Two hundred years ago, Mordecai Manuel Noah dreamed of Ararat, a Jewish refuge on the Niagara River. His vision failed, but the question endures: how to live fully in the world without losing ourselves to it. Rabbi Cosgrove calls on us to take up that challenge anew.

What are the qualities of a leader? Looking to the examples of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Moses, Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that a great leader is one who stands up for righteousness while honoring the sentiments of opposing factions who do not agree on what is the truth.

After participating in a mission to Israel for parents and their Gen Z children seeking to gain a common language for discussing the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians, Rabbi Cosgrove urges us to realize that no resolution is possible without empathy for the other side.

It is tempting to see things as black or white, right or wrong, good or bad. Rabbi Cosgrove reminds us that reality is not so neat. He urges us to be generous in standing together as we deal with the messiness of conflicting truths.

What makes the seder different from all other nights? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that above all, it’s the questions that frame the entire evening. He urges us to listen to everyone’s questions with open hearts and minds and to allow that every question can have more than one right answer.

Words aren’t just words—they carry history, impact, and, sometimes, danger. Rabbi Cosgrove explores how language evolves, why “Free Palestine” can no longer be dismissed as harmless, and what it means to speak—and stay silent—in an age of rising antisemitism.

What is the gift of Yizkor? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that as we recall those who are no longer with us, we can pledge to create a memorial for them by the way we live. By taking full advantage of each day, we guarantee that we will enjoy length of days.

How do we carry on after the spiritual high of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that living Jewishly is a year-round, weekly, and daily commitment. If we want the peak moments, we must practice regularly.

With the New York mayoral election in less than three weeks, Rabbi Cosgrove explains why Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community. He urges us to work to convince undecided voters and to vote ourselves.

Following New York’s mayoral election, Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on democracy, disagreement, and the bonds of Jewish peoplehood. Drawing on the story of Abraham and Isaac, he calls for renewed dialogue, humility, and ahavat yisrael, a reminder that the real test begins not on the mountaintop, but o...

Following Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor, Rabbi Cosgrove calls for a civic awakening. Like Rebecca seizing her destiny, Jews today must act with agency—knowing our leaders, voting, and standing up for democracy and Jewish community. Nothing “just happens.” The future of our people and city is...

Israel’s war is being fought on two fronts, on the battlefield and in the battle for moral clarity. As the last hostage awaits return, Rabbi Cosgrove explores the tension between Jacob’s restraint and his sons’ fury – how far one may go, and must not go, to save a life.

Hanukkah is not simply a story of light over darkness, but a cautionary tale of Jew against Jew. In an age of division, Rabbi Cosgrove calls for rededication to one another – reminding us that the true miracle is unity without uniformity, and the courage to keep kindling shared light.