If you have been following Israeli politics, you have undoubtedly heard (but may not fully understand) the standoff between the ultra-orthodox community and the secular government and the requirement to serve in the IDF at age 17 or 18. The issue has gotten so contentious that it threatens to bring down the Israeli Government. But what is at the root of this controversy? Tune in to find out...

After our podcast on death and dying, we got an email from a listener to address how to handle a situation where a loved one has dementia. In this podcast, we unpack what Judaism has to say about this tragic situation. Spoilers - just like the instructions to put your own oxygen mask on during an air emergency, we have similar advice: Take care of yourself first so you have the strength to take care of your loved one. Ask for help and ensure you have the opportunity to rest from time to time. Ensure you take care of yourself so you can take care of your loved ones... And there's more words of wisdom on this very painful topic.

Today, we are living longer lives than ever before in human history - it was less than 100 years ago that life expectancy was a small fraction of where it is today - but with those advances come new challenges. How do we keep the commandment of "Honor your mother and father" in the face of parents and loved ones who are now nonagenarians or older? Today, we discuss this commandment and it's ramifications in the 21st Century.

The wisdom of the Torah is often said to be "eternal." One can not argue about the wisdom of so much of Judaism. In this week's episode, we explore the wisdom of the rituals surrounding death and dying. While ancient, these rituals provide a pathway from grief back to the world of life for everyone who passes through this difficult time. This week's episode explores that wisdom as well as some of the rituals around this most difficult time in all of our lives.

Today's podcast is our 100th together. This journey that Rabbi Cohen and I began nearly two years ago has blossomed into a weekly podcast where we unpack topics from human genomics and whether artificial meat is kosher or not, to how do we as a people survive in these uncertain times. We have covered a huge amount of ground over these past 100 episodes. Today's discussion is a retrospective on just some of the discussions and topics we've unpacked since the summer of 2023. We thank you all for being with us on this journey for the past two years!

Who's running the show? Is it Hashem? Is it you and me? Come listen to some perspectives on the topic of free will vs divine will.

Though in the middle of the summer, Tisha B'Av is among the most solemn holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the destruction of both the first and second temples. It is a time for mourning these losses - but also a time to rebuild. In our modern world, the message of this solemn day rings true in some unexpected ways. Tune in to learn more.

While every Jew is aware of the big fast day on the calendar, Yom Kippur, there are other fast days on the Jewish calendar that you may not have heard of. They commemorate different things, but taken as a whole, they provide a chance for those who observe to keep a specific set of tenets in mind. We discuss the lesser-known fast days on this edition of Judaism in the 21st Century.

Regardless of the era, from the Marx Brothers to John Stewart, Jewish comedians have been helping us to laugh at ourselves for generations. In this week's episode, we explore the role of comedy in our community and country and how it helps broaden our perspectives on life, despite the challenges we face.

Oy Vey, I need a Vacation... Those words are said by so many, and yet, oftentimes, people do not take the chance to break away and recharge. IT turns out that vacations are actually part of the Talmud's teachings. This week, we unpack VACATIONS and their value.