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How can our generation understanding mysticism, philosophy, and suffering in today’s chaotic world?
We speak with Rabbi Aaron Kotler about the beginnings of the American yeshiva world.
Haviv answers 18 questions on Israel.
We speak with Yehuda Geberer about the history of the yeshiva world.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David is joined by comedian Alex Edelman for a special Purim discussion exploring the place of humor and levity in a world that often demands our solemnity.
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.”
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Judah, Naomi, and Aharon Akiva Dardik—an olim family whose son went to military jail for refusing to follow to IDF orders and has since become a ceasefire activist at Columbia University—about sticking together as a family despite their fundamental differences.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not surprise Anshel Pfeffer over the last 17 months of war—and that’s the most disappointing part.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Aliza and Ephraim Bulow, a married couple whose religious paths diverged over the course of their shared life.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Bruce Feiler about family narratives.
We speak with Professors Elisheva Carlebach and Debra Kaplan about women’s religious, social, and communal roles in early modern Jewish life.
Leading Israeli historian Benny Morris answers 18 questions on Israel, including Gaza, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, morality, and so much more.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a son who almost intermarried, the mother of a daughter who married a non-Jew, and Huvi and Brian, a couple whose intermarriage turned into a Jewish marriage—about intergenerational divergence in the context of intermarriage.
Israel is facing several existential crises—at least three, by Netta Barak-Corren’s account.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Lizzy Savetsky, who went from a career in singing and fashion to being a Jewish activist and influencer, about her work advocating for Israel online.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Ken Brodkin, rabbi of New Jersey’s Congregation B’nai Israel, about how he helped turn it into “the Orthodox synagogue for all Jews.”
Prof. Moshe Idel joins us to discuss mysticism, diversity, and the true concerns of most Jews throughout history.
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 special Purim episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we bring you a recording from our live event with the comedian Modi, for our annual discussion on humor.
Ora Wiskind joins us to discuss free will, transformation, and brokenness.
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 sit down with Rav Moshe Weinberger, rabbi and educator, to discuss the role of mysticism in modern-day Judaism.
Israel should prioritize its Jewish citizens, Yishai Fleisher says, because that’s what a nation-state does.
For some, Purim is the triumph of exile transformed. For others, it warns that exile can never replace the Land of Israel.
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
Two programs are already bridging the Orthodox and non-Orthodox divide through the timeless tradition of chavruta learning.
Parshat Tetzaveh forces a question that modern culture struggles to answer: Can true influence require a willingness to be forgotten?
Divorce often upends emotional and financial stability. A Jewish organization in Los Angeles offers a better way forward.
Identity, desire, women in fiction, and more: What we’re reading before Purim.
Brother Jorge asks: Can we laugh at God? We might answer: We can laugh with God.
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
A guide to the essential books that tell the story—past and present—of the American yeshiva world and its inner life.
The Book of Esther suggests that diaspora is not merely a temporary or anomalous state but an integral part of Jewish history…
Kosher phones make calls and send texts. No Instagram, no TikTok, and no distractions. Maybe it’s time the world embraces them.
Between early prayer books, kabbalistic additions, and the printing press, the siddur we have today is filled with prayers from across history.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wears the mantle of Kahane in Israel. Many Orthodox Jews welcomed him with open arms.
From verses in Parshat Bo to desert caves, tefillin emerge as one of Judaism’s earliest embodied practices.
Children cannot truly avoid the consequences of estrangement. Their parents’ shadow will always follow.
Not every Jewish educational institution that I was in supported such questions, and in fact, many did not invite questions such as…
Jews from the Land of Israel prayed differently than we do today—with marked difference. What happened to their traditions?
Religious Zionism is a spectrum—and I would place my Hardal community on the right of that spectrum.
The “way” of myself and other formerly Reform Jews is unclear, but our desire for spiritual growth is sincere.
In Israel’s Religious Zionist world, Tanach is not only a way to understand contemporary Jewish history—it is also a guide for the…
My family made aliyah over a decade ago. Navigating our lives as American immigrants in Israel is a day-to-day balance.
Watching AI spread through every corner of life raises an unsettling question: What kind of world are we building for our children?
Changing how God appeared in my life began with changing how God appeared in my mind. I needed to let go of…
In this special Simchas Torah episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin—parents of murdered hostage Hersh…
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, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations…
Why did this Hasidic Rebbe move from Poland to Israel, only to change his name, leave religion, and disappear to Los Angeles?
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, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel,…
We speak with Joey Rosenfeld about how our generation can understand suffering.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue,…
In a disenchanted world, we can turn to mysticism to find enchantment, to remember that there is something more under the surface…
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…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox…
Rabbi Moshe Gersht first encountered the world of Chassidus at the age of twenty, the beginning of what he terms his “spiritual…
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