18forty
Why We Do Jewish Philosophy
1 Dec
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...
1 Dec
18forty
Between Modern Orthodoxy and Religious Zionism: At Home as an Immigrant
28 Nov
Sruli Fruchter explores the complex experiences of living between modern Orthodoxy and Israel's Religious Zionism after making aliyah. The transition from Am...
28 Nov
18forty
The Art and Awkwardness of Translating Rav Menachem Froman
1 Nov
Sruli Fruchter explores the challenges and nuances of translating the teachings of Rav Menachem Froman, a spiritually complex figure known for his controvers...
1 Nov
18forty
American Judaism is Falling Apart. We Have Ourselves to Blame
16 Oct
Rabbi Ammi Hirsch's recent Yom Kippur sermon has sparked a debate within Jewish communities, criticizing younger generations for disconnecting from Israel an...
16 Oct
18forty
On Jewish Peoplehood in the American Orthodox Community
1 Oct
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 ...
1 Oct
18forty
Why Developing a Healthy Body Image is Part of Teshuva
18 Sep
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...
18 Sep
18forty
How and Why I Became a Hasidic Feminist
11 Sep
Sruli Fruchter shares her transformative journey from mainstream feminist ideals to becoming a Hasidic feminist, inspired by Chabad philosophy and the teachi...
11 Sep
18forty
What a Summer with Israelis Taught Me About the War’s Trauma
11 Sep
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...
11 Sep
18forty
Rachelle Fraenkel on Religious Trauma, Torah Study, and Redemption
29 Aug
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 ...
29 Aug
18forty
Is Judaism Fundamentally Zionist?
25 Aug
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...
25 Aug
18forty
Gadi Taub on Israel’s Left, Iran, and the Two-State Solution
22 Aug
In this 18Forty interview series, right-wing Israeli commentator Gadi Taub discusses his views on several contentious political issues, including judicial re...
22 Aug
18forty
How Your Faith Can Survive a Crisis
10 Aug
In this article, the fragility of faith during times of crisis is explored, specifically referencing the impact of severe existential crises on Jewish faith,...
10 Aug
18forty
Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits’ Complicated Portrait of Faith
10 Aug
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 ...
10 Aug
18forty
With God in the Picture, Death Is Not a Lonely Experience
9 Aug
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 ...
9 Aug
18forty
After My Daughter Died By Suicide, I Vowed To Help Save Lives
7 Aug
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...
7 Aug
18forty
A Eulogy for a Man I Did Not Know
4 Aug
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 ...
4 Aug
18forty
Should Judaism Be Orthodox, Post-Denominational, or Something Else?
26 Jul
The discussion surrounding the divisions within Judaism poses the question: should Judaism adhere to Orthodox, post-denominational, or alternative frameworks...
26 Jul
18forty
Chabad’s Mission Is Not Much Different Than Centrist Orthodoxy’s
24 Jul
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...
24 Jul
18forty
Three Weeks To Mourn the Kibbutzim of Slaughter
23 Jul
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...
23 Jul
18forty
His Ladder Will Take You to the Zohar
10 Jul
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...
10 Jul
18forty
How the Lubavitcher Rebbe Teaches Us to Transcend Ourselves
9 Jul
The article discusses the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, focusing on the importance of collectivity, generosity, and e...
9 Jul
18forty
If America Cares About Democracy, It Will Stand by Israel
4 Jul
The text emphasizes the importance of democracy as a moral value and highlights Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy as protecting individual freedom an...
4 Jul
18forty
Does Revelation Satisfy the ‘Why Be Jewish’ Question?
3 Jul
The essay discusses the fundamental question of "why be Jewish" in contemporary discourse, focusing on the shift towards emphasizing the act of "doing Jewish...
3 Jul
18forty
Benny Morris Has Thoughts on Israel, the War, and Our Future
25 Jun
Benny Morris, a prominent Israeli historian, has shifted to the right politically over the years, and remains a crucial figure in understanding Israel's hist...
25 Jun
18forty
Discovering Orthodoxy, Halacha, and Myself
19 Jun
The author describes her journey of discovering Orthodoxy and halacha, starting with a fascination with the moon and the interconnectedness of Jewish women's...
19 Jun
18forty
Is Orthodoxy Too Fractured? Our Past Can Guide Us
19 Jun
In 1992, a symposium on Orthodox unity addressed significant halakhic issues and challenges facing the Jewish community, including internal divisions, outrea...
19 Jun
18forty
I Always Felt Religiously Homeless Growing Up—Until I Came to Israel
5 Jun
The author reflects on feeling spiritually homeless while growing up in a mixed denominational Jewish environment in America. They struggled to reconcile the...
