Best 18Forty Podcasts (2026)

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An Orthodox Rabbi Interviews a Reform Rabbi [Denominations 1/2] 1:40:35

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4h ago1:40:35

1:40:35

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood. In this episode we discuss: How do we re-determine how to be Jews in America? Is there really an “education gap” between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews? How should we handle the question…

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Suri Weingot: ‘The fellow Jew is as close to God as you'll get’ 35:32

20h ago35:32

35:32

What does it mean to experience God as lived reality? Suri Weingot reframes spirituality not as something hidden or elite, but as something pulsing through every blade of grass, every Hebrew letter, and every human relationship. Suri Weingot is a senior educator in TMM high school and gives classes and lectures to women across the community. She ru…

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Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change (Teshuva Re-Release) 1:24:04

7d ago1:24:04

1:24:04

Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, originally released in 2021, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva. The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He d…

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Moshe Weinberger: ‘The Jewish People are God's shofar’ 59:09

8d ago59:09

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In order to study Kabbalah, argues Rav Moshe Weinberger, one must approach it with humility, holding their hands out in the form of a cup, as though they are ready to receive. Rav Moshe Weinberger has served as mashpia at Yeshiva University since 2013, and is the founding rabbi of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY. Today, he joins us to answ…

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Shais Taub: A Vulnerable Conversation About Shame, Selfhood, and Authenticity [Mysticism III 3/3] 1:19:00

15d ago1:19:00

1:19:00

Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—created in collaboration with Amudim—we speak with Shais Taub, the rabbi behind the organization SoulWords, about shame, selfhood, and authenticity. In this episode we discuss: How are we to deal with the pain of embodiment an…

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Zevi Slavin: ‘To be a mystic is to be human at its most raw’ 50:20

15d ago50:20

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As a Chabad Hassid, Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidus and Kabbalah. This upbringing provided him with a unique lens through which he continues to learn, study and connect with others. Drawing on his background, Slavin created “Seekers of Unity,” a Youtube channel dedicated to exploring the philoso…

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Philip Goff: Consciousness, Mysticism, and God [Mysticism III 2/3] 1:25:36

22d ago1:25:36

1:25:36

Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Philip Goff—a philosophy professor who devotes much of his work to investigating the ultimate nature of reality—about consciousness, mysticism, and God. We also hear from Rabbi Eli Rubin about the possibility of…

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Sarah Yehudit Schneider: ‘Jewish mysticism is not so different from any mysticism’ 33:34

22d ago33:34

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Sarah Yehudit Schneider believes meditation is the entryway to understanding mysticism. She highlights that traditional Kabbalah often focuses on mystical realms associated with the masculine, and in her current work, she is actively exploring and articulating the Kabbalah of the feminine. Sarah Yehudit Schneider is the founding director of A Still…

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Alon Shalev: How Rav Hutner Found Existential Meaning [Mysticism III 1/3] 1:48:18

29d ago1:48:18

1:48:18

Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Alon Shalev, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about how Rav Hutner found existential meaning.In this episode we discuss: How do we find and build purpose within our short lives? What is the rol…

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Joey Rosenfeld: "All Jews by definition are mystics' 59:39

29d ago59:39

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Rav Joey Rosenfeld’s entryway into mystical thought began with the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Discussing Jewish mysticism with Rav Joey is not just a conversation about ancient texts and ideas, but it is a journey into the soul, wherein he describes how mystical principles can transform relationships, heal trauma, and guide us in a m…

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Introducing 18 Questions, 40 Mystics with R' Benji Levy 0:50

1M ago0:50

0:50

Join Rabbi Benji Levy as he asks 18 existential questions to 40 mystics from around the world. Series launches Monday, Dec. 8. Visit 40mystics.com to learn more. A partnership between Share and 18Forty.By 18Forty

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NEW: 18 Questions, 40 Mystics with Joey Rosenfeld 1:30:48

1M ago1:30:48

1:30:48

This podcast is in partnership with Rabbi Benji Levy and Share. Learn more at 40mystics.com. Rav Joey Rosenfeld’s entryway into mystical thought began with the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Discussing Jewish mysticism with Rav Joey is not just a conversation about ancient texts and ideas, but it is a journey into the soul, wherein he de…

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What To Do When Families Become Estranged [Re-Release] 1:49:35

1M ago1:49:35

1:49:35

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by Dr. Leah Younger of Younger Psychology. In 2023, we talked to psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman, about the nuances of familial estrangement and reconciliation. We also heard from mindset coach Jason Blau and translator Izzy Posen about how these issues play out withi…

