieve that other mediums can’t?- How can documentaries help their audiences explore unfamiliar communities?- How are documentaries suited to exploring re...
2021-08-1053 min
18Forty PodcastSummer Unwind: Fiction [Summer Unwind 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David Hopen - law student and author of The Orchard - about finding truth in fiction, and particularly in myths.Though fiction and myths are by definition not true, they can still have great significance. Religious stories in particular can help guide us regardless of whether or not they’re literally true. In his book The Orchard, David tries to illustrate this, using fiction to tell deep truths about the place myth can have in the modern world.- How can fiction tell truths despite it no...
2021-08-0354 min
18Forty PodcastAvital Chizhik-Goldschmidt: Non-Fiction [Summer Unwind 1/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt - journalist - about her relationship with writing.Having appeared in publications like the New York Times and Haaretz, Avital is an accomplished author. Writing since her childhood, she has found inspiration in a variety of arenas, like reporting, Judaism, and advocacy.- What inspired Avital to start writing, and how did she turn it into a career?- What are some of the challenges of publishing in the public eye?- How does Avital get ideas about what to write about?
2021-07-271h 22
18Forty PodcastJewish Peoplehood RoundupIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, our host, David Bashevkin, reflects on 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood episodes.David reassesses 18Forty’s Jewish peoplehood topic from September 2020, which featured Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Laura Adkins, Bethany Mandel, and Samuel Freedman. Using highlight clips from those episodes, David explores what brings together a group of people to form a peoplehood, the ways the Jewish community is divided, and the effect these divisions have on the larger people.- Why did 18Forty choose this topic?- What constitutes a peoplehood?- How does a peoplehood remain united in t...
2021-07-061h 16
18Forty PodcastComedy RoundupIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on 18Forty’s comedy episodes.David revisits 18Forty’s comedy exploration from July of 2020, featuring comedians Gary Gulman and Leah Forster and Rabbi Daniel Feldman. David once again explores the connections between comedy and life, and how comedy can help cope with tragedy. He also explores some of the qualities of Jewish humor.- Why did 18Forty choose comedy as a topic, and why so early?- What life lessons can comedy teach?- What are some of t...
2021-06-291h 10
18Forty PodcastDavid Bashevkin: The Anniversary EpisodeIn this anniversary episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with our host, David Bashevkin, to reflect on the last year of episodes.18Forty has explored many important and interesting topics and has helped build a community of people interested in exploring these ideas. But it has been a big undertaking involving many unforeseen factors and complications.- How has 18Forty decided what topics and guests to feature?- What has David learned about the process of interviewing?- How has 18Forty been affected by the community growing around it?- How...
2021-06-2257 min
18Forty PodcastRabbi Jacob J. Schacter: Should We Censor Jewish History? [Censorship 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter - rabbi, professor, and historian - about censorship as it relates to Jewish history.Though censorship exists in many areas, it is particularly interesting to analyze it from the lens of Jewish history. It can be tempting to idealize the lives of gedolim when writing about them, or to whitewash parts of history that don’t fit with our modern conceptions. It can be tricky to navigate history while preserving a given set of values.- How should we study Jewish history?
2021-06-151h 30
18Forty PodcastJonathan Rosenblum: Communal Boundaries and Cancel Culture [Censorship 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jonathan Rosenblum - journalist and author of multiple ArtScroll biographies - about censorship and specifically how it applies to biographies.One of the many areas in which censorship can be exercised is biography writing. Certain biographies of gedolim have been criticized for censoring their life stories to mask their imperfections, distorting history in the process. But censorship isn’t always about distorting the facts and may instead be about cultivating a certain look or feel.- What is the goal of censoring the biographies of gedolim?
2021-06-081h 03
18Forty PodcastAltie Karper: When a Book Is Banned [Censorship 1/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Altie Karper, editorial director of Schocken Books, about censorship and cancel culture.Every community has boundaries, and every community needs a way to enforce those boundaries. As Altie’s experience publishing a book that received religious pushback tells us, it can be hard to gauge if something will be deemed appropriate. If a public figure says something that doesn’t fit within the boundaries of a community, there should be criticism, but this criticism can easily become sharp and unjust. We must ultimately remember that there are people behi...
