In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yehuda, Bayla, Elisha, and Avi Samter—members of a family that made aliyah from the comfortable Five Towns life a decade ago—about the divergence between Jewish life in America and in Israel.
Transcripts are typically available the week an episode is released.
David Bashevkin responds to listeners’ feedback and comments, in conversation with Denah Emerson.
We talk to Michael Olshin about the purpose of the gap year in Israel.
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.
Dina Etigson answers eighteen questions on Jewish mysticism, including God’s greater goals for the Jewish People.
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 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 sit down with Rav Moshe Weinberger, rabbi and educator, to discuss the role of mysticism in modern-day Judaism.
In this episode, we talk to a father and daughter who were estranged and then reunited.
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.
The true enemy in Israel’s current war, Einat Wilf says, is what she calls “Palestinianism.”
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer answers 18 questions on Israel, including the Haredi draft, Israel as a religious state, Messianism, and so much more.
We revisit the topic of agunot by talking to Sarah Nissel, Yona Elishis, and Keshet Starr.
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, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
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 Aliza and Ephraim Bulow, a married couple whose religious paths diverged over the course of their shared life.
Jonnie Schnytzer joins us to discuss teshuva, Jewish governance, and how Torah study is the pathway to personal growth.
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.
Haviv answers 18 questions on Israel.
We talk to Adam Ferziger about how American Jews have helped shape the evolution of Israeli Judaism.
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, we sit down with Dr. Moshe Koppel, professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University to discuss some of the ideas in his books Judaism Straight Up and Meta-Halakhah. We discuss how to conceptualize the halachic system and explore how Halacha’s development can be seen through the prism of language and…
On this episode of 18Forty, we have a frank conversation with author Kayla Haber-Goldstein about her personal, painful journey to find God.
We speak with Rabbi Aaron Kotler about the beginnings of the American yeshiva world.
In the eyes of the great architect of the yeshiva world, the world itself is a Torah text—and we ought to study…
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
What Behaalotcha teaches us about spiritual signs, religious uncertainty, and finding God.
The story of Yitro, Denmark’s rescue of its Jews, and the enduring truth that people always have a choice
Joy and meaning can be found not only despite the brokenness, but even because of the brokenness.
Rav Froman was a complicated character in Israel and in his own home city of Tekoa, as people from both the right…
I, for one, care deeply about the future of long books—and about reclaiming my own ability to read them. Here’s what I’ve…
Yes, the Israeli army needs Jews to draft, but more than that, Jews need to experience what it means to serve.
Children cannot truly avoid the consequences of estrangement. Their parents’ shadow will always follow.
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.
Children don’t come with guarantees. Washing machines come with guarantees.
A Hezbollah missile killed Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot’s son, Amitai Tzvi, on Oct. 15. Here, he pleas for Haredim to enlist into…
From verses in Parshat Bo to desert caves, tefillin emerge as one of Judaism’s earliest embodied practices.
I consider the Rebbe to be my personal teacher, and I find this teaching particularly relevant for us now.
A 94-year-old Holocaust survivor, a lone soldier, and more. Here are seven olim sharing their stories of aliyah.
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?
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…
It isn’t only censorship that creates the narrative of our history, but it is every creative endeavor that we engage in.
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
Rav Tzadok held fascinating views on the history of rabbinic Judaism, but his writings are often cryptic and challenging to understand. Here’s…
Rabbi Moshe Gersht first encountered the world of Chassidus at the age of twenty, the beginning of what he terms his “spiritual…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations…
What is Jewish peoplehood? In a world that is increasingly international in its scope, our appreciation for the national or the tribal…
In a disenchanted world, we can turn to mysticism to find enchantment, to remember that there is something more under the surface…
What does it mean to experience God as lived reality?
18Forty is a new media company that helps users find meaning in their lives through the exploration of Jewish thought and ideas.…
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, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel,…
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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