Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Temple Sholom Podcast

In this sermon on Parshat Vayechi, Rabbi Gellman explores what it means to gather—again and again—especially when it’s inconvenient, exhausting, or uncertain. Drawing on the final moments of Jacob’s life and the legacy he leaves through Joseph and his children, Rabbi Gellman reflects on how Jewish continuity is built not through passion alone, but through repeated acts of presence, honesty, and shared values.

From lifelong friendships forged at Jewish summer camp to the quiet courage it takes to walk into a community for the first time, this sermon invites us to consider what we choose to gather around, what we bless, and what we carry forward together. Because Judaism doesn’t endure by accident—it endures because people keep showing up.

Recorded live on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025

In a world shaped by relentless trauma, violence, and uncertainty, many of us have learned to numb ourselves just to get through the day. In this deeply moving sermon, Rabbi Antman explores what it means to feel again—and why doing so is essential to healing.

Weaving together personal reflection, the rising tide of antisemitism, modern psychology, and the biblical story of Joseph in Parshat Vayigash, Rabbi Antman examines how emotional paralysis can become a survival strategy—and how tears, vulnerability, and honest feeling can become a path back to ourselves. Drawing on Torah, contemporary research, and moments of profound human connection, this sermon invites us to honor the cracks in our hearts as the beginning of repair.

As we enter a new year, this episode offers a gentle but urgent reminder: our emotions are not a weakness. They are an instrument of healing.

Recorded live on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. What if Chanukah isn’t just a gentle holiday of light—but a bold statement about power, identity, and refusal to disappear?

In this sermon, Rabbi Scott Gellman reframes Chanukah as a story of Jewish power rooted not in dominance, but in conviction, communal courage, and moral clarity. Beneath the candles, latkes, and familiar melodies lies a confrontational narrative about who gets to define Jewish life—and what it means to remain visible in a world that often demands erasure.

Drawing connections between ancient empires, modern antisemitism, interfaith courage, and Reform Jewish values, Rabbi Gellman invites us to rethink how we show up in the world. From the Maccabees to Joseph, from public resistance to quiet acts of continuity, this sermon calls us to embrace a Judaism that is lived, substantive, and unapologetically present.

This Chanukah, may we wish one another something deeper than “happy.”

Have a powerful Chanukah.

What is hope, really—and can it be measured?

In this special guest conversation, recorded at a live event on Dec. 5, Rabbi Scott Gellman sits down with political psychologist Dr. Oded Leshem, founder of the International Hub for Hope Research (ReHOPE) at Hebrew University and author of Hope Amidst Conflict. Together, they explore hope not as a vague slogan, but as a measurable force with two dimensions: what we wish for, and what we believe is possible.

From the difference between hope and wishful thinking to why hope only counts when it’s tied to action, Dr. Leshem offers a powerful framework for anyone trying to hold onto tikvah in complicated times.

Recorded live on Dec. 12, 2025, Rabbi Max Antman explores Parashat Vayeshev in a sermon titled “Between Truth and Peace.” Drawing on a powerful midrash about the angels of truth and peace, Rabbi Antman reflects on the danger of wielding truth without compassion and the spiritual cost of honesty that fractures relationships rather than heals them.

Through the story of Joseph and his brothers, contemporary examples, and personal reflection, this sermon asks what it means to balance emet (truth) and shalom (peace) in a world shaped by trauma, misinformation, and division. Rabbi Antman challenges us to consider not only whether something is true, but how and why we choose to say it — and invites us to speak in ways that build dignity, connection, and hope.

Recorded live on Dec. 5, 2025, Temple Sholom welcomes political psychologist Dr. Oded Leshem for a special Shabbat exploring what it means to hope in times of crisis. Drawing on Parashat Vayishlach and his research on “hope amidst conflict,” Dr. Leshem reflects on Jacob’s struggle as a model for active hope—the kind that both comforts and compels us to act. He considers how hope can shape Israeli and global society today, from social movements and war-weariness to rebuilding the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

An intimate, pre-Shabbat conversation between Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl and Rabbi Shoshanah Conover explores the stories and spirituality behind Buchdahl’s new memoir, Heart of a Stranger. Together they reflect on identity, belonging, and the “heart of a stranger” as a profoundly Jewish experience—shaped by family, resilience, and honest self-examination. They speak candidly about building communities where all feel seen, confronting painful truths in Jewish institutions, and leading with vulnerability. The gathering closed, fittingly, with a rendition of Debbie Friedman’s ‘L’chi Lach’.

