{"podcast":{"title":"18 Questions, 40 Mystics","slug":"18-questions-40-mystics-6941776","podcast_index_feed_id":6941776,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6208531/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18-questions-40-mystics--6208531","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/b4ae1d53dbc2329c37294f3435a41ca4.jpg","author":"18Forty","episode_count":88,"summary":"18 Questions, 40 Mystics is a new podcast and video series by 18Forty and Share interviewing the leading rabbis, teachers, kabbalists, and artists immersed in the world of Jewish mysticism. Join Rabbi Benji Levy as he asks 18 of the most existential questions to 40 mystics from around the world. If you are looking to dive into the world of spirituality, inspiration, and pnimiyut , then this is the podcast for you. Have questions or comments? Shoot us an email at info@18forty.org.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-20T22:17:50.958065+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/18-questions-40-mystics-6941776"},"episode":{"title":"Efraim Palvanov: 'Every person can be the Messiah'","slug":"efraim-palvanov-every-person-can-be-the-messiah","published_at":"2026-07-06T10:00:02+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/18-questions-40-mystics-6941776/efraim-palvanov-every-person-can-be-the-messiah","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/18-questions-40-mystics-6941776","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/efraim-palvanov-every-person-can-be-the-messiah--72828322","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72828322/efraim_palvanov_podcast_mp3_for_audio_podcasting.mp3","summary":"What is taught today as basic science, argues Efraim Palvanov, was taught centuries ago in the Zohar. To Efraim, complex scientific functions such as quantum physics, epigenetics, and wave particle duality go hand in hand with Torah and Jewish mysticism. Efraim Palvanov studied biology and chemistry at York University, earned a bachelor of education at University of Toronto, and studied at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. He is head of the science department at Bnei Akiva Schools Toronto, runs two regular blogs as well as a YouTube channel, and is the author of five books. Now, he sits down with us to answer eighteen questions with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy on Jewish mysticism such as the dangers of misinformation in today’s world, prayer as self-reflection, and every Jew’s role in bringing Mashiach [the Messiah]. ' 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?","meta_description":"What is taught today as basic science, argues Efraim Palvanov, was taught centuries ago in the Zohar. To Efraim, complex scientific functions such as quan…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2749,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/18-questions-40-mystics-6941776/episodes/efraim-palvanov-every-person-can-be-the-messiah/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/18-questions-40-mystics-6941776/efraim-palvanov-every-person-can-be-the-messiah.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}