Common Faith

Exploring Shavuot: Reimagining Jewish Education with David Bryfman

What does it mean to receive the Torah in the modern world? This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel explore the meaning of Shavuot—the holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah—and ask what Jewish education should look like in an age shaped by distraction, polarization, and personal choice. Rabbi Cosgrove reflects on the Torah as a “love letter” between God and the Jewish people: something inherited, wrestled with, and reinterpreted by every generation. They are joined by David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project and one of today’s leading voices in Jewish education. Drawing from his new book, Heroism and Hope: Recharging Israel Education in a Post-October 7th World, Bryfman challenges longstanding assumptions about Hebrew school, Israel education, and how Jewish identity is formed today. The conversation tackles everything from Jewish joy and experiential learning to campus antisemitism, social media, and the impact of October 7th on young Jews. Together, they explore whether Jewish education can move beyond fear and obligation toward something more enduring: curiosity, confidence, meaning, and belonging.   David Bryfman: https://www.jewishedproject.org/ [https://www.jewishedproject.org/] His Book: https://www.amazon.com/Heroism-Hope-Recharging-Education-Post-October/dp/B0GZBH6QLL [https://www.amazon.com/Heroism-Hope-Recharging-Education-Post-October/dp/B0GZBH6QLL]   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove [https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove] https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove [https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove] Park Avenue Synagogue: https://www.pasyn.org [https://www.pasyn.org/] https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# [https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/] Jon Frankel: https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel [https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Beyond Borders: Water, Power & Peace in the Middle East with Gidon Bromberg

In a world where borders divide and conflict dominates headlines, what if the most powerful path to peace isn’t political—but environmental? This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel are joined by Gidon Bromberg, co-founder of EcoPeace Middle East, an organization bringing together Israeli, Jordanian, and Palestinian leaders around a shared reality: the environment knows no borders. From water scarcity and climate change to renewable energy and economic interdependence, Bromberg makes the case that cooperation isn’t idealism—it’s survival. In a region where access to water can define daily life, and where the Jordan River itself reflects decades of neglect, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The conversation moves between the personal and the geopolitical—beginning with reflections on global Jewish identity and perspective, and expanding into a bold reimagining of peace built not through diplomacy alone, but through shared necessity. At a time when fear and division dominate, this episode offers a counter-narrative: that even in conflict, there are opportunities to build something lasting—together.   EcoPeace Middle East https://ecopeaceme.org [https://ecopeaceme.org/] Gidon Bromberg: https://ecopeaceme.org/about/ [https://ecopeaceme.org/about/] https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/environmental-peacebuilding-31years-strong/ [https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/environmental-peacebuilding-31years-strong/]   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove [https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove] https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove [https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove] Park Avenue Synagogue: https://www.pasyn.org [https://www.pasyn.org/] https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# [https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/] Jon Frankel: https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel [https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Battle Beyond the Battlefield: Israel, Narrative & Power with Benjamin Anthony

This week on Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel sit down with Benjamin Anthony to unpack the complexities of the current Middle East conflict and its ripple effects far beyond the region. Drawing on his experience as an IDF combat veteran and policy leader, Anthony reflects on the evolving nature of modern warfare—not only in physical terms, but in the battle for public opinion taking place across campuses, media platforms, and political institutions. In the first half of the conversation, Anthony traces the rise of polarization and antisemitism in global discourse, arguing that the struggle over Israel’s legitimacy has been building for decades. In the second half, the focus shifts to the strategic and human realities on the ground—from Hezbollah and Iran to the fragile coordination between the U.S. and Israel. Together, the episode explores a central tension: what it means to fight for security and survival in a world where narratives can be as consequential as weapons.   The MirYam Institute: https://www.miryaminstitute.org/ [https://www.miryaminstitute.org/] Benjamin Anthony: https://www.miryaminstitute.org/benjamin [https://www.miryaminstitute.org/benjamin] Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove [https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove] https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove [https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove] Park Avenue Synagogue: https://www.pasyn.org [https://www.pasyn.org/] https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# [https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/] Jon Frankel: https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel [https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 with David Frankel & B.J. Novak

In this episode of Common Faith, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel are joined by director David Frankel and actor-writer B.J. Novak for a conversation about storytelling, success, and what changes—and what doesn’t—over time. With The Devil Wears Prada returning nearly two decades later in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Frankel reflects on why he long resisted making a sequel and what ultimately made this story worth revisiting. The discussion touches on how the media and workplace landscapes have evolved, and how those shifts shape the characters in the new film. Novak shares insights from his own path as a writer and performer, including how Jewish humor and storytelling traditions have influenced his work, from The Office to his current projects. As the conversation unfolds, it moves beyond film to consider questions about ambition, leadership, and the tradeoffs that often come with success. In a particularly thoughtful moment, Novak reframes the idea of idolatry in modern terms—asking what we place at the center of our lives, and why.    B.J. Novak: https://www.instagram.com/bjnovak/ [https://www.instagram.com/bjnovak/] David Frankel: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291205/ [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0291205/] Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove [https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove] https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove [https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove] Park Avenue Synagogue: https://www.pasyn.org [https://www.pasyn.org/] https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# [https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/] Jon Frankel: https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel [https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel]   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From Questions to Convictions: Judea Pearl on Zionophobia and Coexistence

This week on Common Faith, hosts Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove and Jon Frankel begin with a candid and personal conversation about the nature of Jewish inquiry. Why is Judaism rooted in questioning, yet sermons remain one-directional? What does it mean for a rabbi to share not just ideas, but vulnerability? And where do spiritual leaders turn when they themselves are searching for answers? In the second segment, they are joined by renowned AI pioneer and public intellectual Dr. Judea Pearl. Drawing from his new book Coexistence and Other Fighting Words, Pearl offers a bold framework for understanding modern antisemitism, the rise of anti-Zionism, and the challenges of coexistence in today’s world. From the philosophy of “Jewish normalcy” to the dangers of misinformation in the age of artificial intelligence, this conversation pushes beyond easy answers. Pearl challenges listeners to think more rigorously, speak more assertively, and confront difficult truths with clarity and conviction.   Dr. Judea Pearl: https://bayes.cs.ucla.edu/jp_home.html [https://bayes.cs.ucla.edu/jp_home.html] The book: Coexistence and Other Fighting Words: https://www.amazon.com/Coexistence-Other-Fighting-Words-2002-2025/dp/1895131731 [https://www.amazon.com/Coexistence-Other-Fighting-Words-2002-2025/dp/1895131731]   Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove: https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove [https://www.instagram.com/elliot_cosgrove] https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove [https://x.com/RabbiCosgrove] Park Avenue Synagogue: https://www.pasyn.org [https://www.pasyn.org/] https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/# [https://www.instagram.com/parkavenuesyn/] Jon Frankel: https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel [https://www.instagram.com/skifrankel] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.