About The Cardozo Academy

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

The establishment of the State of Israel and the challenges of modernity have presented Judaism with a reality it hasn’t faced in nearly two millennia. In response, there is an urgent need to rediscover and revitalize Judaism with its original spirit of bold thinking, spiritual struggle, and moral depth. Too often, Jewish education today produces observant individuals who lack a deeper understanding of meaning. Halacha has become rigid, confined to rote practice and detached from its vibrant roots in debate and existential inquiry. The greatness of our tradition lies not in conformity, but in the courage to question and wrestle with complexity.

Judaism thrives through dissent and creativity—it was founded by rebels like Abraham and Moses who challenged the status quo in pursuit of divine truth. To revive Judaism’s relevance, we must embrace open exploration, spiritual authenticity, and innovation grounded in tradition. The David Cardozo Academy aims to restore this vitality by encouraging deep engagement with Jewish thought and law, empowering Jews to live their faith with passion, purpose, and a renewed sense of mission for all humanity.

Our Manifesto for a Renewed Jewish Future

In the wake of the State of Israel's founding and amidst rapid global change, Judaism stands at a defining crossroads. The time has come to revitalize our tradition with vision, courage, and a renewed sense of purpose—meeting today's realities while honoring timeless values.

The Challenge

Contemporary Judaism often struggles under the weight of rigidity, routine, and disengagement. Many institutions prioritize information over inspiration, and tradition is too often preserved at the expense of relevance. Without bold reinvention, we risk alienating the very generations we hope to inspire.

Our Vision

To foster a Judaism that is intellectually alive, spiritually dynamic, and morally resonant. We envision a renewed tradition that speaks powerfully to the complexities of modern life, while drawing from the profound depths of our heritage.

A Collective Call to Action

This is a shared responsibility. We call upon community leaders, educators, and institutional partners to co-create a vibrant Jewish future. Let us move beyond maintenance toward vision. The moment to lead with heart, mind, and conviction is now.

Key Strategic Areas:

1. Transform Jewish Education

Shift toward interactive, inquiry-driven learning that nurtures creativity, questions, and personal meaning.
2. Revitalize Halacha

Engage Halacha as a living system—flexible, rooted, and responsive to moral and existential challenges.
3. Empower Innovative Leadership

Develop and support leaders who model authenticity, courage, and forward-thinking engagement with tradition.
4. Foster Intellectual and Spiritual Audacity

Create space for critical thought, debate, and diverse perspectives that invigorate Jewish identity.
5. Forge Strategic Collaborations

Build meaningful partnerships across sectors to implement innovative models and broaden impact.

“The purpose of Jewish tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the flame.”

Read the Manifesto

The Cardozo Academy Staff

Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo

Dean and Founder

A sought-after lecturer on the international stage for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, Rabbi Cardozo is the author of 14 books and numerous articles in both English and Hebrew. As Dean and Founder of the Cardozo Academy, Rabbi Cardozo aims to find new Halachic and philosophical approaches to dealing with the crisis of religion and identity among Jews and the Jewish State of Israel. Rabbi Cardozo is a prominent lecturer and author renowned for his highly original insights into Judaism and his ability to communicate the relevance of Jewish values and practice in today’s complicated world.
cardozonathanlopes@gmail.com
Rabbi Yehoshua Looks

Chief Operations Officer

Yehoshua brings over twenty years of senior management experience from the United States to his role as COO of the Cardozo Academy. Since making aliya in 1996 with his wife Debbie and their three children, he has focused on strengthening nonprofit organizations through the application of sound management principles. He joined the Cardozo Academy Think Tank in 2012 and became part of its management team in 2023. Alongside his professional work, he is deeply committed to learning and teaching Torah. Yehoshua and Debbie live in Jerusalem’s Rehavia neighborhood.
yehoshua.looks@gmail.com
Yael Shahar

