In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yisroel Besser, who authored many rabbinic biographies and brought David Bashevkin to Mishpacha magazine, about sharing Jewish stories.
This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yisroel Besser, who authored many rabbinic biographies and brought David Bashevkin to Mishpacha magazine, about sharing Jewish stories.
During his prolific career, Yisroel has written about Jewish lives with an eye for the good—and encouraged others along the way. In this episode we discuss:
Top 5 by David Bashevkin
ברגז רחם תזכור by David Bashevkin
Reb Shlomo – The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld by Yisroel Besser
Reb Meilech on the Haggadah by Yisroel Besser
Warmed By the Fire (Intimate Glimpses of Inspiring Leaders) by Yisroel Besser
Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz: His Vision, Wisdom, and Warmth Lit Up the World by Yisroel Besser
We speak with Professors Elisheva Carlebach and Debra Kaplan about women’s religious, social, and communal roles in early modern Jewish life.
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.
Dr. Chava Green joins us to discuss the role of women in the Messianic Era and seeing God in the everyday.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Chava Green—an emerging scholar who wrote her doctoral dissertation on “the Hasidic face of feminism”—about how the Lubavitcher Rebbe infused American sensibilities with mystical sensitivities, paying particular attention to the role of women.
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.
We speak with Rabbis Eitan Webb and Ari Israel about Jewish life on college campuses today.
Rabbi Shais Taub discusses how mysticism can revive the Jewish People.
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.”
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Larry Rothwachs and his daughter Tzipora about the relationship of a father and daughter through distance while battling an eating disorder.
David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.
We speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox outreach.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we discuss parental alienation.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Eitan Hersh, a professor of political science at Tufts University, about teaching students of radically different political and religious views how to speak to one another.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Bruce Feiler about family narratives.
Israel is a heroic country, Michael Oren believes—but he concedes that it is a flawed heroic country.
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, David sits down with Leah Forster, a world-famous ex-Hasidic comedian, to talk about how her journey has affected her comedy.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
On this episode of 18Forty, we explore the world of Jewish dating.
These four forces are quietly determining what our schools prioritize—and what they neglect.
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
What Mishpatim teaches about human nature, moral fragility, and the structures a just society requires.
In Parshat Mishpatim, the Torah embeds one of its most radical emotional demands inside its civil code: Help your enemy.
The “way” of myself and other formerly Reform Jews is unclear, but our desire for spiritual growth is sincere.
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
Parshat Yitro anchors Judaism in revelation. But what does Sinai mean in a world where proof is the highest authority?
Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wears the mantle of Kahane in Israel. Many Orthodox Jews welcomed him with open arms.
What if the deepest encounter with God is found not in texts, but in a people? Rav Kook and the Lubavitcher Rebbe…
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.
God promised the Land of Israel to the Jewish People, so why are some rabbis anti-Zionists?
Between early prayer books, kabbalistic additions, and the printing press, the siddur we have today is filled with prayers from across history.
Meet a traditional rabbi in an untraditional time, willing to deal with faith in all its beauty—and hardships.
A bedrock principle of Orthodox Judaism is that we received not only the Written Torah at Sinai but also the oral one—does…
Kosher phones make calls and send texts. No Instagram, no TikTok, and no distractions. Maybe it’s time the world embraces them.
A 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, a lone soldier, and more. Here are seven olim sharing their stories of aliyah.
Rav Froman was a complicated character in Israel and in his own home city of Tekoa, as people from both the right…
Children don’t come with guarantees. Washing machines come with guarantees.
Rav Tzadok held fascinating views on the history of rabbinic Judaism, but his writings are often cryptic and challenging to understand. Here’s…
Religious Zionism is a spectrum—and I would place my Hardal community on the right of that spectrum.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
Jewish students, parents, and educators weigh in about what helps, what hurts, and what we need to do.
Missing from Tanach—the Jewish People’s origin story—is one of the central aspects of Jewish life: the observance of halacha. Why?
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 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,…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox…
We speak with Joey Rosenfeld about how our generation can understand suffering.
Why did this Hasidic Rebbe move from Poland to Israel, only to change his name, leave religion, and disappear to Los Angeles?
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?
As a Chabad Hasid, Rabbi Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidut and Kabbala.
We speak with Naftuli Moster about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.
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, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel,…
We talk to Matisyahu, who has publicly re-embraced his Judaism and Zionism.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Moshe Koppel, Malka Simkovich, and Tikvah…
Talking about the “Haredi community” is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives. A Yale-trained lawyer…
Rabbanit Sarah Yehudit Schneider believes meditation is the entryway to understanding mysticism.
What does it mean to experience God as lived reality?
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbis Eitan Webb and Ari Israel, head of a campus Chabad and…
On this 18Forty panel, we speak with Rabbi Aryeh Klapper and Sofer.ai CEO Zach Fish about how AI is reshaping questions of…
On this 18Forty panel, we speak with Alex Jakubowski of Lightning Studios, Sara Wolkenfeld of Sefaria, and Ari Lamm of BZ Media…
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