18Forty Podcast

18Forty is celebrating its fifth year LIVE in NYC on June 9. Reserve your seats today!

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin moderates a dialogue between Aryeh Englander—the ex-Orthodox Jew known as “Philo Judeas,” who is a moderator of the ambitious Frum/OTD Dialogue Facebook group—and Daniel Hagler, a frum surgeon and a moderator of the Facebook group Respectfully Debating Judaism.  

Together, we talk about seeking meaning, uncovering religious truths, and making the most of the precious gift we call “life.” In this episode we discuss: 

• How do we know if Judaism is “real” and true? 
• How is a religious commitment like a romantic one? 
• Which is more important: Judaism being true or Judaism being useful?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the ways in which we chase truth and determine how we ought to live our lives. 

Interview begins at 19:29.
Follow-up Hagler interview begins at 1:19:04. 

References:

18Forty Podcast: “Philo Judaeus: Is There a Room for Dialogue?”

Judaism on Trial: Jewish-Christian Disputations in the Middle Ages by Hyam Maccoby

Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy by David J. Chalmers

Tzidkat HaTzadik 41

18Forty Podcast: “Rav Moshe Weinberger: Can Mysticism Become a Community?”
“Worlds Together” in Mishpacha

Jewish Philosophy as a Guide to Life: Rosenzweig, Buber, Levinas, Wittgenstein by Hilary Putnam

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Slate Star Codex

Eruvin 13b

How Judaism Became a Religion: An Introduction to Modern Jewish Thought by Leora Batnitzky

18Forty Podcast: “Malka Simkovich: The Mystery of the Jewish People”

A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World's Oldest Religion by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Kiddushin 30a

Leviticus 10:16

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In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, talk to Moshe Krakowski, a professor at Yeshiva University, about his work on Attrition and Connection in American Orthodox Judaism, the OU’s study on what we crassly call “OTD.” 

Dr. Krakowski takes us “under the hood” of those who leave their religious communities to show us what factors lead Jews to leave faith behind. In this episode we discuss: 

• Why do so many of us choose the countercultural life of Orthodox Judaism? 
• What leads someone to leave a religious community—or seek out a more insular one? 
• How do we create a Jewish world that is sticky, rich, and spiritually nourishing? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about why we leave Jewish communities and, maybe more importantly, why we stay. 

Interview begins at 9:29.

Moshe Krakowski is a professor at the Azrieli Graduate School for Jewish Education and Administration at Yeshiva University, where he also directs Azrieli’s doctoral program. He studies American Haredi education and culture, focusing on the relationship between communal worldview, identity, and education. He also works on curriculum, cognition, and inquiry learning in Jewish educational settings.

References:

18Forty’s OTD Archive

“Passing Through” by David Bashevkin

Attrition and Connection in American Orthodox Judaism by Dr. Moshe Krakowski, Dr. Rachel Ginsberg, Aliza Goldstein, Abby Nadritch, Joshua Schoenberg, and Akiva Schuck

“Yiddishe Taavos” by Motty Ilowitz

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In anticipation of our upcoming series, we want to share with you our episode with Shulem Deen, originally released in June 2020. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David discusses with special guest and former member of the Ultra-Orthodox community, Shulem Deen, the struggle and importance of balancing one’s individual needs with those of the community.

Though many of us are aware of the extreme disconnect that exists between the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community and the secular world, the result of this unfortunate dynamic offers powerful insight. In particular, the intense and likely under-discussed experience of ex-Ultra-Orthodox community members (a group referred to by many as ‘Off The Derech’ or OTD) raises important questions about the reality of this intercommunity conflict and life as a modern Jew. In what ways do the religious and secular worlds misunderstand each other? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Ultra-Orthodox and secular worlds in facilitating a positive life for their members? How can we as individuals combat the inescapable myopia of living within a social bubble? Tune in to join David and Shulem in seeking answers to these important questions.

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by Yeshivat Shalshelet, which gives children with language-based learning differences the confidence and skills to thrive academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Donate to its matching campaign at theshalsheletdifference.org.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Bayla Gopin—a student with dyslexia— and her mother, Chana, who brought Bayla to Yeshivat Shalshelet when her previous school was ignoring her needs.

We also sit down with Shulamit Roth, Shalshelet’s founder, to talk about how we can expand the circle of who Yiddishkeit is for. In this episode we discuss: 

• Does our emphasis on text-based learning leave some students out? 
• How do we handle the perceived social stigma of needing to deviate from our “Plan A”?
• How does a child deal with switching schools when school is such a huge part of their world?

Tune in to hear a conversation about how we can nurture every student the way he or she was created. 

Interview begins at 11:40.

Shulamit Roth is a language and speech pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping students with language based learning disabilities. Her passion for teaching Jewish students with language-based learning disabilities led her to founding Yeshivat Shalshelet, where she helps students access the beauty of Torah and achieve their academic and personal potential.

References:

Born Losers by Scott A. Sandage

“Amen al Ha'yeladim” by Chanan Ben Ari

Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin

Proverbs 22:6

Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz M.D.

18Forty Podcast: “Yehuda and Ilana Turetsky: Why Would an American Rabbinic Couple Move to Israel?”

For more 18Forty:
NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
CALL: (212) 582-1840
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: 18forty.org
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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

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Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.
This episode is sponsored by Ketubah.com. Find the perfect ketubah for your wedding at Ketubah.com—beautiful designs, halachic accuracy, and personalized guidance every step of the way.

This episode is also sponsored by our friends at Sofer.Ai. 

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to Talia Khan—a Jewish MIT graduate student and Israel activist—and her father, an Afghan Muslim immigrant, about their close father-daughter relationship despite their ideological disagreements. 

When Talia gained national attention in 2023 testifying before Congress and expressing her anger with the hostility toward Jews on MIT’s campus, many wondered what her Muslim father thought of her activism. In this episode we discuss: 

• What was Talia’s father’s reaction to her public advocacy on  behalf of Jews and Israel? 
• How do Talia and her father stay close despite their fundamental ideological differences?
• Why are Jewish-Muslim relations so strained? 

Tune in to hear a conversation about how humanity’s story of redemption takes form in a father-daughter relationship.

Interview begins at 11:09.

Talia Khan is an MIT graduate student in mechanical engineering, the president of the MIT Israel Alliance, a Fulbright Brazil alumna, and the daughter of a Jewish mother and an Afghan Muslim immigrant father. 

References:

18Forty Podcast: “What’s Next: Higher Education for Jews: David Wolpe, Talia Khan, and Steven Pinker”

Golda (2023)

Rashi on Genesis 15:15, Bereshit Rabbah 30 

Meshekh Chokhmah by Meir Simha HaKohen Dvinsk

Genesis 17:18

For more 18Forty:
NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
CALL: (212) 582-1840
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: 18forty.org
IG: @18forty
X: @18_forty
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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.