We talk to Jewish communal executive Carmi Schwartz about lessons he’s learned in his 90-plus years as a member and leader of the Jewish community.
In this episode we discuss:
—What draws a professional to Jewish communal work rather than business pursuits or Torah scholarship?
—How does one imbue organizational and Zionist work with religious Jewish content?
—What has it been like to directly witness the Jewish community’s tensions around driving on Shabbat, patrilineal descent, and recognition of non-Orthodox conversions?
Interview begins at 10:20.
Tune in to hear a conversation about all of the forks in the road that brought us to this moment in American Jewish history.
Carmi Schwartz is a longtime leader in the North American Jewish federation system. He served as Executive Vice President of the Council of Jewish Federations (CJF), one of the organizations that later merged into today’s Jewish Federations of North America. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions with Jewish federations in Metropolitan New Jersey, Baltimore, Utica, Miami, and Montreal.
For more 18Forty:
NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
CALL: (212) 582-1840
EMAIL: info@18forty.org
WEBSITE: 18forty.org
IG: @18forty
X: @18_forty
WhatsApp: join here
We try to make transcripts available the week a podcast it released. Thank you for your patience!
Dovid Bashevkin and Nachi Weinstein discuss the ideas behind Bashevkin’s book ‘I Read This Over Shabbos.’
We talk to Rabbi YY Jacobson about how each of us can experience redemptive consciousness by feeling Hashem’s infinite love and presence in this moment.
As a Haredi woman of the Israeli left, Nechumi Yaffe lives between a few different worlds—and she feels at home in Israel’s new “Religious Left” movement.
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.
Gedale Fenster joins us to discuss how to live a life of unshakeable faith and joy.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
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.
In this episode, Liel reflects on falling in love with the Talmud precisely because it is so difficult—and on how its questions, frustrations, and intricate details can transform the way we live.
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.
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.
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives.
In this episode, we talk to a father and daughter who were estranged and then reunited.
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.
We talk to Michael Eisenberg about the state of the Jewish People in Israel and the diaspora.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yussie Zakutinsky, rabbi of K’hal Mevakshei Hashem in Lawrence, New York, about his vision for a Judaism that unites the entire Jewish People—no matter how wide the gaps between us.
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.”
Leading Israeli historian Benny Morris answers 18 questions on Israel, including Gaza, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, morality, and so much more.
Micah Goodman doesn’t think Palestinian-Israeli peace will happen within his lifetime. But he’s still a hopeful person.
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.
In this episode of 18Forty Podcast, we had the privilege of speaking with Professor Haym Soloveitchik, University Professor of Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University.
Efraim Palvanov answers questions on misinformation, prayer as self-reflection, and every Jew’s role in bringing Mashiach.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to historian and professor Pawel Maciejko about the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi, Sabbateanism, and the roots of Jewish secularism.
Haviv answers 18 questions on Israel.
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
Joy and meaning can be found not only despite the brokenness, but even because of the brokenness.
Children cannot truly avoid the consequences of estrangement. Their parents’ shadow will always follow.
The Torah could have ended at Moshe’s grave. In Vezot HaBracha, it chooses to end with the Jewish People.
On prayer, time, and resilience—my reading companions in my impermanent home.
My family made aliyah over a decade ago. Navigating our lives as American immigrants in Israel is a day-to-day balance.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
Rav Froman was a complicated character in Israel and in his own home city of Tekoa, as people from both the right…
I went to see a magnificent ancient manuscript at the Israel Museum. Instead, I found myself learning from a group of eight-year-olds.
Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wears the mantle of Kahane in Israel. Many Orthodox Jews welcomed him with open arms.
From Freud through today, our desire to heal asks us to consider why we care so badly—and maybe if it’s hindering the…
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
I consider the Rebbe to be my personal teacher, and I find this teaching particularly relevant for us now.
Yes, the Israeli army needs Jews to draft, but more than that, Jews need to experience what it means to serve.
In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro asks us to reconsider what, if anything, separates humans from machines.
A 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, a lone soldier, and more. Here are seven olim sharing their stories of aliyah.
They cover healthy relationships, conflict-resolution, wholeness, and so much more.
If You’re Reading These Words is a book in which all the heroes have died, yet it overflows with life.
Israel is clearly important to Jews. The question becomes: To what extent?
Children don’t come with guarantees. Washing machines come with guarantees.
It isn’t only censorship that creates the narrative of our history, but it is every creative endeavor that we engage in.
In this episode, Liel Leibovitz reflects on falling in love with the Talmud precisely because it is so difficult—and on how its…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi YY Jacobson, one of the foremost online teachers of Torah, about…
We speak with Naftuli Moster about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Shais Taub, the rabbi behind the organization SoulWords, about shame, selfhood, and…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue,…
What is Jewish peoplehood? In a world that is increasingly international in its scope, our appreciation for the national or the tribal…
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives. A Yale-trained lawyer…
Why did this Hasidic Rebbe move from Poland to Israel, only to change his name, leave religion, and disappear to Los Angeles?
We talk to author and theoretical physicist Berel Leib Epstein about rational reasons to choose to believe in Judaism and live a…
We talk to Matisyahu, who has publicly re-embraced his Judaism and Zionism.
A free 40-week journey through the Talmud. No Hebrew or background required. 7,000+ people have already signed up — join us.
