What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Miriam Gisser about changing, or even rebuilding, one’s life.Miriam’s husband passed away from a drug overdose, forcing her to rebuild her life for her and her family. She offers unique insight into how one can change and rebuild their life, whether after a tragedy, to do teshuva, or something else.- What are the scariest parts of change?- How can we find the inner courage necessary for change?- How can we deal with and remember our past while looking to the future?Tune in to hear a conversation about resilience and change.References:Al-Anon’s Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions https://www.amazon.com/Al-Anons-Twelve-Steps-Traditions/dp/0910034435God of Our Understanding by Rabbi Shais Taub https://www.amazon.com/God-Our-Understanding-Spirituality-Addiction/dp/1602801533 For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva. Miriam Gisser is a teacher, who currently resides in Ohio. Miriam’s first husband was an addict, and after his untimely death Miriam rebuilt her life from the ground up. Miriam joins 18Forty to speak about the complexities of her family’s path through life, growth, and change.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

3 Sep 20211h 22min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Agnes Callard - professor of philosophy and author - about the philosophy of change.Many decisions in life can be made by weighing our values: if an action accords with our values, then we do it, and if it doesn’t, then we don’t. But when it comes to deciding what our values should be, we may need a different paradigm.- How do we make decisions in relation to our values?- What decisions don’t function in this normal paradigm?- How can we decide to change our values themselves?Tune in to hear a conversation about the philosophy of change.References:Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming by Agnes Callard https://www.amazon.com/Aspiration-Agency-Becoming-Agnes-Callard/dp/0190639482Transformative Experience by L. A. Paul https://www.amazon.com/Transformative-Experience-L-Paul/dp/0198777310A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce https://www.amazon.com/Portrait-Artist-As-Young-Man/dp/1503221431The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante https://www.amazon.com/The-Neapolitan-Novels-Boxed-Set/dp/1609455053 For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva. Professor Agnes Callard is a professor of philosophy at the University of Chicago, specializing in ancient philosophy and ethics. Professor Callard received a Masters of Arts in Classics and a PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. Unlike many academics of philosophy, her writing is powerfully accessible, making her a popular voice on issues of contemporary ideas. Agnes’s book Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming is a stunningly deep exploration of the foundational aspects of change, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the philosophy and psychology of personal growth. Agnes joins us to talk about self-creation, growth, and the philosophy of transformation.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

31 Aug 20211h 9min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Alex Clare - singer and baal teshuva - about changing identity and what if questions.Alex was a rising music star who left the music industry to pursue a religious life - what's known as a baal teshuva - then returned following international commercial success. He has faced many life-changing choices, and so has experience with navigating change in a healthy way.- How can one ensure that the changes they make are navigated healthily?- What if one regrets the choices they have made?- Is it useful to think about what if questions?Tune in to hear a conversation about healthy change and what if questions.References:Love’s Executioner by Irvin Yalomhttps://www.amazon.com/Loves-Executioner-Other-Tales-Psychotherapy/dp/0465020119Grendel by John Gardner https://www.amazon.com/Grendel-John-Gardner/dp/0679723110What Ifs of Jewish History by Gavriel Rosenfeld https://www.amazon.com/What-Ifs-Jewish-History-Abraham/dp/110703762XA Student's Obligation by the Piaseczno rebbe https://www.amazon.com/Students-Obligation-Advice-Warsaw-Ghetto/dp/1568215177The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel https://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Classics-Abraham-Joshua-Heschel/dp/0374529752 For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/teshuva. Alex Clare is an award-winning singer, songwriter, and producer. His song “Too Close” went double platinum in the United States and was in the top-ten in five different countries. Alex, a native of the UK, made the decision to become a religious Jew several years ago, and now resides in Jerusalem, where he creates music inspired by his spiritual life. Alex’s personal path to religion, and his decision to become an Orthodox Jew, has intrigued many, and he joins us to talk about music, religion, and the complex road to growth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

23 Aug 20211h 15min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Judah Mischel - executive director of Camp HASC and founder of Tzama Nafshi - about change and teshuva.Change is one of the most difficult things in life. We often wish we could snap our fingers and choose to live differently, but change usually takes time. We can think of change as a journey rather than a destination.- How can one appreciate the process of change, the ride, as much as we appreciate the destination?- How can we navigate the waters between hoping for change and embracing ourselves as we are?Tune in to hear a conversation on change and teshuva, today.References:Tzidkas HaTzadik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen MiLublin https://www.sefaria.org/Tzidkat_HaTzadik.4?lang=biBaderech: Along The Path of Teshuvah by Rav Judah Mischel https://mosaicapress.com/product/baderech/Peninei Halakha by Rav Eliezar Melamed https://www.amazon.com/Peninei-Halakha-Laws-Shabbat-Vol/dp/1592644473For more, visit https://18forty.org/teshuva/.Rav Judah Mischel is the executive director of Camp HASC, the founder of Tzama Nafshi, and a widely beloved teacher and travel guide to the soul of Jewish life. Rav Judah’s new book, Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva, is a poignant road map to the pathways of penitence, so check it out now. Rav Judah joins 18Forty to talk about change, authenticity, and what teshuva means to him.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

