18Forty Podcast

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Emmi Polansky, known on social media as @livingemunah, about her journey finding agency as a single mother. Sometimes, when we talk about teshuva, we’re referring to repentance for our specific sins. Another type of teshuva, as we explore, is a return to God as we celebrate our own worthiness and tzelem Elokim. In this episode we discuss:What is it like to participate in chagim and simchas during the process of divorce?How do we pick up the pieces when our plans for a perfect familial and spiritual life fall apart?How did fitness help improve Emmi ‘s mental and emotional health?Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to repeatedly return to God in times of apparent loneliness. Interview begins at 12:21.References:Chagigah 15aAs a Driven Leaf by Milton SteinbergSin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin@livingemunah on Instagram Emunah Minute on WhatsAppBilvavi Mishkan Evne18Forty Podcast: “Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community?”18Forty Podcast: “Moshe and Asher Weinberger: Heart of the Fire”Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch AlbomBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar, and this episode is sponsored by dailygiving.org.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Tuvia Tenenbom, a formerly Haredi and now secular Jew and the author of Careful, Beauties Ahead!, about how he developed a new love for Haredi religious life.When Tuvia Tenenbom wrote a book about Haredim in Mea Shearim, he found that all Jews—no matter how different their communities—are interconnected in more ways than we might think. In this episode we discuss:How did the Haredi community respond to October 7?What do outsiders misunderstand about Haredi Jews?Is humor the universal Jewish language? Tune in to hear a conversation about what it means to truly love the entirety of the Jewish family. Interview begins at 28:37.Tuvia Tenenbom is an Israeli-American theater director, playwright, and author who is the founding artistic director of the Jewish Theater of New York. He authored several books that deal with themes of Jewish life, Jewish culture, antisemitism, and the Holocaust, including his well-known Catch The Jew!. He joins us to discuss the year he, a secular Jew, spent with the Haredi Jews of Mea Shearim. References:18Forty Podcast: “Joshua Leifer and Shaindy Ort: How Progressive Activists Rediscovered Traditional Jewish Life”Tosafot on PesachimCareful, Beauties Ahead! by Tuvia TenenboCatch The Jew! by Tuvia TenenbomWorks of Tuvia TenenbomBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Yussie Zakutinsky, the rabbi of K’hal Mevakshei Hashem in Lawrence, New York, shares his vision for a united Jewish community. He emphasizes finding divinity even among differing beliefs. Discussing the importance of chesed and community, he reflects on Jewish identity and the interconnectedness of faith. The conversation delves into redeeming divine sparks from darkness and navigating the balance between tradition and modernity. With compassion at its core, Zakutinsky advocates for empathy and support in overcoming crises of faith and fostering unity.

Joshua Leifer is a journalist and author known for his critical work on American Jewish identity. Shaindy Ort is an attorney focused on social justice. Together, they discuss the transformation of progressive Jews in light of recent events. Did October 7 shift perspectives on Jewish identity? They explore the challenges of engaging with tradition while being part of leftist circles, sharing personal stories of reconnection. Their conversation dives deep into the complexities of navigating faith, activism, and community in contemporary society.