Recorded live on Nov. 28, 2025, Cantor Ben-David offers a heartfelt and deeply human reflection. Drawing on Parashat Vayetze and the week of Thanksgiving, she explores Jacob’s complicated family story—not as distant biblical history, but as a mirror to our own lives filled with love, frustration, longing, jealousy, gratitude, and growth.

Through humor, Torah, and honest storytelling, Cantor Ben-David highlights the sacred work of looking out for one another, embracing our role as each other’s gabbai—a safety net—and practicing shmirat haguf, the care and guardianship of our bodies and our community.

In this week’s sermon recorded live on Nov. 21, 2025, on Parashat Toldot, Rabbi Scott Gellman explores what happens when we mistake blessings for something scarce — something to hoard, compete for, or trademark like a plant at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Through the story of Jacob and Esau, and through the lived reality of North Side Chicago’s vibrant Jewish ecosystem, Rabbi Gellman invites us into a theology of abundance: a world where community, compassion, and justice grow when shared. With reflections on homelessness, immigration, and mental health, he reminds us that each person has a unique blessing to bring — and that when we trust one another to carry our lanes of sacred work, our collective blessings multiply.

Temple Sholom welcomed Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City, for an unforgettable Shabbat filled with song, spirit, and storytelling. Rabbi Buchdahl reflected on her remarkable journey—from her interfaith upbringing in Korea to becoming the first Asian American ordained as both cantor and rabbi—and spoke about her latest book, Heart of a Stranger: An Unlikely Rabbi's Story of Faith, Identity, and Belonging.

This episode was recorded live on Nov. 14, 2025 | Temple Sholom of Chicago

Recorded live on Nov. 7, 2025

In this week’s sermon on Parashat Vayeira, Rabbi Scott Gellman explores what it means to build real community across profound differences. Inspired by a viral video of middle-schoolers belting out a K-Pop song together—off-beat, imperfect, but united—he turns to Abraham’s open-sided tent as a model for radical hospitality and shared purpose. In a moment when political, religious, and social divides feel sharper than ever, Rabbi Gellman reflects on how his own congregation already embodies a living coalition: praying together, serving together, and choosing human dignity over ideological purity. This is a call to widen our circles, trust the “music” of our shared values, and bring the compassion of our sanctuary into the streets of Chicago and beyond. Shabbat Shalom.

Recorded live on Oct. 31, 2025 | Parshat Lech Lecha

Rabbi Antman draws on a midrash about Avram and the “palace in flames” to explore what it means to see a burning world and choose responsibility over resignation. Interweaving personal family history and the call of Lech Lecha, he challenges us to sharpen our awareness—to stop, notice, and respond when injustice, pain, or indifference threaten to consume what is sacred. With moral clarity and compassion, Rabbi Antman reminds us that being a caretaker of God’s world is the holiest inheritance we can claim.

Recorded live on Oct. 24, 2025 | Shabbat Noach

In this moving Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Scott Gellman explores how the story of Noah’s Ark teaches us to temper our joy with empathy. Drawing on Rashi’s commentary and Talmudic wisdom, he reflects on what it means to hold space—tzimtzum—for others’ pain while celebrating our own blessings. Through the metaphor of the ark, Rabbi Gellman invites us to “seatbelt our simchah,” embracing joy that is mindful, compassionate, and rooted in responsibility, so that no one is left to drown while we dance.

Temple Sholom recently launched its historic Be the Flame Campaign to restore its almost 100-year-old building! Leading the charge on this campaign are its co-chairs, Ken and Kathy Tallering. This week our clergy invited Ken and Kathy to sit down for a discussion about this historic campaign and its importance to the future of our vibrant community! You can learn more and make a donation at https://www.sholomchicago.org/betheflame. 

