Skip to main content
America's Top Rebbetzins

America's Top Rebbetzins

By Vera Kessler

Powerful interviews with inspiring rebbetzins who share words of wisdom designed to instill purpose in our lives. Each rebbetzin offers her own unique insights on living a life filled with clarity and meaning.
Currently playing episode

Rebbetzin Gitty Epstein--Transforming Your Marriage Through Eyes of Respect

America's Top RebbetzinsDec 09, 2021

00:00
35:00
Yehudis Sherman--Jewish Single Mothers/Widows/Divorcees Rediscover Joy on Shabbos-No More Loneliness

Yehudis Sherman--Jewish Single Mothers/Widows/Divorcees Rediscover Joy on Shabbos-No More Loneliness

Are you a single mother, widow or divorcee who dreads shabbos (shabbat)? Do you cry at the thought of having to spend shabbat alone, without your kids or anyone else to keep you company? Yehudis Sherman felt the exact same way. After her divorce, she discovered, first hand, the loneliness that many women experience when they spend shabbat isolated from their families. In response to this situation, she created an organization called Mishpachtainu, to help other women, like herself, celebrate shabbat with joy, unity and the warmth of community. Mishpactainu is located in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, but Jewish women from all over attend Yehudis' shabbat meals. She has a home that sleeps over 10 women, so out of town guests are welcome. Yehudis' shabbat table is beautifully decorated, and she cooks all different types of foods to accommodate everyone's diets (gluten free, etc.) In addition to the shabbos meals, Yehudis offers a food pantry to provide women with basic household items from ketchup and napkins to tablecloths and makeup. Mishpachtainu has helped many women make the turn around from lonely and depressed to supported and happy. They build a new network of friends from the women that they meet at Yehuds' shabbat table. There is a significant cost in running Mishpachtainu. Yehudis is in need of financial donations, as well as donations of goods and services. For more information about the organization, and how to donate, visit

mightymoms.love

You can also donate via Zelle: donate@mishpachtainu.org

To learn more about Mishpachtainu, visit: https://www.mishpachtainu.org/You can also email me, and I will put you in touch with Yehudis: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Mar 18, 202435:37
Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah Fromson--How to Talk to Your Kids about Sex (Talking to Children about Sex)

Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah Fromson--How to Talk to Your Kids about Sex (Talking to Children about Sex)

Talking to your kids about sex might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but it's an important topic, and we have to talk about it. The truth is that if we don't talk to our kids about sex, they are going to find out about it from other kids or other sources (possibly the internet.) We want our kids to know our values about sex, and learn the correct information, preferably from us. Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah Fromson, a sought after kallah teacher, sex therapist and counselling psychologist, helps guide us in talking to our kids about a subject that many parents find taboo. She suggests that parents talk to children about sex in bits and pieces, starting off at a very young age. She also encourages us to use the proper clinical terminology for our body parts. We need to feel comfortable using words like "penis" and "vagina." Our kids need to see that we are being open and honest with them about the subject of sex. When parents are comfortable talking about a subject (any subject), it gives kids the confidence to feel that we know what we are talking about and that we are giving them factual information. Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah tells us that we should take cues from our children about what we should talk about. In other words, we need to be open to answering their questions, no matter how sexual and detailed they might be. We want to be the person that our kids come to about sex, and if we don't answer their questions, they will find out from somebody else. However, she cautions us to create boundaries. We are our children's parents, not their friends. Do not give them details about what happens in your bedroom. That information is private, just between the couple. We need to respect our children as individuals and give them the answers to difficult questions. This way, they will be more apt to turn to us when they have an issue or a challenge, especially if they are being peer pressured to have sex. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Mar 07, 202448:20
Tanya Rosen--Lose the Weight and Keep it Off! Achieving Sustainable Weight Loss