2021-06-011h 15
18Forty PodcastProtecting us from Ourselves: An Anonymous Perspective on Divorce [Agunah Crisis 4/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to an anonymous divorced man who gives us his perspective on the divorce process and the need to protect oneself from his own darkest inclinations.While one would never assume themselves capable of get (divorce document) refusal, the emotions of uncoupling run high and it's possible to find yourself considering using the get as a bargaining chip. We sit down with a man who was in this exact predicament and he explains why the get should never be used in this way and how signing a halakhic prenup protects...
2021-05-111h 07
18Forty PodcastBari Mitzmann: Social Media & Agunah Advocacy [Agunah Crisis 3/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bari Mitzmann - Instagram content creator and host of the Women of Valor podcast - about social media advocacy, particularly in regard to the agunah crisis.With an Instagram audience of 30,000 followers, Bari is often asked to promote causes. One such cause was the recent #FreeChava campaign where Bari's promotion helped spark recent support for agunot. While posting about advocacy on social media seems like a natural thing to do, it can be hard to verify information about the causes being posted. Bari therefore likes to be careful...
2021-05-041h 10
18Forty PodcastKeshet Starr: How Should we Advocate for Agunot? [Agunah Crisis 2/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Keshet Starr - CEO of ORA - about what it’s like to work on the front lines of agunah activism. As the CEO of ORA - the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot - Keshet is directly involved with many cases of get-refusal, working with both parties to ensure a satisfactory resolution. She is also involved in agunah advocacy - both for specific agunot and to raise awareness for the issue in general - and prevention. While many are averse to the concept of prenups, as it ma...
2021-04-271h 03
18Forty PodcastRabbi Shlomo Weissman: The Rabbinic Will and Agunot [Agunah Crisis 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shlomo Weissman - head of Beth Din of America, YU Professor, and former lawyer - about the halakhic complexities of, and attempted solutions for, the agunah crisis. A halakhic divorce contract, called a “get,” must be given from the husband to wife, and the parties must give/receive the get willingly. When one or the other party doesn’t willingly participate in this process, the marriage cannot be ended, leaving the woman unable to remarry by Jewish law. Traditionally this has lead to women being unable to remarr...
2021-04-201h 28
18Forty PodcastAndrew Solomon: Far from the Tree [Divergence 4/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Andrew Solomon - a Pulitzer Prize finalist - about intergenerational divergence, as well as his book, Far from the Tree, which was in some ways the very inspiration for this topic. Andrew’s experience with intergenerational divergence began as a child, when his gay identity imbued him with a sense of outsiderness that is evident in his work. His book, Far from the Tree, deals with this topic explicitly, exploring the impact of things like deafness on a family’s ability to relate to and provide for their chil...
2021-04-051h 11
18Forty PodcastMenachem Penner and Gedalia Robinson: A Child's Orientation [Divergence 3/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Menachem Penner—dean of RIETS at Yeshiva University—and his son Gedalia—a musician, cantor-in-training, and member of the LGBTQ community—about their experience in reconciling their family’s religious tradition with Gedalia’s sexual orientation. When Gedalia realized he was gay as a young teenager, his parents weren’t sure how best to deal with the information. They initially attempted conversion therapy, now known to be ineffective at best and harmful at worst. They have since come to a happier, closer place in their relationship, characterized by love and mu...
2021-03-221h 19
18Forty PodcastDaniel Grama & Aliza Grama: A Child in Recovery [Divergence 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Daniel Grama—rabbi of Westside Shul and Valley Torah High School—and his daughter Aliza—a former Bais Yaakov student and recovered addict—about navigating their religious and other differences. Daniel is a rabbi in Los Angeles, and has, to some extent, dedicated his life to teaching others about Orthodox Judaism. Aliza experienced a rebellious teenhood in which she left religious observance and succumbed to addiction. As Aliza’s deviation from her Orthodox upbringing became more pronounced, she and her family were forced to come to terms with...
