Bonus - Cupcakes on a Fast Day

In the final episode, Rabbi David Minkus reflects on the central tension of the series: how do we hold boundaries that are not shaped by fear and gatekeeping? With some familiar voices, and a couple new ones, David explores what it means to draw lines with empathy, to lead with care, and to imagine a Jewish future rooted not in judgment, but in dignity, love, and trust. Do you have your own You Are Doing It Wrong story? Write to us or send us a voice memo at [email protected]. 

In this special episode, we share our favorite “you’re doing it wrong” stories we weren’t able to fit into the series. These stories reveal that no one is immune, not even those in positions of authority, to being told they’re doing it wrong. These stories highlight the vulnerability, resilience, and humor needed to lead a Jewish life, for rabbis and regular Jews alike.   Do you have your own You Are Doing It Wrong story? Write to us or send us a voice memo at [email protected].

In this episode, Rabbi David Minkus speaks with rabbis Lizzi Heydemann and Jess Minnen and journalist Jodi Rudoren to explore the roots of the “you’re doing it wrong” phenomenon in Jewish life. Is it about protecting tradition? Maintaining control? Preserving identity? Together, they explore the cultural, historical, and emotional forces that shape this deeply embedded instinct. Do you have your own You Are Doing It Wrong story? Write to us or send us a voice memo at [email protected].

What does the fear of “doing it wrong” cost us? And why is the instinct to correct—often harshly—so common in Jewish spaces? In this episode, Rabbi Benay Lappe and Dan Libenson unpack how gatekeeping, judgment, and the pressure to "get it right" shape our communal life. Through personal stories and the wisdom of the tradition, they reveal what’s truly at stake when fear and control take precedence over empathy and belonging. Do you have your own You Are Doing It Wrong story? Write to us or send us a voice memo at [email protected].

In this opening episode, host Rabbi David Minkus begins a conversation that’s long overdue in the Jewish community. We hear stories from everyday Jews who were told, sometimes subtly, sometimes bluntly, that they were doing Judaism wrong. These stories are vulnerable, personal, and heartfelt- and, sadly, far from unique.

In the latest series from Mercaz Media, Rabbi David Minkus explores a phenomenon all too familiar to Jewish communities, but not taken seriously enough. Join David in getting to the bottom of the persistent fear of getting it wrong, with help from Jewish leaders, brave storytellers, and some very old wisdom.

Another week passes and David finally sits down with the person who set this all in motion.  Now that everyone has shared their piece, it’s your turn. What did you take away from the story?  Sometimes all we can do is listen, and the real change comes later. Send your thoughts or a voice memo to [email protected]. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you stay up-to-date on all upcoming events and content releases. 

After a week consumed with conversations about “the incident”, David was ready to move on. He knew he had done the right thing. Then he got an email he couldn’t ignore.  If we believe in Jewish wisdom, then it should guide every decision that we make, right? If you’d like to sponsor an upcoming episode, email us at [email protected]. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you stay up-to-date on all upcoming events and content releases. 

For Rabbi David Minkus, the days after October 7th were as disorienting as they were heartbreaking, but one thing was for sure. Being in shul, with fellow Jews, felt right. Until a slip of paper broke the illusion. If you’d like to sponsor an upcoming episode, email us at [email protected]. You can also subscribe to our newsletter list to make sure you stay up-to-date on all upcoming events and content releases.

Everything changed on October 7th. In A Leaflet Drops in Shul, Rabbi David Minkus explores this heartbreaking and disorienting time through a small act of rebellion in his Chicago synagogue. It’s a story that shows both how easily a community can lose its center, and how we might come together to find it again.  It all started with a piece of paper. New episodes weekly, starting on June 10th A Leaflet Drops in Shul, the inaugural series from Mercaz Media, was created by Rabbi David Minkus and Joel Shupack with music from Blue Dot Sessions.  Mercaz Media is the content arm of Mercaz: The Center for Purposeful Living. Mercaz is a portal where both religious and ambivalent Jews, as well as fellow travelers, come together and make sense of the wisdom and technologies that have grown out of Judaism. Mercaz works to change the landscape of Jewish life through both in-person experiences and content.  More information at: https://www.mercaz.community/