18 Questions, 40 Mystics

5d ago

Sarah Yehudit Schneider believes meditation is the entryway to understanding mysticism. She highlights that traditional Kabbalah often focuses on mystical realms associated with the masculine, and in her current work, she is actively exploring and articulating the Kabbalah of the feminine. Sarah Yehudit Schneider is the founding director of A Still Small Voice, a correspondence school that provides weekly teachings in Jewish wisdom to subscribers around the world. She is the author of several books, most recently Dark Matters of the Soul: The Kabbalah of Shame (2024). Here, she joins us to answer 18 questions on Jewish mysticism, including growth through joy in the Messianic era and how to reconcile God’s all-knowingness with free will. Here are our questions: What is Jewish mysticism? How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism? In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics? What do you think of when you think of God? What is the purpose of the Jewish people? How does prayer work? What is the goal of Torah study? Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same? Should Judaism be hard or easy? Why did God create the world? Can humans do something that is against God’s will? What do you think of when you think about Moshiach? Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption? What is the greatest challenge facing the world today? How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism? What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism? Can mysticism be dangerous? How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others? What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

Dec 8

Rav Joey Rosenfeld’s entryway into mystical thought began with the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Discussing Jewish mysticism with Rav Joey is not just a conversation about ancient texts and ideas, but it is a journey into the soul, wherein he describes how mystical principles can transform relationships, heal trauma, and guide us in a modern world. Rav Joey Rosenfeld is a practicing psychotherapist in the field of addiction, focusing on the interface between philosophy, spirituality, and psychology. He regularly gives shiurim on Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah, and the inner workings of the human soul. Here, he sits down to discuss 18 questions on Jewish mysticism, including the various dimensions of redemption and the paradoxical nature of God. Here are our 18 questions: What is Jewish mysticism? How were you introduced to Jewish mysticism? In an ideal world, would all Jews be mystics? What do you think of when you think of God? What is the purpose of the Jewish people? How does prayer work? What is the goal of Torah study? Does Jewish mysticism view men and women the same? Should Judaism be hard or easy? Why did God create the world? Can humans do something that is against God’s will? What do you think of when you think about Moshiach? Is the State of Israel part of the final redemption? What is the greatest challenge facing the world today? How has modernity changed Jewish mysticism? What differentiates Jewish mysticism from the mysticism of other religions? Does one need to be religious to study Jewish mysticism? Can mysticism be dangerous? How has Jewish mysticism affected your relationships with yourself and with others? What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

Dec 2

Join Rabbi Benji Levy as he asks 18 existential questions to 40 mystics from around the world. Series launches Monday, Dec. 8. Visit 40mystics.com to learn more. A partnership between Share and 18Forty.

Sep 8

Do you have more hope or fear for Israel and the Jewish People? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Gadi Taub 4. Shani Taragin 3. Rachelle Fraenkel 2. Yossi Klein Halevi 1. Anshel Pfeffer 18Forty launched its new website ! This is your address for today’s biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!

Sep 2

Do you think peace between Israelis and Palestinians will happen within your lifetime? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 6. Yakov Nagen 5. Netta Barak Corren 4. Mikhael Manekin 3. Nechumi Yaffe 2. Rula Daood 1. Yoav Heller 18Forty launched its new website! This is your address for today’s biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!

Aug 25

What is the most legitimate criticism leveled against Israel today? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Benny Morris 4. Uri Zaki 3. Einat Wilf 2. Yishai Fleisher 1. Michael Oren 18Forty launched its new website! This is your address for today’s biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!

Aug 18

What has been Israel's greatest success, and greatest mistake, in its war against Hamas? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 6 answers from: 6. Fleur Hasan-Nahoum 5. Haviv Rettig-Gur 4. Yaakov Katz 3. Michael Melchior 2. Micah Goodman 1. Mosheh Lichtenstein 18Forty launched its new website! This is your address for today’s biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!

Aug 11

As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history? We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question. Here are our top 5 answers from: 5. Natan Sharansky 4. Netta Barrak Corren 3. Yossi Klein Halevi 2. Rachelle Fraenkel 1. Khitam Abu Bader 18Forty launched its new website! This is your address for today’s biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!