18Forty Podcast Dovid Bashevkin: A Reform Rabbi Interviews an Orthodox Rabbi [Denominations 2/4]
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Jan 13, 2026 David Bashevkin, Director of Education at NCSY and a vibrant voice in Jewish thought, engages in a deep conversation with Diana Fersko, a prominent Reform rabbi. They explore how Bashevkin's Orthodox background informs his broader understanding of Jewish unity and identity. The duo discusses commandedness versus obligation, the central role of families in Jewish life, and the importance of humility in religious discourse. They also tackle the complexities of bridging denominational divides, urging a focus on community and education as vital for Jewish resilience.
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Modernity Requires A New Jewish Language
- Modernity made exclusive truth claims about Judaism harder to justify from first principles.
- Bashevkin argues we need a new methodology and language to make Judaism compelling today.
Judaism Framed As A Language
- Moshe Koppel's analogy: Judaism functions like a language that evolves with its speakers.
- Bashevkin uses this to reframe authority and communal belonging as linguistic competence.
Judge Judaism By Who It Connects You To
- Evaluate your Jewish practice by who it puts you in dialogue with and its experiential yield.
- Use the home as the primary litmus test for meaningful Jewish transmission.
