In a country blessed with such wealth and plenty, we often forget that this was forged in blood. In Israel on, Yom HaZikaron, quite literally, every single car, train, bus and person stops in their tracks when the sirens sound - and the country stops for a few minutes to honor the fallen. It is a deeply meaningful event to observe. We reflect this week on Israel's way of reconginzing its fallen - especially now, after October 7.
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."
When a friend or loved one is diagnosed with cancer, things can change. Relationships that were rock-solid - often for a lifetime can often morph. Friends or relatives can do one of two things: lean in to help or push away as if the cancer is contagious and push the cancer patient away. Today, we explore what Judaism says about helping a friend or a loved one through their cancer journey.
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!
With Passover/Pesach just a few weeks away, we wanted to provide some tips for your Seder that often get overlooked. At the end of each Haggadah are a variety of songs - many of which are geared to children. Many today are familiar with some of the more well known songs like CHad-Gad-Yah, (One Little Goat) or Echad, MiYodeyah (Who Knows #1?). Today, we will explore some of the background of these songs and introduce you to a few you might not know.
Judaism devotes tremendous effort to telling stories and engaging the youth in the history and backgrounds of our people. While day school is one approach, not everyone has the opportunity (or the wherewithal) to attend private school. In many families, Hebrew Schools, Jewish Youth, and summer Camps help with those challenges. This is even more critical in the 21st Century. Come listen to the journey of a leader in our community recount her background and how that has created a pathway for her life. Rachel Steinmetz is the Director of the summer camp at the Stamford JCC. She will tell us her story about her journey and how that's affected her life in the 21st Century.
Tess Brown is a young mother in our community. When her son was just 6 months old, she started to notice he was missing milestones. After a workup, he was found to have profound deafness from a congenital condition. This podcast documents the journey Tess and her husband have traveled raising a 24-month-old child with deafness, and their journey towards technical tools to help him - and how the Jewish Community is an integral part of their journey. Tune in for this inspiring story.
This week's episode is a replay of our live recording from the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT. The Podcast was sponsored by Federation of Hartford. The topic was, "Assimilation in the 21st Century". We discuss the origin story of the podcast, the topic itself, and a Q&A session from the audience. Thank you to Federation of Hartford for sponsoring this event and episode!
How did you start your career? Chances are that you had help in the guise of a mentor of one kind or another - be it a rabbi, a friend, or someone else in your field. There is a huge amount of value for both the mentee and the mentor... In this week's episode we discuss the value of mentorship in your public life and your Jewish life.
This has been a very trying week for Jews around the world. The "release" of the Bibas family's remains - and having the mother's remains not even being hers, for the release of over 600 terrorists is very difficult to watch and digest. On top of that, there was an attempted multiple bombings on the bus and light rail system - which was discovered - so no one was killed. It's feeling quite dark these days. Rabbi Cohen and I discuss these and other events and how to find light amid this darkness.
Charity vs Tzdakah - they are similar but different concepts. And there is some guidance on how to use these concepts in today's society. Rabbi Cohen and Dr. Labkoff explore the differences between Charity vs. Tzedakah - and how the recommendations apply to us today.
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 society.
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 very long journey - but the beginning of another towards freedom of the mind.
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 Channukah!
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.
