JL;DR

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...

In an exploration of the 1967 Summer of Love, Sruli Fruchter reflects on the hippie movement's emphasis on personal freedom and liberation from societal norm...

Sephardic Jewry and its rich cultural and historical contributions face erasure within broader Jewish communities, especially in places like the United State...

Sruli Fruchter discusses the marginalization of Sephardic Jewry within mixed Ashkenazi-Sephardic communities in the United States. Despite the rich contribut...

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ashlag, known as the Baal Ha-Sulam, sought to revolutionize spirituality in the face of modern crises. Emphasizing Kabbalistic teachings li...

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ashlag, also known as the Baal Ha-Sulam, profoundly impacted Jewish mystical thought with his teachings on Kabbalah and the Zohar. His idea...

The discussion of fine-tuning in physics has shifted the narrative regarding religious belief versus atheism. Traditional scientific views often portrayed re...

Sruli Fruchter critiques the tendency among American Jews to equate the current political upheaval in Israel with the legacy of Rabbi Meir Kahane. He argues ...

Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent visit to the United States has reignited discussions around the legacy of Rabbi Meir Kahane among Orthodox Jews. Ben-Gvir, a current...

Sruli Fruchter reflects on how Haruki Murakami's literature provided solace during his five months of Israeli army reserve duty amidst the Israel-Hamas War. ...

Struggling through the nuances of faith and unbelief, Sruli Fruchter reflects on his journey from childhood through adulthood, highlighting the challenges of...

Sruli Fruchter reflects on the profound impact of the Bibas family tragedy on his own life, and finds solace in the Jewish tradition of reciting Kaddish. Thr...

Drawing on Susan Silk's Ring Theory, Sruli Fruchter explores the emotional divides between American and Israeli Jews, accentuated by recent crises. The theor...

Ari Lamm, a multifaceted rabbi and scholar, champions the importance of reading the Torah in its original Hebrew to unlock deeper themes and nuances often lo...

Sruli Fruchter addresses the lack of awareness among some Jewish communities regarding Israeli hostages, emphasizing the need to learn and share their storie...

Sruli Fruchter explores the emotional and temporal disconnect between Diaspora Jews and Israel in light of recent conflicts. This dissonance is characterized...

Shira Melamed, director of Midreshet Torat Chessed in Israel, underscores the transformative power of the gap year for Jewish youth. This year offers a uniqu...

Sruli Fruchter explores the spiritual journey of moving towards Orthodoxy from a Reform Jewish background, examining the complexities and insecurities of red...

The Hardal community, often associated with yeshivas like Har Hamor and Mercaz Harav, blends the religious rigor of Haredi life with religious Zionism's nati...

Rabbi Steven Gotlib closes 18Forty's "Faith in Reason" series with a reflection on Jewish philosophy as a means to systematically approach theology from a pe...

Sruli Fruchter explores the complex experiences of living between modern Orthodoxy and Israel's Religious Zionism after making aliyah. The transition from Am...

Sruli Fruchter explores the challenges and nuances of translating the teachings of Rav Menachem Froman, a spiritually complex figure known for his controvers...

Rabbi Ammi Hirsch's recent Yom Kippur sermon has sparked a debate within Jewish communities, criticizing younger generations for disconnecting from Israel an...

Sruli Fruchter examines the state of Jewish identity in the American Orthodox community, questioning why there hasn't been a unified outreach effort akin to ...

Sruli Fruchter explores the intersection of body image and the Jewish spiritual practice of teshuva, arguing that developing a healthy self-image is an impor...

Sruli Fruchter shares her transformative journey from mainstream feminist ideals to becoming a Hasidic feminist, inspired by Chabad philosophy and the teachi...

Michael Schlank reflects on his summer experience at NJY Camps, where he interacted with 500 Israeli campers and 100 staff members amidst the backdrop of pos...

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel is recognized globally for her profound faith and scholarship in Jewish law and thought. After the tragic loss of her son Naftali ...

Rabbi Steven Gotlib's essay in 18Forty's Faith in Reason series explores whether Zionism is inherently fundamental to Judaism. It argues that numerous passag...

In this 18Forty interview series, right-wing Israeli commentator Gadi Taub discusses his views on several contentious political issues, including judicial re...

In this article, the fragility of faith during times of crisis is explored, specifically referencing the impact of severe existential crises on Jewish faith,...

Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits (1908-1992) was a traditional rabbi known for his prolific writings on varied subjects such as halacha, faith, and Jewish ethics. He ...

Contrary to other cultures, Judaism does not personify Death as a figure; rather, it is viewed as a tool of God, sometimes personified as Satan, controlling ...

Rabbi Shalom Hammer shares his personal story of losing his daughter, Gila, to suicide and how it led him to establish Gilas Way, an organization dedicated t...

The writer recalls being called by a rabbi to participate in a burial service for a man who passed away with no known family or friends. Despite not knowing ...

The discussion surrounding the divisions within Judaism poses the question: should Judaism adhere to Orthodox, post-denominational, or alternative frameworks...

The text compares the mission of Chabad with Centrist Orthodoxy in understanding the purpose of Jewish practice as creating a dwelling place for God in the p...

The essay discusses the need for mourning and healing in the Jewish community following the October 7 massacre and parallels it with the concept of the Three...

Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, also known as Baal HaSulam, was a key figure in popularizing Kabbalah and the Zohar in the 20th century. Born in Poland, he mo...

The article discusses the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, focusing on the importance of collectivity, generosity, and e...

The text emphasizes the importance of democracy as a moral value and highlights Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy as protecting individual freedom an...

The essay discusses the fundamental question of "why be Jewish" in contemporary discourse, focusing on the shift towards emphasizing the act of "doing Jewish...