2021-03-081h 28
18Forty PodcastRabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel: How Can God be Found After Trauma? [God 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel—speaker, educator, and yoetzet halacha— about the effects of tragedy on emunah. In 2014, Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel’s son Naftali was kidnapped and murdered in a tragic terror attack. The week before the world learned of his fate was sad but hopeful, leaving many feeling crushed by the outcome. Despite this impossible situation, Rachelle was lauded as displaying emunah, faith, in Hashem, remaining optimistic but devoid of expectation. -How did or didn’t Rachelle’s tragedy impact her emunah in God?-What expectatio...
2021-02-231h 22
18Forty PodcastDr. Aaron Segal: Can God Be Proven? [God 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Aaron Segal, philosophy professor and student of both Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and Alvin Plantinga, to discuss God from the perspective of analytic philosophy. Analytic philosophy is mathematical, breaking claims into small pieces to rigorously analyze the language and concepts. The cost of this approach is its unwieldiness and high standards, which Aaron believes has precluded it from providing a capital-P proof of God’s existence. But one can still reason about God, and though some would claim belief in God is irrational, Aaron thinks its rationality is...
2021-02-161h 28
18Forty PodcastRabbi David Aaron: How Should We Talk About God? [God 1/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Aaron, author, thinker, and educator, to discuss what God is and isn’t. People often think of God as a powerful, heavenly figure giving commandments, but to Rabbi Aaron, God is more of an experience of awe or good that morally inspires. This experience is impacted by our past experiences, often most prominently by those involving our parents. Rabbi Aaron thinks that many atheists are truly believers and would connect to their faith through therapy, not philosophy. - What is and isn’t God...
2021-02-091h 16
18Forty PodcastOTD HighlightsIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special session with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss one of the podcast’s first topics: going off the derech. There are many preconceptions that come with leaving one’s religious life. People often claim to know the precise psychological reasons that caused someone to leave and what kind of life they’re currently living. There are always reasons, but these reasons can be varied and unexpected, and can lead people to very different places. Some don’t even think of themselves as having left, as they hav...
2021-01-2656 min
18Forty PodcastTalmud HighlightsIn this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to review the first topic that 18Forty covered: Talmud. Though Judaism has many facets to its practice, Talmud study has long been one of its hallmarks. It is a sprawling text with many commentaries, and so can be analyzed from any number of perspectives. This episode highlight three: those of Ari Bergmann, Chaim Saiman, and Michelle Chesner. From its historical formation to its ideas to its format, the Talmud was analyzed at length for its 18Forty topic, and this...
2021-01-191h 0018Forty PodcastWhy 1840?In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840. Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for the first time. Most of modern Jewry has been affected in some way...
2021-01-1237 min
18Forty PodcastEli Rubin: How do Mysticism and Social Action Interact? [Social Justice 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Eli Rubin – writer and researcher at chabad.org – to think about the stereotypes associated with social justice and vision, and how those seeming boundaries have been transcended. Social reform requires that one embrace at least some change, leading some to think that it is antithetical to conservative worldviews. While the compatibility of Judaism and social justice movements is not guaranteed, it is often the case, even in some of what are seen as the more right-wing parts of modern Judaism. The modern history of social justice involves figu...
2021-01-051h 09
18Forty PodcastDr. Rivka Press Schwartz: How Should We Educate About Social Justice? [Social Justice 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Rivka Press Schwartz – Shalom Hartman Institute Fellow, SAR Associate Principal, and Princeton PhD – to think about ways in which social justice can be incorporated into Orthodox education systems. History has seen many hierarchical class systems that benefit some to the detriment of others. The Jewish people have not often been the beneficiaries, yet we enjoy much economic and social success in much of the world today. Dr. Press Schwartz thinks that while this success is in part due to our own willpower, certain fluke historical factors have...
2020-12-291h 17
18Forty PodcastRabbi Jeremy Wieder: Is There a Torah Approach to our Social Responsibility? [Social Justice 1/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Jeremy Wieder – rosh yeshiva, PhD, Bible professor, and passionate Orthodox moral voice – to discuss what the Torah has to say about social justice. The Torah serves as a moral guidebook for many, with some citing the avos as exemplifying generosity, even towards those they didn’t know. One might therefore expect that those most engrossed in Torah learning would fight on the front lines for social justice issues, but many make the opposite association. It seems that there may be more to morality than studying Halakhah alone...
