Tonia Chazanow: 'Every soul has a story'

Tonia Chazanow: 'Every soul has a story'

Author: 18Forty March 23, 2026 Duration: 26:31
Tonia Chazanow believes everyone deserves to have access to Jewish mysticism because it is a tool through which each person can discover and understand the divinity in their own life and help others find theirs.

Tonia Chazanow is a Los Angeles-based writer and poet. Along with teaching weekly Torah classes, she is also the founder and host of the Human and Holy, a podcast that explores Judaism and Chasidut [Hasidism] through the lived experiences of and conversations between a spectrum of Jewish women.

Now, she sits down with Rabbi Dr. Benji Levy to answer eighteen questions on Jewish mysticism including the role of the Jewish mystic, the goals of Torah study, and the potential dangers involved in studying mysticism.

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?
  1. What is a Jewish teaching that you always take with you?

What does it mean to live a meaningful life? How do we navigate doubt, find purpose, or understand suffering? 18 Questions, 40 Mystics explores these profound human inquiries through a distinctly Jewish mystical lens. Hosted by Rabbi Benji Levy, this series from 18Forty engages in deep, personal conversations with a diverse global community of thinkers-including rabbis, kabbalists, artists, and teachers-each deeply immersed in mystical tradition. The format is elegantly simple yet expansive: eighteen core existential questions posed to forty different voices, yielding a rich tapestry of perspectives drawn from ancient wisdom and contemporary experience. Listeners will encounter discussions that weave together spirituality, daily practice, and the inner dimensions of faith known as pnimiyut. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about the practical and soulful insights that arise when earnest questioning meets lived spiritual knowledge. Whether you're well-versed in Jewish texts or simply curious about the intersection of mysticism and modern life, each episode offers a unique point of reflection and inspiration. The conversations are intimate and revealing, designed not to provide monolithic answers but to illuminate the many paths toward understanding. Tune in for a journey that is as much about the questions we all share as it is about the diverse, thoughtful responses from those who have dedicated their lives to contemplation. This podcast serves as a rare gateway into the minds and hearts of today's leading mystical practitioners.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 74

18 Questions, 40 Mystics
Podcast Episodes
Moshe Gersht: ‘The world of mysticism begs for practicality’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:52
Rabbi Moshe Gersht first encountered the world of Chassidus at the age of twenty, the beginning of what he terms his “spiritual awakening.” From there, he began to dive deep into Jewish mysticism, viewing it as a unified…
Suri Weingot: ‘The fellow Jew is as close to God as you'll get’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:32
What does it mean to experience God as lived reality? Mrs. Suri Weingot reframes spirituality not as something hidden or elite but as something pulsing through every blade of grass, every Hebrew letter, and every human r…
Moshe Weinberger: ‘The Jewish People are God's shofar’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:09
In order to study Kabbala, argues Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, one must approach it with humility, holding one’s hands out in the form of a cup as though they are ready to receive. Rabbi Moshe Weinberger has served as mashpia…
Zevi Slavin: ‘To be a mystic is to be human at its most raw’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:20
As a Chabad Hassid, Zevi Slavin’s formative years were spent immersed in the rich traditions of Chassidus and Kabbalah. This upbringing provided him with a unique lens through which he continues to learn, study and conne…
Joey Rosenfeld: "All Jews by definition are mystics' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:39
Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld’s entryway into mystical thought began with the writings of Franz Kafka and Albert Camus. Discussing Jewish mysticism with Rabbi Joey is not just a conversation about ancient texts and ideas, but it…
Introducing 18 Questions, 40 Mystics with R' Benji Levy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:50
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.