​Novelist Michael David Lukas claimed in a New York Times opinion piece, The Hypocrisy of Chanukah that the Maccabees would have hated him because he is an assimilated Jews. Is Lukas correct? Can we maintain our Jewish identity while benefiting from the larger culture or must we choose one or the other? 

​Jacob stumbled into the world’s first synagogue while on the run. What can we learn from his experience?

​​Though Israeli’s enemies have failed to destroy the Jewish state on the battle field they have not given up. They now use political methods in an attempt to reach their goal. We must not stand by silently as Israel remains under siege. 

​When and how should you offer constructive criticism?

​The word nationalism has been in the news lately. How does the Jewish view of nationalism help us respond to the worst anti-Semitic attack in American history?

​It’s been said that the world’s oldest disease is anti-Semitism. But there is something new about this old disease. In fact, this disease had already mutated three times, and we are now suffering through its fourth mutation. How should we respond? 

Audio File:To stream or download click here and then the appropriate icon above on the next page 

​Remember being nervous about having to take a test? But now imagine that the teacher distributed a study guide with the questions that will be on the test. You’d undoubtedly feel more confident about your chances. Well the teacher has already distributed the questions that you will be tested on, when you take your final, final exam, the admissions test to qualify for Olam Haba (the World to Come).  Start preparing for your final, final exam now.

​Audio File:To stream or download click here and then the appropriate icon above on the next page 

​Seeing people in a nuanced manner helps us to simultaneously protect ourselves from being hurt while finding redeeming qualities in those we had previously written off. Yet, our brains are programmed to make sweeping snap judgments about people. How can we fight this tendency and view people in their totality?  

​God is all- powerful and good, yet there is injustice. What is the Jewish response to this seemingly unanswerable contradiction between belief and reality?

​One of today’s most popular buzz words is Mindfulness. Does Mindfulness have any religious value?