We are 18Forty
18Forty empowers Jews from all backgrounds to engage in honest and open-ended exploration of faith, identity, and community.
Why 18Forty
The year 1840 was a turning point: the Industrial Revolution peaked, the Damascus Affair sparked Jewish unity, and modernity opened new paths for enlightenment. Mystics called it the moment that “the gates of wisdom would open.” For us, 1840 is a symbol of how global upheaval can lead to a reimagined world. Today, we face another “1840 moment”—troubled by tech disruption, mental health crises, and declining faith—that calls for bold questions, timeless sensitivity, and modern sensibilities. That’s what 18Forty is here to explore.
Our Mission
18Forty empowers Jews from all backgrounds to engage in honest and open-ended exploration of faith, identity, and community. Through dynamic media, immersive education, and inclusive community-building, 18Forty is a modern virtual beit midrash—a vibrant forum where questions are embraced, curiosity is nurtured, and Jewish life is enriched.
Our Unique Approach
Media
Media isn’t just about what you say—it’s where you say it. Through podcasts, essays, videos, social media, and books, 18Forty reaches every corner of the Jewish world. With intellectual curiosity and emotional depth, we create media that transforms Jewish lives.
Community
Jewish life is rooted in relationships, and 18Forty builds spaces for meaningful connection. Through live events, focus groups, and online platforms, we foster belonging across backgrounds and denominations, ensuring that every voice helps shape the Jewish future.
Education
Education is central to 18Forty’s mission. Through curricula, fellowships, book journeys, and immersive courses, we inspire learning that explores Jewish tradition and modern identity—fostering curiosity, debate, and deep engagement with today’s most pressing questions.
Our Vision
We envision a vibrant global Jewish community rooted in both tradition and modernity, where every individual feels equipped to grapple with life’s most profound questions and discover meaningful, enduring connections. In this future, Jews everywhere can unite in authentic dialogue, share diverse perspectives, and build a resilient legacy for future generations.
Our Founder
David Bashevkin is the founder and host of 18Forty. He is also the director of education for NCSY and the Clinical Assistant Professor of Jewish Values at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business. He completed rabbinic ordination at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School, and his doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs. He had published four books, including Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought and a Hebrew work, B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy). David has been rejected from several prestigious fellowships and awards.
Meet the Team
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Sruli Fruchter is pursuing semicha at RIETS while working for 18Forty and Dryve Marketing. He studied international and global affairs at Yeshiva University, where he was the 100th editor in chief of The Commentator. When not reading, writing, or tweeting about Rav Kook, Sruli enjoys adding books and articles to his ever-growing reading list. While his work has appeared in outlets like The Commentator and 18Forty, the New York Times is still a holdout.
Sruli Fruchter
Director of Operations
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Denah Emerson received her B.A. in Art and English Communications from Yeshiva University. She subsequently earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from Parsons The New School for Design. Denah works as an artist, graphic designer, and research and marketing specialist. Denah embraces millennial digital nomadism as a wandering writer, performer, dance fitness instructor, financial advisor, life coach, and certified bartender. Denah is clearly a jack of all trades, master of none.
Denah Emerson
Editor
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Cody Fitzpatrick is a writer and editor based in Arizona. In 2021, he was a Tablet Magazine Journalism Fellow. Cody holds a B.A. from Arizona State University in journalism and mass communication. For almost four years, he was a digital writer-reporter for the Tennis Channel, though, especially these days, he is no Carlos Alcaraz when he takes the court himself.
Cody Fitzpatrick
Associate Editor
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Rivka Bennun Kay is a recent Olah who is now learning and living in the beautiful hills of Gush Etzion. She attended Stern College for Women, where she earned a BA in English Literature and Judaic Studies, and also served as the (first female!) editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, The Commentator. An avid New York Times Spelling Bee aficionado, Rivka is currently learning in Migdal Oz’s Advanced Kollel and (unsuccessfully) teaching herself how to cook.
