The concept of "independence" and its meaning vary between countries. In the USA, it's become a holiday with picnics, parades, and fireworks. In Israel, Independence Day (Yom HaAztmaut) is celebrated much differently. There is a juxtaposition of Memorial Day with Independence Day - they are one day apart in Israel. We discuss these and other differences in this week's episode.

On the holiday of Shavuot, I spent my evening in synagogue at a late-night study session on Torah. Rabbi Cohen gave a talk about business ethics and its relationship to Shavuot—and to Judaism in general. In today's episode, we unpack some of these very relevant lessons. This issue has been at the forefront of our faith far longer than you might expect. It's been discussed in Torah, Talmud, and in countless books across time. This will be the first of several episodes on this topic... Please join us for the journey.

At 8 PM EDT this past Thursday, June 12, the State of Israel took on a task that the rest of the world should have done long ago: It started an effort to destroy Iran's nuclear program. The early stages of the effort brought great success, but for every action, there is a reaction, and the cost of that reaction will be paid in spilled Israeli blood in the homeland. In today's episode, we discuss how you can contribute during this time of war and what you can do to support those in need. We also discuss how you can conduct yourself and try not to be consumed by the nearly instant news cycle.

Below are some organizations you can doate to to help in the effort:

Organization Email and Websites

American Friends of Magen David Adom (U.S.)[email protected] / [email protected]afmda.orgMagen David Adom (Israel) [email protected]mda.org.il

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)— online form / regional: [email protected]fidf.org

Jewish National Fund (JNF-USA)[email protected] / [email protected]jnf.org

AIPAC[email protected] / [email protected]aipac.org

IsraAID[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]israaid.org

Jewish Agency (JAFINA)[email protected]jafina.org

IFCJ(website donation)ifcj.org

Jewish Federations (via local chapters) See local federation site - jewishfederations.org.

We have a guest this week, Rabbi Herbert Cohen, a PhD in literature... who also happens to be Rabbi Daniel Cohen's father. We discuss how G-d is portrayed in secular literature in this week's episode.

Shavuot is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish Calendar. It commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. But what does it mean to us today? Listen in to this episode to find out.

As Jews living in America, we are part of what is known as the Diaspora. Do we, as Diaspora Jews, have additional responsibilities to the State of Israel? Tune in for a discussion about this topic in this week's episode.

From October 7th to the 2025 Eurovision Competition - Yuval Raphael's story is astounding... She is not just a survivor in a tough business (the music industry), but she literally survived the Nova Festival to perform in the Eurovision Festival 2025, which happened this week. Come listen to her story. You can view it in her own words here: https://youtu.be/ve0T0qzWLrM?si=BZXK6XoiavnSL0o7.

What is the Omer and why does it matter in 2025. Join us today for a discussion about the relevancy of the Counting of the Omer in our world today - and what is the meaning of "Lag Baomer."

Words can be potent tools. They can build and they can destroy. Words can make someone's day or leave them depressed and dejected. This episode covers a topic that was near and dear to Judith Altmann, a Holocaust Survivor who passed away this week at age 100. She used her power of words for decades after the Holocaust with children at various ages in public schools to tell her story and ensure that she would bear witness to what occurred, and that she'd pass that along. The power of her words was a powerful testament to her life and her experiences.

In a country blessed with such wealth and plenty, we often forget that this was forged in blood. In Israel on, Yom HaZikaron, quite literally, every single car, train, bus and person stops in their tracks when the sirens sound - and the country stops for a few minutes to honor the fallen. It is a deeply meaningful event to observe. We reflect this week on Israel's way of reconginzing its fallen - especially now, after October 7.