The Cardozo Academy

The Cardozo Academy seeks to restore the relevance of Judaism as a force of authentic, non-dogmatic religiosity, capturing a lifetime of exploration, contemplation, and dialogue by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo.

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With the generous support of the Aron and Betsy Spijer Foundation.

Thought to Ponder

The first Divine commandment is not what you think!

In Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Bereshit by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

It is often thought that God’s first commandment to Adam was the prohibition regarding the Tree of Knowledge. However, this was not the first commandment!

Popular Content

  • As I turn 80, I hope my life is and continues to be a journey that inspires others

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo featured in Jerusalem Post Magazine

    On the occasion of his 80th birthday, Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo writes not about accomplishments or memories, but about wonder, failure, gratitude, and the lifelong struggle to remain astonished by existence. This deeply personal letter to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren is both a reflection on eight decades of life and an invitation to rediscover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary.

  • Beginning Again

    In Parashat Bereshit by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    God is the ultimate paradox. Every truth about Him has its counterpart which contradicts it. Every philosophy about Him carries within it its own contradiction.

  • In spite of Religion, God is still around

    In Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Terumah by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    It is in those who are still uncomfortable with God that new insights about Him are formed. And it will be in those uneasy environments that Judaism will be rediscovered and developed. The need for religious transcendence, and for the spiritual thread that keeps many young people on their toes, is enormous. Numerous secular people are joining a new category of spiritual theologians. Matters of weltanschauung are pivotal to many secular Jews now. The problem is that for them, and for the religious, the Torah is transmitted on a wavelength that is out of range of their spiritual transistors’ frequency. Yes, we turn on the radio, but we hear strange noises and unusual static. There is serious transmission failure. We are no longer sure where the pipelines are. God has relocated.

The Jewish Year

Hanukkah

The Festival of Lights

Hanukkah challenges the assumption that truth belongs to the powerful. It is a festival of quiet resistance, where a small flame confronts overwhelming darkness. The miracle lies not only in the oil, but in the refusal to surrender meaning to force, expediency, or historical inevitability. By kindling light that we are meant to see, but not make use of, Hanukkah affirms that faith is maintained by those willing to protect vulnerability rather than impose certainty.

25 Kislev 5787 – 2 Tevet 5787

Begins at Sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026

Ends at Nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026

Watch the Video: “Where are the Jews?”

About The Cardozo Academy

The David Cardozo Academy seeks to restore the relevance of Judaism as a force of authentic, non-dogmatic religiosity.

Who we are

The David Cardozo Academy fosters a Judaism that is intellectually rigorous, spiritually alive, and courageously non-dogmatic. Founded by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo, we convene scholars, seekers, and communities to explore Torah and Halacha that are alive and shape contemporary life. Through essays, lectures, study circles, and creative partnerships, we nurture bold thought, honest struggle, and moral purpose—so Jews can live their tradition with depth, curiosity, and joy.

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Our Manifesto

Modernity and the rebirth of Jewish sovereignty confront us with questions our ancestors did not face. Our manifesto calls for a renewed Judaism—faithful to its sources yet unafraid of complexity. We champion dissent and creativity as engines of Torah; Halacha as a dynamic framework, not rote habit; education that prizes inquiry over conformity. This is a call to think big, wrestle truthfully, and rekindle Judaism’s mission for Israel and for humanity.

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Get in Touch

Let’s build this future together. Connect with the David Cardozo Academy to host a lecture or explore partnership opportunities. Join our mailing list to get Thoughts to Ponder by Rabbi Cardozo and Cardozo Academy scholars delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you’re a learner, leader, donor, or curious skeptic, we welcome your voice and your questions. Reach out—and help us renew a living, relevant Judaism for the next generation.

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Rabbi Sacks Testimonial

“Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo has emerged as one of the most thoughtful voices in contemporary Judaism. He is a man of deep faith and wide intellectual horizons, unafraid to confront the challenges of the age with the quiet confidence of one who is attuned to the music of eternity.”

— Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z.l., former Chief Rabbi of the UK
Between Silence and Speech book cover

Featured Book

Between Silence and Speech

Rethinking Judaism in an Age of Doubt

By Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

Published: 1995

Free Download

In Between Silence and Speech, Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo confronts the questions that thoughtful readers often hesitate to ask. Rather than defending tradition with easy answers, Rabbi Cardozo challenges both religious complacency and secular certainty, revealing Judaism as a living intellectual and spiritual adventure.

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