Episodit
-
Subscribe to 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to catch the latest episode every Monday.
â
If you want to understand Israel, then you need to know Benny Morris.
Prof. Benny Morris is a leading Israeli historian who revolutionized the field of Israeli history by digging into the governmentâs declassified archives in the â80s, ushering in the era of âNew Historiansâ who challenged traditional views of Israelâs history. After peace talks failed and the Second Intifada began in the early 2000s, his views drastically shifted regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflictâspecifically its prospects for resolution. Praised and criticized across the political divide, Benny Morrisâ work lies at the bedrock of Israeli history today.
Now, he sits down with us to answer 18 questions on Israel, including what should happen with Gaza after the war, Palestinian-Israeli peace prospects, whether the IDF is the worldâs most moral army, and so much more.
This interview was held on June 10.
Here are some of our 18 questions:
As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?What has been Israelâs greatest success and greatest mistake in its war against Hamas?How do you think Hamas views the outcome and aftermath of October 7âwas it a success, in their eyes?
What do you look for in deciding which Knesset party to vote for?Which is more important for Israel: Judaism or democracy?Is opposing Zionism inherently antisemitic?Is the IDF the worldâs most moral army?What do you think is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today?
Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime?What should happen with Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict after the war?
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Adam J. Raskinâa Conservative rabbi in Marylandâand Mia Raskin, his Orthodox daughter.
In discussing the ideological and sociological realities of Jewish denominations, we often lose sight of their real-world manifestation in Jewish life. By hearing how a real family navigates denominational differences, we might, in fact, learn a lesson or two about Jewish unity. In this episode we discuss:
What does a Conservative rabbi think about the practice of his less observant congregants? How did Mia deal with religious observance as a Division I basketball player?How do the apparent barriers between Jewish groups play out when we interact in the world?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might think more deeply than the labels of âsecular,â âfrum,â âbaal teshuva,â and the like.
Interview begins at 6:58.
Rabbi Adam J. Raskin is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Har Shalom in Potomac, Maryland. Adam is a member of the Executive Council of the Rabbinical Assembly, the international organization of Conservative Rabbis, and is a founder of the Potomac-Area Interfaith Communities.
Mia Raskin is a program director and Marketing Analyst for Athletes for Israel, a graduate of Binghamton University, where she played college basketball while keeping Shabbos.
References:
God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel
The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
While we return to Jewish Denominations next week, enjoy this ever-necessary 2020 conversation about Jewish infighting, division, and unityâpulled from the 18Forty vault.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with Professor of Journalism at Columbia and author, Samuel G. Freedman, to talk about dissent not as a cause of ugliness and divide, but of beauty and unity.
Some would say that disagreement isnât a bug of the Jewish community, but a feature. We have a rich history of debate in the Talmud and havenât been able to shake this dubious quality even in the modern day United States. The internet has only exaggerated this, and while one can argue for the benefits of dissent, the fact that Jews seem embroiled in a perpetual state of debate remains.Is debate a healthy state of mind for our community?Should we be looking to avoid debate or embrace it?Does dissent cause only divide or can it be used as a means of understanding the other members of our community?Tune in to hear Samuel discuss the roles that individual Jews play in the larger debate that is the Jewish community.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author and historian Dr. Marc B. Shapiro about the blurry borders that distinguish Reform, Conservative, yeshivish, Modern Orthodox, and the many other Jewish sects from one another.
We take todayâs Jewish denominational and cultural differences for granted, but they were not inevitable. Moments in history formed our sects, and Dr. Shapiro helps us unpack them. In this episode we discuss:
How did the Conservative movement diverge from Orthodoxy?Where did the âyeshiva worldâ come from?How have Jews historically maintained friendship despite denominational divisions?Tune in to hear a conversation about Jewsâ tangled relationship between ideology and lived experience.
Interview begins at 13:36
Dr. Marc B. Shapiro holds the Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Scranton. Marc received his PhD from Harvard, and he is the author of numerous books, articles, and reviews, including Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy, The Limits of Orthodox Theology, and Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History.