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AI & Halacha: On Transparency and Accountability [AI 4/4] 1:03:16

2M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, Rabbi Gil Student speaks with Rabbi Aryeh Klapper and Sofer.ai CEO Zach Fish about how AI is reshaping questions of Jewish practice. As AI simulates more and more human activities, we can’t help but wonder: Will AI replace rabbis? In this episode we di…

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Is AI the New Printing Press? [AI 3/4] 1:34:34

2M ago1:34:34

1:34:34

This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Moshe Koppel, Malka Simkovich, and Tikvah Wiener about what the AI revolution will mean for the Jewish community. In this episode we discuss: How is AI going to change the dynamics, cadence,…

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Julia Senkfor & Cameron Berg: Does AI Have an Antisemitism Problem? [AI 2/4] 1:07:33

2M ago1:07:33

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with ASF’s Julia Senkfor and AI researcher Cameron Berg about the relationship between artificial intelligence and antisemitism. In this episode we discuss: Why do large language models have an a…

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Steven Gotlib & Eli Rubin: What Does It Mean To Be Human? [AI 1/4] 1:08:37

2M ago1:08:37

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This series is sponsored by American Security Foundation. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—recorded at the 18Forty X ASFoundation AI Summit—we speak with Rabbi Eli Rubin and Rabbi Steven Gotlib about what differentiates human intelligence from artificial intelligence. In this episode we discuss: What does AI teach us about what it means to be…

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Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin: How Torah Gives Us Faith and Hope 1:09:44

3M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

This episode is brought to you by Simchat Torah Challenge, a Jewish communal project inspiring tens of thousands of Jews of all backgrounds to read the weekly parsha. The weekly English-language email newsletter and website bring Torah and insights from trusted sources. Join for free at SimchatTorahChallenge.org In this special Simchas Torah episod…

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Moshe Koppel: Artificial Intelligence and Torah [Prayer Re-Release] 1:14:52

3M ago1:14:52

1:14:52

As a hint at our next new series, we want to share with you our 2023 episode with Moshe Koppel—a computer scientist and Talmud scholar—about Torah and its intersection with artificial intelligence. In a world in which technology puts vast libraries of Torah at our fingertips, we are tasked with thinking more deeply about what essentially human abil…

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Moshe Benovitz: Why Religious Change Doesn't Always Last [Teshuva 6/6] 1:26:31

3M ago1:26:31

1:26:31

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, recorded live at Stern College, we speak with Rabbi Moshe Benovitz, director of NCSY Kollel, about what makes religious change real and sustainable. In this episode we discuss: —What is the difference between behavior modification and personality development…

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Naftuli Moster: Leaving Haredi Education Activism [Teshuva 5/6] 1:36:58

4M ago1:36:58

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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: Why did Naftuli stop campaigning for fundamental reform in H…

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Gayle Kirschenbaum: Learning to Forgive My Mother [Teshuva 4/6] 1:35:36

4M ago1:35:36

1:35:36

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Gayle Kirschenbaum—author of Bullied to Besties: A Daughter’s Journey to Forgiveness—about how she repaired her fraught relationship with her mother. At the end of the podcast, we hear from her mother, Millie, herself, now over 101 years old. I…

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Sarah Hurwitz: Reclaiming Judaism from Shame and Blame [Teshuva 3/6] 1:22:00

4M ago1:22:00

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with writer Sarah Hurwitz—author of the new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us—about what it means to be a “knowing Jew.” In a time when we often feel compelled to justify our Judaism to the world, b…

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'There is no hope—but there is faith': 5 Israeli Thinkers on the country's future 24:54

4M ago24:54

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Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Gadi Taub 4. Shani Taragin 3. Rachelle Fraenkel 2. Yossi Klein Halev…

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DovBer Pinson: The Jewish People's Path of Teshuva [Teshuva 2/6] 1:39:07

4M ago1:39:07

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rabbi DovBer Pinson—a scholar, author, teacher, and spiritual mentor—about how we can rethink teshuva in light of the challenges we face today. In this episode we discuss: What is the difference between “lower” and “higher” teshuva? How should …

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'The status quo cannot be maintained': 6 Israeli Thinkers on if Palestinian-Israeli peace is still possible 34:35

4M ago34:35

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Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 6. Yakov Nagen 5. Netta Barak Corren 4. Mikhael …

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Rochi Ebner: Rav Kook's Return to Our Soul [Teshuva 1/6] 1:26:49

4M ago1:26:49

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rachel Tova Ebner, translator of a new volume of the teachings of Rav Kook, about what the spirituality of Rav Kook adds to our Jewish practice and to our understanding of ourselves. As we approach Rav Kook’s yahrzeit (3 Elul), we’re directing …

