For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today

by Elliot Cosgrove, Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove PhD

A poignant exploration of what it means to be Jewish today, from a leading voice in modern Judaism, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue

For Jews today, the attack on Israel on October 7th has drawn a clear and irreversible demarcation in time. On that day, the Jewish community woke up to an unrecognizable new reality, witnessing the stark rise in antisemitism, the world’s oldest hatred, in its wake.

But even in this dark hour, the Jewish community is experiencing something profound and a deep, abiding connection to community, culture, and faith. Drawing on the rich trove of Jewish history and tradition, Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, one of today’s most influential thought leaders and spiritual guides, helps listeners make sense of this fraught time. With warmth and wisdom, Rabbi Cosgrove explores the challenging questions embedded in the soul of contemporary Jewry. Where did all this antisemitism come from, and was it always there? How have Israel and Zionism shaped American Judaism, and what ties us and divides us today? How do we practice Judaism and understand our place in a world that has, without fail, in every century, turned against us?

Knitting together storytelling with ancient teachings, Rabbi Cosgrove helps navigate and understand the landscape of this new reality, turning over questions that have no clear or easy answer in the way only a very good rabbi can.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people have wrestled with what it means to be Jewish. In this often divisive era, Rabbi Cosgrove reminds of how we can come together despite—and even because of—our differences. For Such a Time as This is a guide for a new generation that is reconciling the past with the present and facing the unknown future with courage, spirit, and unwavering hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Jewish, Judaism, Philosophy, Religion

Audible Audio

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 4-5 stars. Rabbi Cosgrove's approach keeps in mind the "you're both right" and you too, third person coming into a vexed debate, as to the "solution" to the Palestinian demands for their own state, next to Eretz Israel. As he notes, maybe like waiting for Elijah or the Messiah, good to aim for, but who knows when? On the other hand, inevitably, the "no-state" stalemate cannot endure the demographics of Arab fertility, and the constitution of the nation established for the Jewish people/s. This comes later in the book, in summary, as he doesn't get bogged down in details. Which after all, have eluded the best of minds and hearts among activists for a century +...

I guess as he's a fellow Angeleno and Dodger fan, and like me, immigrants' son from what used to be called the British Isles (his surname was anglicized by Litvak emigrants from Waskofsky, in Scotland), I harbor a soft spot for his c.v. He integrates a bit of his family into this, but wisely more to underline a point, in the fashion of a pulpit leader of the enormous Park Ave Synagogue in Manhattan, where he's served a quarter-century. His experience serves him neatly as he grapples with post-10/7 impact. Which ties into his title, taken from the Book of Esther, its time for action.

He's right, as a Conservative leader, to be concerned about, speaking of Esther, the assimilation of Jews as some say, "loved to death" by intermarriage diaspora rates of 70% outside the Orthodox, by assimilation, indifference to Torah-true observance, prejudice against those more conservative than most, and exhaustion with the pressures of living Jewishly. Yet he's spot-on to stress how often many families haul their kids hours to sports matches on weekends (or weeknights) while claiming they have no free time (or income etc) for supporting communal Jewish life, studying and acting as Jews beyond clicking a button to fund some faraway cause, for engaging with the next generations.

I liked his positions on issues, and this content, particularly in how he addresses "Maya" in her non-Zionist stance so firmly adapted by Jews under 30, as to why deny one's own people their freedom that one so fervently insists upon for other nations. And that "stateless" nations such as Kurds, Rohingya, and Uighirs aren't getting any crocodile tears by the self-proclaimed progressives who march against Israel, so what's the rationale for the recent, viral metastasis which proliferates antisemitism? Despite the cant of the left (or right), this too easily, as Haman knew in Persia, can be channelled by a vector of a key influencer, in our terms, to multiply into truly genocidal goals?

Anyhow, Cosgrove writes for his fellow Jews, so this is not an account for those new to these topics. In fact, I'm not sure exactly who he's addressing within the "tribe," but likely the sorts he deals with in his rabbinate daily. The materially well-off, highly educated, secular-leaning, probably blue-state reliable suburban or exurban or if urban, even more affluent mainstream American...He gives his thoughts from a softer, sensible, not bully pulpit (or bimah), and this deserves your nod.

P.S. As to the "murder" of George Floyd, while I am not calling Cosgrove out, as the book was in press, a recent documentary "Fall of Minneapolis," in all fairness, should be consulted for a look at the inconsistencies, withheld evidence, bodycam footage and autopsy reports not shown to a jury.

