Thoughts to Ponder is a weekly invitation to think dangerously and question passionately. Drawing on the Torah portion, classical Jewish sources, philosophy, and the crises of contemporary life, Rabbi Cardozo challenges religious complacency and spiritual comfort. These essays are written for readers who seek a Judaism that disturbs, questions, and ultimately deepens the human encounter with God and responsibility.
The people of Israel, according to Jewish tradition, are not the authors of the Torah. Rather, the Torah is the author of the people. As a covenant between God and humankind, the Torah is what brought the people into being. Moreover, despite the fact that the people have often violated the commanding voice of this text, it created the specific and unique identity of the Jewish nation.
Faith is deeper than knowledge. While scientific data is absorbed only in the brain, faith permeates all parts of the human personality.
In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
The new reality in the age of COVID-19 forces us to break with the monotony that most of us are used to. Almost all of us jump into routine every morning โ whether itโs a job, or the need to sleep, eat, or entertain ourselves. And now, the corona virus suddenly forces us to rethink everything, making us wonder what this life of ours is really all about.
In Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Pekudei by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
When Godโs glory is fully present in the Mishkan, there is no place for the human being, not even for somebody as great and godly as Moshe. What then, is the place of the human within the Divine?
Announcing a new initiative by the Cardozo Academy Think Tank: a series of guest essays by Yehudah DovBer Zirkind, based on Rabbi Cardozo's discussion of the Mei Hashiloah, Torah and Halacha.
ืืื ืชืืืืช ืืืคืช ืืงืืจืื ื, ืื ื ื ืืฆื ืืืฆื ืืืชื ืืคืฉืจื. ืื ืื ืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืื โ ืืฉืืขืืื ืืืจืื, ืืคื ืฉืื ื ืืืืจ ืืืชื, ืืืืื ืื โ ืืืืื ืืืจืืื ืฉืื ืืืืืชื ืืืืืื.
75 Years After the Holocaust
In Jewish Thought and Philosophy, Theodicy and Yom HaShoah by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Rembrandt reminds us that if we want to really live we must show flawless integrity and demonstrate great authenticity. It is all about making a genuine contribution to the world, with no regard for gain, and even being prepared to pay the price of oneโs rank and position in the conventional community. A person must make sure that he can look himself in the mirror at the end of his life and say, I lived my life; it did not just pass me by.
In Defense of Heresy
In Converting to Judaism, Education, Jewish Thought and Philosophy, Moses and Parashat Shemot by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Judaism was born out of opposition, rebellion and protest. It overthrew and outlived mighty empires and gave the world a radically new understanding of itself. Judaism has nothing to fear. It has prevailed over all those who criticized it but has also learned much about itself by listening to opposing voices. Through these voices, it has been able to sharpen its own claims and if necessary change its mind when the inadequacy of these claims has become clear. Only in this way will it continue to play a central role in the future of mankind.
In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Last week, something remarkable happened. Thousands of Jews from all over the world came together to study the last page of an old book with the ineffable anticipation of starting to study it all over again from page one and not to lose a minute.
In Jewish Thought and Philosophy by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Faith means striving for faith. It is never an arrival. It can only burst forth at singular moments. It does not arise out of logical deduction, but out of uncertainty, which is its natural breeding ground. To have faith is to live with unresolved doubts, prepared to rise above ourselves and our wisdom. Looking into the Jewish tradition with its many debates, one clearly understands that those who deny themselves the comfort of certainty are much more authentic than those who are sure.
Old Age and Facelifts
In Abraham and Parashat Toldot by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
For the authentically religious personality, religion can be experienced and lived only in a state of originality. Any imitation of fellow worshipers is serving oneself and not God. In essence, religion is an attempt to search for God, the ultimate Original.
In Abraham, Jewish Thought and Philosophy and Parashat Chayei Sarah by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Leadership often demands moving forward at all costs. But what about those left behind? In Avraham we find a different modelโone who leads from the front, yet never abandons those at the rear. A profound reflection on what it truly means to guide others.