On Loss: Defending Israel on Oct. 7

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.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. This Pesach, we have the opportunity to reflect on our childhoods and how, through our families, all of our “beginnings” stretch back far beyond our own lifetimes. How can a Jewish family navigate the prospect of intermarriage?How can we maintain familial bonds with members of interfaith families?What ruptures can happen within families and communities when a Jew dates, or marries, a non-Jew, and how can those ruptures be repaired?Tune in to hear a conversation about how an apparent disaster doesn’t need to be the end of the story.First interview: 16:16Second interview: 50:23Third Interview: 1:17:23References:“Big Gedalia Goomber” by Uncle MoishyArukh HaShulchan, Yoreh De'ah 345 by Yechiel Michel Epstein“Absolute Beginners” by David BashevkinGenesis 12“Family Ties” by David BashevkinShevet Sefer, Yoreh Deah 108 by Simcha Bunim SchreiberBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

28 Mar 20232h 26min

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.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.Liel grew up a secular Israeli, while Lisa was raised in a traditional home of loosening observance. When, eight years ago, Liel brought up the idea of keeping kosher, they realized they were moving in different directions. What first drew Liel toward growing religiosity? How did Lisa react to the changes in Liel’s worldview and lifestyle? How are they able to run a home, marriage, and family together despite being on separate and dynamic paths? Tune in to hear a conversation about being a “helpmate,” someone who both challenges and uplifts their spouse.Interview begins at 11:21.Lisa Ann Sandell is the author of the young-adult books The Weight of the Sky, Song of the Sparrow, and A Map of the Known World. Liel Leibovitz is editor at large for Tablet Magazine and a host of its weekly culture podcast Unorthodox and daily Talmud podcast Take One.References:8 Minute DafTake One“Eli, the Fanatic” by Philip RothLincolnSin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin Daniel Deronda by George EliotHow the Talmud Can Change Your Life: Surprisingly Modern Advice from a Very Old Book by Liel LeibovitzIsaiah 54:10“Everlasting Love” by Rabbi Shlomo & Eitan KatzBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

21 Mar 20231h 8min

This series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.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. With the loss of a son, granddaughter, and grandson, Ephraim lost his faith in Judaism while Aliza remained an observant believer. As they describe it, now, when making kiddush, Ephraim provides the words and Aliza brings the kavanah. In this episode we discuss: What is it like to stay committed to a marriage when one partner loses their religious faith?Is there any public embarrassment in having a spouse who is less observant than oneself?What might make it worthwhile to keep a religiously divergent marriage intact?Which Jewish experiences do Aliza and Ephraim still share?Tune in to hear a conversation about the love and trust needed to hold a marriage with religious differences together. Interview begins at 12:02.References:Song of Songs “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter from Camp)” by Allan Sherman“Seventy-Six Sol Cohens” by Allan ShermanMiriam's Kitchen: A Memoir by Elizabeth Ehrlich Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

14 Mar 20231h 10min

In this special Purim episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we bring you a recording from our live event with the comedian Modi, for our annual discussion on humor. As a preeminent Jewish comedian of only growing popularity, Modi finds himself needing to navigate the nuances of public and private life while he brings “Moshiach energy” to audiences all over the world. In this episode we discuss: What makes laughter have ”Moshiach energy”? What guidance would Modi have for a parent of a gay child? What is Modi’s favorite prayer to lead as a chazan?Tune in to hear a conversation about the element of redemption we find in humor amid a broken world. Interview begins at 5:08.Voted one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter, Modi is one of the comedy circuit’s most sought-after performers. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Modi emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of seven and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until his first open-mic night made him realize that stand-up was his true calling. Equipped with a sharp wit and a knack for reading an audience, Modi has gone on to become a successful fixture in New York's vibrant comedy scene, often doing bits that incorporate his heritage, and he is a hit with diverse Jewish audiences as well as fans of all backgrounds and beliefs.References:And Here's Modi - Episode 14 (Rabbi Manis Friedman)Chasing SpielbergTaanit 22aThe Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. DyerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

4 Mar 20231h

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to three different advocates for affordable Jewish education about the state of the tuition crisis.While it is a sensitive subject to discuss, the cost of Jewish education remains one of the most vital issues at play in Jewish life today, as passing on a Torah education to the next generation is of the utmost importance.Why is Jewish education so expensive?How exactly does the process of providing financial aid work?What large-scale measures can be taken to attack the tuition crisis?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can be more effective in our effort to provide a Torah education for all Jewish children. Interview with Richard Hagler begins at 7:20Interview with Chavie Kahn begins at 59:30Interview with Maury Litwack begins at 1:11:42Richard Hagler has been a longtime executive director of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach schools. Chavie Kahn is the director of school strategy and policy at UJA-Federation of New York. Maury Litwack is the managing director of the Orthodox Union and founder of Teach Coalition.References:Teach Coalition18Forty Podcast: “Michael A. Helfand: Church, State, and Jewish Education”America in the King Years trilogy by Taylor BranchBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

