Judaism in the 21st Century

In this week’s episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Dr. Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen tackle a deeply personal and widely shared experience: facing end-of-life decisions for a beloved pet. Sparked by Steven’s aging cat, Perry, the conversation explores what Jewish tradition teaches about animal suffering, compassion, and responsibility. What does Judaism say about putting a pet out of p...

In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen explore a question many modern Jews quietly carry: Is God silent today, or have we lost the ability to listen? They look back to Joseph as a model for sensing God’s presence without direct revelation, and they discuss why Judaism may see “hiddenness” not as abandonment, but as an invitation to grow faith and spir...

Time is one of the most precious resources we have, yet it’s often the one we treat most casually. In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century , Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen explore how Judaism understands time not as something to “kill,” but as something to sanctify. From the idea that even a few seconds can change a life, to the responsibility that comes with freedom, the conversatio...

Why does being Jewish sometimes feel so difficult? In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century , Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen unpack the many layers behind that question. From the discipline required to live a values-driven Jewish life, to the tensions between tradition and modern culture, to the external pressures of antisemitism and public identity, the discussion reframes “hard” not...

In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Dr. Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen explore a deceptively simple question: how does Judaism deal with time when time itself becomes complicated? From praying on airplanes and crossing time zones, to Shabbat above the Arctic Circle, to future Jewish life on the Moon or Mars, this conversation examines how halacha adapts without losing its soul....

As the calendar turns to 2026, this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century explores a deeper way to think about the new year: through the lens of legacy. Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen reflect on Jacob’s final words in the Torah, focusing on his radical decision to elevate his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe, as full heirs to the Jewish future. Raised in exile, they represent a powerful...

In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen explore how Jewish learning is evolving in an age of technology and AI. From ancient oral tradition to digital libraries, podcasts, and tools like ChatGPT, they ask a timely question: how do we use new technologies to deepen Jewish life without losing critical thinking, reflection, or soul? The conversation weave...

In this special Chanukah episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen confront a painful and urgent reality. As Jews were murdered while celebrating Chanukah in Sydney and another Jewish life was taken in the United States, antisemitism feels closer, louder, and more threatening than many of us have ever experienced. This conversation explores how Chanukah speaks d...

This week on Judaism in the 21st Century, Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff discuss AI, the soul, human purpose, and the moral questions emerging as artificial intelligence advances. Inspired by a recent talk from Mois Navon (Mobileye co-founder, rabbi, philosopher, and global speaker on ethics and AI), we ask: • What truly makes humans unique? • If technology can think, create, and solve...

In this episode of Judaism in the 21st Century , Dr. Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen tackle the tension between privacy and transparency —two values that shape our digital, ethical, and spiritual lives. Steven introduces the topic through a modern lens, observing how people routinely trade privacy for convenience in a hyperconnected world. Rabbi Cohen offers a deeply Jewish perspective roote...

Rabbi Cohen and I have further thoughts about the Mayor-Elect in NYC. Please listen to our further comments about what we should be thinking and doing about this situation...

With the election of Zohan Mamdani, the Jewish community in the city of NY has to think carefully about what happens next...

What does it really mean to be holy in 2025? In this thought-provoking new episode of Judaism in the 21st Century , Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff unpack one of Judaism’s most profound questions: Is holiness something divinely assigned—or something we create ourselves? From the holiness of Mount Sinai to the sacredness we bring into our daily lives, they explore how modern society defin...

How is our community related to the story of Noah's Ark? Believe it or not, there are many similarities - especially when a flood of challenges might be on the horizon. Tune in this week to hear how these two seeminly unrelated entities are indeed related - and, in today's world, we might just need our community to take the role of the ark...

This week’s episode of Judaism in the 21st Century touches one of the most emotional and spiritually profound moments in recent memory—the release of the hostages in Israel. Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff reflect on this event through the lens of Torah and prophecy, exploring how moments of unimaginable pain and joy can coexist, and how we can find divine purpose even amid tragedy. Draw...

This week we discuss the pending peace agreement with Hamas and Israel - and perhaps maybe, just maybe, the hostages will be released and come home!

As we move from Yom Kippur into Sukkot, Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff explore what true joy means in Judaism — and why Sukkot, not Purim, is considered the most joyous time of the year. Through stories from Torah, insights from the Talmud, and reflections on modern life, the conversation draws connections between ancient wisdom and our 21st-century world. Discover how Sukkot’s simple r...

We are in the season of T'shuvah. As the 10 days lead to the crescendo that is Yom Kippur, one starts to think about "what's next?" How do you keep the feelings that are elicited during these ten days and on Yom Kippur with you for more than 15 minutes after the holiday ends? We discuss how to keep your focus on these feelings through the use of SMART Goals - Specific, Measurable...

In a recent episode, we spoke about rituals having to do with death and dying. There are emerging technologies that purport to provide a means of recording your thoughts and being and implant them into an AI Avatar. This sounds like science fiction, and for the most part, today it is - but for how long? The ideas, thoughts, and even the voice of a person can persist in the world of AI - and soon,...

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 apprecia...

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 ca...

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 a...

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 i...

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 retrospectiv...