Recorded live on Oct. 10, 2025 | Shabbat Sukkot

In this Sukkot sermon, Rabbi Antman reflects on the fragile balance between sorrow and celebration in a time of tentative peace. Drawing on Proverbs, Rabbi Nachman of Breslav, and firsthand reflections on the war in Israel and Gaza, he explores how the Jewish heart can hold both marah (bitterness) and simchah (joy). With tenderness and hope, Rabbi Antman reminds us that true holiness emerges not from denying pain, but from gently introducing it to joy—embracing both as sacred parts of the human experience.

Recorded live on Oct. 3, 2025 | Shabbat Ha’azinu

In this Shabbat sermon, Rabbi Gellman connects the ancient words of Ha’azinu—“this is not a trifling thing for you; it is your very life”—to a deeply contemporary call for justice and compassion in Chicago. Reflecting on a recent federal raid in the South Shore neighborhood, Rabbi Gellman explores what it means to live out Torah through proximity, empathy, and action. He invites us to transform faith from theory into shared breath—building a “sukkah of peace” that shelters all our neighbors.

In this Yizkor sermon recorded live on Oct. 2, 2025, Rabbi Antman reflects on memory, loss, and the enduring “ripples” our loved ones leave behind. Drawing on the wisdom of Torah, midrash, psychology, and personal family stories—including his late Aunt Cynthia’s influence—he explores how the lives of those we cherish continue to shape us long after they are gone. Through remembrance, ritual, and the legacies we carry forward, Rabbi Antman invites us to honor those who inspired us and to let their echoes guide us into the future with love and reverence.

In this Yom Kippur sermon recorded live on Oct. 2, 2025, Rabbi Gellman reflects on the crisis of disconnection facing young men today and the broader challenge of building compassionate communities in uncertain times. Drawing on his grandfather’s wisdom, Jewish texts, and the research of Robert Putnam and Richard Reeves, Rabbi Gellman contrasts a culture that prizes toughness with a Jewish call to “walk like a mensch.” He explores how patience, curiosity, and vulnerability can become the true hallmarks of strength—helping us all nurture connection, emotional intelligence, and sacred community.

In this Kol Nidre service recorded live on Oct. 1, 2025, Rabbi Conover reflects on how anger, conflict, and the need to be “right” have fractured conversations in Jewish life—especially around Israel and Gaza—and invites us to rediscover the holiness of whispers, empathy, and listening. Drawing from Yehuda Amichai’s poetry, Hillel’s teachings, and the voices of both Jewish survival and universal justice, Rabbi Conover calls for a Judaism rooted in both courage and compassion. The service concludes with Cantor Sheera Ben-David leading a stirring anthem, weaving music and prayer into a vision of healing, unity, and hope.

In this Rosh Hashanah sermon recorded live on Sept. 23, 2025, Rabbi Shoshanah Conover explores the meaning of hope in uncertain times. Drawing on the instinct of elephants protecting their young during an earthquake, her encounter with a political psychologist in Jerusalem, and George Frederick Watts’ evocative painting Hope, she reminds us that true hope is not blind optimism, but active courage. Rabbi Conover challenges us to make music with the “one remaining chord,” and to preserve the future together through community, resilience, and faith.

In this Erev Rosh Hashanah sermon recorded live on Sept. 22, 2025, Rabbi Max Antman reflects on feelings of learned helplessness in a world in crisis. Drawing on the stories of Moses, Esther, and our prophets, he reminds us that Jewish tradition never demands perfection or certainty. Through teshuvah (turning), tefillah (discernment), and tzedakah (righteousness), we are called to overcome despair and step forward, however imperfectly, to help mend a fractured world.

In this sermon recorded live on Sept. 19, 2025, Rabbi Gellman explores how hope and responsibility are always within reach—“not in the heavens… nor beyond the sea,” but “in your mouth and in your heart.” Drawing on Parshat Nitzavim, Pirkei Avot, and the rhythms of Elul, he reframes overwhelm into action: the work of teshuvah and community care as daily, doable steps. With the High Holy Days approaching, Rabbi Gellman invites us to use our voices, choose blessing, and practice the hard—but possible—mitzvot that make repair real.

