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Israel at War

Introduction
Episodes
Articles
Recommended Reading
Video

On Oct. 7, Israel suffered the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Between the grief, devastation, trauma, and fear, wartime is unlike any other time. 18Forty has never covered a topic in real-time, but given the existential imperative facing Israel and the Jewish People, we realize we have no choice. This month, as the State of Israel fights for its safety, we are exploring the dimensions of war before, beyond, and on the battlefield.

Central Questions 

  • Reality of War: What is happening on the ground in Israel, both among the civilians and the soldiers?
  • Trauma of War: How do we, and can we, preserve mental health during wartime?
  • Impact of War: How do antisemitism and halacha intersect with Israel?

EPISODES

Pray for Israel

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

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.
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The Trauma of War: Mental Health Professionals in Israel

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.
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Daniel Statman: Can War Be Moral? On Moral Philosophy and War

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.
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What Is Happening With Jewish Students and Antisemitism?

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.
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Yosef Zvi Rimon: What Happens To Jewish Law During War?

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, the esteemed Israeli posek, about the role of halacha during war.
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Doron Perez: Our Heart: One Child Married, One Child Missing

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.
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The Opportunity and Difficulty of Unity: On the Israel March

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.
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Noa Lewis: How Can We Help Israel? Finding Our Purpose

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.
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Michael Eisenberg: What’s Next: The Civic Revolution in Israel

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.”
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Eli Paley: What’s Next: The Future of Israel’s Haredi Community

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

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

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What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker

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.
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Reuven and Shani Taragin: What’s Next: The Future of Religious Zionism

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Reuven and Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi community.
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Listener Feedback: Israel at War

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The Memories We Hold: How October 7 Has Forever Changed Us

In 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. 
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ARTICLES

The Israeli Peace Activist and Religious Leader You Need to Know
How Can I Bring a Baby Into This World After Hamas’ Atrocities?
3 Songs To Listen to During Israel’s War
When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding
Army Service is Essential for Every Jew: Letter From an IDF Combat Soldier in Gaza
From Hawk to Dove: The Path(s) of Yossi Klein Halevi
4 Conversations to Help You Think About the Israel-Hamas War

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