References:
Halacha Headlines
Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy by Marc B. Shapiro
Saul Lieberman and the Orthodox by Marc B. Shapiro
Changing the Immutable by Marc B. Shapiro
Marc B. Shapiro on The Seforim Blog
Judith Berlin Lieberman: Autobiography and Reflections edited by Menachem Butler and Abraham Lieberman
A Few Good Men
Toras HaNazir by Rav Hutner
Iggerot Malkhei Rabanan by Marc B. Shapiro
Orthodox Jews in America by Jeffrey S. Gurock
Reading Jewish History in the Parsha with David Bashevkin
All Parsha
The Book And The Sword by David Weiss Halivni
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Jack Wertheimer, a professor of American Jewish History at JTS, about the radical transformations of American Jewish practice over the last century.
We canât understand the Jewish People without a sobered look at what happens in our synagogues, homes, and communities. We can talk about a movementâs ideological ideals, but amid those discussions we cannot ignore the on-the-ground realities of a communityâs practice. In this episode we discuss:
How does a Jewish movementâs "lived religion" differ from its stated ideals?What is the cost of radical inclusivity?What misconceptions do Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews have about each other?Tune in to hear a conversation about what Judaism means for us in our current time.
Interview begins at 28:28.
Dr. Jack Wertheimer is a leading thinker and professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the former provost of JTS, and was the founding director of the Joseph and Miriam Ratner Center for the Study of Conservative Judaism. Jack has written and edited numerous books and articles on the subjects of modern Jewish history, education, and life. He won the National Jewish Book Award in the category of Contemporary Jewish Life in 1994 for A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America.
References:
âSometimes Mashiach Is Not the Solutionâ by Aaron Lopiansky
âPolitics and the Yeshivish Languageâ by Cole S. Aronson
The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer
A People Divided: Judaism in Contemporary America by Jack Wertheimer
Sliding to the Right: The Contest for the Future of American Jewish Orthodoxy by Samuel C. Heilman
Contemporary American Judaism: Transformation and Renewal by Dana Kaplan
âWhat Jewish Denominations Mean to Meâ by David Bashevkin
Michtav Me'Eliyahu by Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler
The 18Forty Podcast: âRabbi Dr. Haym Soloveitchik: The Rupture and Reconstruction of Halachaâ
âShomer Yisroelâ by Omek Hadavar
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and a leader of the Reform Movement, about the way Jewish Peoplehood is understood among the non-Orthodox majority of American Jews.
Rabbi Hirsch is known in the Reform Movement and beyond for his decades-long staunch commitment to Jewish Peoplehood. We recorded this interview before Oct. 7, and especially considering Rabbi Hirschâs leadership on issues related to Zionism, a follow-up conversation with him will follow shortly. In this episode we discuss:
Where should the State of Israel fit into our priorities as a people? How has Reform Judaism course-corrected its views on Jewish Peoplehood over time?How can we be a unified people when we canât always agree on who is a Jew?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might improve the state of interdenominational relations.
Interview begins at 19:50.
Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch is a leader of the Reform Movement. He is the senior rabbi of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue and former executive director of the Association of Reform Zionists of America/World Union for Progressive Judaism, North America. He wrote two books: The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History (2023) and One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them (2003), which he co-authored with Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Reinman.
References:
One People, Two Worlds: A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them by Ammiel Hirsch and Yaakov Yosef Reinman
The Impostor by Avner Gold
18Forty Podcast: âAltie Karper: When a Book Is Bannedâ
âThe Believerâ by Armin Rosen
âDissent in the Reform Ranksâ by Armin Rosen
The Lilac Tree: A Rabbi's Reflections on Love, Courage, and History by Ammiel Hirsch
The Book of Jewish Values: A Day-by-Day Guide to Ethical Living by Joseph Telushkin
âWho Can Be Called Rabbi?â by Gil Student
âShomer Yisroelâ by Omek Hadavar
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by Joel and Lynn Mael in memory of Estelle and Nysen Mael.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we begin our Denominations series by talking to Zev Eleffâhistorian, author, and the president of Gratz Collegeâabout the development of the denominations of Judaism we have in America today.
Weâve been occupied for months with defending our right to be Jews in America, so perhaps this is the right time to return to considering the purpose of the Jewish lives we want to live. In this episode we discuss:
How did Americaâs Jewish âdenominationsââbetter termed âmovementsââas we know them come to be?What have the different Jewish movements each contributed to American Jewish life?How can we get back to not just fighting antisemitism, but uncovering the meaning of our Judaism?Tune in to hear a conversation about how previous generations of American Jews have handled the issues that, to one degree or another, threatened to divide us.
