David Bashevkin: 5 Things SNL Taught Me About Life (Purim Special)

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest 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 abilities we bring to the enterprise of Torah and tefillah. In this episode we discuss: What computer-based innovations are on the horizon in the realm of Torah study?Will AI ever be able to reliably answer our halachic questions?Will advances in technology drastically change the experience of Shabbos observance?Tune in to hear a conversation about how AI has the potential to make our Jewish lives richer—if we use it wisely.Interview begins at 18:21.Dr. Moshe Koppel is a computer scientist, Talmud scholar, and political activist. Moshe is a professor of computer science at Bar-Ilan University, and a prolific author of academic articles and books on Jewish thought, computer science, economics, political science, and other disciplines. He is the founding director of Kohelet, a conservative-libertarian think tank in Israel, and he advises members of the Knesset on legislative matters. Dr. Koppel is the author of three sharply thought books on Jewish thought and previously joined 18Forty to talk about Halacha as Language.References:“Funes the Memorious” by Jorge Luis BorgesThe Mind of a Mnemonist by A.R. Luria Surfaces and Essences: Analogy as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking by Douglas R. Hofstadter & Emmanuel SanderGödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. HofstadterMeta-Halakhah: Logic, Intuition, and the Unfolding of Jewish Law by Moshe Koppel2001: A Space OdysseyDICTA: Analytical tools for Hebrew texts“Digital Discourse and the Democratization of Jewish Learning” by Zev EleffTzidkat HaTzadik: 211 by Tzadok HaKohen of LublinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

5 Jun 20231h 14min

This episode is sponsored in memory of Rabbi Eliezer Skaist, HaRav Eliezer Daniel ben HaRav Eliyahu Dovid A"H, by his family.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dovid'l Weinberg—a rabbi, educator, musician, poet, and author—about the wide range of modes and levels of prayer.Rav Dovid’l speaks with us about how prayer can be our bridge between our lonely place in the world and God’s omnipresence. In this episode we discuss:What is the relationship between Creation and prayer?How does communication between people relate to our communication with the Divine?If it often doesn’t seem to affect very much, why does prayer matter?Tune in to hear a conversation about how finite humans seek to speak with an infinite God.Interview begins at 10:24.Rav Dovid'l Weinberg is an educator, musician, poet, and author. Rav Dovid’l teaches as a Ra’am in Yeshivat Orayta; is the Rosh Kollel of Camp HASC's Kollel Toras Chesed; is a co-founder of The Mishna Project, an educational tool which aids the memorization of mishnayos through music; played guitar for the band Omek Hadavar; and writes his own music. He is the author of Birth of the Spoken Word: Personal Prayer as the Goal of Creation and the recently published Reflections on Oros HaTorah.References:“Only You” by Dovid'l Weinberg The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. SoloveitchikBirth of the Spoken Word: Personal Prayer as the Goal of Creation by Dovid'l Weinberg. Pirkei AvotGenesisChiddushei Rabbeinu Chaim Halevi Gilyonos Chazon Ish by Chaim Brisker and Chazon IshHalakhic Man by Joseph B. SoloveitchikWorship of the Heart: Essays on Jewish Prayer by Joseph B. SoloveitchikRav Schwab on Prayer by Shimon SchwabSiddur Tehillat HashemSichot HaRan by Rebbe Nachman of BreslovTo Have or To Be? by Erich FrommBerogez Racheim Tizkor by David BashevkinOlat Reiyah by Rav KookA Call to the Infinite by Aryeh KaplanChassidus Mevueres - Avodas Hatefillah by Schneur Zalman of LiadiTikkun HaKlali by Rebbe NachmanReflections on Oros HaTorah by Dovid'l WeinbergShemoneh Esrei: Exploring the Fundamentals of Faith through the Amida Prayer by Ezra BickBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

29 Mai 20231h 25min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Samuel Lebens—a philosophy professor, rabbi, and Jewish educator—about the nature of consciousness.At a time when artificial intelligence can make us question what it even is that makes humans unique, we look deeply into our ability to have personal experiences and turn them into new ideas. In this episode, we discuss with Sam: Why do we each have a subjective consciousness?What is the relationship between prayer and our lives?What is the “Turing test,” and how does it relate to prayer?Tune in to hear a conversation about how consciousness gives us the ability to transform words into prayer, to “sing a new song.”Interview begins at 31:28.Rabbi Dr. Samuel Lebens is an associate professor in the philosophy department at the University of Haifa, as well as a rabbi and Jewish educator. Samuel holds a PhD in philosophy from Birkbeck College (University of London), and his academic interests cover the philosophy of religion, metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of language. Samuel teaches at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies. Samuel’s most recent book, of several, is A Guide for the Jewish Undecided, groundbreaking work has an engaging style that makes it accessible to all readers, while not losing the clarity and rigor characteristic of analytic philosophy. Samuel’s first book was a study of Bertrand Russell’s dynamic theories about the nature of meaning. Samuel previously joined us to talk about rationality and mysticism.References:Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. HofstadterGalileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff“Perpetual Prophecy: An Intellectual Tribute to Reb Zadok Ha-Kohen of Lublin on His 110th Yahrzeit” by David BashevkinBeing John MalkovichEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindAnomalisaNetivot Olam by the Maharal of PragueWaking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam HarrisRupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy by Haym Soloveitchik“God and his imaginary friends: a Hassidic metaphysics” by Samuel Lebens2001: A Space Odyssey“A Conversation With Bing’s Chatbot Left Me Deeply Unsettled” by Kevin RooseThe Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian ChristianShemot RabbahBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