[Jay Lazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important and timely book. Rabbi Cosgrove provides a thought provoking resource on how we navigate life as Jewish-Americans. This book should be on everyone’s shelf. He takes us on a journey as to where we were prior to October 7th, where we are today and a vision for the future. He does not shy away from difficult conversations with people that don’t align with the Zionist dream. It is a book to be read more than once and a tool for open discussions about what it’s like to be a Jew in a post 10/7 world.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a hard read but an important one. I don't discuss my politics online, but that gets harder and harder each day that there are still hostages held in Gaza.
Cosgrove's book gave voice to many of the conflicted feelings I have and a way to move forward with all my thoughts and beliefs intact.

[Tracey Kite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so grateful to have picked up this book as we approach October 7, 2024. Rabbi Cosgrove has given voice to so many of my thoughts and provided the Talmudic sources to back them up.

[Janet L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this, and it was narrated by Rabbi Cosgrove so it’s part sermon, part Jewish history and Jewish context and it’s part a pastoral message for American Jews to be hopeful and resilient as that is what has sustained Jews through the centuries. it is absolutely valid to feel that we must have been naive to think antisemitism had diminished, it is absolutely valid to feel lonely that there is so little outreach and support, it is absolutely valid for Jews to criticize the politics in Israel, but not the existence of a Jewish homeland, and that it is valid to feel great sadness and to shed tears for the Palestinians, but shed more tears for the hostages and for the rocket barrages into Israel and for the bomb shelters and gas masks necessary in every Israeli home.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two parts of this book were inspiring. They were an interesting exegesis on Jewish history and theology. This focus was on the book of Esther and secondarily on Elijah, the prophet who allegedly visits every household during Pesach. What dropped the book from 4 1/2 or five stars was the concluding part of the book. The concluding part was a warmed over rehash of typical Reform and Conservative Jewish dovish views about a “two state solution.“

My views on this are not material to the review; Suffice to say that I consider his solutions not to be well thought out. I know this Rabbi can do better.

[Howard Lazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rabbi Cosgrove has written a compelling study of where we are as American Jews post Oct 7, 2023 and how we got here. The title echoes a line in the Biblical book of Esther after the wicked Hazan has decreed death to the Jews of the Persian empire in which Queen Esther's uncle Mordechai tells her that maybe she became queen 'for such a time as this' - that is to make a difference during this difficult time. Rabbi Cosgrove muses that perhaps he, and by extension all of us, are here to make a positive difference during this difficult time of rising antisemitism in the US and war in Israel. While Cosgrove discusses the issues of the hardline government in Israel (about which he believes it is ok to criticize) and the plight of innocent Gazans caught in the middle of this war, he continues to profess his love and support of Israel. I think this is an important read for the current time.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The library edition I listened to was published by HarperAudio.

A well-written and thoughtful book that taught me a lot about being a hyphenated American-Jew at this fraught time, one year after the October 7 attack by Hamas, and its effect on my thoughts and beliefs.

I plan to reread it in one year. There was so much to absorb that listening to it again will help solidify my thoughts.

[Benjamin Farr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly important book that helps to make sense of the new post-October 7 world we live in.

[Penina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8
thoughtful, intelligent, with personal anecdotes. repetitive.

[Ellen Wolintz-Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic ! Great audiobook and I felt like my friend and colleague was sitting beside me reading to me. Important insights and highly recommend.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profoundly moving book, I’m grateful to Rabbi Cosgrove for writing it. Many in the American Jewish community are struggling on so many levels, trying to sort out how to focus our feelings in this moment of great fear in a way that will lead to just action.

This book requires more than one reading to process. It both shattered me and nurtured me. Highly recommend. A must-read for people of conscience trying to be authentic in their Jewish identity.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book by Eabbi Cosgrove is utterly fantastic. I will write a more thorough review later, but for now, this is a book every American Jew should read. Isrealis should also read it to better understand the perspectives of many of their American brothers and sisters.

[Michael Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite Israel's prominence in the news, the Jewish community globally is very small - less than 2.5% of the U.S. population which is the largest concentration of Jews in the world outside of Israel. It's also a very closely connected community, so nearly everyone was touched directly or indirectly by the horrific events of October 7, 2023, when more than 1,000 men, women, children and elderly residents of Israel were brutally murdered in one of the worst terrorist attacks in world history. (Nearly 250 more Israelis were taken as hostages - some 160 still remain in Gaza).

The son of the Chairman of our Israeli NGO (non-governmental organization or non-profit as they are known in the U.S.) was murdered that day. So too was the nephew of the Co-Founder of our Israeli-Palestinian peace organization (an Arab-Israeli EMS worker who heroically returned to the site of the Nova music festival site to help the wounded thinking his Arab heritage and native Arabic might save him).

In Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove's powerful and moving book For Such a Time as This, he notes that the world changed for every member of the Jewish community that day. "The great awakening was not just the trauma of the attack itself," he notes in the book's introduction, "or the ongoing plight of the hostages.... It was more than that - much more. Jewry worldwide shared a disorienting experience of whiplash - the world was revealed to be less hospitable to us than we had hitherto believed."

Most shocking of all, at least for me, was the wave of anti-Semitic, pro-Hamas protests that followed immediately in the wake of the attack (often on college campuses). There is a lot of room for disagreement about Israeli policy towards Palestinians and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's extreme right wing governing coalition (including within the Jewish community), but how can one endorse acts of murder, rape, torture, and hostage taking as many of the protests did?

Rabbi Cosgrove's book seeks to address the question of what now? for the Jewish community in the wake of a dramatic rise in anti-Semitism that threatens the safety and security of Jews across the country and has undermined the Jewish community's sense of security and complacency. In describing what happened on October 7th and how it affected the Jewish community, Cosgrove says:

"The facts are damning and indisputable - based on firsthand testimony and incontestable forensic evidence. Unlike other instances of war crimes, in which the perpetrators managed to deny or cover up the atrocities they committed, no such obstacles to investigation were encountered. Indeed, the strongest testimony came from the perpetrators themselves, who, by way of their phones and GoPro body cameras, documented their deeds, celebrated them, uploaded them to their social media accounts, and called home to their beaming parents to tell them of the gruesome deeds they had committed. 'Look how many I killed with my own hands! Your son killed Jews!' relayed one Hamas terrorist in a recorded call to his parents. "I wish I was with you,' the mother replied. No matter one's faith, political leanings, or connection to the Middle East, look and you will see that this was the face of evil, revealed and unleashed in our lifetime. It was and is too much to bear."

He goes on to say "October 7th unleased unspeakable evil: an ideology that would kill Jews for being Jews and commit murder for sport. This ideology represents neither the Muslim faith, the national interests of the Palestinian people, nor any vision of future coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. Rape is not a form of protest. Killing babies is not an expression of conscience. Taking hostages is not a tool of a freedom fighter. There is no justification, no moral equivalency, nothing that could satisfactorily contextualize the murderous crimes committed by Hamas on October 7th. Evil is evil."

Throughout the remainder of the book, Cosgrove focuses on the aftermath of October 7th in the U.S., in particular the dramatic rise in anti-Semitism (and the shocking reality that the majority of the most recent wave of anti-Semitic commentary and actions come from the left not the White Supremacist right). But more than just reflecting on the challenging and difficult times faced by the Jewish community, Cosgrove is at his most eloquent when he speaks about the broader environment in which hatred is encouraged or allowed to fester. A society that has embraced tribalism and us vs. them thinking in ways that has led us to a kind of deeply toxic polarization.

"If I had to identify the pathology of our present moment," he says, "it would be our combative rhetoric and pervasive incivility.... We have allowed self-interest to eclipse our common humanity; the orthodoxies of our agendas prevent us from striving toward the greater good."

He points a finger at both the extremes of the right and left who seek to undermine legitimate debate over ideas by shouting down opinions that are different than our own (book bans on the right and cancel culture on the left). He speaks passionately about the need for a "sane center" who "must not let those who have embraced the ideological and philanthropic extremes define the field of play and terms of debate." It is possible to hold complex, nuanced and open-minded views on difficult issues, he argues. "F. Scott Fitzgerald once reflected," he notes, "that 'the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."

Cosgrove's book is not just a reflection on October 7th and its aftermath, it is a call for rationality and humanity for all of us. A call to reject toxic polarization, to deny that extreme ideological orthodoxy is the right or only path to a good society. Were that there were more voices of passion, humanity, nuance and rationality like Rabbi Cosgrove. For such a time as this, indeed.

The book is primarily directed to the Jewish community and how we should live in a world changed post October 7th, but within these pages lies great wisdom for all of society. A fantastic and eloquent plea for humanity from a deep and insightful author and religious leader.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not the most well written book I have read, but it is insightful. It was written after the latest Hezbollah attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and uses that event to explore what it means to be Jewish, particularly of the Jewish diaspora In today’s society. The author does a good job of explaining how a Jewish person could be pro Israel despite not necessarily agreeing politically. He does good with explaining some of the history of how Israel became recognized nation and what exactly the issue is with Palestine.