Interview begins at 49:36.
Rabbi Dr. Zev Eleff is the president of Gratz College. Zev is the author and editor of nine books and more than 50 scholarly articles in the fields of Jewish Studies and American Religion, including Modern Orthodox Judaism: A Documentary History, Dyed in Crimson: Football, Faith, and Remaking Harvard's America, and Authentically Orthodox: A Tradition-Bound Faith in American Life. Zevâs research focuses on American Jewish history, sports, and Modern Orthodox history.
References:
Jonathan Haidt on The Daily Show
Ammi Hirsch on Campus Chaos
âFailure Goes to Yeshivah: What Iâve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Studentsâ by David Bashevkin
Authentically Orthodox: A Tradition-Bound Faith in American Life by Zev Eleff
The Birth of Conservative Judaism by Michael Cohen
American Judaism by Jonathan D. Sarna
The Jews of the United States, 1654 to 2000 by Hasia R. Diner
Jew Vs Jew: The Struggle For The Soul Of American Jewry by Samuel G. Freedman
This Is My God by Herman Wouk
Jewish Continuity in America by Abraham J. Karp
18Forty Podcast: âHalacha as a Languageâ
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Goldberg-Polinâwhose son, Hersh, was kidnapped by Hamas and is still held hostage in Gazaâabout heading into Passover with our loved ones still captive.
Normally, Intergenerational Divergence feels like something of a choice. But now, Jewish families have been split apart by force. In this episode we discuss:
How do we foster a continued connection to the members of our family who are missing?What difficult thoughts and questions will we bring to the Seder table this year?What does it mean to express hope via the Pesach Seder amid these bitter times? We hope wholeheartedly that this conversation about missing our children at the time of Passover will be made irrelevant and the hostages will soon return home.
Interview begins at 7:17.
References:
âOne Tiny Seedâ by Rachel Goldberg-Polin
âTo the Boys in the Roomâ by Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Sefer HaMenucha on Mishneh Torah, Leavened and Unleavened Bread 8:2
âA Prayer for Israel To Add to Your Pesach Sederâ by Yosef Zvi Rimon
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a Haredi mother named Dina about her two children who serve in the IDF, one of whom was critically wounded in the current war.
Oct. 7 accelerated the already-complicated conversation about Haredi service in the army. Here, Dina shares with us her first-hand experience as a mother of chayalim. In this episode we discuss:
What is it like being in the Haredi minority of IDF parentsâand what is it like being one of the comparatively few IDF parents in the Haredi community? What is the experience of religiously raised soldiers remaining observant in the army?What is it like for a mother to send her son into battle?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might, as Dina puts it, be machmir about how we relate to others.
Interview begins at 7:16.
References:
âA Motherâs Miracleâ by Sara Bonchek
Book Journeys are already backâand we're making them better than ever. We're partnering with Maggid Books, an imprint of Koren Publishers, to ship the books directly to you for an exclusive low price. Until April 24, all the books can be purchased and delivered to your home for $20 per book, or $60 for all three! Get your books and sign up on our website.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by the incredible organization Osey Chail, a non-profit organization serving lone soldiers from Haredi and Hasidic homes who are serving in the IDF.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to four Haredi soldiers who served in the IDF about breaking from family and communal expectations by enlisting, and the subsequent Intergenerational implications.
We also speak with Yael Ruzievich of the âadoptive familyâ of lone soldier David Mittelman, who was killed on Oct. 7. Hashem yikkom damo. In this episode we discuss:
How do soldiers from the Haredi world relate to their parents after joining the IDF?What does the âadoptive familyâ of a Haredi lone soldier look like? How can we do more for those who make immense sacrifices to defend the Jewish People?Tune in to hear a conversation about how to handle divisive debatesâsuch as Haredim enlisting for Israeli military serviceâas a unified Jewish family.
First soldier interview begins at 16:47.
Second soldier interview begins at 26:06.
Interview with Yael Ruzievich begins at 50:46.
Third soldier interview begins at 1:32:01.
