Episodes

  • Mark Wildes: Is Modern Orthodox Outreach the Way Forward? [Denominations 3/4]

    Mark Wildes: Is Modern Orthodox Outreach the Way Forward? [Denominations 3/4]
    Jan 27 2026
    In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Mark Wildes, founder and director of Manhattan Jewish Experience, about Modern Orthodox outreach.

    In this episode we discuss:
    • Why aren’t more aspiring rabbis attracted to kiruv?
    • How can we help people make the transition from outreach programs to the “real world”?
    • How can we make the case for Shabbos for the masses?
    Tune in to hear a conversation about the “non-professional kiruv” of the Modern Orthodox community.

    Interview begins at 22:45.

    Rabbi Mark Wildes was ordained from Yeshiva University, but before becoming a rabbi, he received a JD from the Cardozo School of Law and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University. Since founding MJE 20 years ago, Rabbi Wildes has become one of America’s most inspirational and dynamic Jewish educators. He lives with his wife Jill and their children Yosef, Ezra, Judah and Avigayil on the Upper West Side where they maintain a warm and welcoming home for all.

    References:

    Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life by Charlie Kirk

    The Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. Soloveitchik

    This Is My God by Herman Wouk

    “Is Modern Orthodox Kiruv Possible?” by Steven Gotlib

    For more 18Forty:
    NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
    CALL: (212) 582-1840
    EMAIL: info@18forty.org
    WEBSITE: 18forty.org
    IG: @18forty
    X: @18_forty
    WhatsApp: join here


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 20 mins
  • Zevi Slavin: ''To be a mystic is to be human at its most raw" [18 Questions, 40 Mystics]

    Zevi Slavin: ''To be a mystic is to be human at its most raw" [18 Questions, 40 Mystics]
    Jan 20 2026
    This episode is sponsored by the podcast Women Talking Mitzvot.

    This podcast is in partnership with Rabbi Benji Levy and Share. Learn more at 40mystics.com.

    As a Chabad Hasid, Rabbi Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidut and Kabbala. This upbringing provided him with a unique lens through which he continues to learn, study, and connect with others.

    Drawing on his background, Slavin created “Seekers of Unity,” a Youtube channel dedicated to exploring the philosophy and history of mysticism across diverse traditions. He founded this channel with the goal of forming a community focused on creating a more intimate world together.

    Now, he joins us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism including people’s inherent divinity, tapping into the potential of modernity, and the perpetual experience of mount Sinai.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Dovid Bashevkin: A Reform Rabbi Interviews an Orthodox Rabbi [Denominations 2/4]

    Dovid Bashevkin: A Reform Rabbi Interviews an Orthodox Rabbi [Denominations 2/4]
    Jan 13 2026
    In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin answers questions from Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.

    In this episode we discuss:
    • How did David become an Orthodox rabbi with an interest in the broader Jewish world?
    • Where does David get his sense of commandedness and obligation from?
    • How should Israel factor into our thinking about Jewish unity?
    Tune in to hear a conversation about what it would mean for us to speak Judaism as a “first language.”

    Interview begins at 29:05.

    Diana Fersko is the Senior Rabbi of The Village Temple, a Reform synagogue at the heart of downtown Jewish life in New York City. An internationally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader, she is a defining voice in the contemporary Jewish world, known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to bring Jewish tradition into meaningful dialogue with modern life.

    For more 18Forty:
    NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
    CALL: (212) 582-1840
    EMAIL: info@18forty.org
    WEBSITE: 18forty.org
    IG: @18forty
    X: @18_forty
    WhatsApp: join here

    References:

    “Judaism as a First Language” by Moshe Koppel

    Judaism Straight Up by Moshe Koppel

    Tzidkat HaTzadik 41

    Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin

    B'Rogez Rachem Tizkor by David Bashevkin

    Taanit 20a


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 39 mins
  • An Orthodox Rabbi Interviews a Reform Rabbi [Denominations 1/4]

    An Orthodox Rabbi Interviews a Reform Rabbi [Denominations 1/4]
    Jan 6 2026
    In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Diana Fersko, senior rabbi of the Village Temple Reform synagogue, about denominations and Jewish Peoplehood.

    In this episode we discuss:
    • How do we re-determine how to be Jews in America?
    • Is there really an “education gap” between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews?
    • How should we handle the question of “who is a Jew” across denominations?
    Tune in to hear a conversation about how we might see beyond our proverbial “three blocks."

    Interview begins at 22:11.

    Diana Fersko is the Senior Rabbi of The Village Temple, a Reform synagogue at the heart of downtown Jewish life in New York City. An internationally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader, she is a defining voice in the contemporary Jewish world, known for her clarity, compassion, and ability to bring Jewish tradition into meaningful dialogue with modern life.

    References:

    View of the World from 9th Avenue

    Tzidkat HaTzadik 54

    No Country for Old Men

    The Tapestry of Jewish Time: A Spiritual Guide to Holidays and Life-Cycle Events by Nina Beth Cardin

    A Letter in the Scroll by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

    For more 18Forty:
    NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
    CALL: (212) 582-1840
    EMAIL: info@18forty.org
    WEBSITE: 18forty.org
    IG: @18forty
    X: @18_forty
    WhatsApp: join here


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change (Teshuva Re-Release)

    Yabloner Rebbe: The Rebbe of Change (Teshuva Re-Release)
    Dec 30 2025
    Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics.

    In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, originally released in 2021, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva.