2020-12-221h 18
18Forty PodcastRabbi Meir Triebitz: How Should We Approach the Science of the Torah? [Science 4/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi Meir Triebitz – Rosh Yeshiva, PhD, and expert on matters of science and the Torah – to discuss what kind of science we can learn from the Torah. The Torah, and especially the Talmud, addresses a wide subject matter including theology, morality, metaphysics, and science. It is sometimes said to contain all knowledge – meaning that we could learn anything from the Torah, which seems to imply that all of the Torah’s scientific claims are true. Some welcome this perspective, while others object to it. -What is the T...
2020-12-0854 min
18Forty PodcastRabbi David Fohrman: Does the Torah Teach Science? [Science 3/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rabbi David Fohrman - author, lecturer, and founder of the Aleph Beta Academy - to discuss in what genre the Torah is meant to be, and how that should influence the way we think about it. There are many approaches one could take when confronted with science that seem to contradict parts of the Torah. Some, including Nathan Aviezer, orchestrate elaborate readings of the beginning of Bereishis in accordance with Biblical concordism. Some, like Natan Slifkin, feel comfortable reading the pesukim metaphorically, feeling less need to provide...
2020-12-011h 15
18Forty PodcastProfessor Allison Coudert: How did Religion Influence Science? [Science 2/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor Allison Coudert, of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Davis, to discuss the historical interplay of science with religion, and specifically with Kabbalah. During a 1917 lecture talking about the rational mindset underlying science, Max Weber famously declared that “This means that the world is disenchanted.” Though this sentiment has permeated the public consciousness, Allison thinks the real story is more complicated. She thinks that science and enlightenment philosophy only heightened the magic we humans could experience, and that enlightenment movements have done so historically. In her...
2020-11-2459 min
18Forty PodcastDr. Jeremy England: What Does a Scientist See in the Torah? [Science 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeremy England, physicist and biologist, to discuss his lives as a Jew and an academic, and how, if at all, those lives interact. Jeremy grew up a barely-affiliated Jew and obtained a degree in biochemistry from Harvard, but discovered his love for Judaism and began reading authors like Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Ruth Weiss. He is an accomplished scientist, having posited the theory of dissipative adaptation to explain abiogenesis, but still sees a depth and meaning to the words of the Torah. Though science plays an...
2020-11-171h 49
18Forty PodcastRav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community? [Mysticism 3/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Moshe Weinberger, rabbi and educator, to discuss the role of mysticism in modern-day Judaism. Rav Weinberger grew up Modern Orthodox and became attracted to Chassidus at a young age. Though he is a fan of the yeshiva system and believes that Halakha cannot be compromised, he has long watched with anguish as countless products of the system have been turned off by the dry, inhumane version of Yiddishkeit taught to them. Rav Weinberger believes that Jewish education must evolve over time, and that Chassidus is as...
2020-11-031h 12
18Forty PodcastDr. Ora Wiskind: How do you Read a Mystical Text? [Mysticism 2/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ora Wiskind, professor and author, to discuss her life journey, both as a Jew and as an academic, and her attitude towards mysticism.Ora grew up in a Reform family in Ohio, receiving a top-notch secular education but a minimal Jewish one. After studying in France and Germany she found herself in Israel, eventually becoming Orthodox despite her rebellious nature. With her background in literature, she has contributed unique, hermeneutic perspectives on some Hasidic masters, like Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, and continues to break new ground...
2020-10-271h 05
18Forty PodcastJoey Rosenfeld: Can Mysticism Heal Us? [Mysticism 1/3]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Joey Rosenfeld, social worker and kabbalist, to talk about the differences between mysticism and rationalism and the roles they should play in our lives. Mysticism is often misunderstood and dismissed by rationalists without much thought, but what is mysticism? One might define it by what it’s not: reductionism, which combined with complexity is science. But what if we saw things as their whole instead of their constituent parts? Maybe we’re limiting ourselves by reducing the big picture to a list of atomic components; maybe seeing the...