Fourth soldier interview begins at 1:40:45.
Haredi soldiers are in a difficult place, often struggling with a lack of social and familial support, due to their communityâs stance on army service. The organization Osey Chail fills this gap, supporting soldiers from Haredi backgrounds with kosher food, foster families, apartments, and unity events, among other programs. Weâre honored to speak to Haredi soldiers who were part of Osey Chail, as well as families that adopted them.
References:
Shomer Yisrael
Osey Chail
× ××ר by Idan Amedi
Donate Dog Tags
Donate Toward Mittelman Park
Pesach is approachingâand Twillory has what you need. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of orders of $139 or more. (Keep an eye out for their one-of-a-kind Air Suits.)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
A pre-Pesach message from our partners at Twillory: You can use the coupon code PESACH18 for $18 off all orders of $250 or more, or use the coupon code PESACH36 for $36 off all orders of $350 or more..
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we sit down with an intergenerational rabbinic pair: Rabbi Haskel Lookstein and his son, Rabbi Joshua Lookstein.
Following in the footsteps of a successful parent can involve a crushing degree of pressure. In the Jewish world, perhaps the quintessential case of this is the challenge of being the scion of a prominent rabbinic family (what some might call a âdynastyâ). In this episode we discuss:
How did family, friends, and congregants react to Joshua leaving the family pulpit? How can children find agency amid family expectations?How do leaders of Jewish institutions manage the most foundational Jewish institution: the family? Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can grapple wisely with professional divergence across generations.
Interview begins at 12:53.
Rabbi Dr. Haskel Lookstein is the Rabbi Emeritus of Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan, where he served most of his entire rabbinic career. He was also the principal of the Ramaz School from 1966 through 2015. R. Lookstein has been highly involved in leadership in the Jewish community for decades. He serves as the Joseph H. Lookstein Professor of Homiletics at Yeshiva University, where he has taught since 1979. He also serves as a Vice President of the Bet Din of America.
Rabbi Joshua Lookstein is the Associate Head of School at the Ramaz School. Rabbi Lookstein previously served as the Head of School at Westchester Day School and a Major Gifts Officer at UJA-Federation of New York, and as Executive Director of the S. Daniel Abraham Foundation. Rabbi Lookstein is responsible for ensuring the values of the school are sustained throughout a studentâs education.
References:
âThe Lookstein Legacy: An American Orthodox Rabbinical Dynasty?â by Adam S. Ferziger
The Shawshank Redemption
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
This episode is sponsored in honor of Robert and Sandy April, loyal congregants and students of Rabbi Lookstein for many years. May they continue to learn from Rabbi Lookstein's lessons and actions for many years to come.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more.
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 many ways, Oct. 7 reactivated a sense of Jewish trauma that many of us had never experienced in our lifetimes. And yet, it was a feeling that we somehow felt we were returning to as Jews. In this episode we discuss:
How does trauma get passed on across generations? How do the Jewish holidays teach us to cultivate resilience from within trauma? How can the Jewish community be more adept at handling traumatic events?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how, together, we find the courage to continue.
Interview begins at 11:01.
Dr. Rachel Yehuda is a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, the vice chair for veterans affairs in the psychiatry department, and the director of the traumatic stress studies division at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Yehuda also established and directs the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research. Dr. Yehudaâs research on second-generation Holocaust survivors, showing the epigenetic effects of trauma across generations, has made her a seminal figure in the field of intergenerational trauma and resilience.
References:
âThe Rabbi vs. the Jewish Peopleâ by David Bashevkin
âYonatan Adler: What Archeologists Findâ
âHazon Ish on Textual Criticism and Halakhahâ by Zvi A. Yehuda
âHazon Ish on the Future of the State of Israelâ by Zvi A. Yehuda
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violenceâfrom Domestic Abuse to Political Terror by Judith Herman
âResilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectivesâ by Rachel Yehuda and more
âWhat We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frankâ by Nathan Englander
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we wrap up our mental health series by talking to Dr. Yael Muskat, director of Yeshiva Universityâs Counseling Center, and her longtime colleague Dr. Martin Galla about the mental health challenges at the forefront of early adulthood.
