Twice in its history, Jewish sovereignty collapsed in the last quarter of its first century. Yoav Heller believes Israel must heed this warning.
Transcripts are typically available the week an episode is released.
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, we talk to Alex Clare – singer and baal teshuva – about changing identity and what if questions.
We speak with Rabbi Aaron Kotler about the beginnings of the American yeshiva world.
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.
How can our generation understanding mysticism, philosophy, and suffering in today’s chaotic world?
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 talk to Rabbi Josh Grajower – rabbi and educator – about the loss of his wife, as well as the loss that Tisha B’Av represents for the Jewish People.
David Bashevkin speaks about the late, great comedian Garry Shalndling in honor of his 10th yahrzeit, which is this Purim.
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 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 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.
Rabbi David Aaron joins us to discuss ease, humanity, and the difference between men and women.
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.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
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 Yakov Danishefsky—a rabbi, author and licensed social worker—about our relationships and our mental health.44
We speak with Professors Elisheva Carlebach and Debra Kaplan about women’s religious, social, and communal roles in early modern Jewish life.
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.
Israel is a heroic country, Michael Oren believes—but he concedes that it is a flawed heroic country.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we pivot to Intergenerational Divergence by talking to Rachel Yehuda, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, about intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resilience.
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 Talia Khan—a Jewish MIT graduate student and Israel activist—and her father, an Afghan Muslim immigrant, about their close father-daughter relationship despite their ideological disagreements.
Israel is facing several existential crises—at least three, by Netta Barak-Corren’s account.
Perhaps the most fundamental question any religious believer can ask is: “Does God exist?” It’s time we find good answers.
We spend our lives searching for clarity. Parshat Ki Tisa suggests that the most meaningful encounters may happen precisely where clarity ends.
A guide to the essential books that tell the story—past and present—of the American yeshiva world and its inner life.
Reading, reading everywhere, but not a drop to be remembered
Christianity’s focus on the afterlife historically discouraged Jews from discussing it—but Jews very much believe in it.
The Book of Esther suggests that diaspora is not merely a temporary or anomalous state but an integral part of Jewish history…
For some, Purim is the triumph of exile transformed. For others, it warns that exile can never replace the Land of Israel.
Between early prayer books, kabbalistic additions, and the printing press, the siddur we have today is filled with prayers from across history.
Two programs are already bridging the Orthodox and non-Orthodox divide through the timeless tradition of chavruta learning.
Brother Jorge asks: Can we laugh at God? We might answer: We can laugh with God.
Dr. Judith Herman has spent her career helping those who are going through trauma, and has provided far-reaching insight into the field.
The “way” of myself and other formerly Reform Jews is unclear, but our desire for spiritual growth is sincere.
Divorce often upends emotional and financial stability. A Jewish organization in Los Angeles offers a better way forward.
Children cannot truly avoid the consequences of estrangement. Their parents’ shadow will always follow.
Identity, desire, women in fiction, and more: What we’re reading before Purim.
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.
Religious Zionism is a spectrum—and I would place my Hardal community on the right of that spectrum.
From verses in Parshat Bo to desert caves, tefillin emerge as one of Judaism’s earliest embodied practices.
To talk about the history of Jewish mysticism is in many ways to talk about the history of the mystical community.
Our Sages compiled tractates on the laws of blessings, Pesach, purity, and so much more. What did they have to say about…
We interviewed this leading Israeli historian on the critical questions on Israel today—and he had what to say.
God promised the Land of Israel to the Jewish People, so why are some rabbis anti-Zionists?
The mystery of consciousness has long vexed philosophers and scientists alike. Can God be the answer?
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…
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 Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox…
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations…
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…
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—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Rabbi Eli Rubin and Rabbi Steven…
We speak with Naftuli Moster about how and why he changed his understanding of the values imparted by Judaism.
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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