18Forty Podcast

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we wrap up our mental health series by talking to Dr. Yael Muskat, director of Yeshiva University’s Counseling Center, and her longtime colleague Dr. Martin Galla about the mental health challenges at the forefront of early adulthood.Young people in the Jewish community are not immune from today’s mental health crisis. They have their own, equally pressing versions of those same problems. In this episode we discuss:How do experts deal with the mental health of college students “in between” childhood and adulthood?What mental health challenges to the Jewish world in particular need to address?How can young adults handle the mental health turmoil that can come with dating?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can get to a place where sound mental health enables spiritual growth. Interview with Dr. Muskat begins at 7:13.Interview with Dr. Galla begins at 55:46.Dr. Yael Muskat, Psy.D., is the Director of the Counseling Center at Yeshiva University and has over 20 years of clinical experience. After graduating from Yeshiva University, she received a Master’s in Special Education from Columbia University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University, C.W. Post. Dr. Muskat continued her clinical training by completing a Post Doctorate Leadership Fellowship at Westchester Institute for Human Development. Dr. Martin Galla is a former associate director at the Yeshiva University Counseling Center, where he worked for 13 years. References:Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue JohnsonThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der KolkThe Mindfulness Workbook for OCD: A Guide to Overcoming Obsessions and Compulsions Using Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by Jon Hershfield and Tom CorboyEinstein's Dreams by Alan LightmanBerakhot 12bBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Regine Galanti—a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults—about mental health treatment among today's Jewish families.It’s a relatively recent phenomenon in Jewish history that our material needs are largely taken care of. While this is a tremendous blessing, it’s redirected our attention to the psychological needs toward the top of Maslow's hierarchy. This is a kind of suffering that many of us are still learning how to handle, and that we anguish over figuring out how to address in our children. In this episode we discuss:What is going on with young people and mental health, and how can we help our children thrive?How can we contend with the mental health blessings and curses that come with modernity?What should we do when we are depressed or anxious?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might go from doom-scrolling about mental health to taking meaningful action.Interview begins at 19:48.Dr. Regine Galanti, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and behavior problems in children, teens, and adults. She is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr Galanti is the founder of Long Island Behavioral Psychology, a therapy practice in Nassau County, Long Island, and is an Educational Consultant in the Psychiatry Department of Mount Sinai Hospital. She is the author of Anxiety Relief for Teens: Essential CBT Skills and Mindfulness Practices to Overcome Anxiety and Stress, as well as When Harley Has Anxiety: A Fun CBT Skills Activity Book for Overcoming Worries and Fears. References:“Why the Kids Aren't Alright” with Bari Weiss“How Anxiety Became Content” by Derek ThompsonBreaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli R. LebowitzThe Explosive Child by Ross W GreeneThe Happiness Trap by Russ Harris10% Happier by Dan HarrisBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Twillory. New customers can use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders of $139 or more. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yoni Rosensweig, rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, about the intersection between mental health and halacha. It is tempting to sometimes see halacha and mental health as being at odds. But what if, with the right guidance, we could instead understand halacha to be a system that sees the fullness of our unideal circumstances and draws us closer to God in spite of it all? In this episode we discuss:How might we enable people who are suffering mentally to live fully halachic lives?How can a rabbi apply modern knowledge of mental health to centuries-old rabbinic texts?How can we benefit from halacha even—especially—amid our difficulties?Tune in to hear a conversation about how halacha has more to offer us than we might expect.Interview begins at 12:25.Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig is rabbi of the Netzah Menashe community in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Previously, he served as Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Shevut Yisrael in Efrat. Rabbi Rosensweig is the author of several books including the recent Nafshi Beshe’elati on Jewish law and mental health.References:נפשי בשאלתי - הלכות בריאות הנפש by Yoni Rosensweig The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk@tzvei_dinimBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by someone supporting 18Forty’s work.