Young people in the Jewish community are not immune from todayâs mental health crisis. They have their own, equally pressing versions of those same problems. In this episode we discuss:
How do experts deal with the mental health of college students âin betweenâ childhood and adulthood?What mental health challenges to the Jewish world in particular need to address?How can young adults handle the mental health turmoil that can come with dating?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can get to a place where sound mental health enables spiritual growth.
Interview with Dr. Muskat begins at 7:13.
Interview with Dr. Galla begins at 55:46.
Dr. Yael Muskat, Psy.D., is the Director of the Counseling Center at Yeshiva University and has over 20 years of clinical experience. After graduating from Yeshiva University, she received a Masterâs in Special Education from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, C.W. Post. Dr. Muskat continued her clinical training by completing a Post Doctorate Leadership Fellowship at Westchester Institute for Human Development.
Dr. Martin Galla is a former associate director at the Yeshiva University Counseling Center, where he worked for 13 years.
References:
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue Johnson
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
The Mindfulness Workbook for OCD: A Guide to Overcoming Obsessions and Compulsions Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Jon Hershfield and Tom Corboy
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
Berakhot 12b
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Regine Galantiâa licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adultsâabout mental health treatment among today's Jewish families.
Itâs a relatively recent phenomenon in Jewish history that our material needs are largely taken care of. While this is a tremendous blessing, itâs redirected our attention to the psychological needs toward the top of Maslow's hierarchy. This is a kind of suffering that many of us are still learning how to handle, and that we anguish over figuring out how to address in our children. In this episode we discuss:
What is going on with young people and mental health, and how can we help our children thrive?How can we contend with the mental health blessings and curses that come with modernity?What should we do when we are depressed or anxious?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might go from doom-scrolling about mental health to taking meaningful action.
Interview begins at 19:48.
Dr. Regine Galanti, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults. She is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr Galanti is the founder of Long Island Behavioral Psychology, a therapy practice in Nassau County, Long Island, and is an Educational Consultant in the Psychiatry Department of Mount Sinai Hospital. She is the author of Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress, as well as When Harley Has Anxiety: A Fun CBT Skills Activity Book for Overcoming Worries and Fears.
References:
âWhy the Kids Aren't Alrightâ with Bari Weiss
âHow Anxiety Became Contentâ by Derek Thompson
Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli R. Lebowitz
The Explosive Child by Ross W Greene
The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris
10% Happier by Dan Harris
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yoni Rosensweig, rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, about the intersection between mental health and halacha.
It is tempting to sometimes see halacha and mental health as being at odds. But what if, with the right guidance, we could instead understand halacha to be a system that sees the fullness of our unideal circumstances and draws us closer to God in spite of it all? In this episode we discuss:
How might we enable people who are suffering mentally to live fully halachic lives?How can a rabbi apply modern knowledge of mental health to centuries-old rabbinic texts?How can we benefit from halacha evenâespeciallyâamid our difficulties?Tune in to hear a conversation about how halacha has more to offer us than we might expect.
Interview begins at 12:25.
Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig is rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Previously, he served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Shevut Yisrael in Efrat. Rabbi Rosensweig is the author of several books including the recent Nafshi Besheâelati on Jewish law and mental health.
References:
× ×¤×Š× ×׊×××Ş× - ××××ת ×ר×××ת ×× ×¤×Š by Yoni Rosensweig
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
@tzvei_dinim
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
This episode is sponsored by someone supporting 18Fortyâs work.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen in on a conversation between David Bashevkin and his dear and longtime friend Elie Schulman about the value of therapy.
In a culture in which we can feel weâre constantly being sized up and evaluated by others, accepting our own vulnerability can be one of the hardest things to do. In this episode we discuss:
How can someone know itâs time to get therapy?How can we get beyond excessively comparing ourselves with our peers?What does it mean to âlift upâ a friend?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how seeking help can be a sign and source of strength.
Interview begins at 11:29.
References:
Pirkei Avot 1:6
Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Millerw
Waking Up by Sam Harris
David Bashevkin on Thatâs An Issue
âFailure Goes to Yeshivah: What Iâve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Studentsâ by David Bashevkin
âOn Campus, Failure Is on the Syllabusâ by Jessica Bennett
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
This episode is sponsored by Aleph Beta in light of their newly released season of the A Book Like No Other podcast. This podcast is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder Rabbi David Fohrman, as he embarks on his most far-reaching and in-depth explorations of the Torah text. Aleph Beta takes the excitement of Torah learning to a whole new level! Become a member today and start listeningâ use code â18Fortyâ to get one month FREE! You will never see the Torah text the same way again.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yakov Danishefskyâa rabbi, author and licensed social workerâabout our relationships and our mental health.