In this sermon recorded live on Sept. 12, 2025, Rabbi Antman reflects on the power of storytelling—how family narratives, Torah, and Jewish tradition shape our identity and our moral compass. Drawing on Parshat Ki Tavo, Rashi’s teaching to “tell with a full voice,” and the writings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, he challenges us to consider the story of this past year as we enter the High Holy Days. Storytelling, he reminds us, is not only memory—it is a spiritual imperative that guides how we live and who we become.

In this sermon recorded live on Sept. 5, 2025, Rabbi Conover explores what it means to make—and keep—our vows in the season of Elul. Drawing on Deuteronomy, Ecclesiastes, and Rashi, she contrasts “under-promising” with Judaism’s call to aspirational commitment, urging us to act on pledges that honor our moral character: welcoming the stranger, caring for the sick, and respecting our elders. With the High Holy Days approaching, Rabbi Conover invites us to revisit unfinished promises and fulfill them with urgency, so that—as Kol Nidrei nears—our words align with our deeds and light is “sown for the righteous.”

In this episode, recorded live on Aug. 29, 2025, Rabbi Gellman traces why Reform Jews gather on Friday nights—rooted in compassion for workers who couldn’t attend Saturday services—and connects that history to Jewish leadership in America’s labor movement. From Torah’s call, “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” to the struggles of garment workers and today’s fights against wage theft and unsafe conditions, this sermon weaves text, history, and moral urgency into a call to build a holier, fairer economy.

In this sermon recorded live on Aug. 22, 2025, Rabbi Conover connects daring leaps of faith from her summer adventures to the spiritual courage of entering the month of Elul. Reflecting on Psalm 27, Nachshon’s bravery at the sea, and Aaron’s role as a peacemaker, she invites us to embrace this sacred season as a time to repair relationships, nurture kindness, and prepare our hearts for the new year.

In this episode of Beyond the Bimah, a special segment of Temple Sholom’s podcast where our clergy reflect on timely and meaningful topics, Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, Rabbi Scott Gellman, and Rabbi Max Antman unpack the power of the shofar, the weight of regret, and why Elul is the month to check your soul’s receipt.

From ancient metaphors to real talk on teshuva and emotional readiness, this episode invites you to turn—toward growth, toward reflection, and toward a more intentional year ahead.

Listen now, and let the soul-work begin

How do we carry the magic of Jewish camp—singing under the stars, joyful blessings around the table, the sound of Hebrew prayers woven with laughter and birdsong—into our daily lives once we’re back home? In this week’s sermon, recorded live Aug. 15, 2025, on Parashat Eikev, Rabbi Gellman of Temple Sholom invites us to explore the connection between joy, blessing, and action. Drawing from the spirited energy of OSRUI summer camp and the Torah’s call to “hear and do,” Rabbi Gellman reflects on how everyday rituals—friendship, song, gratitude, mitzvot—can extend the blessings of summer into the year ahead. Discover how to turn camp memories into meaningful practices, so joy becomes a renewable source of blessing for our homes, families, and community.

In this sermon recorded live on Aug. 8, 2025, Rabbi Antman reflects on a personal encounter that revealed how labels like “Zionist” and “Anti-Zionist” can erase the richness of a person’s story. Drawing on Parshat Va’etchanan, the Shema Yisrael, and lessons from Resetting the Table, he calls for resisting “the single story” by practicing deep listening across lines of division. Rabbi Antman urges the community to reject sinat chinam (baseless hatred), to make space for multiple truths in one voice, and to build relationships grounded in curiosity, receptivity, and shared humanity.

In this sermon recorded live on Aug. 1, 2025, Rabbi Conover reflects on the Book of Deuteronomy—a text of retellings and revisions—and how we, too, shape our stories in the hopes of leaving behind a meaningful legacy.

What if the real beauty lies not in the perfect spin, but in the honest mess? Through personal stories, Torah wisdom, and poetic reflection, Rabbi Conover invites us to embrace the grit and the grace of our lives—and to consider what is truly worth repeating.

In this sermon recorded live on July 25, 2025, Rabbi Antman reflects on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the moral burden we carry as Jews witnessing the suffering of children. Drawing on personal memory, Talmudic wisdom, and prophetic vision, he explores the complex paradox of Jewish responsibility in the face of pain, politics, and fear.

Rabbi Antman challenges us to remember that our tradition demands more than silence—that justice, dignity, and shared humanity must guide our actions.