2020-10-201h 24
18Forty PodcastSamuel G. Freedman: Can Jew vs. Jew Ever Become Jew with Jew? [Peoplehood 4/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor of Journalism at Columbia and author, Samuel G. Freedman, to talk about dissent not as a cause of ugliness and divide, but of beauty and unity. Some would say that disagreement isn’t a bug of the Jewish community, but a feature. We have a rich history of debate in the Talmud and haven’t been able to shake this dubious quality even in the modern day United States. The internet has only exaggerated this, and while one can argue for the benefits of dissent, the fact...
2020-09-2945 min
18Forty PodcastBethany S. Mandel: Jews without Community [Peoplehood 3/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with conservative journalist and cultural commentator, Bethany S. Mandel, to talk about the entrances and exits of her life, reconstructing Jewish identity, and creating a Jewish home outside of the Jewish community. Bethany has written for the New York Times and Washington Post, and now serves as an opinion columnist for the Forward, a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beyond the Beltway blog, and is an editor at Richocet.com. She is a sharp writer and speaker about Jewish communal life, particularly about conversion, and has written about...
2020-09-2243 min
18Forty PodcastLaura E. Adkins: Is There Room for All Opinions? [Peoplehood 2/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Laura E. Adkins, the JTA’s opinion editor and an adjunct professor of journalism at Stern College for Women, to talk about how she stays grounded while engaging with so many disparate viewpoints. Many people live in a perpetual bubble, never allowing themselves to step too far from the lifestyle they feel is comfortable. They may only ever engage with straw man versions of others’ opinions, and therefore may never be exposed to a diversity of ideas and people. As a seasoned journalist - currently the opinion edit...
2020-09-1546 min
18Forty PodcastRav Aaron Lopiansky: What Tribes do you Contain Inside? [Peoplehood 1/4]In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Rav Aaron Lopiansky, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, to talk about the challenges facing American Orthodoxy, life-long education, and value education.Rav Lopiansky speaks the language of the particular; much of his insight is situated for those in the Yeshiva-oriented Jewish communities, but his thought is important for all. As he navigates his understanding of the many roles we all occupy, he promotes a loving acceptance of diversity within the community, with the goal of appreciation for the whole Jewish people. -How...
2020-09-101h 1718Forty PodcastReflections Four Months After Launch18Forty launched in May 2020 and since then we’ve explored Talmud, OTD: Leaving Religion, Comedy, and Biblical Criticism. As we take a two-week break before exploring our next topic, we want to spend some time reflecting on what we’ve learned.Learn more at https://18forty.org/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
2020-08-251h 00
18Forty PodcastGil Student: Where are the Lines?In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Gil Student, an infamous blogger who created Torah Musings, to talk about the credibility of modern Biblical scholarship. Gil grew up learning the Bible from the perspective of Biblical criticism, but its conclusions never jived with him. Though many are quick to note places where the Torah uses inconsistent characterizations as evidence that it has been written by multiple authors, he has always noted the implicit assumptions that these lines of thinking entail. Through his years developing and evolving opinions, Gil has experienced firsthand how subjectively we...
2020-08-1853 min
18Forty PodcastJoshua Berman: What Should We Believe?In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David sits down with Joshua Berman, a professor of Bible at Bar-Ilan University, to talk about the relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Biblical criticism. Many Orthodox educators avoid dealing with Biblical criticism, leaving their students feeling that they’ve been duped. Religious Bible critics are a minority in the field, giving some the impression that the questions raised cannot be adequately addressed. Though Joshua grew up with a strong internally-driven sense of faith, he too has been struck by some of these questions when his colleagues have pointed them out.
2020-08-041h 01
18Forty PodcastWhy 1840?In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840. Though humanity’s history is long and rich, it’s only recently that the world has begun to look like we’re used to. From the renaissance to the scientific and industrial revolutions, technology and information seem to be progressing at an exponential rate. Judaism, along with all tradition, had to contend with modernity as we now know it for the first time. Most of modern Jewry has been affected in some way...
2020-05-0525 min18Forty PodcastJourney to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. EichenJourney to 18Forty: A Conversation with Mitchell D. Eichen by 18FortyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
2020-03-1652 min