This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Naftuli Moster, a former activist for major changes in Hasidic education, about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.
In this episode we discuss:
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“‘Why I left Hasidic education activism’ | Naftuli Moster”
“The Words of the Master and the Life of the Student” by Shalom Carmy
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
Night by Elie Wiesel
We speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox outreach.
David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.
Sagui Dekel-Chen was held hostage in Gaza for 498 days—or 43 million seconds. He came home on Feb. 18.
Haviv answers 18 questions on Israel.
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 Aliza and Ephraim Bulow, a married couple whose religious paths diverged over the course of their shared life.
We speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.
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 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.”
Rabbanit Shani Taragin answers 18 questions on Jewish mysticism, including free will, prayer, and catharsis.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Steven Gotlib, a fellow at Beit Midrash Zichron Dov and Rabbinic Educator at the Village Shul, about the relationship between first principles and how we are to live.
On this episode of 18Forty, we have a frank conversation with author Kayla Haber-Goldstein about her personal, painful journey to find God.
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 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.
Shalev, Author of Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner’s Theology of Meaning, talks existentialism, individualism, and more.
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 for a special podcast with our host, David Bashevkin, to discuss the podcast’s namesake, the year 1840.
David Bashevkin discusses how to embrace holiness, the purpose of prayer, and the search for meaning in an age of distraction.
Suri Weingot joins us to discuss the closeness of redemption, godliness, and education.
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.
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives.
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, David sits down with Leah Forster, a world-famous ex-Hasidic comedian, to talk about how her journey has affected her comedy.
Zevi Slavin joins us to discuss inherent divinity, the potential of modernity, and the perpetual experience of Har Sinai.
From verses in Parshat Bo to desert caves, tefillin emerge as one of Judaism’s earliest embodied practices.
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
In Parshat Bo, the Torah anticipates skepticism—and builds tradition around the questions it knows will come.
What if the deepest encounter with God is found not in texts, but in a people? Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe…
Children cannot truly avoid the consequences of estrangement. Their parents’ shadow will always follow.
In Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro asks us to reconsider what, if anything, separates humans from machines.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
David Eliezrie’s latest examines the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe’s radical faith that Torah could transform America.
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
Between early prayer books, kabbalistic additions, and the printing press, the siddur we have today is filled with prayers from across history.
Rav Tzadok held fascinating views on the history of rabbinic Judaism, but his writings are often cryptic and challenging to understand. Here’s…
I’ve searched high and low for an accessible English book or essay addressing the development of the siddur, but my findings are…
In Parshat Vaera, Pharaoh becomes the Torah’s most unsettling case study in the limits of free will.
Moshe Benovitz, Susan Cain, Philip Goff, and other 18Forty guests recommended books. Here are the top 20.
A bedrock principle of Orthodox Judaism is that we received not only the Written Torah at Sinai but also the oral one—does…
Children don’t come with guarantees. Washing machines come with guarantees.
I’d advise reading Rav Kook as you would read a poem, with an eye less to the argument or claim he is…
God promised the Land of Israel to the Jewish People, so why are some rabbis anti-Zionists?
How can we find wonder in a world that often seems to be post-wonder? Enter Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.
Missing from Tanach—the Jewish People’s origin story—is one of the central aspects of Jewish life: the observance of halacha. Why?
The most important question in Jewish thought is whether we are truly “free” to decide anything.
I consider the Rebbe to be my personal teacher, and I find this teaching particularly relevant for us now.
Religious Zionism is a spectrum—and I would place my Hardal community on the right of that spectrum.
Why did this Hasidic Rebbe move from Poland to Israel, only to change his name, leave religion, and disappear to Los Angeles?
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue,…
We speak with Joey Rosenfeld about how our generation can understand suffering.
In a disenchanted world, we can turn to mysticism to find enchantment, to remember that there is something more under the surface…
What is Jewish peoplehood? In a world that is increasingly international in its scope, our appreciation for the national or the tribal…
In order to study Kabbalah, argues Rav Moshe Weinberger, one must approach it with humility.
This series, recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit, is sponsored by American Security Foundation.
We speak with Naftuli Moster about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.
Love is one of the great vulnerabilities of our time. Can we handle it?
Rabbanit Sarah Yehudit Schneider believes meditation is the entryway to understanding mysticism.
What does it mean to experience God as lived reality?
What has been Israel’s greatest success and greatest mistake?
Rabbi Moshe Gersht first encountered the world of Chassidus at the age of twenty, the beginning of what he terms his “spiritual…
We talk to Matisyahu, who has publicly re-embraced his Judaism and Zionism.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel,…
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