IT and Publications Manager

In addition to managing digital content for the Cardozo Academy, Yael Shahar spends her time writing, landscape design, and learning Talmud with anyone who will sit still long enough. She is the author of Returning, a remarkable true story of spiritual resilience. Her writing on Jewish history and philosophy can be found at www.yaelshahar.com.
ya.shahar@gmail.com
Zoe Looks

Office Manager

Zoe is grateful for the opportunity to share and promote the teachings and insights of Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo. Originally from the United States, she now resides in Israel with her family, where she finds balance through a love of good books and delicious food.
zoe@cardozoacademy.org

About the Cardozo Academy Writers’ Guild

The Cardozo Academy Writers’ Guild is a diverse group of thinkers and writers—educators, researchers, policy experts, academics, rabbis, and students of Torah—brought together by their shared engagement with the ideas of Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo. All have been long-time participants in the Academy’s Think Tank, where creativity, candor, and spiritual inquiry were nurtured in equal measure.

The essays published by the Writers’ Guild span topics ranging from Parashat HaShavua and Jewish history to contemporary society, ethics, and theology. While some pieces resonate deeply with Rabbi Cardozo’s vision, others challenge and expand it—reflecting the very ethos of the Academy: that true growth arises from dialogue, disagreement, and the courage to question sacred assumptions.

Calev Ben-Dor

A former analyst in Foreign Ministry, Calev Ben-Dor has worked in the Israeli policy and national security world for over 15 years. He is currently Editor of the Fathom Journal and has vast experience in lecturing and teaching about Jewish texts, Israel, and the Middle East to different groups.
More about Calev Ben-Dor →
Yehoshua Looks

In addition to his role as COO of the Cardozo Academy, Yehoshua is a writer, having contributed for many years to the HaAretz Rabbis’ Round Table. After making aliya in 1996, he became actively involved in Israel’s nonprofit community. Yehoshua received rabbinical ordination in 2004 and became a member of the Cardozo Academy Think Tank in 2012. He loves teaching Torah and performing across Jerusalem’s English-speaking theater scene. Yehoshua lives in Jerusalem’s Rehavia neighborhood with his wife Debbie and their cat, Molly.
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Yael Shahar

Yael Shahar spent most of her career in intelligence and security studies, with side trips into physics, graphic design, and digital layout. She has lectured worldwide on a variety of topics, from Jewish education to security studies and threat assessment. Her research on the Internet as an enabler of political and social change led her to a deeper study of Jewish society over the ages. Her writing on Jewish education and philosophy can be found at www.yaelshahar.com.
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Yael Unterman

Yael Unterman is an author, editor, international speaker, and lecturer at Shalem College. Her two books are Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar (National Jewish Book Awards finalist) and The Hidden of Things: Twelve Stories of Long & Longing (USA Best Book Awards finalist). She has facilitated hundreds of workshops in Bibliodrama, a deep interpretation technique invented by Prof. Peter Pitzele, and offers a weekly Bibliodrama on zoom. Visit www.yaelunterman.com.
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Yael Valier

Yael Valier, Co-coordinator of the DCA Think Tank, is the creative director of Theater and Theology, a Jerusalem-based theater company. She also teaches drama at Midreshet Emuna V’Omanut. She is a voice actor, and you can hear her voice multiple characters in several current programs for the Fox Network’s Baby TV channel. Yael and her patent attorney husband, Dan Goldstein, collaborate on various fun educational projects, such as this science and geography album that they co-produced: www.TremendousEarth.com.
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Yehuda DovBer Zirkind

Yehudah DovBer Zirkind grew up in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and studied at various Chabad Yeshivot before making Aliyah in 2006. He is currently a senior research fellow at the Hasidic Research Institute at Herzog College and a PhD candidate in comparative Jewish literature at Tel Aviv University. His research interests include Tanach; contemporary Jewish thought; Hasidism; Hebrew, Yiddish, and Jewish-American literature; Jewish bibliography; and Yiddish music and folklore.
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