Rivka Bennun Kay
Shabbos Reads Editor
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Gabriella Jacobs is currently a student at Tel Aviv University pursuing a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Philosophy. She enjoys reading (an eclectic array of blogs, newsletters, and novels), traversing Eretz Yisrael, light debate (any topic will do), and learning new things everywhere.
Gabriella Jacobs
Social Media Manager
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Yehuda Fogel is an editor and writer at The Lehrhaus, where he is proud to have worked with diverse writers and ideas. He currently studies clinical psychology, as a doctoral student in LIU Post. He has researched psychedelic use in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and is an alumnus of Yeshiva University. Yehuda is fond of overthinking his bio and using Google Docs.
Yehuda Fogel
Editor
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Emily Goldberg is an 18Forty summer intern and recent Olah who is extremely passionate about journalism. She has written for outlets such as Jewish News Syndicate and Israel365 News. She will be graduating from Stern College for Women this September as valedictorian, where she also served as editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, the YU Observer. She deliberately received her BA in majors with the longest titles possible: Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism and Studio Art with an emphasis on Photography & Videography.
Emily Goldberg
Glaubach Intern
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Ava Eden is an 18Forty summer intern and currently a junior at Stern College for Women, majoring in English Literature and Judaic Studies. She is also a scholar of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, though it took her two application seasons to get accepted. Before, she spent two years studying Gemara, Halacha, Tanakh, and Jewish Philosophy at MMY in Jerusalem.
Ava Eden
Glaubach Intern
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Sruli Fruchter is pursuing semicha at RIETS while working for 18Forty and Dryve Marketing. He studied international and global affairs at Yeshiva University, where he was the 100th editor in chief of The Commentator. When not reading, writing, or tweeting about Rav Kook, Sruli enjoys adding books and articles to his ever-growing reading list. While his work has appeared in outlets like The Commentator and 18Forty, the New York Times is still a holdout.
Sruli Fruchter
Director of Operations
-
Denah Emerson received her B.A. in Art and English Communications from Yeshiva University. She subsequently earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from Parsons The New School for Design. Denah works as an artist, graphic designer, and research and marketing specialist. Denah embraces millennial digital nomadism as a wandering writer, performer, dance fitness instructor, financial advisor, life coach, and certified bartender. Denah is clearly a jack of all trades, master of none.
Denah Emerson
Editor
-
Cody Fitzpatrick is a writer and editor based in Arizona. In 2021, he was a Tablet Magazine Journalism Fellow. Cody holds a B.A. from Arizona State University in journalism and mass communication. For almost four years, he was a digital writer-reporter for the Tennis Channel, though, especially these days, he is no Carlos Alcaraz when he takes the court himself.
Cody Fitzpatrick
Associate Editor
-
Rivka Bennun Kay is a recent Olah who is now learning and living in the beautiful hills of Gush Etzion. She attended Stern College for Women, where she earned a BA in English Literature and Judaic Studies, and also served as the (first female!) editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, The Commentator. An avid New York Times Spelling Bee aficionado, Rivka is currently learning in Migdal Oz’s Advanced Kollel and (unsuccessfully) teaching herself how to cook.
Rivka Bennun Kay
Shabbos Reads Editor
-
Gabriella Jacobs is currently a student at Tel Aviv University pursuing a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Philosophy. She enjoys reading (an eclectic array of blogs, newsletters, and novels), traversing Eretz Yisrael, light debate (any topic will do), and learning new things everywhere.
Gabriella Jacobs
Social Media Manager
-
Yehuda Fogel is an editor and writer at The Lehrhaus, where he is proud to have worked with diverse writers and ideas. He currently studies clinical psychology, as a doctoral student in LIU Post. He has researched psychedelic use in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and is an alumnus of Yeshiva University. Yehuda is fond of overthinking his bio and using Google Docs.
