JL;DR

Parshat Toldot offers a compelling exploration of recurring family dynamics, highlighting how patterns of behavior, such as deception and favoritism, perpetu...

AI is emerging as a transformative tool in Jewish life, offering novel applications while posing potential challenges to tradition. Key uses include translat...

Rivka Bennun Kay's recommendations in "What to Read If You're Thinking About AI, the Soul, and the Future" offer a multidimensional exploration of consciousn...

Rivka Bennun Kay's article discusses how the Forer Effect, originally identified in psychology experiments, is mirrored in the way people interact with AI te...

Parshat Chayei Sarah reveals timeless insights into lasting love, contrasting today's romantic pursuits with intentional, value-driven matchmaking. The parsh...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on the unique educational messages within Israel's Religious Zionist community, particularly their engagement with Tanach as a livi...

Five years after his passing, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks continues to provide profound guidance for a fractured world, particularly in Israel. Known for his i...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her enduring engagement with Israeli author Amos Oz's works, detailing her personal journey and evolving understanding through h...

Parshat Vayera presents profound lessons on moral courage, exploring themes of advocacy, resilience, and ethical challenge. Rivka Bennun Kay discusses Avraha...

Rivka Bennun Kay's curation from "I Read This Over Shabbos" offers an eclectic list of 13 books to dive into this autumn. Reflecting the diverse interests of...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the intersection of consciousness, AI, and spirituality, contemplating what defines human uniqueness in an age of advanced artifici...

Lech Lecha is a foundational Torah portion that offers profound insights into spiritual seeking, centering on Avraham's journey from Haran to the unknown. Th...

After Sukkot in Israel, known as acharei hachagim, life resumes its routine, shedding the festive chaos for the calming consistency of daily patterns. To eas...

Rivka Bennun Kay's article examines the biblical narrative of Noach (Noah) as a study in the psychology of starting over, particularly after trauma. After th...

Rivka Bennun Kay's article explores the practice of Shnayim Mikra, the tradition of reading the weekly Torah portion twice along with the translation once, h...

Rivka Bennun Kay's article engages with the intersection of science and Torah by exploring the opening chapter of the Torah in light of contemporary scientif...

Following the tragic events of October 7, Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her experience of becoming a mother again, framing it as an act of radical hope in a w...

Rivka Bennun Kay shares her reading list for Sukkot, emphasizing how this festival provides an opportunity for reflection and recharging. Her picks include "...

Rivka Bennun Kay recounts her experiment with ChatGPT, exploring the dynamic of interacting with a soulless AI that helps mirror and refine her thoughts and ...

The article by Rivka Bennun Kay explores Jewish historical and textual approaches to confronting personal and communal challenges, metaphorically framed as "...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her experience of navigating different prayer traditions as a Sephardic Jew in predominantly Ashkenazi settings. Growing accusto...

Rivka Bennun Kay's article delves into the debate on expressing religious emotions within Judaism, drawing comparisons between the philosophies of Rabbi Klon...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the Jewish tradition of wishing one to live until 120 years, drawing from both the Torah's mention of human mortality and the life ...

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the 18Forty team shares their diverse reading list aimed at fostering introspection and personal growth during the season of tes...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her final Rosh Hashanah in the UK, where she served as Senior Rabbi for the Sephardi Community, exploring themes of memory and p...

In "The Third Temple," Yishai Sarid presents a dystopian vision where Israel, under a quasi-Messianic monarchy, is governed by Torah law while surrounded by ...

The bikkurim ceremony, depicted in the Beth Alpha synagogue mosaics, highlights the Jewish value of performing mitzvot with joy. This ancient ritual involved...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the harmonious blend of Written and Oral Torah through her reflections on reading Rav Kook's "Orot HaTorah" during a vacation. She ...

Rivka Bennun Kay argues that while the self-help movement focuses on individual happiness and self-empowerment, it often leads to feelings of brokenness and ...

Rivka Bennun Kay delves into Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik's advocacy for keeping religious emotions private, highlighting how this reflects broader Jewish va...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the theme of remembrance in Jewish tradition, focusing on the biblical commandment to remember Amalek's attack on Israel. She delve...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the teachings of Rabbi Yehuda Amital on spiritual introspection during the month of Elul, drawing from his book "When God is Near."...

Franz Kafka's works resonate deeply with Jewish readers by reflecting the perpetual challenges and uncertainties of Jewish identity, exile, and faith. Kafka'...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the concept of faith and authenticity (temimut) in Jewish tradition, drawing on various interpretations from Jewish scholars and ps...

This month's reading list from the 18Forty team showcases a diverse array of literary works across different genres and themes, reflecting the varied interes...

The article by Rivka Bennun Kay explores the historical and theological complexities associated with the involvement of different Jewish communities in the d...

In celebration of Tu B'Av, the Jewish holiday of love, Rivka Bennun Kay shares a curated list of nine books that delve into the complexities of love, relatio...

In a world increasingly dominated by smartphones and social media, some members of the Haredi community, like Chani, have adopted kosher phones to limit thei...

The legacy of Israeli poet Dahlia Ravikovitch is profoundly explored, emphasizing her wish that her life experiences be overshadowed by the enduring resonanc...

Following the October 2023 antisemitic events, many highly assimilated American Jews have rediscovered their Jewish identity, leading to a renewed interest i...

Rivka Bennun Kay explores the complexities of Jewish learning in the modern world, contrary to some traditional perspectives. Through a personal journey with...

The article explores the historical and religious significance of Tisha B'Av, a day of mourning commemorated by Jews for numerous tragedies that befell them ...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her experiences with Talmud study, comparing it to her journey with Shakespeare. Raised in a traditional yeshiva system focused ...

18Forty's Rivka Bennun Kay curates a poignant list of books that explore the theme of grief and loss from various perspectives. This thoughtful selection fea...

Rivka Bennun Kay's exploration of Parashat Masei delves into the Torah's description of Eretz Yisrael's borders, comparing them to the maximalist borders pro...

Rivka Bennun Kay reflects on her father's battle with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, drawing parallels to the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel. T...

Sruli Fruchter discusses the challenge of understanding the complex, poetic narrative of Anne Michaels' 2023 novel, "Held," which explores love, memory, and ...

The exploration of faith and identity loss is central to the tale of Elisha ben Abuyah, a Talmudic sage who transformed into the heretic Acher after a journe...

Rav Yehuda Amital's legacy, elucidated on the occasion of his 15th yahrtzeit, is one of profound humility and a life deeply rooted in action rather than writ...

Reflecting on the 1967 Summer of Love, this article contrasts the era's hippie counterculture with the disciplined life proposed by Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein...