Upon their return from recent clergy missions to Israel, Cantor Schwartz and Rabbi Zuckerman share reflections on their experiences of being there during this crisis and key takeaways from their journeys.

How will we react to the seismic rightward shift in the Israeli government following last month’s election? Rabbi Cosgrove enjoins us that while our love and support of Israel must not waver, we must openly discuss our concerns for sake of the future unity of the Jewish people.

How do we support Israel when we object to the actions of its government? Rabbi Cosgrove enjoins us that our support is, if anything, more essential now than ever. We must uphold and assist ventures that work toward establishing an Israel that reflects our values.

MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the first reform rabbi in the Knesset and No. 3 in the Israeli Labor Party, joined us Shabbat services to discuss the current State of Israel amid its recent power shift. Over the past few months, MK Rabbi Kariv has proved to be one of the leading voices in the defense of Is...

Rabbis Cosgrove and Zuckerman reflect on their UJA mission to Israel with other rabbis from New York, where they will meet governmental and non-governmental leaders and a wide range of Israelis living and working within the changing political landscape. The rabbis discuss their experience on the ...

With the current political crisis unfolding in Israel, there is no more timely an occasion to come together to discuss and debate the State of Israel’s founding document, its Declaration of Independence. Led by educators from BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change, we’ll examine this documen...

Rabbi Zuckerman reflects on his trip to Israel.

The political crisis in Israel has continued to deepen, with hundreds of thousands of Israelis responding to the current government policies through mass protests in the streets, workers’ strikes across many industries, and voices from around the world speaking up in defense of Israeli democracy....

With a new Israeli government in place that centers Ultra-Orthodox and -nationalist coalition partners, how can Israelis and diaspora Jews outside of Israel respond constructively to this government’s problematic policies and its potential threat to democracy? How can more liberal Zionists, lever...

Amid mass protests, escalating social unrest, and widespread opposition, the Knesset passed on Monday the first major bill of the government’s judicial overhaul, which will limit the power of the courts in reviewing government decisions and appointments. Unpack the significance of this law’s pass...

As night falls and Israel’s Memorial Day ends, mark the momentous occasion of transition to Israel’s 75th Independence Day. We will celebrate with music, remarks, and moments of blessing to mark this most auspicious birthday.

Join in person live from the PAS Sanctuary following our dialogue wit...

As Israelis head back to the polls on November 1 for the fifth time in three years, David Halperin, CEO of Israel Policy Forum, will discuss with Rabbi Cosgrove, who the key players are, what to look out for in this round of voting, and what’s at stake.

David A. Halperin is the chief executi...

As the results in the latest Israeli election are called and the majority parties attempt to form a new government, what does this mean for the future of Israeli politics and society? Times of Israel correspondent Jacob Magid and Rabbi Zuckerman discuss the wide-ranging impacts of this election b...

Being a proud Zionist seems more daunting than ever. Supporters of Israel must often reckon with the possible repercussions of expressing this part of their identity, especially on college campuses and in young-adult circles. In honor of Yom HaAtzma’ut, our panel will discuss navigating these com...

Join us as we host a special guest, Knesset Member Rabbi Gilad Kariv, in dialogue with Rabbi Cosgrove. As a Reform rabbi committed to promoting a more inclusive and pluralistic vision of Judaism in Israel, Kariv will share the latest efforts and challenges to further this cause, especially with a...

Yaron Edel, who served with the rank of Major in the IDF and fought in the Second Lebanon War and the Intifada, shares his story about how he uses music to help with his PTSD, and his work with other soldiers through his organization, Shards, one of the most prominent in the field. In this conver...

When we think about food, we usually think of the food we consume, but food impacts our lives in so many ways both on and off the plate. Renowned Israeli food writer Gil Hovav will share his journey from growing up in Jerusalem to making a career out of Israeli food journalism. He and our own Shl...

Two critical, late-breaking news items relating to Israel have emerged this week: Amnesty International declared Israel an apartheid state, and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that his government will not be able to move forward with the plan to formally establish an egalitarian section o...

Minister Dr. Nachman Shai and Rabbis Elliot Cosgrove, Ammiel Hirsch, and Chaim Steinmetz, moderated by Rabbi Lori Koffman

What is the future of Israel-diaspora Jewish relations? Explore this question with Dr. Nachman Shai, Israel’s new Minister of Diaspora Affairs, and a panel of Reform, Conser...

Ethiopian-Israeli singer and songwriter Aveva Dese is a rising star in the Israeli music scene. As a child to Jewish parents who suffered from persecution and struggled to come from Ethiopia to Israel, Dese tells her unique story through her music.

This event is co-sponsored by Central Synagogue...

Gallerist, curator, and art historian Andrea Meislin shares her experiences of working with Israeli artists, including opening a Chelsea gallery, and gives us the scoop on her current work producing a wide range of artistic projects.
This event was hosted by the Arts Engagement Committee.

Uriya Rosenman is an Israeli educator and creator, and Sameh Zakout is a Palestinian musician and actor. In their viral YouTube video "Let's Talk Straight," which has been viewed over four million times Israel and has over 500 million views through international news coverage, the two rap insults...