We talk to Elliot Kaufman about what happened inside Israel’s war room after October 7 and how Israel came to lose the battle over its own story.
In this episode we discuss:
—Was October 7th part of a larger plan to destroy Israel?
—How did the anti-Israel narrative take hold in the West so quickly?
—What is the vision for the Jewish state once the security threats recede?
Interview begins at 3:40.
Tune in to hear a conversation about the fight for Israel’s survival on the battlefield and its fight for its narrative on the world stage. Elliot Kaufman is a member of The Wall Street Journal‘s editorial board, where he writes on Israel, Iran, and the Middle East, and previously served as the paper’s letters editor. Raised in Toronto and a graduate of Stanford University, he has covered the war for the Journal since October 7th. He is the co-author, with Yonah Jeremy Bob, of In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis.
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 is released. Thank you for your patience!
In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Elliot Kaufman
Target Tehran by Yonah Jeremy Bob and Ilan Evyatar
One State, Two States: Resolving the Israel/Palestine Conflict by Benny Morris
The Jews of Modernity by Milton Himmelfarb
Gedale Fenster joins us to discuss how to live a life of unshakeable faith and joy.
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.
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.
Dovid Bashevkin and Nachi Weinstein discuss the ideas behind Bashevkin’s book ‘I Read This Over Shabbos.’
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
Rabbi Shmuel Braun joins us to discuss spirituality and free will.
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives.
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, we talk to a father and daughter who were estranged and then reunited.
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 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 talk to Liel Leibovitz and Lisa Ann Sandell about what happens when one partner wants to increase their religious practice.
We talk to Michael Eisenberg about the state of the Jewish People in Israel and the diaspora.
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.”
Efraim Palvanov answers questions on misinformation, prayer as self-reflection, and every Jew’s role in bringing Mashiach.
We talk to Rabbi Shlomo Pill about how Torah and teshuva have helped him handle his struggle with addiction.
Haviv answers 18 questions on Israel.
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 Dr. Ora Wiskind, professor and author, to discuss her life journey, both as a Jew and as an academic, and her attitude towards mysticism.
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.
We do our best to have transcripts available the week an episode is released.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Frieda Vizel—a formerly Satmar Jew who makes educational content about Hasidic life—about her work presenting Hasidic Williamsburg to the outside world, and vice-versa.
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.
At some point, my husband and I will need to tell my children that I’m agnostic. But for now, we’re focused on…
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
The Torah could have ended at Moshe’s grave. In Vezot HaBracha, it chooses to end with the Jewish People.
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.
I went to see a magnificent ancient manuscript at the Israel Museum. Instead, I found myself learning from a group of eight-year-olds.
My family made aliyah over a decade ago. Navigating our lives as American immigrants in Israel is a day-to-day balance.
Rav Froman was a complicated character in Israel and in his own home city of Tekoa, as people from both the right…
Parshat Shemot introduces the enduring question of what it means to remain a people when acceptance proves fragile.
Can Jewish fiction make sense of October 7?
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wears the mantle of Kahane in Israel. Many Orthodox Jews welcomed him with open arms.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
I consider the Rebbe to be my personal teacher, and I find this teaching particularly relevant for us now.
On prayer, time, and resilience—my reading companions in my impermanent home.
A 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, a lone soldier, and more. Here are seven olim sharing their stories of aliyah.
A Hezbollah missile killed Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot’s son, Amitai Tzvi, on Oct. 15. Here, he pleas for Haredim to enlist into…
If You’re Reading These Words is a book in which all the heroes have died, yet it overflows with life.
In Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, we learn that holiness requires moving beyond the letter of the law to its spirit.
Israel is clearly important to Jews. The question becomes: To what extent?
Children don’t come with guarantees. Washing machines come with guarantees.
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…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue,…
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives. A Yale-trained lawyer…
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…
What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake?
On this 18Forty panel, we speak with Alex Jakubowski of Lightning Studios, Sara Wolkenfeld of Sefaria, and Ari Lamm of BZ Media…
What is Jewish peoplehood? In a world that is increasingly international in its scope, our appreciation for the national or the tribal…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Etan Epstein, the founder of The 300 Club, a program of…
We talk to author and theoretical physicist Berel Leib Epstein about rational reasons to choose to believe in Judaism and live a…
As a Chabad Hasid, Rabbi Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidut and Kabbala.
A free 40-week journey through the Talmud. No Hebrew or background required. 7,000+ people have already signed up — join us.