We know from Tanakh that â[i]t is not good for man to be alone.â But, when it comes to understanding our relationships, this is just the beginning, as those of us surrounded by others can still be unhappy. Psychologists can explain this phenomenon in part with the study of what they call âattachment theory.â In this episode we discuss:
What does Abraham Maslow get wrong in his âhierarchy of needsâ?How can attachment theory apply to our relationships with God?What do we really want?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how our lives are in many ways defined by the relationships around us.
Interview begins at 14:36.
Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder of Mind Body Therapy, a private group practice in Chicago. Yakov has semicha and a Masterâs in Jewish Philosophy from Yeshiva University and is a popular speaker, teacher, and author on the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, and psychology. He is the author of a new book, Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach.
References:
The Office
Pirkei Avot 5
Genesis 2:18
Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach by Rabbi Yaakov Danishefsky, LCSW
What You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture by Ben Horowitz
The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chodron
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller
"Souls as Mirrors" by Shlomo Kassierer
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.
Through the lenses of therapy, comedy, books, family history, and positive influences, David shares the experiences that have shaped the way he handles mental health challenges today. In this episode we discuss:
Is religious commitment supposed to be the cure to mental health problems?How can we deal with the need to be liked?What enables happy people to be so happy?Tune in to hear a discussion about how one might âbecome friends with themselfâ despite lifeâs difficulties.
Message from Dr. Sara Baris begins at 24:26.
Conversation with Grandma Millie begins at 1:18:30.
Conversation with Jay Richman begins at 1:24:08.
David Bashevkin, is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva Universityâs Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a masterâs degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He received a doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New Schoolâs Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He has published two books, Sin¡a¡gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, as well as a Hebrew work BâRogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy).
References:
Stutz (2022)
Comedian (2002)
John Mulaney And Stephen Colbert Explore Each Other's Deepest Anxieties
Introduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. Yalom
The Wisdom of No Escape: and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema ChĂśdrĂśn
How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema ChĂśdrĂśn
The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling
Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen and respond to feedback from the 18Forty community on the conversations of our Israel at War topic.
Jews live in two different worldsâone before Oct. 7, and one after. The last few months have transformed the Jewish People across denominations, communities, and countries. Prompted by your feedback, we reflect upon those changes. Together, we reflect on those changes. In this episode we discuss:
Why are American Jews misunderstanding the Dati Leumi community?What does it mean to be a Jew in a postâOct. 7 world?In what ways can diaspora Jews aspire to live more like Israeli Jews?
Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might continue forward in pursuit of being a unified Jewish People.
Feedback messages begin: 9:28
References:
Exodus 3:5
âSurfin' Slivovitzâ by Andy Statman
âShomer Yisraelâ by Omek Hadavar
âYossi Klein Halevi: Whatâs Next: The Future of Liberal Zionismâ
âJonathan Gribetz: Whatâs Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflictâ
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. -
In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce the topic of mental health with a conversation featuring world-famous Jewish singer Lipa Schmeltzer.
While many people know Lipaâs songs, far fewer know his journey of mental healthâa story he never expected to unfold. With raw vulnerability and beautiful passion, Lipa opens up about every step that led him to today. His lessons are immeasurably important.
In this episode we discuss:
What does it mean to be working for the âimage companyâ?How did Lipa break through the barrier to seeking professional help for mental health issues?How can we maintain sincerity in the face of our own cynicism?Tune in to hear a conversation about the radical honesty it takes to make progress on a mental health journey.
Interview begins at 20:26.
Lipa, once described as âthe Lady Gaga of Hasidic music,â has 18 solo albums to date. He is a father, singer, writer, and visual artist.
References:
âMy heartfelt message of personal growth & challenges before Matan Torah 5783â with Lipa Schmeltzer
Making of a Godol by Nathan Kamenetsky
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support. - Näytä enemmän