17 Aug 20211h 46min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rachel Grady - documentary filmmaker of One of Us and Jesus Camp - about the expressive power of documentaries.While fiction and non-fiction literature are powerful creative tools to explore an issue, documentaries have a unique power to portray communities from the inside. And while these portrayals may be uniquely powerful, they can also be uniquely controversial.- What can documentaries achieve that other mediums can’t?- How can documentaries help their audiences explore unfamiliar communities?- How are documentaries suited to exploring religious communities specifically?Tune in to hear a conversation on documentary filmmaking, and for Rachel's recommendations for which documentaries you should watch next.For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/rachel-grady-documentary-film/.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

9 Aug 202153min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to David Hopen - law student and author of The Orchard - about finding truth in fiction, and particularly in myths.Though fiction and myths are by definition not true, they can still have great significance. Religious stories in particular can help guide us regardless of whether or not they’re literally true. In his book The Orchard, David tries to illustrate this, using fiction to tell deep truths about the place myth can have in the modern world.- How can fiction tell truths despite it not being true by definition?- How can myths help forge our identities?- What truths did David try to tell in The Orchard?Tune in to hear a conversation on fiction and myths.References:The Orchard by David Hopen https://www.amazon.com/Orchard-Novel-David-Hopen/dp/0062974742The Client by John Grisham https://www.amazon.com/Client-Novel-John-Grisham/dp/0345531922Marvin Redpost: Why Pick on Me? By Louis Sachar https://www.amazon.com/Why-Pick-Marvin-Redpost-paper/dp/0679819479Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar https://www.amazon.com/Sideways-Stories-Wayside-School-Sachar/dp/0380731487Matilda by Roald Dahl https://www.amazon.com/Matilda-Roald-Dahl/dp/0670824399Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen, Jennifer Bricking https://www.amazon.com/Mollys-Pilgrim-Barbara-Cohen/dp/0062870947The Secret History by Donna Tartt https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Donna-Tartt/dp/1400031702Here I Am by Jonathan Safran Foer https://www.amazon.com/Here-Am-Jonathan-Safran-Foer/dp/1250135753On Beauty by Zadie Smith https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Novel-Zadie-Smith/dp/0143037749With All My Heart, With All My Soul by B. D. Da’Ehu https://www.amazon.com/All-My-Heart-Soul/dp/1880880016Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Jews-Joshua-Harmon/dp/0573702578What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander https://www.amazon.com/What-Talk-About-When-Frank/dp/0307949605What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver https://www.amazon.com/What-Talk-About-When-Love/dp/0679723056For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/david-hopen-fiction/.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

3 Aug 202154min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt - journalist - about her relationship with writing.Having appeared in publications like the New York Times and Haaretz, Avital is an accomplished author. Writing since her childhood, she has found inspiration in a variety of arenas, like reporting, Judaism, and advocacy.- What inspired Avital to start writing, and how did she turn it into a career?- What are some of the challenges of publishing in the public eye?- How does Avital get ideas about what to write about?- Why does she find it meaningful?Tune in to hear a conversation on non-fiction writing, and to hear about her favorite non-fiction reads.References:Tefillin in a Brown Paper Bag by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman https://traditiononline.org/tefillin-in-a-brown-paper-bag/For more, visit https://18forty.org/podcast/avital-chizhik-goldschmidt-non-fiction/.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

27 Juli 20211h 22min

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Dani Ritholtz - rabbi and author - about the loss of his father to further explore Tisha B’Av’s relationship to loss.Dani Ritholtz lost his father to Pancreatic cancer in 2014. As part of his grieving process, he wrote a book exploring the development of his relationship to his loss throughout the ordeal. Here Dani talks about the book and its subject matter: how he dealt with the loss of his father.- How does it feel for a family member to battle a possibly fatal illness?- How did Dani and those around him cope with their loss?- What effects did it have on their mental health?- Why did Dani write his book?Tune in to hear a conversation on grief and coping.Musical Credit:Eim Eshkachech by Itzhak Azulai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0tldz_-0yUReferences:As a Ram Yearns for the Brook by Dani Ritholtz https://www.amazon.com/As-Ram-Yearns-Brook-Journey-ebook/dp/B08FBCX11ZTime Travel: A History by James Gleick https://www.amazon.com/Time-Travel-History-James-Gleick/dp/0307908798Kol Dodi Dofek by Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik https://www.amazon.com/Kol-Dodi-Dofek-Listen-Beloved/dp/0881258970Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

16 Juli 20211h 17min