28 Feb 20232h 9min

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein—an expert on the history of Orthodox girls’ education—about the value of education for all people.With the founding of the Bais Yaakov movement, Sarah Schenirer sought to create a culture of education that was inclusive to the marginalized. Over a century later, we encounter a related but simultaneously new set of challenges. In this episode we discuss:What made the early Bais Yaakov movement both controversial and revolutionary? What would Sarah Schenirer think of the state of Jewish education in the 21st century?Are graduating adults still in need of education and youth programming?Tune in to hear a conversation about the indispensability of Jewish education from the early 20th century to today.Interview begins at 29:30.Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein is the Academic Dean of Women's Institute of Torah Seminary & College, an Orthodox Jewish college for women. A scholar and author, Dr. Klein speaks on Jewish history, Tanach, leadership and communication skills across the United States and internationally. Dr. Ginsparg Klein received her Ph.D. from New York University, where she researched the history of Orthodox girls’ education in America and the Bais Yaakov Movement. References:18Forty Podcast: “Yitzchak Breitowitz: Navigating Controversy”18Forty Podcast: “Yisroel Kaminetsky: The Goal of Jewish Education”Sarah Schenirer and the Bais Yaakov Movement: A Revolution in the Name of Tradition by Naomi SeidmanReading Jewish Women: Marginality and Modernization in Nineteenth-Century Eastern European Jewish Society by Iris ParushIn Her Hands: The Education of Jewish Girls in Tsarist Russia by Eliyana R. Adler Jewish Girls Coming of Age in America, 1860-1920 by Melissa R. Klapper Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein on Bais Yaakov Education and Culture Across North America, at Harvard Law SchoolBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

21 Feb 20231h 58min

This series is sponsored by Ari and Danielle Schwartz in memory of Danielle’s grandfather, Mr. Baruch Mappa, Baruch Ben Asher Zelig HaLevi.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak to Michael A. Helfand, a Pepperdine Law professor specializing in religious liberty, about the meaning of the First Amendment as it relates to the funding of religious schools.With education so deeply essential to the modern Jewish community, we are confronted with the high cost of private schooling. In America, is the government able to step in and help? Should it? Why doesn’t the government fully fund religious schools?What is the “Lemon test”?Does “separation of the church and state” mean the government cannot support any religious institution, or only that it must support all religious institutions equally?Tune in to hear a conversation about the history and status of religious schools in American law.Interview begins at 9:58.Professor Michael Helfand is an expert on religious law and religious liberty. A frequent author and lecturer, his work considers how U.S. law treats religious law, custom and practice, focusing on the intersection of private law and religion in contexts such as religious arbitration, religious contracts and religious torts. He is currently an associate professor at Pepperdine University School of Law and co-director of Pepperdine University’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute for Jewish Studies. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University. Professor Helfand is an executive board member of the Beth Din of America, where he serves as a consultant on the enforceability of rabbinical arbitration agreements and awards in U.S. courts.References:The New American Judaism by Jack Wertheimer“Remembering Rabbi Norman Lamm” by Michael A. HelfandTo Build a Wall by Gregg IversReligion and State in the American Jewish Experience by Jonathan D. Sarna and David G. DalinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

14 Feb 20231h 32min

In this edition of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David’s rebbe, Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, longtime principal of DRS Yeshiva High School, about the state of Jewish education in America.We find ourselves in a transformative time in the realm of Jewish education. Jewish literacy is at an all-time high, and yet we are still faced with existential angst. In this episode, Yisroel Kaminetsky tells us what goes into creating a yeshiva experience that delivers the most benefit to the most students — and how we can avoid instances of people falling through the cracks. How can we build a Jewish-education system that provides a “path home” for every Jew?How can parents supplement the education their children get at school?How should we define success, and in what ways can a yeshiva, God forbid, fail a student?Tune in to hear a conversation about laying the groundwork for a strong Jewish future.Interview begins at 25:58.References:A Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensLithuanian Yeshivas of the Nineteenth Century by Shaul StampferFamilies, Rabbis and Education by Shaul StampferMemorable Encounters by Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky“I Want Arvei Psachim with Rabeinu Dovid Rishus Cold Rishus Seltzer CHECK OUT OF LIFE” on YouTubeMesilat Yesharim by Moshe Chaim LuzzattoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

7 Feb 20231h 44min