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'The government doesn't make its case': 5 Israeli Thinkers on criticizing Israel 19:58

4M ago19:58

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What is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Benny Morris 4. Uri Zaki 3. Einat Wilf 2. Yishai Fleisher 1. Mic…

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Joey Rosenfeld: What Does Jewish Mysticism Say About This Moment? [Teshuva Bonus Episode] 1:18:52

5M ago1:18:52

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This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with rabbi, psychotherapist, and “translator” Joey Rosenfeld about how our generation can understand languages of mysticism, philosophy, and suffering in today’s chaotic world. In this episode we discuss: Where should we channel our spiritual work a…

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'Our reliance on power': 6 Israeli Thinkers on Israel's Greatest Success and Mistake in the Gaza War 58:14

5M ago58:14

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What has been Israel's greatest success, and greatest mistake, in its war against Hamas? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 6 answers from: 6. Fleur Hasan-Nahoum 5. Haviv Rettig-Gur 4. Y…

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David Bashevkin: My Dating Story [Re-Release] 1:29:09

5M ago1:29:09

1:29:09

This episode was sponsored by Jerry and Esther Williams in honor of 18Forty and Shalom Task Force. While we wait for the next new episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we revisit Dovid Bashevkin's 2022 deep dive into the world of dating. As we explore the realm of relationships, Dovid uses his own journey to help us find the proper framework for balancin…

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'Still a deeply divided society': 5 Israeli Thinkers on how they feel today 44:31

5M ago44:31

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As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Natan Sharansky 4. Netta Barrak Corren 3. Yossi …

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How Jews Date in the Modern World (Re-Release) 2:22:21

5M ago2:22:21

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As the 15th of Av approaches, we are returning to this episode on how different Jewish communities date to honor the Jewish "holiday of love." This episode is sponsored by Anonymous who is fond of Shalom Task Force & 18Forty. On this episode of 18Forty, we explore the world of Jewish dating. We spoke to insiders and experts from the Chassidic commu…

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Hadas Hershkovitz: On Loss: A Husband, Father, Soldier [Loss 3/3] 2:17:52

5M ago2:17:52

2:17:52

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Hadas Hershkovitz, whose husband, Yossi, was killed while serving on reserve duty in Gaza in 2023—about the Jewish People's loss of this beloved spouse, father, high-school principal, and soldier. In the second year of the war, we’re grappling not only with the depth of our losses, but with how …

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Elissa Felder & Sonia Hoffman: How the Jewish Burial Society Cares for the Dead [Loss 2/3] 1:51:52

6M ago1:51:52

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Elissa Felder and her daughter Sonia Hoffman—both of whom have experienced the loss of a child and serve on a chevra kadisha—about what the Jewish burial society teaches us about confronting death. In this episode we discuss: How does the process of purifying a dead body work—and how is it p…

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Shlomo Brody & Beth Popp: Demystifying Death and the End of Life [Loss 1/3] 1:53:28

6M ago1:53:28

1:53:28

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Shlomo Brody and Dr. Beth Popp, who work with Ematai, an organization focused on end-of-life care, about the process of death and how we ought to live with our own mortality. In this episode we discuss: How do we connect to eternity within this finite existence? What halachic issues must we c…

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Michael Oren: 'We are living in biblical times' 1:04:55

6M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

Israel is a heroic country, Michael Oren believes—but he concedes that it is a flawed heroic country. Michael Oren—our 40th Israeli thinker—served as Israeli ambassador to the U.S. from 2009-2013 under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while former U.S. President Barack Obama was in office. A diplomat, writer, historian, veteran, and political thi…

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Micah Goodman: 'I don't want Gaza to become our Vietnam' (18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers) 1:08:13

6M ago1:08:13

1:08:13

While we await our next episode, we invite you catch up with 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers. Micah Goodman doesn't think Palestinian-Israeli peace will happen within his lifetime. But he's still a hopeful person. Named by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews, Micah is a public intellectual, writer, and author whose voice is …

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Micah Goodman: 'I don't want Gaza to become our Vietnam' 1:08:13

6M ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Micah Goodman doesn't think Palestinian-Israeli peace will happen within his lifetime. But he's still a hopeful person. Named by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews, Micah is a public intellectual, writer, and author whose voice is central to the moral, political, and religious debates raging within Israel. He is the author of…

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Ayala Fader: How Do Haredi Jews Deal With Religious Doubt? [OTD 3/3] 1:34:21