He manages to deftly stand against some actions of the Israeli government while still advocating for Israel and its right to survival. In doing so he explores anti-semitism throughout the past and present. He also manages to separate the religion of Judaism from the nation of Israel without compromising either. A feat that is difficult but necessary when attempting to understand how someone could disagree with an action taken by the Israeli government but still be for them because there is little to no separation between church and state in Israel.

I am very intrigued by the complexity of the Jewish people and the country of Israel. I am very intrigued by the desire to support Judaism and even a Jewish Nationalist desire, but be concerned about actions taken by that same Jewish state! I felt like the author does good with showing how layered and complicated the whole situation in Israel with the Palestinians actually is. He also does good with showing how it felt to be an American Jew and suffering hate because of the actions of Israel towards the West Bank.

Overall. For me it’s very deep. For me it’s very insightful. I just am unsure how much average people, particularly Americans want to hear it. How many even can hear it? So many already have their minds made up despite simply not understanding the complexity of the whole situation. So many have already cast their judgement and stood in their protest. They are ignorant to so many things, but claim understanding. There is no talking sense with these people. They know all and they know nothing.

Furthermore, there is also no talking sense to those that would blindly support Israel and excuse anything they do regardless of how wrong it is. These people must not have read all the times Israel did wrong in God’s eyes and were punished because of it. They don’t always do right, but some are so ignorant and void of understanding. There is no talking to these people either.

However, this book does manage to walk the middle line. The author loves Israel. He loves Jewish tradition. He loves Jewish religion. He doesn’t always agree with Jewish politics, but he won’t walk away from them or turn his back on them. He looks for ways to support and for ways to voice objections in a positive way. I love that!

If you are into Jewish history, politics, and traditions it’s a pretty good book. It isn’t exceptional. It was interesting enough and entertaining enough, but it wasn’t exactly written well enough in my opinion. Still I would suggest it to more than a handful of people I know!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

***.5

Like many books written by rabbis, this one reads like a strung together collection of recycled sermons, with just enough new material to hold it together. This can be awkward at times, as words delivered from the pulpit on Shabbat morning don't hit the same when read on a Wednesday afternoon. And some of the themes end up jumbled, as they would have been organized differently if starting from scratch.

As a result, this is a book aimed at a targeted audience, namely non-orthodox American Jews, who are grappling with their identity and relationship with Israel in the wake of October 7 and the Gaza war, while simultaneously dealing with unprecedented levels of antisemitism from both the right and left.

His main message is that ties to Israel is no longer enough of an identity to support a thriving Jewish community, that American Jews need to instead embrace Judaism as a religion and not just a hyphenated nationality. I remain unconvinced, but he does a good job articulating his arguments. He also doesn't shy away from the dilemma of how to express support for Zionism when the Israeli government seems determined to deliberately alienate us at every turn.

At times he does get a bit abstract, such as a discussion about epistemic truth, but overall he remains both grounded in Jewish tradition as well as highly cognizant of the current situation and realistic about what most people are thinking and feeling.

Anyone who feels like the description of the target audience above applies to them should read the book. Especially if they've already rejected Zionism and don't feel any special connection to Israel and/or Judaism. You probably won't agree with a lot of his points, but understanding them will help sharpen your own outlook and elicit intentional decisions.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a poignant exploration of what it means to be Jewish today in the aftermath of October 7th. Drawing on the Book of Esther and the phrase "for such a time as this," thge author examines how the Hamas attacks created an irreversible demarcation in Jewish life, awakening the community to rising antisemitism while simultaneously strengthening bonds to faith and community. Functioning as both a personal meditation and a practical guide, the book navigates complex questions about Israel, Zionism, diaspora identity, and intergenerational tensions within the Jewish community. The book addresses challenging conversations with young Jews who question Zionist ideology, while maintaining hope for unity despite deep divisions.