In this Shabbat sermon recorded live on July 18, 2025, Rabbi Conover reflects on the spiritual and emotional challenges of waiting—whether for joyful milestones, painful commemorations, or peace that feels just out of reach. Drawing from Jewish tradition, personal stories, and the wisdom of the prophets, she explores how we can bring purpose, vision, and compassion to even the most uncertain seasons. As we mark the somber days leading to Tisha B’Av, Rabbi Conover reminds us that in times of waiting, we are called not to despair—but to be the light.

In this sermon recorded live from Shabbat on July 11, 2025, Rabbi Conover reflects on the devastating floods in Texas that claimed over 100 lives, including children at a beloved summer camp. Grappling with the age-old question—where is God when tragedy strikes?—she weaves personal stories, Jewish wisdom, and teachings from Rabbi Harold Kushner and Buddhist tradition to explore how we find meaning in suffering.
Rather than searching for unanswerable reasons, Rabbi Conover challenges us to respond with compassion, presence, and action. What does it mean to be God’s hands in a world still shaped by chaos?

In this Shabbat sermon recorded live on July 4, 2025, Rabbi Gellman explores the story of Moses striking the rock in Parashat Chukat and what it reveals about leadership, doubt, and divine compassion. From the Israelites' desperate thirst in the desert to today's global water crisis, Rabbi Gellman draws powerful connections between Torah and our responsibility to respond to the world’s most urgent needs.

In this Shabbat sermon recorded live on June 27, 2025, Rabbi Antman uses the story of Korach’s rebellion to reflect on the tension between certainty and curiosity in today’s polarized world. Exploring how Jewish tradition has historically responded to dissent, he challenges us to resist binary thinking and instead embrace the “white space” — the unanswered questions and complexities that lead to deeper wisdom. How can we learn to hold space for nuance, especially in times of conflict and division? Rabbi Antman invites us to wrestle thoughtfully, with humility and integrity.

In this Shabbat sermon, recorded live on June 20, 2025, Rabbi Gellman asks, "What do grasshoppers, ancient spies, and self-doubt have in common?"

Rabbi Gellman explores the "grasshopper mentality" from this week’s Torah portion, where fear and internalized smallness nearly derail a people on the brink of promise.

Drawing from Torah, midrash, pop culture, and modern justice movements, Rabbi Gellman invites us to reimagine how we see ourselves and how often we assume we are too small to make a difference.

Recorded live on June 13, 2025, Rabbi Conover delivers a Shabbat sermon that wrestles with the weight of Jewish memory in the face of present-day crisis. As tensions rise in the Middle East and fears awaken generational trauma, Rabbi Conover asks: What do we do with all that we carry?

In this Shabbat sermon, recorded live on June 6, 2025, Rabbi Scott Gellman of Temple Sholom of Chicago explores "The Nazir's Dilemma: Choosing Engagement Over Extremism in the Face of Rising Hate." Reflecting on recent acts of violence targeting Jewish communities, Rabbi Gellman draws lessons from Parashat Naso and the figure of the Nazir to address the challenges of extremism—both outside and within the Jewish world. He urges listeners to find a sacred balance between withdrawal and active engagement, emphasizing the importance of community, resilience, and moral clarity during turbulent times.

Recorded live at Temple Sholom of Chicago on May 30, 2025, this special Pride Shabbat episode uplifts the voices of LGBTQ+ community members and their journeys toward authenticity, acceptance, and pride.

Through three incredible personal stories , we hear what it means to be proudly Jewish and proudly queer—how spiritual communities can be places of affirmation, how identity evolves, and how simply living openly is a sacred act of resistance.

Happy Pride.

In this episode of Beyond the Bimah, a special segment of Temple Sholom’s podcast where our clergy reflect on timely and meaningful topics, Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, Rabbi Scott Gellman, Rabbi Max Antman, and Cantor Sheera Ben-David come together for a Shavuot-inspired conversation. Drawing from the story of Ruth and Sarah Hurwitz’s Here All Along, they explore what it means to choose Judaism in today’s world through ritual, community, family, and lifelong learning.

