Va’eira: The G-d of Light and Darkness
January 11, 2021
In this podcast we explore the central question of Va'eira: How can the G-d of creation and holiness enslave the people and bring the plagues?
Special Episode: Roots of Riots
January 7, 2021
The riots are a symptom of a far more fundamental - but solvable - problem.
Shemot: Yaira’s Bat Mitzvah Speech
January 4, 2021
This week, I have my normal set of divrai Torah - but folded into it is my speech for my daughter's Bat Mitzvah.
Image: Fresco from Dura Europos synagogue
Vayechi: Dementia, Reality & Expectation
December 31, 2020
This week's episode focuses on the Torah reading of Vayechi - when Yaacov/Jacob gives his final blessings.
Photo by Ekaterina Shakharova
Vayigash - Dreams, Reality and Economics
December 22, 2020
In this format change, the Joseph Cox show explores the weekly Torah portion (other episodes will go back to current events). This week is all about dreams, reality and economics.
Riots, Protests and Racism in 2020
June 25, 2020
I tend to avoid minefield issues. However, people have asked me to comment on the situation in the US. Rather than engaging in ideological trench warfare (which tends to cost society bitterly while helping nobody actually win anything) I try to come at things from a different perspective.
In this podcast, I draw parallels from the Jewish exodus from Egyptian slavery and the African American exodus from southern slavery. My focus is less on the Exodus itself and more on G-d's attempts to raise an enslaved people up - and where those attempts succeeded and failed.
I'm no expert on African American culture. As I say in the podcast, I can't even claim some of my best friends are black. But perhaps this analysis still has something to offer. I look forward to your feedback!
Pain and Purpose
June 17, 2020
We are facing so many challenges - maybe, just maybe, we can grow from them...
Torah: Learning from the Shutdown
May 20, 2020
The Sabbatical year doesn't make any sense... or does it?
Betty and the Post-Corona Boom
May 20, 2020
We need to rescue our economies. Another stimulus won't do it. Here's a better (and simpler) idea...
Randoms: A Story
April 28, 2020
“What the hell am I doing here?” I ask myself. I’d been a beat cop two weeks ago, handling domestic violence complaints and investigating property damage. But now? Now, it is 2:30 in the morning and I’m playing a critical part in the most important war in human history...