This episode is sponsored by Nishmat, the Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Advanced Torah Study for Women, whose Online Beit Midrash returns on Sept. 8. Women of all backgrounds can learn Talmud, Tanach, Halacha, and more from the comfort of home. For a full class schedule and registration, go here. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to historian and professor Pawel Maciejko about the false messiah Sabbatai Zevi, Sabbateanism, and the roots of Jewish secularism. Gershom Scholem, the scholar of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism, saw a connection between the 17th-century messianic movement of Sabbateanism and the later movement of Jewish secularism. Was he right? In this episode we discuss:What was the impact of Sabbateanism after its messianic fervor died down? How can studying Jewish history deepen one’s connection with Judaism? What is Frankism, and why is it a fascination of present-day antisemitic conspiracy theorists?Tune in to hear a conversation about what the rupture from the Sabbatean movement can teach us about the wide range of Jewish identities we see today. Interview begins at 17:05.Pawel Maciejko is an associate professor of history and Leonard and Helen R. Stulman Chair in Classical Jewish Religion, Thought, and Culture at Johns Hopkins University. Between 2005 and 2016 he taught at the Department of Jewish Thought at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His first book, The Mixed Multitude: Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement, 1755–1816, was awarded the Salo Baron Prize by the American Academy of Jewish Research and the Jordan Schnitzer Book Award by the Association for Jewish Studies.References:Not in the Heavens: The Tradition of Jewish Secular Thought by David BialeMakers of Jewish Modernity: Thinkers, Artists, Leaders, and the World They Made edited by Jacques Picard, Jacques Revel, Michael P. Steinberg, and Idith Zertal “The Holiness of Sin” by Gershom ScholemMishnah Chagigah 2Ezekiel 1Accounting for the Commandments in Medieval Judaism by Elliot R. WolfsonSabbatian Heresy: Writings on Mysticism, Messianism, and the Origins of Jewish Modernity edited by Pawel MaciejkoThe Mixed Multitude: Jacob Frank and the Frankist Movement, 1755-1816 by Pawel Maciejko“The Messianic Feminism of Shabbatai Zevi and Sarah Ashkenazi” by Jericho VincentOn Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Danya Ruttenberg“A Portrait of the Kabbalist as a Young Man: Count Joseph Carl Emmanuel Waldstein and His Retinue” by Pawel Maciejko“Gershom Scholem’s dialectic of Jewish history: the case of Sabbatianism” by Pawel MaciejkoSeforimchatter’s Sabbatai Zevi SeriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak to the Perez family, whose son Daniel, Hashem yikkom damo, was killed defending Israel and the Jewish People on October 7. We’re joined by Daniel’s father, Doron; his mother, Shelley; and his siblings, Shira, Adina, and Yonatan, to hear about Daniel’s courageous life and the unfathomable loss endured by his family and the Jewish People. In this episode we discuss:What does living a life of sanctity and purpose mean, especially in the face of terror and tragedy? How did Daniel’s siblings cope with the loss of their beloved brother? Amid the absence of loss, how can we find the presence of purpose?Tune in to hear a conversation about the clarity of mission that might help us heal from the trauma of October 7.Interview begins at 28:00.References:Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot 2:4 Parshat Sh'lachShuvi V'nechze Al H'torah by Rabbi Moshe ShapiroPeri Tzadik by Rav Tzadok HaKohen of LublinJerusalem Talmud Berakhot 1:1Psalms 121“Brother” by KodalineEzekiel 16:6The Bayit in every BayitBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Yehoshua Pfeffer, a prominent Haredi social thinker and activist, shares insights on the challenges surrounding the Haredi draft in Israel. He discusses the complexities of integrating Haredi citizens into military service while navigating tensions between religious beliefs and civic responsibilities. Pfeffer also explores the relationship between Judaism and democracy, questioning whether Israel should be a religious state. His reflections on identity, Messianism, and the need for coexistence highlight the ongoing societal debates within modern Israel.

Eli Rubin is a scholar and Lubavitcher Hasid, known for his insights into Chabad Hasidism. He delves into the Rebbe's legacy and the philosophical foundations of Hasidism, urging listeners to contemplate the role of the Mashiach in contemporary life. The discussion touches on the Rebbe's unique leadership style and his approach to community through mitzvot. Rubin also addresses the relevance of Kabbalistic thought in today's world and the dynamic understanding of redemption, emphasizing the enduring influence of the Rebbe's teachings.

Yosef Bronstein, a rabbi, writer, and scholar, dives into the profound philosophy of Chabad and the Lubavitcher Rebbe. He discusses what attracts individuals from other Orthodox backgrounds, like Litvaks, to Chabad's teachings. The conversation explores the Rebbe's innovations in Judaism and how a messianic consciousness can enrich spiritual lives. Bronstein also highlights the complexities of modern Jewish identity and the possibility of integrating diverse perspectives within the Orthodox community, all while reflecting on the emotional landscape of contemporary Israel.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Chava Green—an emerging scholar who wrote her doctoral dissertation on “the Hasidic face of feminism”—about how the Lubavitcher Rebbe infused American sensibilities with mystical sensitivities, paying particular attention to the role of women.Some stereotype mysticism as something out of this world. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe showed us the importance of having mysticism inform our everyday lives, emphasizing the cosmic impact of the mitzvos done by men, women, and children. In this episode we discuss:Was the Rebbe really “the biggest feminist”?How did the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s mysticism translate to the lived experience of his followers? How did Green come to be a self-identified Hasidic feminist? Tune in to hear a conversation about how both the Jewish and feminist worlds contain a wider range of ideas than one might expect. Interview begins at 8:55.Chava Green is a writer, teacher, and perpetual student. After graduating with her B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies, she attended Mayanot Women’s Program in Jerusalem and Machon Alta in Tzfat. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Jewish studies at Emory University and lives with her family in Morristown, New Jersey. Her work considers the relationship between Chabad teachings and feminism.References:Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age by Ayala FaderMitzvah Girls: Bringing Up the Next Generation of Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn by Ayala FaderMystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers by Stephanie Wellen LevineSocial Vision: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Transformative Paradigm for the World by Philip WexlerChava Green on Chabad.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.