This sermon was recorded live at Temple Sholom of Chicago on Shabbat, May 23, 2025. Rabbi Scott Gellman reflects on the dangers of seeking simplicity in a world that demands nuance. Responding to recent tragedies and media misrepresentations, he explores how Jewish tradition urges us to hold complexity with compassion. From the devastating shooting at the Jewish Museum to the misinformation around humanitarian crises, Rabbi Gellman challenges us to look past the headlines and engage with depth, empathy, and integrity.

In this sermon from Shabbat on 5/16/2025, Rabbi Conover invites us to pause and pay attention—to the world around us, to the sacred within us, and to the God who meets us where we are. Through the lens of Lag BaOmer, Sefirat HaOmer, and timeless Jewish teachings, Rabbi Conover explores how cultivating gratitude, even in subtle and imperfect moments, can lead us toward purpose, transformation, and a deeper connection to the Divine.

As she reminds us: “You matter. Your life has purpose. There’s more waiting for you.”

Listen in and take a step toward that glorious future—one day at a time.

In this sermon from Shabbat on May 9 for Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim, Rabbi Max Antman invites us to consider the heart of the Torah — and the heart of our community. Drawing on Jewish tradition, personal experience, and contemporary insights, Rabbi Antman challenges us to expand the apertures of our hearts, embracing the commandment to “love your fellow as yourself” not just as a value, but as a daily spiritual practice. What does it take to create a community of true belonging — not just for some, but for all?

In this excerpt from Shabbat on May 2, 2025, listen as our Crown Family High School seniors share reflections on their Jewish journeys, lessons learned, and hopes for the future. Through personal stories shaped by years of learning, wrestling with tradition, and building community, they explore big questions about identity, responsibility, and the power of connection.

In this special storytelling event from Temple Sholom of Chicago, members of our community share deeply personal stories about their relationships with Israel — stories of connection, conflict, exploration, and identity. This event was created in partnership with Resetting the Table.

Together, their voices offer a moving reflection on what it means to wrestle with belonging and love for a complicated, sacred land — and to find community through shared listening.

In this special Shabbat service, we celebrated new and milestone members while reflecting on the power of resilience and community.
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover spoke to the meaning of Shabbat Takumah — the "Sabbath of Revival" — following Yom HaShoah, and we welcome special guest Beth Lane, filmmaker behind Unbroken, to share her family’s incredible story of survival and hope.

In this deeply moving episode of Beyond the Bimah, the Temple Sholom clergy reflect on Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day—and what it means to hold memory, grief, and hope, 80 years after the concentration camps were liberated.

In this Shabbat sermon from Apr. 18, 2025, guest speaker Rabbi Josh Weinberg, Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism and Executive Director of ARZA, offers a passionate and urgent reflection on Zionism, democracy, and Jewish responsibility. From the symbolism of the Passover song Chad Gadya to today’s debates over Israel’s identity and future, Rabbi Weinberg challenges us to reclaim our voice and participate in shaping a more just, pluralistic, and democratic Jewish state.

What does it mean to be a Zionist today? How do we hold onto our values while grappling with power, politics, and painful realities? And what can American Jews do to make a real impact?

Tune in for a stirring call to action, thoughtful insight, and a reminder that what we do here truly matters.

Vote now - https://azm.org/elections/

In this Shabbat and Erev Pesach sermon from Apr. 11, 2025, Rabbi Max Antman reflects on the enduring power of hope—even in times of profound darkness. Drawing on the Exodus narrative and the audacity of those who upheld tradition under threat, he invites us to "see" (רואה) the world’s brokenness without turning away.

How can we hold onto hope in the face of fear, injustice, and despair? What does it mean to be human—and Jewish—in moments that challenge our ideals? From ancient stories of defiance to present-day calls for justice, this sermon offers a moving reminder that hope is not naive optimism but a bold, clear-eyed vision for the future.

In this powerful sermon from Apr. 4, 2025, we explore the profound lesson of humility from the Torah portion of Vayikra, highlighting its significance in leadership and its relevance in today’s world. The sermon delves into the misuse of antisemitism as a political tool and emphasizes the need for assertive action against injustice while maintaining humility. By reflecting on the teachings of Moses and the challenges of our time, we discover how balancing humility with courage can inspire a more inclusive and just society.