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.
Dr. Tanya White is a senior lecturer at the Matan Institute for Torah Learning and a lecturer at the Rabbi Sacks Institute, Bar-Ilan University, and the producer and host of Books & Beyond: The Rabbi Sacks Podcast.
In the last two years, the Jewish People have had to mobilize—not only on the battlefield, but in spirit. This moment has…
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