Park Avenue Synagogue Podcast

Twenty years after Jacob famously dreamed of a ladder ascending to heaven, he had another, less well-known vision. Rabbi Pink analyzes that story and shares what it can teach us about our lives.

Following Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor, Rabbi Cosgrove calls for a civic awakening. Like Rebecca seizing her destiny, Jews today must act with agency—knowing our leaders, voting, and standing up for democracy and Jewish community. Nothing “just happens.” The future of our people and city is in our hands.

From a visit to The Museum of Jewish Heritage on the anniversary of Kristallnacht and this week's torah portion, Rabbi Zuckerman reflects on the Jewish experience of being both a stranger and a resident in the place they call home, throughout history to today. 

Following New York’s mayoral election, Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on democracy, disagreement, and the bonds of Jewish peoplehood. Drawing on the story of Abraham and Isaac, he calls for renewed dialogue, humility, and ahavat yisrael, a reminder that the real test begins not on the mountaintop, but on the way down.

Rabbi Zauzmer leads a discussion on why Sukkot is known as the holiday of joy, encouraging us to let our walls down.

Rabbi Pink explains the hidden meaning behind the ancient sacrifices on Sukkot, and what we can learn from them about how we interact with people outside our community.

How do we carry on after the spiritual high of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that living Jewishly is a year-round, weekly, and daily commitment. If we want the peak moments, we must practice regularly.

As long as there have been Jews, there have been complaints. But some disagreements are holier than others. Rabbi Pink analyzes when Jews are called, and in some cases required, to protest.

If you've ever played card or board games - and especially if you've argued over their rules - you've already picked up a hidden lesson that applies to Jewish learning. Rabbi Pink explains how this experience should inspire everyone to learn more about Judaism in the coming year.

From this week's parashah about Abraham, the anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, and the upcoming mayoral election in NYC, Rabbi Zuckerman finds a common lesson: sometimes we have to go down to climb even higher and what seems like misfortune and betrayal can actually be providence in disguise.

As the early voting period begins, Rabbi Zauzmer reminds us of our Jewish obligation both to vote and to choose the best available candidate.

On the two-year Hebrew anniversary of October 7, Rabbi Zauzmer invites us to consider the trauma that prompts us to create our world anew.

With a hostage deal coming to fruition, a time of joy mixed with sorrow, Rabbi Zuckerman reflects on the miracle of Jewish survival and endurance.

With the New York mayoral election in less than three weeks, Rabbi Cosgrove explains why Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of New York Jewish community. He urges us to work to convince undecided voters and to vote ourselves.

From screen time to free throws, Rabbi Zuckerman explores why we resist positive change, even when we know it would serve us, and how Yom Kippur can inspire us to choose the path of courage and growth.

With the rapid rise of a new kind of antisemitism, we are not the first generation of Jews who have navigated this challenge. Rabbi Zauzmer compares our time to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's, imploring us to follow his example with three steps we can take in the fight against antisemitism.

What is the gift of Yizkor? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that as we recall those who are no longer with us, we can pledge to create a memorial for them by the way we live. By taking full advantage of each day, we guarantee that we will enjoy length of days.

Can we support Israel’s legitimate self-defense and also have empathy for the suffering of Gaza? Rabbi Cosgrove teaches that the tension between concern for self and concern for the other defines Jewish identity and that self-examination together with critique of the other is the essence of Yom Kippur.