What struck me was how Cosgrove captures that disorienting whiplash so many felt after October 7th—the sudden realization that the world was less hospitable than we believed. The way he explores the tensions between different generations of Jewish identity felt particularly insightful. His approach to addressing complex questions about Israel’s policies felt timely, necessary, and compelling. His call to embrace complex truths—supporting Israel's right to exist while acknowledging Palestinian suffering—offers a nuanced path forward when so many want simple answers to seemingly unanswerable challenges.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at: https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Elliot Cosgrove set himself a serious and laudable task: how to respond fully to the current state of American Jewry, presented with a growing awareness of antisemitism at home and an increasing discomfort with the politics/actions of Israel. He is a rabbi with his own congregation and has had some experience addressing these issues beyond his own reflections and study. His astute and deeply reflective analysis, while not lengthy, is well worth reading. He offers such a well-guided tour of the deep changes in belief systems between American (diaspora) and Israeli Jews post WWII that many of the disagreements seem obvious in retrospect. It’s not difficult to understand how American Jews arrived at this place of deep conflict over the treatment of Palestinians and the ‘disappearance’ of a viable peace process in the Mideast. I reviewed a copy of the book for the publisher through edelweiss. And then I bought a copy to send a relative; it impressed me that much. I will read it again and seek out the author on other topics.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to listen to this book by prominent Conservative Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove after listening to Tablets Shattered by Joshua Leifer. Cosgrove explores the implications of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel for the American Jewish community and also probes deep questions about Jewish faith, identity, antisemitism, Zionism, and where we should go from here. I found Cosgrove's response to young adults disillusioned by the State of Israel and the Zionist movement particularly helpful and his emphasis on his belief that Zionism can not and should not be a substitute for Judaism especially thought provoking. I also appreciated his analysis of the debate around a two-state solution. Now that I've listened to the audiobook (which I don't fully recommend because surprisingly Cosgrove is not a particularly animated or expressive narrator), I would like to re-read the book in print with a highlighter and page flags. Lots of food for thought and fodder for passionate and in-depth discussions.

[Ari Stillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a constant voice of poise and sagely counsel since the Oct 7 pogrom, Cosgrove's book largely compiles and integrates various sermons, anecdotes, and scholarly reflections into a cohesive treatise on contemporary American Jewry. The book is framed in terms of the Book of Esther in which Jews faced annihilation and Mordecai cautions her niece, the queen, that perhaps she has been elevated into a position of influence for such a time as this. As such, the book looks both backwards and forwards in offering the light of perspective to Diaspora Jews struggling to makes sense and find direction in our fraught era.

While published in September, the book was written in April and the author acknowledges that much will have changed by the time it is read. That change notwithstanding – which likely will necessitate a new edition – the text presents a sobering, reconciliatory, and optimistic outlook for navigating such a time as this that makes it worth the read.

[Rachel]

It’s difficult to write about Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove’s book “For Such a Time as This: On Being Jewish Today” (Harvest) without offering a personal take on his view of American Jewry and its relationship to Israel and Judaism. I generally avoid reading books focusing on these topics because 1) I am not a historian, sociologist or political scientist, so I can’t analyze his writing from a scholarly viewpoint, and 2) it’s difficult to separate my personal feelings from my professional reviewer ones when reading this type of work. I also read a great deal about the topics he covers during the work day and usually prefer to read something else in my free time (which is when I read the books I review for the paper).
See the rest of my review at https://www.thereportergroup.org/exec...

[Anon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just want to note I did not read the kindle edition, but rather the physical book, which is not given as an option on Goodreads... Hmmm... Suspicious!

This was a brilliant book where I learned a great deal not just about current affairs, but Judaism as well. I am grateful to have read it even though I don't necessarily agree with all the views. At times it felt unrealistic, though I understand how he came to his point. He explained his thought process thoroughly. It invigorated me to continue my Judaic studies and lean into my Judaism! Exciting times!

And as always... עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Erika P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a heavy, but important book. R'Elliot Cosgrove is a wonderful writer and quite articulate on a topic that feels impossible to discuss. There are moments where I disagree with Cosgrove, but I still believe that the book is a worthwhile read, especially when most people can feel anxious and speechless in a post-October 7th world.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

[Audrey Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for my Temple Book club, and I loved it. This is the first post October 7th book I have read, and I wish I would memorize portions of it to share with others. Rabbi Cosgrove is a brilliant man with a generous heart; his writing is imbued with these traits. If you seek to understand the plight of Jews in the world today, while at the same time holding compassion for all people, then I recommend you read this book.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with just about everything Rabbi Cosgrove says in this book, and I hope it reaches millions of readers. Having said that, however, I can't say I enjoyed the book, because he didn't tell me anything (including his exegesis of the Book of Esther) I didn't already know. And thus I recommend the book to readers who are less Judaically knowledgeable than I am.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely, sensitive, thought-provoking, wise, gentle. Only wish it could be current to this minute, which, of course, in publishing is impossible. Reflecting on October 7 to spring 2024, in the arc of human and Jewish history. So dense it calls for a reread, and a pleasure to do so.

[Kerry Pickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the author writing this book and explaining from his perspective how the current events relate to the Torah or other events. I don’t always agree with his viewpoints, and the recent events occurred after the book was published.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this via Whispersync and I recommend the kindle over the audiobook.

[Fara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! A must read for these times.

[Emily Feldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made pretty interesting points- could have been more concise; glad I read it