Judaism in the 21st Century

It's mid-February, and we are about to celebrate the "Birthday for the Trees" - or in some circles, the new year for the trees. Tu B'shvat has been called many things - but how is it relevant to us in the 21st Century? Rabbi Cohen and Dr. Labkoff explore this topic in this week's podcast.

Last week, we spoke about getting along in a multi-faith society. This week, we discuss how to get along with other Jews. This can be a challenge, too. Getting along with ourselves in our own community - consisting of Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist Jews can be extremely challenging, too. This week Rabbi Cohen and Dr. Labkoff discuss challenges from within our own Jewish soci...

Getting along in a society with so many different faiths can often be challenging. In the history of our people, we've had long runs where this kind of coexistence has been uneventful and well-tolerated. However, it feels as if, every so many generations, the Jewish people are assaulted to the point of near extinction. This podcast discusses how to get along in a multifaith society.

This is a momentous weekend - there is a ceasefire in Gaza. Some of the hostages are being released. However, their journey to freedom may yet to be over... Having freedom of the mind from an ordeal like this may take weeks, months, or years... Today we discuss freedom of the body vs freedom of the mind. G-d willing, not only their bodies but their minds will be liberated. This is the end of one v...

Like medicine, rituals can be taken in does that are either ineffective or toxic. In this second dive into the topic of rituals, we unpack the challenges of what level of rituals can lead to a healthly life, vs an obsessive-compulsive life, or one that's led just be urges alone. Tune in this week to continue our discussion of what is the role (and right dose) of rituals in the 21st Century.

Religious rituals are at the core of most organized religions. But in today's technology-laced world, what are their roles? What is the values of rituals in our secular, everyday world?

All Jews know that the new year begins with Rosh HaShanah, usually in early autumn. However, we live in a secular world - and this week we celebrate the coming of the secular new year. What does Judaism have to say about the celebration of the secular new year? Tune in for this week's discussion with Rabbi Cohen and Dr. Labkoff to find out - oh, and spoilers, "Happy New Year!"

The solstice is upon us and the nights are very long and dark. The holiday of Channukah is all about "finding light" in the dark. Come join us for a discussion about finding the light during this dark but festive season. And for those who want to learn more about "Pens for Swords" mentioned in this podcast, please use this link to learn more: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EoBcVuhB2AZ30u0XcXLcMN Happy...

What does Jewish Pride look like in the context of "today?" What does the holiday of Channukah have to do with the concept of Jewish Pride? Tune in for this week's discussion.

What constitutes a miracle? What constitutes a miracle in the 21st Century? Let's have a discussion on the relevance and meaning of miracles in this 21st Century Chanukah season .

Many think that wars and plans to annihilate the Jewish people in one war or one wave of the hand is a pathway to ultimately ridding the world of Jews. History tells us that this approach does not tend to work. We are among the most resilient of peoples and ideals. But ironically, it is our own actions that may indeed destroy us. In this season of Chanukah, we explore three ideas relating to the h...

Community centers have been part of our lives for decades. However, in the last few years, the specific role the Jewish Community Center plays in our lives has gained in importance. This week, we are joined by special guest Marshall Kurland, the CEO of the Stamford JCC, for a discussion about the center and its role in our community in the 21st Century.

The Shema prayer, the prayer we say morning and evening, has a phrase, "V'shenantam L'vanecha" - and you shall teach it to your children... Education is baked into Judaism in ways I don't think we even realize. Pop in for a short discussion on how and why education is such an important aspect of Judaism in the 21st Century.

Be it Rosh Hashanah or Thanksgiving, getting together with your family can be more stressful than you might think. In this week's episode we discuss strategies for dealing with the stress of family get-togethers...

Raising kids today can be very stressful - overbooking them is a challenge, over or under indulging them can also be stressful. What do we want to do to raise mentches (sp?) - tune in for a listen.

How is the synagogue seen after the High Holy Days? How can it be used differently and what are the expectations we should have of this community hub? Tune in for this discussion.

When looking at images from the James Webb Telescope, you can feel very small. Are there connections to this technological wonder and Judaism? Tune in and find out.

In today's hustle and bustle world, it feels as if multitasking is a must-have capability - however, it's actually one of the least productive things you can do... and believe it or not, there's actually a Jewish perspective on multitasking! Tune in to this week's episode to find out what the Torah and Talmud have to say about multitasking in the 21st Century.

Communities are only as strong as their weakest links. To better deal with social challenges, communities from all walks of life have social safety nets. In this episode we discuss how the social safety nets work in the Jewish Community - and perhaps where they might need some help.

The act of teshuvah during the ten days of awe is an especially important concept. It's like hitting the reset button. In this week's episode, we unpack what this custom is all about, how it applies to us today, and how it's an intrinsic part of a healthy social structure in our lives. Join us for an in-depth discussion of the meaning of teshuvah and how it applies to our lives today.

As we enter the High Holidays of Tishre, Rosh Hashanah looms large as the new year approaches. One thing that symbolizes the holy day is the sound of the shofar. These sounds are ancient. They call us to prayer - but they mean so much more. Listen in to a discussion of the symbolism that comes from the shofar sounds in this week's episode.

Israel has become the land of new companies - a veritable start-up nation. Start-up companies - especially in technology - has become an incubator for companies that are working healthcare, technology and so many other things. Come and listen to a discussion about the "Start-up Nation!".

It's hard to believe, but this is our 52nd episode. We've been running the podcast for a full year. And as this is the Hebrew month of Elul, we are going to look back on our discussions, the highs, lows, and more entertaining moments of the podcast. Thank you for your time in joining us every week for the past year. Enjoy! Rabbi Daniel Cohen and Dr. Steven Labkoff

As our population ages, and we have more and more medical complications from things like diabetes and other medical conditions, there is a growing need for organ donation. But what does Judaism have to say about organ transplantation? It is a very complex topic - one we will only scratch the surface of in this podcast. Issues like living donors vs cadaveric donors is discussed, as is the Halachic...

Family rifts are among the most challenging and toxic issues that many of us have to deal with in life. Family Rifts are very common... they crop up at times over big or small issues. They tend to help no one and damage others caught in the crossfire. Today, Rabbi Cohen and I try to unpack how to handle family rifts on this week's edition of Judaism in the 21st Century.