Judaism in the 21st Century

One of the most beautiful times of the year is nearly upon us here in New England. The change of the seasons will bring us colorful trees, apple cider, shorter and crisper days. This is just one example of G-d's handiwork. But how often do you "stop to smell the roses" with this new season nearly here? For our opening of season three of the podcast, we explore the concept of appreciating G-d's handiwork.

If you have been following Israeli politics, you have undoubtedly heard (but may not fully understand) the standoff between the ultra-orthodox community and the secular government and the requirement to serve in the IDF at age 17 or 18. The issue has gotten so contentious that it threatens to bring down the Israeli Government. But what is at the root of this controversy? Tune in to find out...

After our podcast on death and dying, we got an email from a listener to address how to handle a situation where a loved one has dementia. In this podcast, we unpack what Judaism has to say about this tragic situation. Spoilers - just like the instructions to put your own oxygen mask on during an air emergency, we have similar advice: Take care of yourself first so you have the strength to take care of your loved one. Ask for help and ensure you have the opportunity to rest from time to time. Ensure you take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones... And there's more words of wisdom on this very painful topic.

Today, we are living longer lives than ever before in human history - it was less than 100 years ago that life expectancy was a small fraction of where it is today - but with those advances come new challenges. How do we keep the commandment of "Honor your mother and father" in the face of parents and loved ones who are now nonagenarians or older? Today, we discuss this commandment and it's ramifications in the 21st Century.

The wisdom of the Torah is often said to be "eternal." One can not argue about the wisdom of so much of Judaism. In this week's episode, we explore the wisdom of the rituals surrounding death and dying. While ancient, these rituals provide a pathway from grief back to the world of life for everyone who passes through this difficult time. This week's episode explores that wisdom as well as some of the rituals around this most difficult time in all of our lives.

Today's podcast is our 100th together. This journey that Rabbi Cohen and I began nearly two years ago has blossomed into a weekly podcast where we unpack topics from human genomics and whether artificial meat is kosher or not, to how do we as a people survive in these uncertain times. We have covered a huge amount of ground over these past 100 episodes. Today's discussion is a retrospective on just some of the discussions and topics we've unpacked since the summer of 2023. We thank you all for being with us on this journey for the past two years!

Though in the middle of the summer, Tisha B'Av is among the most solemn holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the destruction of both the first and second temples. It is a time for mourning these losses - but also a time to rebuild. In our modern world, the message of this solemn day rings true in some unexpected ways. Tune in to learn more.

Regardless of the era, from the Marx Brothers to John Stewart, Jewish comedians have been helping us to laugh at ourselves for generations. In this week's episode, we explore the role of comedy in our community and country and how it helps broaden our perspectives on life, despite the challenges we face.

Oy Vey, I need a Vacation... Those words are said by so many, and yet, oftentimes, people do not take the chance to break away and recharge. IT turns out that vacations are actually part of the Talmud's teachings. This week, we unpack VACATIONS and their value.

The concept of "independence" and its meaning vary between countries. In the USA, it's become a holiday with picnics, parades, and fireworks. In Israel, Independence Day (Yom HaAztmaut) is celebrated much differently. There is a juxtaposition of Memorial Day with Independence Day - they are one day apart in Israel. We discuss these and other differences in this week's episode.

On the holiday of Shavuot, I spent my evening in synagogue at a late-night study session on Torah. Rabbi Cohen gave a talk about business ethics and its relationship to Shavuot—and to Judaism in general. In today's episode, we unpack some of these very relevant lessons. This issue has been at the forefront of our faith far longer than you might expect. It's been discussed in Torah, Talmud, and in countless books across time. This will be the first of several episodes on this topic... Please join us for the journey.

At 8 PM EDT this past Thursday, June 12, the State of Israel took on a task that the rest of the world should have done long ago: It started an effort to destroy Iran's nuclear program. The early stages of the effort brought great success, but for every action, there is a reaction, and the cost of that reaction will be paid in spilled Israeli blood in the homeland. In today's episode, we discuss how you can contribute during this time of war and what you can do to support those in need. We also discuss how you can conduct yourself and try not to be consumed by the nearly instant news cycle.Below are some organizations you can doate to to help in the effort:Organization Email and WebsitesAmerican Friends of Magen David Adom (U.S.)info@afmda.org / northeast@afmda.orgafmda.orgMagen David Adom (Israel) info@mda.org.ilmda.org.ilFriends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)— online form / regional: dinabenari@fidf.orgfidf.orgJewish National Fund (JNF-USA)donorrelations@jnf.org / JewishNationalFund@jnf.orgjnf.orgAIPACinfo@aipac.org / aipacstock@aipac.orgaipac.orgIsraAIDinfo@israaid.org, support@givelively.org, giving@israaid.orgisraaid.orgJewish Agency (JAFINA)donorservices@jafi.orgjafina.orgIFCJ(website donation)ifcj.orgJewish Federations (via local chapters) See local federation site - jewishfederations.org.

We have a guest this week, Rabbi Herbert Cohen, a PhD in literature... who also happens to be Rabbi Daniel Cohen's father. We discuss how G-d is portrayed in secular literature in this week's episode.

Shavuot is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish Calendar. It commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. But what does it mean to us today? Listen in to this episode to find out.

As Jews living in America, we are part of what is known as the Diaspora. Do we, as Diaspora Jews, have additional responsibilities to the State of Israel? Tune in for a discussion about this topic in this week's episode.

From October 7th to the 2025 Eurovision Competition - Yuval Raphael's story is astounding... She is not just a survivor in a tough business (the music industry), but she literally survived the Nova Festival to perform in the Eurovision Festival 2025, which happened this week. Come listen to her story. You can view it in her own words here: https://youtu.be/ve0T0qzWLrM?si=BZXK6XoiavnSL0o7.

What is the Omer and why does it matter in 2025. Join us today for a discussion about the relevancy of the Counting of the Omer in our world today - and what is the meaning of "Lag Baomer."

Words can be potent tools. They can build and they can destroy. Words can make someone's day or leave them depressed and dejected. This episode covers a topic that was near and dear to Judith Altmann, a Holocaust Survivor who passed away this week at age 100. She used her power of words for decades after the Holocaust with children at various ages in public schools to tell her story and ensure that she would bear witness to what occurred, and that she'd pass that along. The power of her words was a powerful testament to her life and her experiences.

An old ditty I learned (and lived) in medical school was, "See One, Do One, Teach One." It was intended to provide a straightforward method for remembering how to perform medical procedures and other tasks during medical training. But this ditty has application to our lives as Jews. Listen in to our discussion about "See One, Do One, Teach One."

The reason that Passover/Pesach has survived though the centuries more or less the same way it was practiced centuries ago is because one of it's main foci is that of teaching children. The Seder is, first and foremost, an exercise dedicated to teaching children. In today's society, teaching children complex topics such as the Pesach story can be challenging. Listen in for suggestions on making your Seder memorable and relevant to kids!