Yehuda Fogel
Editor
-
Emily Goldberg is an 18Forty summer intern and recent Olah who is extremely passionate about journalism. She has written for outlets such as Jewish News Syndicate and Israel365 News. She will be graduating from Stern College for Women this September as valedictorian, where she also served as editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, the YU Observer. She deliberately received her BA in majors with the longest titles possible: Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism and Studio Art with an emphasis on Photography & Videography.
Emily Goldberg
Glaubach Intern
-
Ava Eden is an 18Forty summer intern and currently a junior at Stern College for Women, majoring in English Literature and Judaic Studies. She is also a scholar of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, though it took her two application seasons to get accepted. Before, she spent two years studying Gemara, Halacha, Tanakh, and Jewish Philosophy at MMY in Jerusalem.
Ava Eden
Glaubach Intern
Sruli Fruchter is pursuing semicha at RIETS while working for 18Forty and Dryve Marketing. He studied international and global affairs at Yeshiva University, where he was the 100th editor in chief of The Commentator. When not reading, writing, or tweeting about Rav Kook, Sruli enjoys adding books and articles to his ever-growing reading list. While his work has appeared in outlets like The Commentator and 18Forty, the New York Times is still a holdout.
Sruli Fruchter
Director of Operations
Denah Emerson received her B.A. in Art and English Communications from Yeshiva University. She subsequently earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Design and Technology from Parsons The New School for Design. Denah works as an artist, graphic designer, and research and marketing specialist. Denah embraces millennial digital nomadism as a wandering writer, performer, dance fitness instructor, financial advisor, life coach, and certified bartender. Denah is clearly a jack of all trades, master of none.
Denah Emerson
Editor
Cody Fitzpatrick is a writer and editor based in Arizona. In 2021, he was a Tablet Magazine Journalism Fellow. Cody holds a B.A. from Arizona State University in journalism and mass communication. For almost four years, he was a digital writer-reporter for the Tennis Channel, though, especially these days, he is no Carlos Alcaraz when he takes the court himself.
Cody Fitzpatrick
Associate Editor
Rivka Bennun Kay is a recent Olah who is now learning and living in the beautiful hills of Gush Etzion. She attended Stern College for Women, where she earned a BA in English Literature and Judaic Studies, and also served as the (first female!) editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, The Commentator. An avid New York Times Spelling Bee aficionado, Rivka is currently learning in Migdal Oz’s Advanced Kollel and (unsuccessfully) teaching herself how to cook.
Rivka Bennun Kay
Shabbos Reads Editor
Gabriella Jacobs is currently a student at Tel Aviv University pursuing a BA in Middle Eastern Studies and Philosophy. She enjoys reading (an eclectic array of blogs, newsletters, and novels), traversing Eretz Yisrael, light debate (any topic will do), and learning new things everywhere.
Gabriella Jacobs
Social Media Manager
Yehuda Fogel is an editor and writer at The Lehrhaus, where he is proud to have worked with diverse writers and ideas. He currently studies clinical psychology, as a doctoral student in LIU Post. He has researched psychedelic use in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and is an alumnus of Yeshiva University. Yehuda is fond of overthinking his bio and using Google Docs.
Yehuda Fogel
Editor
Emily Goldberg is an 18Forty summer intern and recent Olah who is extremely passionate about journalism. She has written for outlets such as Jewish News Syndicate and Israel365 News. She will be graduating from Stern College for Women this September as valedictorian, where she also served as editor-in-chief of Yeshiva University’s student newspaper, the YU Observer. She deliberately received her BA in majors with the longest titles possible: Media Studies with a concentration in Journalism and Studio Art with an emphasis on Photography & Videography.
Emily Goldberg
Glaubach Intern
Ava Eden is an 18Forty summer intern and currently a junior at Stern College for Women, majoring in English Literature and Judaic Studies. She is also a scholar of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, though it took her two application seasons to get accepted. Before, she spent two years studying Gemara, Halacha, Tanakh, and Jewish Philosophy at MMY in Jerusalem.
Ava Eden
Glaubach Intern
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