    The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva.
    • Who was the Yabloner Rebbe?
    • Why did he leave his faith?
    • What inspired him to return?
    Tune in to hear a conversation about the astounding story of the Yabloner Rebbe.

    References:

    The God of Loneliness by Philip Schultz

    The Amazing Return of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner

    The Astonishing Story of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini Dunner

    Mavericks, Mystics & False Messiahs by Rabbi Pini Dunner

    Rabbi Pini Dunner Website

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Shais Taub: A Vulnerable Conversation About Shame, Selfhood, and Authenticity [Mysticism III 3/3]

    Shais Taub: A Vulnerable Conversation About Shame, Selfhood, and Authenticity [Mysticism III 3/3]
    Dec 23 2025
    Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics.

    In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast—created in collaboration with Amudim—we speak with Shais Taub, the rabbi behind the organization SoulWords, about shame, selfhood, and authenticity.

    In this episode we discuss:
    • How are we to deal with the pain of embodiment and individuation?
    • How does one uncover their mission in the world and align their life with the transcendent?
    • How can we work to reorient our desires toward the right things?
    Tune in to hear a conversation about the interior experience of fragmentation from Ultimate Being.

    Interview begins at 10:28.

    Rabbi Shais Taub is a well-known figure in Jewish teachings and personal development and delivers Torah lectures and classes worldwide. He is renowned for his ability to make complex ideas accessible. He heads SoulWords.org and serves as scholar-in-residence at Chabad of the Five Towns in Long Island, New York.

    References:

    God of Our Understanding by Shais Taub

    Sin•a•gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought by David Bashevkin

    Top 5 by David Bashevkin

    Seinfeld: “The Soul Mate”

    "Eric Adams on Dyslexia, Trauma, and Fixing What's Broken in Politics”

    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

    For more 18Forty:
    NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/join
    CALL: (212) 582-1840
    EMAIL: info@18forty.org
    WEBSITE: 18forty.org
    IG: @18fortyX: @18_forty
    WhatsApp: join here


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Philip Goff: Consciousness, Mysticism, and God [Mysticism III 2/3]

    Philip Goff: Consciousness, Mysticism, and God [Mysticism III 2/3]
    Dec 16 2025
    Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Philip Goff—a philosophy professor who devotes much of his work to investigating the ultimate nature of reality—about consciousness, mysticism, and God. We also hear from Rabbi Eli Rubin about the possibility of “Jewish panpsychism.”In this episode we discuss:What is the relationship between consciousness and scientific observation?How should people find purpose in their lives?How does a secular philosopher make the decision to turn to religion?Tune in to hear a conversation about whether mysticism has scientific credibility. Interview begins at 9:22.Philip Goff is a philosophy professor at Durham University, UK, where he devotes much of his work to investigating the ultimate nature of reality. He publishes weekly interviews and articles on his Substack. Goff is known for defending panpsychism as the best available theory of consciousness; his TEDx talk, "Is there consciousness beyond the brain?" presents this view to a wider audience. His recent book, Why? The Purpose of the Universe (Oxford University Press, 2023), explores panpsychism as a middle ground between traditional belief in God and secular atheism. He is a recent convert to a form of “heretical Christianity".References:Kabbalah and the Rupture of Modernity by Eli RubinGalileo's Error by Philip GoffMy Bright Abyss by Christian WimanThe Varieties of Religious Experience by William JamesGödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas R. HofstadterTanya Chapter 2Why? The Purpose of the Universe by Philip GoffMind & Cosmos by Thomas NagelPurpose in the Universe by Tim Mulgan​​Universes by John LeslieFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Alon Shalev: How Rav Hutner Found Existential Meaning [Mysticism III 1/3]

    Alon Shalev: How Rav Hutner Found Existential Meaning [Mysticism III 1/3]
    Dec 9 2025
    Check out our new series in partnership with SHARE, 18 Questions, 40 Jewish Mystics. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Alon Shalev, a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, about how Rav Hutner found existential meaning.In this episode we discuss:How do we find and build purpose within our short lives?What is the role of individualism and self-expression in Jewish life? How should we respond to the crisis of perceived meaninglessness in the modern world? Tune in to hear a conversation about the coming together of machshavah, nigleh, and nistar.Interview begins at 23:20.Alon Shalev is a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a Research Associate at the Jonathan Sacks Institute at Bar-Ilan University. He holds a doctorate in Jewish Thought from the Hebrew University. He deals with the question of meaning in life in Jewish thought and philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy. His book Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner’s Theology of Meaning was published by Brill. Alon lives in Tzur Hadassah, and is married with three children.References:Terror in Black September: The First Eyewitness Account of the Infamous 1970 Hijackings by David RaabPachad Yitzchak Shavuos by Rav Yitzchok HutnerPachad Yitzchak Purim by Rav Yitzchok Hutner“Letters of Love and Rebuke From Rav Yitzchok Hutner” by David BashevkinBerakhot Chapter 2Between Berlin and Slobodka: Jewish Transition Figures from Eastern Europe by Hillel GoldbergGreat Jewish Letters by Moshe BambergerProverbs 24:16Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner’s Theology of Meaning by Alon ShalevHeidegger and Kabbalah by Elliot R. WolfsonHeidegger and His Jewish Reception by Daniel M. HerskowitzMesillat Yesharim by Moses Chaim LuzzattoWho Is Man? by Abraham J. HeschelHalakhic Man by Rabbi Joseph B. SoloveitchikDr. Alon Shalev on The Podcast of Jewish IdeasPachad Yitzchok Chanukah Rav Yitzchok HutnerFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 48 mins