“As Passover draws to an end, we are left with an enduring question: ‘What exactly is freedom?’” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. Upon crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites move from subjugation under Pharaoh’s rule to the immense responsibility of living as a free people under God’s law…

A joyful conversation reminds our Rabbi Samantha Natov how much humanity we miss out on when we interact from behind a screen. And she worries about the creep of artificial intelligence into our daily lives: when we allow AI to communicate for us, “it is as if a wisp of thread between us disconnects,” she says. “We uplift each other’s lives by being present to one another. Together we become more than we ever could on our own.”

In this week’s parashah, the Egyptians are plagued with an all-encompassing, paralyzing darkness. But “the greatest darkness is the lack of compassion,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov. “May we find our way out of darkness with renewed strength, becoming sources of light for others…”

While this time of year often promises ‘a new you’, Rabbi Samantha Natov reminds us that Judaism teaches us to embrace every part of ourselves. Jacob’s blessing to his grandsons Ephraim and Menashe on his deathbed was that they be themselves — a blessing we repeat every Shabbat when we bless our children. “In this new year, rather than search for a ‘new us,’ may we live with authenticity and honesty,” she says.

Rabbi Samantha Natov explores a classic rabbinic debate: “What’s more important kindling the Hanukkah lights or making sure others see them?” The rabbis teach that the most important mitzvah is to light the candles, she says, explaining: “What matters is the effort we make — whether or not it is publicized — to bring goodness into the world.”

On the Friday before Thanksgiving, Rabbi Samantha Natov invites us to reconsider how we approach gratitude during these challenging times: “We shouldn’t just be thankful for the comforts and joys of life, but also for the less obvious gifts — those that come out of struggle…”

“In some ways, this election demands us to ask similar questions to those we asked ourselves over the High Holy Days,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov on the Friday before the presidential election. “What is it to be a good human being? How do we best organize our society to reflect this? In this week’s parashah we find two starkly contrasting depictions of societal structures: the stories of Noah’s Ark and the Tower of Babel…”

“Imagine if suddenly the walls disappeared and we could see all around us,” Rabbi Samantha Natov challenges us on Sukkot. By emphasizing physical experiences, she says, the holiday “connects us to our spirituality and communal identity. We gain access to new knowledge, we feel the wind on our faces, time is unbound…”

“Many of us wonder if it’s possible to feel God’s presence,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, but divinity is everywhere — all around us. “Over these days of repentance and return, may we reconnect with our capacity to bring God’s light into the world through acts of forgiveness, tzedakah, lovingkindness, and compassion.”

“The entire Jewish community is carrying the crushing weight of our communal trauma,” says Rabbi Samantha Natov, but Rosh Hashanah brings new possibility of wholeness and return. “Turning towards Jewish community can restore a sense of belonging, trust and reciprocity.” The work of teshuvah isn’t easy and we can’t do it on our own: “It takes others to offer forgiveness, reflect on a shared past, and embrace a better future.”