23 Mai 20231h 4min

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a series of guests who have made aliyah about the practical factors involved with building a life in Israel.Serena Benovitz, Chana Berkowitz, Yehoshua Fass, Edo Lavi, and Ahron Levi shed light on the nuances and complexities involved in moving to Israel, though for many of us, the mere thought of uprooting our lives and going to an unfamiliar place is intimidating enough. In this episode we discuss: What inspires people to leave their homes and begin anew in Israel?What are the difficulties that come with making aliyah?What does the process of moving to Israel generally involve?Tune in to hear a conversation about what is unique about deciding to lead a Jewish life in the Jewish state.Serena Benovitz Interview: 11:58Chana Berkowitz Interview 37:17Yehoshua Fass Interview: 43:27Edo Lavi Interview: 1:40:10Ahron Levi Interview: 2:08:18Aliyah—the "pilgrimage" of moving to Israel that literally translates to "ascent"—is a multi-layered subject. We are joined by Rabbi Yehoshua Fass of Nefesh B'Nefesh to break it down.Rabbi Yehoshua Fass is Co-Founder of Nefesh B’Nefesh and has served as the organization’s Executive Director since 2002. After receiving his rabbinic ordination and degrees in biology and education from Yeshiva University, Rabbi Fass assumed the position of Associate Rabbi of the Boca Raton Synagogue of Florida and served as a member of the Beit Din of the Orthodox Rabbinical Council.This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity. The shiur moves swiftly through the daf, while still managing to explain well the difficult portions of the sugya. The shiur is available daily on all podcast platforms, All Daf, and on Torah Anytime.References:The Koren Mahzor for Yom Haatzma'ut and Yom Yerushalayim by Jonathan SacksGenesis 12Nefesh B’NefeshTzidkas HaTzadikFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubnerהארץ אשר אראך by Rabbi Shnayor BurtonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

15 Mai 20232h 19min

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rabbi Elli Fischer— a writer, translator, and editor—about the relationship between Jewish law and the Jewish state.For almost 2,000 years, we were able to maintain a system of Jewish law without the convenience of a homeland. Yet now, when we have our own state, Jewish law seems more difficult and complicated to implement than ever.In this episode we discuss: What is the effect of halacha on the Jewish state and the effect of the Jewish state on halacha?How can halacha and society be integrated in Israel?What is it about the nature of halacha that puts it outside the domain of the current systems of government?Tune in to hear a conversation about the role of Jewish religion in the Israeli government.Interview begins at 19:27.R. Elli Fischer is an independent writer, translator, and rabbi. Previously, he was the OU-JLIC rabbi and campus educator at the University of Maryland. He holds BA and MS degrees from Yeshiva University, rabbinical ordination from Israel’s Chief Rabbinate, and is working toward a doctorate in Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. He is a founding editor of The Lehrhaus, a web magazine of contemporary Jewish thought. His original writing on religion and politics in Israel, the interplay between legal and nonlegal elements of the Talmud, Jewish religious culture, and Central European Jewish History have been widely published. He is the translator of By Faith Alone: The Story of R. Yehuda Amital and the editor of R. Eliezer Melamed’s Peninei Halakha series in English.References:EzekielThe Invention of Jewish Theocracy: The Struggle for Legal Authority in Modern Israel by Alexander KayeHalakha and the Challenge of Israeli Sovereignty by Asaf Yedidya Isaiah Sefer Lev ha-Ivri by Rabbi Akiva Joseph Schlesinger“Ivri Anochi” by Benny Friedman Rabbi Elli Fischer's translation of Peninei HalakhaState of Halakha: Israel's History in Jewish Law by Aviad TaboryThe Politics of Torah: The Jewish Political Tradition and the Founding of Agudat Israel by Alan L. MittlemanBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

