The Torah commands a sabbatical year for the land, called shmita, allowing the earth to rest like we do during Shabbat. Through various commentaries on this custom, Rabbi Zauzmer leads a discussion with the congregation on the importance of this ritual practiced once every seven years.

Can a person guilty of moral failure ever be redeemed? Reflecting on the posthumous reinstatement of Pete Rose, Rabbi Cosgrove explores the balance between justice and mercy, sin and atonement. In a world desperate for integrity, he argues, moral accountability, especially from our leaders, is th...

In the wake of a papal-political clash over “the order of love,” Rabbi Cosgrove explores Judaism’s own moral calculus: how to love one’s neighbor while prioritizing one’s own. Drawing on the Bible, rabbinic tradition, and current events, he examines where faith, ethics, and communal responsibilit...

In this week’s sermon, Rabbi Zuckerman reflects on the courage of speaking out through the lens of our recent guest speaker, Montana Tucker, who chose to share their personal beliefs—despite the threat of digital retribution from her multimillions of followers. Drawing on themes of moral clarity ...

Rabbi Zauzmer implores us to call out antisemitism not only from the other side of the political spectrum, but from within our own political home as well.

There is Jewish mysticism that manifests itself in physical articles, customs that are halakhic or personal ritual. As profound as they can be, Rabbi Zuckerman urges us to not only rely on these artifacts to channel spirituality, but for us to manifest our spiritual work through actions.

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.

How do we sing of liberation with broken hearts? Rabbi Zuckerman reflects on balancing the sadness from tragedies in our modern world with the joy that runs through the Passover holiday.

When alternate notions of what’s in the best interest of the Jewish community compete, how do we know what’s right? Reminding us that we are not the first to face this dilemma, Rabbi Cosgrove recalls Rabbi A.J. Heschel, urging us to find the quiet inner voice of conscience.

Rabbinic Intern Pink discusses the moral issues that must be addressed as AI becomes more integrated into everyday life.

With a fast-moving news cycle and TikTok-length attention spans, we don't always prioritize studying our history. Rabbi Zauzmer implores us to learn the stories of our past, teaching that we cannot fully understand the present without the context of the past.

When God called the Israelites a "stiff-necked people," God was also providing a prophetic vision of Jewish resilience. Rabbi Zuckerman concludes that the impetus for building the golden calf is also what would become the most heroic virtue of the Jewish people.

What model of leadership serves our people best? Absolute adherence to principle or willingness to compromise? The book of Esther prompts Rabbi Cosgrove to examine both approaches, share his own answer, and advise that we must be tolerant of those who choose differently than we do.

Where do we find holiness? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that while a beautiful sanctuary may inspire us, holiness is to be found in the connections between people, between ourselves and others. He urges us to pursue holiness by practicing respectful dialogue with those with whom we disagree.

Citing examples from the Torah, other Jewish texts, and today's world, Rabbi Zauzmer argues that we cannot lose sight of protecting reproductive rights, even as so many other issues dominate Jews' minds at this time.

Rabbinic Intern Pink shares three midrashim with different takes about what happened at Mount Sinai and what lessons those teachings hold for us today.

Following last week’s election, you may feel crushed and afraid or you may feel relieved and grateful. Rabbi Cosgrove counsels that whatever our reaction, each of us must move forward, working to realize our ideals with respect for those whose reactions differ from our own.

In this week’s Torah portion, negative filtering - framing the truth in a way that ignores the world's positives - led the Israelite spies astray. Rabbinic Intern Pink explains how the story teaches us the importance of hope, even in challenging times.

Join Rabbi Koffman in a discussion of complicated and confusing texts, sibling rivalry, and the consequences of what happens when we talk about others.

Birkat Kohanim, the blessing that parents give their children on Shabbat, has its origins in this week’s Torah portion. What does this blessing tell us about the values we want to impart to the next generation? Rabbinic Intern Aiden Pink leads a discussion on the history of the blessing and its i...

How does a connection to the land of Israel play out in your life? In sharing his own personal experience, Rabbi Cosgrove reminds us how the dream and the reality of a sovereign Jewish state in the land of Israel has sustained the Jewish people.

Rabbi Zuckerman draws parallels between the Israelites wandering in the desert and the current state of worldwide Jewry, reflecting the deeper meaning behind the census of every Israelite as requested by God, and how we can count ourselves in this same story of our ancient history.

What is Double V? Recalling the campaign during WWII for victory against fascism on the battlefield and victory against racism on the homefront, Rabbi Cosgrove calls for a Double V campaign for Israel, for victory against Hamas and for the democratic values that are intrinsic to the state.

What is your response to the anti-Israel protests on college campuses? Explaining that these demonstrations not only express distress at Israel’s response to Hamas, but reflect a surge of antisemitism, Rabbi Cosgrove urges all Jews to step up to combat Jew-hatred politically, legally, and philant...