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen in on a conversation between David Bashevkin and his dear and longtime friend Elie Schulman about the value of therapy.In a culture in which we can feel we’re constantly being sized up and evaluated by others, accepting our own vulnerability can be one of the hardest things to do. In this episode we discuss:How can someone know it’s time to get therapy?How can we get beyond excessively comparing ourselves with our peers?What does it mean to “lift up” a friend?Tune in to hear a conversation about how seeking help can be a sign and source of strength.Interview begins at 11:29.References:Pirkei Avot 1:6Curb Your EnthusiasmThe Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema ChodronThe Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice MillerwWaking Up by Sam HarrisDavid Bashevkin on That’s An Issue“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I’ve Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David Bashevkin“On Campus, Failure Is on the Syllabus” by Jessica BennettBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.This episode is sponsored by Aleph Beta in light of their newly released season of the A Book Like No Other podcast. This podcast is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder Rabbi David Fohrman, as he embarks on his most far-reaching and in-depth explorations of the Torah text. Aleph Beta takes the excitement of Torah learning to a whole new level! Become a member today and start listening— use code “18Forty” to get one month FREE! You will never see the Torah text the same way again.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Yakov Danishefsky—a rabbi, author and licensed social worker—about our relationships and our mental health. We know from Tanakh that “[i]t is not good for man to be alone.” But, when it comes to understanding our relationships, this is just the beginning, as those of us surrounded by others can still be unhappy. Psychologists can explain this phenomenon in part with the study of what they call “attachment theory.” In this episode we discuss:What does Abraham Maslow get wrong in his “hierarchy of needs”?How can attachment theory apply to our relationships with God?What do we really want?Tune in to hear a conversation about how our lives are in many ways defined by the relationships around us.Interview begins at 14:36.Rabbi Yakov Danishefsky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. He is the founder of Mind Body Therapy, a private group practice in Chicago. Yakov has semicha and a Master’s in Jewish Philosophy from Yeshiva University and is a popular speaker, teacher, and author on the intersection of spirituality, philosophy, and psychology. He is the author of a new book, Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach.References:The OfficePirkei Avot 5Genesis 2:18Attached: Connecting to Our Creator: A Jewish Psychological Approach by Rabbi Yaakov Danishefsky, LCSWWhat You Do Is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture by Ben HorowitzThe Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema ChodronThe Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller"Souls as Mirrors" by Shlomo KassiererBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Our mental health series is sponsored by Terri and Andrew Herenstein.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin opens up about his mental health journey.Through the lenses of therapy, comedy, books, family history, and positive influences, David shares the experiences that have shaped the way he handles mental health challenges today. In this episode we discuss:Is religious commitment supposed to be the cure to mental health problems?How can we deal with the need to be liked?What enables happy people to be so happy?Tune in to hear a discussion about how one might “become friends with themself” despite life’s difficulties.Message from Dr. Sara Baris begins at 24:26.Conversation with Grandma Millie begins at 1:18:30.Conversation with Jay Richman begins at 1:24:08.David Bashevkin, is the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and an instructor at Yeshiva University, where he teaches courses on public policy, religious crisis, and rabbinic thought. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a master’s degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He received a doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He has published two books, Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, as well as a Hebrew work B’Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy). References:Stutz (2022)Comedian (2002)John Mulaney And Stephen Colbert Explore Each Other's Deepest AnxietiesIntroduction to Love's Executioner by Irvin D. YalomThe Wisdom of No Escape: and the Path of Loving-Kindness by Pema Chödrön How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind by Pema Chödrön The Zen Diaries of Garry ShandlingGary Gulman: The Great DepreshBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we listen and respond to feedback from the 18Forty community on the conversations of our Israel at War topic. Jews live in two different worlds—one before Oct. 7, and one after. The last few months have transformed the Jewish People across denominations, communities, and countries. Prompted by your feedback, we reflect upon those changes. Together, we reflect on those changes. In this episode we discuss:Why are American Jews misunderstanding the Dati Leumi community?What does it mean to be a Jew in a post–Oct. 7 world?In what ways can diaspora Jews aspire to live more like Israeli Jews?