(87) Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year or the World’s New Year?

September 26, 2019

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When David and Scott wish our listeners a shana tova – a good (not only happy) new year – are they talking only to Jews or to all of mankind? Is Rosh Hashanah a holiday…

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(86) The Shofar and the Unity of the Jewish People

September 25, 2019

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The Torah mandates that we blow the shofar only nine times – that is, nine shofar blasts – on Rosh Hashanah; but the Jewish people universally blow at least thirty, and usually many more. Where…

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(85) The Shofar and the Binding of Isaac

September 24, 2019

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The ram’s horn – shofar – that Jews blow on Rosh Hashanah evokes a sense of weeping or sighing. But it also reminds us of the Abraham’s almost-sacrifice of Isaac. Join David and Scott to…

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(84) Symbolic Foods on Rosh Hashanah – and the New England Patriots

September 23, 2019

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Many Jewish families have a custom to eat symbolic foods at night on Rosh Hashanah, but Scott and his family have their own tradition that mystifies New Yorker David. Does Bob Kraft owe the Patriots’…

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(83) Asking Forgiveness From Our Friends

September 19, 2019

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In the Jewish tradition, it’s not enough to ask G-d to forgive us; we also must ask our friends whom we’ve wronged to forgive us, as well. Where do we see this idea in the…

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(82) The Three Aspects of Repentance

September 18, 2019

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According to classic Jewish thought, repentance requires three specific ingredients in order to fully restore our relationship with G-d – one of which is confession. Join David and Scott as they investigate the importance of…

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(81) Does G-d Erase the Consequences of Sin?

September 17, 2019

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Although G-d promises to forgive a person who sincerely repents, does that mean that the consequences of sin are erased, as well? Join David and Scott for a discussion about repentance, and the Jewish concept…

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(80) A Father in Heaven or a Grandfather in the Sky?

September 16, 2019

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Is repentance automatic, or can G-d choose to reject repentance? By investigating the contrasting stories of King David and King Saul, David and Scott offer a fascinating theological insight that can help us all build…

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(79) “No Excuses”: The Difference Between the Repentance of David and Saul

September 12, 2019

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David admitted his sin to Nathan the prophet, and was forgiven; Saul admitted his sin to Samuel the prophet, but still suffered dire consequences. David and Scott discuss the differences between the two situations, and…

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(78) The Sin of David and Bathsheva… and David’s Prayerful Response

September 11, 2019

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Psalm 51 – paraphrased in a key line of the Selichot liturgy – is David’s prayer after Nathan the prophet confronted him with the reality of David’s sinful behavior. What is the background to this…

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