Speaking Up: A Purim Story for Our Time (S3, E20)

In this timely episode of Judaism in the 21st Century, Steven Labkoff and Rabbi Daniel Cohen turn to the Purim story to ask a deeply modern question: what does it mean to find your Esther and your Mordechai today?

Esther didn’t seek power, but when history placed her in a moment of consequence, she was pushed to act with courage, despite real personal risk. Mordechai’s challenge to her, “for such a time as this,” becomes a lens for thinking about moral responsibility, leadership, and speaking up in the face of rising antisemitism and division.

The conversation explores whether fighting every falsehood is the best use of our energy, or whether strengthening our sense of “why” as Jews is the deeper work. As Purim approaches, this episode invites listeners to reflect on courage, voice, and the roles we are called to play right now.