5 Jun
18forty
My Jewish identity began as a crisis—It’s become so much more today
30 May
The author reflects on their Jewish identity crisis, which started in their youth when questioning the meaning of Judaism, leading them to atheism due to per...
30 May
18forty
What Jewish Denominations Mean to Me
16 May
The author reflects on their personal journey of Jewish affiliation, revealing a deep connection to Orthodox Judaism stemming from a family history where Jew...
16 May
18forty
Can We Handle the Summer of October 7?
10 May
The article discusses how the trauma of October 7, like the horror experienced during that event, will now mark time for Israel and global Jewry. The challen...
10 May
18forty
Torah or Zionism? Hesder Ideology Says Both
9 May
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein's paper from 1981 outlines the Hesder program's unique approach, allowing religious students to combine military service with Torah s...
9 May
18forty
Do You Have the Free Will to Read This?
5 May
The text discusses different philosophical perspectives on free will, including libertarianism, determinism, and compatibilism, and their implications for Je...
5 May
18forty
A Letter to Children Estranged From Their Parents
17 Apr
The letter addresses children who are estranged from their parents, emphasizing the deep hurt and complexities of these relationships. The writer draws on ex...
17 Apr
18forty
A Prayer for Israel to Add to Your Pesach Seder
17 Apr
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon has composed a special prayer for Israel to be recited at Pesach Sedarim, expressing gratitude for living in a time of redemption and w...
17 Apr
18forty
Hebrew Lips
12 Apr
"The Hebrew Lips" is a poem reflecting on the tension within Jews between the harshness of biblical texts and the reverence for human life inherent in the He...
12 Apr
18forty
‘Are Your Brothers To Go to War While You Stay Here?’: On Haredim Drafting to the IDF
10 Apr
In a response to Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef's opposition to forced conscription of yeshiva students, Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot discusses his son, Amita...
10 Apr
18forty
The 7 Essential Features of Anti-Judaism
5 Apr
In a series of discussions on anti-Judaism using various texts, the unique characteristics and historical roots of hatred towards Jews were explored. The key...
5 Apr
18forty
(What) Do Jews Believe About the Afterlife?
29 Mar
Judaism's beliefs about the afterlife are diverse and not extensively discussed, despite classical Jewish sources refuting the misconception that Judaism lac...
29 Mar
18forty
The Influence of Affluence: Money and Mental Health in Our Community
20 Mar
The article explores the impact of affluence on mental health within Orthodox Jewish communities, highlighting the pursuit of material success and social com...
20 Mar
18forty
Your Attachment Style, Applied to God
18 Mar
Attachment styles, which stem from early childhood interactions with primary caregivers, influence how we engage in relationships. These styles can impact no...
18 Mar
18forty
Is It Just a Phase? What You Need To Know About Child Mental Health
13 Mar
Child mental health is a crucial issue that requires attention and understanding from parents. Statistics show that a significant percentage of children expe...
13 Mar
18forty
Do You Need a Rabbi, or a Therapist?
6 Mar
The article discusses the distinction between seeking guidance from a rabbi or a therapist in the Jewish community. It emphasizes that rabbis and therapists ...
6 Mar
18forty
Do We Know Why God Allows Evil and Suffering?
25 Feb
The theological problem of evil and suffering, also known as theodicy, challenges belief in a just and fair world governed by a traditional view of God. Rabb...
25 Feb
18forty
Do We Care Too Much? Furor Sanandi and Our Desire to Heal
21 Feb
The text delves into the concept of "furor sanandi," the passion or frenzy to heal, particularly in therapeutic settings where caring too much can hinder neu...
21 Feb
18forty
Is American Judaism Boring?
15 Feb
The article responds to a podcast discussion claiming that American Judaism is boring. The author disagrees, stating that American Judaism can be meaningful ...
15 Feb
18forty
3 Arguments for God’s Existence
26 Jan
In this essay, the author explores three philosophical arguments for the existence of God: the cosmological argument, the teleological argument, and the onto...
26 Jan
18forty
4 Conversations to Help You Think About the Israel-Hamas War
18 Jan
This article presents four conversations that can help people understand and think critically about the Israel-Hamas war. The first conversation explores how...
18 Jan
18forty
3 Questions To Ask Yourself Whenever You Hear a Dvar Torah
10 Jan
The author presents three questions to ask oneself when listening to a Dvar Torah (a Torah discourse). The first question is whether the Torah idea presented...
10 Jan
18forty
What Makes Beliefs Rational?
29 Dec 2023
The essay explores the concept of rationality in relation to beliefs, specifically in the context of Judaism. It distinguishes between epistemic rationality ...
29 Dec 2023
18forty
What Makes Beliefs Rational?
29 Dec 2023
In this essay, the author explores the concept of rationality and its application to beliefs, particularly in relation to Judaism. They discuss the distincti...
29 Dec 2023