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might continue forward in pursuit of being a unified Jewish People. Feedback messages begin: 9:28References:Exodus 3:5“Surfin' Slivovitz” by Andy Statman“Shomer Yisrael” by Omek Hadavar“Yossi Klein Halevi: What’s Next: The Future of Liberal Zionism”“Jonathan Gribetz: What’s Next: Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In this special episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we introduce the topic of mental health with a conversation featuring world-famous Jewish singer Lipa Schmeltzer. While many people know Lipa’s songs, far fewer know his journey of mental health—a story he never expected to unfold. With raw vulnerability and beautiful passion, Lipa opens up about every step that led him to today. His lessons are immeasurably important.In this episode we discuss:What does it mean to be working for the “image company”?How did Lipa break through the barrier to seeking professional help for mental health issues?How can we maintain sincerity in the face of our own cynicism?Tune in to hear a conversation about the radical honesty it takes to make progress on a mental health journey.Interview begins at 20:26.Lipa, once described as “the Lady Gaga of Hasidic music,” has 18 solo albums to date. He is a father, singer, writer, and visual artist. References:“My heartfelt message of personal growth & challenges before Matan Torah 5783” with Lipa SchmeltzerMaking of a Godol by Nathan KamenetskyElon Musk by Walter IsaacsonThe Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer The Power of Now by Eckhart TolleThe Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der KolkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Rav Reuven and Rabbanit Shani Taragin, educational directors of World Mizrachi, about what comes next for Israel’s Dati Leumi (Religious Zionist) community. Additionally, we speak with Gideon Davis, a Religious Zionist soldier serving in Gaza.Mistakenly, we tend to think of the Dati Leumi community as Israel’s analog to Modern Orthodoxy. That makes us miss, however, that Religious Zionism is a rich worldview unto itself, and is something we all can learn from. In this episode we discuss:How does the Dati Leumi community differ from the American Modern Orthodox community?What can American Jews better understand about the sacrifices and contributions made by Religious Zionists?What does it mean to be a member of the Dati Leumi community in 2024?Tune in to hear a conversation about how a religious mindset can expand beyond personal piety to include a deep commitment to the Jewish People and the world. Interview with Gideon Davis begins at 6:09.Interview with Reuven and Shani Taragin begins at 36:42.Rav Reuven Taragin is a former Wexner Fellow and Musmach of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate. Rav Taragin is the Dean of Overseas Students at Yeshivat Hakotel where he is responsible for the program’s quality and message and the welfare of each of its talmidim. Rav Taragin is also the Rosh Beit Midrash at Camp Moshava (I.O.), and Rav of Kehillat Eretz Chemdah in Katamon.Rabbanit Shani Taragin is a noted author and teacher at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, MaTaN, Migdal Oz, Sha’alvim for Women, Lander College, and the Women’s’ Beit Midrash in Efrat and Ramat Shilo.The Taragins are the Educational Directors of World Mizrachi and the RZA (Religious Zionists of America), and they also serve as Roshei Beit Medrash for the Beit Medrash Program in Camp Moshava IO during the summer. They have six children and live in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion.References:The MatrixAdjusting Sights by Haim SabatoTanakhThe Rav Speaks by Joseph B. Soleveitchik“How Will Redemption Begin?” by David BashevkinMeshekh Chokhmah by Meir Simha HaKohen DvinskBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe, MIT PhD student Talia Khan, and Harvard professor Steven Pinker about the new reality for Jews in higher education.Since Simchas Torah, the hostile discourse regarding Israel has become something that no Jewish student can ignore. Jewish families have been asking: Is it even worth it to send our sons and daughters to these colleges? In this episode we discuss:Is it better for Jews to change the system from within, or without?What has changed about the Jewish experience at American colleges since Oct. 7?What is the way forward regarding free speech and Jewish rights on campus?Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might work toward a reimagined and refocused higher education.Interview with David Wolpe begins at 4:27.Interview with Talia Khan begins at 29:30.Interview with Steven Pinker begins at 1:05:12.Named The Most Influential Rabbi in America by Newsweek and one of the 50 Most Influential Jews in the World by The Jerusalem Post, David Wolpe is a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School and the Max Webb Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple, a Conservative shul in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe previously taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, Hunter College, and UCLA. He is the author of eight books, including the national bestseller Making Loss Matter: Creating Meaning in Difficult Times. His new book is titled David, the Divided Heart.Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, and a Fulbright Brazil alumna.Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He conducts research on language, cognition, and social relations, writes for publications such as the New York Times, Time and The Atlantic, and is the author of twelve books, including The Language Instinct, How the Mind Works, The Blank Slate, The Stuff of Thought, The Better Angels of Our Nature, The Sense of Style, Enlightenment Now, and Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters.References:“On the Hatred of Jews” by David J. WolpeIsrael: An Echo of Eternity by Abraham Joshua Heschel O Jerusalem! by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre “When Calls for Jewish Genocide Can Cost a University Its Government Funding” by Michael A. Helfand“A five-point plan to save Harvard from itself” by Steven PinkerThe Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan HaidtThe Canceling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott The Constitution of Knowledge by Jonathan RauchBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.