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.

Writers’ Guild

The Torah’s Case Against Absolute Power

In Moses and Parashat Korach by Yael Shahar

Korach's rebellion was about more than challenging Moshe and Aharon. Beneath the drama lies a profound question: How can a society create authority without allowing power to become absolute?

Popular Essays

  • The Tragedy of the Grasshopper

    In Parashat Shelach by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    The spies sent to scout out the Land of Israel saw giants. But their greatest mistake was not what they saw, but how they saw themselves. Many of us spend our lives allowing others to define who we are. We learn how to navigate the world, how to acquire knowledge, and how to succeed, but rarely how to ask life's most important questions. What happens when we stop asking "why"? And what does it take to leave behind the safety of the desert and enter a world that demands courage, responsibility, and wonder? Parashat Shelach invites us to confront the grasshopper within.

  • Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai and the Portable Homeland

    By Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    After this war is won, the next great challenge facing the State of Israel will be the possibility that its soldiers will one day refuse to serve and defend this country. How long will we be able to rely on the Israeli army if its combatants do not realize what it is they are fighting for? It is important that they know that they are defending an idea and a holy mission which far surpasses the defense of a piece of land!

  • The Strolling Light of Shabbat

    The art of creative abstinence

    In Parashat Emor and Shabbat by Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

    When the light of the setting sun announces the entrance of Shabbat, a miracle happens: the light assumes the quality of light in a Rembrandt painting. The light slows down. It strolls! There is no way to see the strolling of the light unless one actually opens the door to let it in. One cannot talk about mystery. One must be grasped by it. And that is only possible when insight and creative inaction become one.

The Jewish Year

Tisha B’Av

The Day of National Mourning

Tisha B’Av refuses the comfort of resolution. It is a day devoted to remembering wounds that have never fully healed. By mourning destruction long past, we protest the illusion that history simply moves on. The fast strips away distraction, forcing us to confront the cost of hatred, indifference, and spiritual arrogance. Tisha B’Av insists that redemption cannot be rushed, and that forgetting is itself a moral failure. Only a people willing to grieve honestly can hope to rebuild without repeating the same catastrophes.

9 Av 5786

Begins at Sundown on Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Ends at Nightfall on Thursday, July 23, 2026

Watch the Video: “Where are the Jews? The future of the State of Israel.”

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
Cardozo on the Parashah: Volume 4 book cover

Featured Book

Cardozo on the Parashah: Volume 4

The Book of Numbers

By Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

Published: 2026

Books are available in the United States, Israel, and internationally via online retailers. In Israel, books may be purchased from Pomeranz Booksellers, Be’eri St. 5, Jerusalem Phone: 02-623-559 International buyers can buy via Amazon in various locations. Please choose from the links below: More about Cardozo on the Parashah: Volume 4 Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo […]

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