6M ago1:34:21

1:34:21

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Ayala Fader—an anthropologist who studies American Haredi communities and their “hidden heretics”—about the personal, familial, and communal factors that pull us toward and push us away from different Jewish communities. In this episode we discuss: How should we respond to the discomfort we experie…

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Jonathan Rosenblum: 'Would you want to live in a country run by Haredim?' 1:16:49

6M ago1:16:49

1:16:49

Talking about the "Haredi community" is a misnomer, Jonathan Rosenblum says, and simplifies its diversity of thought and perspectives. A Yale-trained lawyer turned journalist, Jonathan has been a prolific Haredi columnist for the last few decades. He helped found the English-language Haredi publication Yated Ne’eman, wrote extensively for The Jewis…

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A Debate Between Yitzchak Blau & Itamar Rosensweig: Does Morality Exist Outside of Judaism? 1:10:08

7M ago1:10:08

1:10:08

On June 29, Eden will be hosting a webinar to speak in detail about the vision for this project. In order to register please click here or email [email protected] to find out more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a debate between Rabbi Itamar Rosensweig and Rabbi Yitzchak Blau on whether morality exists inde…

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'The head of the snake': 8 Israeli Thinkers on the threat of Iran 32:20

7M ago32:20

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Two weeks ago, Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities, military sites, and leaders. Iran launched a barrage of missiles into Israel. Now, the war has only intensified. Today's episode features eight Israeli thinkers discussing the Iranian threat from weeks and months ago. We hear from: Efraim Inbar Lahav Harkov Yossi Klein Halevi Gadi Taub Uri Zak…

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David Bashevkin & Malka Simkovich: Can Judaism Survive the AI Revolution? (Fifth Year Anniversary) 1:27:50

7M ago1:27:50

1:27:50

On June 29, Eden will be hosting a webinar to speak in detail about the vision for this project. In order to register please click here or email [email protected] to find out more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin and historian Malka Simkovich discuss the future of technology, AI, and the Jewish People. This episode wa…

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Hanan Schlesinger: 'From the river to the sea is all Israel and all Palestine' 1:05:36

7M ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Zionism asked the Jewish People if they could wield power properly, Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger says. The answer, according to him, is now clear: They cannot. Before co-founding the Palestinian-Israeli dialogue center Roots/Shorashim/Judur, Hanan had never met a Palestinian before. 2013 changed that. Inspired by his interfaith experience decades prior,…

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Fleur Hassan-Nahoum: 'I am scared that in 20 years, Israel will be isolated completely' 43:35

7M ago43:35

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Hamas has isolated Israel diplomatically. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum is scared that, in 20 years, it might be completely isolated. Fleur is a British-born Israeli politician who served as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem from 2018 until 2024, and she recently joined the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy as a senior fellow and sits on th…

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Daniel Hagler and Aryeh Englander: Can Jews Who Stay Talk With Jews Who Left? [OTD 2/3] 2:07:44

7M ago2:07:44

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18Forty is celebrating its fifth year LIVE in NYC on June 9. Reserve your seats today! In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a dialogue between Aryeh Englander—the ex-Orthodox Jew known as “Philo Judeas,” who is a moderator of the ambitious Frum/OTD Dialogue Facebook group—and Daniel Hagler, a frum surgeon and a moderato…

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Malka Simkovich: When Did The Jewish Diaspora Begin? (18Forty Podcast Re-Release) 1:15:25

8M ago1:15:25

1:15:25

While we await next week's new episode, we invite you to revisit our (third) 18Forty Podcast conversation with Malka Simkovich, originally aired on November 19, 2024. 18Forty is celebrating its fifth year LIVE in NYC on June 9. Reserve your seats today! In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Malka Simkovich—a scholar of Jewish history, …

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Moshe Krakowski: Why Jews Leave Faith Behind [OTD 1/3] 1:33:35

8M ago1:33:35

1:33:35

Receive our FREE newsletters at 18forty.org/join. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, talk to Moshe Krakowski, a professor at Yeshiva University, about his work on Attrition and Connection in American Orthodox Judaism, the OU’s study on what we crassly call “OTD.” Dr. Krakowski takes us “under the hood” of those who leave their religious commun…

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Elli Fischer: 'The Torah ideal is for Israel to be a religious state' 1:05:54

8M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

The Torah wants Israel to be a religious state, Rabbi Elli Fischer says. Just, maybe, not right now. A historian, writer, translator, and educator, Elli Fischer extensively explores the relationship between Jewish law and the Jewish state, in the past, present, and future. Elli was a previous guest on 18Forty's Zionism series and a 3-Month Book Jou…