8 Mai 20231h 48min

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.This week, we are sponsored by the Inaugural Global Jewish Fertility Support Summit, organized by the nonprofit I Was Supposed To Have A Baby. Taking place on Sunday, May 7th, via Zoom, this summit will include some of the most prominent voices from 15 major fertility organizations worldwide. Whether you're on a fertility journey, a professional, clergy, or lay leader in the space, or if you want to know how to be more sensitive to your friends and family, this summit is for you! Learn more and register for FREE at iwassupposedtohaveababy.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bezalel Naor—author, translator, and expert on Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook—about Rav Kook’s relationship to the Land of Israel.Rabbi Naor helps us see the bigger picture of the Zionist project by exploring the spiritual dimensions of Zionism as demonstrated in Rav Kook’s thought. In this episode we discuss:How did Rav Kook’s love for the Land of Israel begin?Where should one begin when learning the works of Rav Kook?What is the relationship between the nefesh, ruach, and neshama?Tune in to hear a conversation about how the Land of Israel went from an abstract concept in the Jewish imagination to a concrete part of our lived reality.Interview begins at 11:04.Bezalel Naor is a teacher, translator, and author of many books on Rav Kook and Jewish mysticism. His works include Orot (Maggid, 2015); When God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook (Kodesh, 2016); The Koren Rav Kook Siddur (2017); and Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays (Kodesh, 2021), among other books.References:Navigating Worlds: Collected Essays (2006-2020) by Bezalel NaorOrot by Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, translated by Bezalel NaorTowards the Mystical Experience of Modernity: The Making of Rav Kook, 1865-1904 by Yehudah MirskyRav Kook: Mystic in a Time of Revolution by Yehudah MirskyRosh Milin: Kabbalistic Insights into the Hebrew Alphabet by Rav KookJerusalem TalmudIgorot HaRaiyah, The Collected Letters of Rav Kook Volume Three by Rav KookGuide for the Perplexed by MaimonidesWhen God Becomes History: Historical Essays of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook edited by Bezalel NaorThe Legends of Rabbah Bar Bar Hannah with the Commentary of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook translated by by Bezalel NaorNine and a Half Mystics: The Kabbala Today by Herbert WeinerThe Souls of the World of Chaos by Rav Kook, translated by Bezalel NaorShemonah Kevatzim by Rav KookBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

1 Mai 20231h 14min

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Lahav Harkov, senior contributing editor and diplomatic correspondent of The Jerusalem Post, about the media we consume regarding Israel.Living in the diaspora and caring deeply about Israel can be challenging when one does not have first-hand knowledge of current affairs in the land. Lahav Harkov helps us learn how to gain a deeper understanding. In this episode we discuss:How can diaspora Jews be best informed about what is happening in Israel?What do people feel is at stake in the debate over Israeli judicial reform?What are the key differences between American and Israeli politics?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can experience Israeli issues in a way that doesn’t feel like a “translation.”Interview begins at 20:07.Lahav Harkov is the Senior Contributing Editor of The Jerusalem Post and the Post’s Diplomatic Correspondent, analyzing and reporting on Israel’s relations with the world, the Prime Minister’s office, the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and more. She was the Post’s top analyst and reporter in the Knesset for over 8 years and was The Jerusalem Post‘s news editor and managing editor of JPost.com.References:Good Will HuntingPrint to Fit: The New York Times, Zionism and Israel (1896-2016) by Jerold S. AuerbachReal Jews: Secular Versus Ultra- Orthodox: The Struggle For Jewish Identity In Israel by Noah Efron Khaled Abu Toameh at The Jerusalem PostJPost PodcastSayed Kashua at HaaretzLike Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation by Yossi Klein HaleviBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

25 Apr 20231h 7min

This series is sponsored by Unpacking Israeli History.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Noam Weissman, executive vice president of OpenDor Media, about Israel education.In a world in which Israel is a key component of Jewish identity, young people often are given a sanitized, doctrinaire understanding of the Jewish state, rather than getting to build on an authentic experience of connection. Dr. Weissman helps us try to correct this by unpacking some recent Jewish history. In this episode we discuss:How should we provide Israel education in the contemporary world?How can we further uplift and inspire our enduring connection with the Land of Israel?What is the difference between education and indoctrination?Tune in to hear a conversation about the Jewish people, the Jewish land, and the Jewish state.Interview begins at 18:03.Dr. Noam Weissman is the Senior Vice President of OpenDor Media. Noam is also the Founder and Director of LaHaV. Noam previously served as Principal of Shalhevet High School in Los Angeles. Noam earned a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Southern California, with a focus on curriculum design. His dissertation, entitled “Approaching Israel Education,” argues for a new vision in learning about the modern State of Israel, focusing on Zionist identity development, narrative formation, and the ability to have a mature and loving relationship with Israel without sacrificing empathy.References:Seinfeld“Could Judaism Survive Israel?” by Gary EpsteinJewish History UnpackedGenesis 12:1OpenDor MediaThe Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People by Walter Russell Mead The Wondering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity by Micah GoodmanSide by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-PalestineIsrael: A History by Anita ShapiraIsrael: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn by Daniel GordisIsrael: A History by Martin GilbertThe Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership by Yehuda AvnerBonus References from Unpacking Israeli History:AltalenaMunich MassacreKishinevWar of IndependenceYom Kippur WarEntebbeDeir YassinSix-Day War UN Resolution 3379Black PanthersRabin's AssassinationBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

18 Apr 20231h 23min