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Learning to be finite

December 12, 2017 by E.S. Leave a Comment

Learning to be finite

Spiritual experiences may represent our yearning for the “infinite”, but this yearning can only find expression in seeking to improve ourselves to the best of our ability and seeking to relate with love to the people and the world around us, while at the same time coming to an acceptance of our finiteness and separateness, overcoming the grief and outrage we feel at not being everything. Yearning for the infinite is really a way of learning how to be finite.

On Spiritual Experiences – A response to Yael Valier

December 6, 2017 by Michael Kagan Leave a Comment

On Spiritual Experiences – A response to Yael Valier

Religious experience is not necessarily any more valuable than purely spiritual experience. A vital part of the defining genius of the Jewish tradition is that it produced an intricate set of observances which, together, create an experiential space which is hospitable to spiritual experience and, to an extent, stimulates it.

What makes a “spiritual experience”?

November 26, 2017 by Yael Valier 3 Comments

What makes a “spiritual experience”?

What turns a spiritual experience into a religious one is the training and preparation that creates a religiously shaped receptacle for an experience or at least a religious vector for channeling the experience.

The Legacy of Rav Soloveitchik

March 15, 2017 by Yehuda DovBer Zirkind Leave a Comment

In evaluating Rabbi Cardozo’s critique of Rav Yoseph Dov Soloveitchik, it is important to clarify that Rabbi Cardozo criticizes Rav Soloveitchik from the perspective of the burning issues that are important to Rabbi Cardozo (i.e. changes in Halacha, daring theological approaches etc.), and it should not be seen as a general evaluation of Rav Soloveitchik’s philosophical legacy as a whole.

Musings on Rav Soloveitchik’s Torah

February 22, 2017 by DCA Staff Leave a Comment

Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik thought is greatly indebted to Kantian philosophy. In contenting himself with the philosophical world of Kant, JBS shows himself to be thoroughly unmodern in his philosophical approach to halacha.

Innovative Halakhic solutions already exist: Do we have the courage to use them?

September 15, 2016 by Yael Shahar Leave a Comment

In the process of adapting from exile to statehood, halachah may need to be uprooted and transplanted, or even cut back to its deepest roots and regrown in a larger pot, where it can flower more freely. This will probably result in the “secularization” of some of our halachot, offset by a cultural “Judification” of our secular society. Can we use the lessons learned during the galut to survive in an increasingly decentralized and globalized world?

Shabbat desecration, the Olympics and the dilemmas of a Jewish State

September 7, 2016 by E.S. 1 Comment

Several recent events—the Olympic Games and the proposal to work on the railway line construction on Shabbat—are excellent opportunities to start a conversation on the role of halacha in the Jewish State. The question is: what form should the conversation take? It should not, I believe, primarily take the form of a formal halachic argument.

Faith and Truth: A necessary trade-off?

August 31, 2016 by Emunah Fialkoff Leave a Comment

Our relationship with God as we know it is not just about what we think or understand. There is also a faith that is not based in intellectual belief. This is a faith that is based on our own inner resonance with the practices and beliefs of our tradition. What happens to our emotional faith when our intellectual faith runs up against facts that seem to contradict that faith? How do we keep our balance?

Tisha b’Av: Can we still mourn? A reply to Rav Cardozo

August 21, 2016 by Yael Valier 2 Comments

Rabbi Cardozo writes: “Maybe we should literally go out in the streets and help people, sit down with our ideological enemies and see where we can find common ground, instead of simply reciting more kinot?” And yet, there are reasons why we should continue to fast and read Eichah on Tisha b’Av. Here are just a few of those reasons

A Tongue-in-Cheek Tribute to Rabbi Cardozo, from the Think Tank Members, in Honor of his Recent 70th Birthday

August 17, 2016 by Yael Unterman Leave a Comment

A light-hearted look at a typical DCA think tank meeting, in honor of Rabbi Cardozo’s 70th Birthday. Happy Birthday Rav Cardozo!

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Our Mission

The David Cardozo Academy seeks to revitalize the Jewish tradition and restore the relevance of Judaism as a force of authentic, non-dogmatic Jewish religiosity in which Jews once more take pride in the divine Torah and its great moral and spiritual mission towards all of mankind.


From the DCA Think Tank

Survey of 5777 Activities at the DCA Think Tank

September 5, 2017 5:42 pm

We're delighted to share with you a full-color bulletin with photos detailing what the David Cardozo Academy Think Tank has been up to this year - our regular activities plus an Open Think Tank for the public in March. There are also questions for you to ponder - it wouldn't be the DCA Think Tank without them!  Read more →

Think Tank Blogs

Learning to be finite

December 12, 2017 8:15 pm | By E.S.

Spiritual experiences may represent our yearning for the “infinite”, but this yearning can only find expression in seeking to improve ourselves to the best of our ability and seeking to relate with love to the people and the world around us, while at the same time coming to an acceptance of our finiteness and separateness, overcoming the grief and outrage we feel at not being everything. Yearning for the infinite is really a way of learning how to be finite. Read more →

Latest Guest Essay

An open letter to Rabbi Cardozo in response to his article on Rav Soloveitchik

March 15, 2017 12:09 pm | By Tanya White

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Latest Cardozian Newsletter

Cardozian Newsletter – Nissan 5778

March 25, 2018
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