Tanya Rosen--Lose the Weight and Keep it Off! Achieving Sustainable Weight Loss

Have you tried every diet? Keto? Paleo? Weight Watchers? Have you spent hours at the gym, even hired a personal trainer? Are you not able to lose weight, no matter what you do? Tanya Rosen, founder of Nutrition by Tanya, is a nutritionist, life coach, and personal trainer who has helped hundreds of men and women lose weight and keep it off! She believes in balanced eating, and shows her clients exactly how to do it, according to their food preferences and how much weight they need to lose. Tanya shares her own personal story about how she lost 50 pounds after her first pregnancy, and has maintained the weight loss ever since...even after have 4 more kids via C-section! In my conversation with Tanya, she shares practical tips and tools for people to start losing and maintaining their weight today. Some tips that she offers include: 1. Weight maintenance is a lifetime commitment--it's not a one time diet, it's a healthy lifestyle change. 2. Get the right support group. You need to be around like-minded people who have the same goals as you, or are willing to support you as you move toward your goals. This could be friends, family, or even professional support. You need accountability. 3. Drink 8-10 cups of water per day. Or, if you prefer to know how many ounces you need to drink, take your body weight and divide by 2. This is how many ounces of water you need to drink per day. (For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, 150/2=75, so you need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.) 4. Drink 2 cups of water before every meal. This way, you eat fewer calories because you will be less hungry--water takes up space in your stomach. To reach out to Tanya, please contact her through her website: https://nutritionbytanya.com/ To contact the host of America's Top Rebbetzins, email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Mar 06, 202439:01
Dr Miriam Adahan--Surviving Domestic Abuse and Neglect From Childhood or Marriage

Dr Miriam Adahan--Surviving Domestic Abuse and Neglect From Childhood or Marriage

How do your survive domestic abuse? Maybe you are married to an abusive or neglectful person. Maybe you had parents who would yell, scream and/or hit you. Most people who are in abusive or neglectful relationships develop physical symptoms as a sign of their emotional trauma--thyroid issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune illnesses. Dr. Miriam Adahan, a psychologist, therapist, popular author, and founder of EMETT (Emotional Maturity Established Through Torah), has over 60 years of experience in counseling, lecturing and writing. In this candid interview, Dr. Adahan shares tools and practical strategies for surviving if you are in an abusive relationship. She also has tips and techniques for parents to teach their children about how to be resilient and stay emotionally strong, operating from the pre-frontal cortex (the smart brain), and not from the amygdala (the baby brain.) The first thing that Dr. Adahan suggests to people who are (or have been) abused, is to recognize that you are a SURVIVOR. Understand that you were conditioned to believe that you were unworthy, but the OPPOSITE is true; YOUR ARE WORTHY. Next, stop feeling like you are a failure--YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! Practice radical acceptance that you are in this situation/circumstance because Hashem wants you to be here right now (it doesn't mean forever, but for right now, this is where He wants you to be.) Say the DAYEINU prayer. (If you email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com I will send you the prayer.) Stay physically healthy--take multivitamins, Vitamin B with FOLATE (not folic acid), Vitamin D with K2. Stay away from sugar. You should exercise, meditate, and do breathing exercises. Disengage when you are around your abuser--be nice and polite, protective of yourself and shallow in your responses (don't engage in an argument; don't take things personally), and be compassionate to yourself. Dr. Adahan give us some tips from her book, Raising Spiritual Champs, Including Yourself! It can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Spiritual-Champs-Hardcover-Miriam/dp/1614659370 This is the kids version of the book, called, Solution Champs: https://www.amazon.com/Solution-Champs-Miriam-Adahan/dp/1614658099 Dr. Adahan talks about all these things and more! This conversation has so much information that is necessary for you to survive and THRIVE. For further information, email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Mar 05, 202458:05
Rebbetzin Rivky Hertzel--Behind the Scenes of Chabad

Rebbetzin Rivky Hertzel--Behind the Scenes of Chabad

Have you ever wondered how Chabad emissaries are chosen? Have you ever thought about why some Chabad emissaries go to places like Zambia, Nigeria or Peru? What are the challenges of opening a Chabad house, and what are the enormous benefits of being the person who kindles and rekindles Jewish souls? Rebbetzin Rivky Herzel, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Zambia (Africa), speaks about her experience growing up as the daughter of Chabad emissaries to Anchorage, Alaska. She also talks about why she and her husband decided to become emissaries themselves, and why they chose to serve the Jewish community in Zambia. Rebbetzin Rivky talks about what is involved in running a Chabad center, the new kosher store that they are opening, and her monthly flights to the mikveh in South Africa because Zambia doesn't have a mikvah just yet. Rebbetzin Rivky has a deep passion for touching the life of every single Jew, and it shows when she speaks about the events and programming that she does for the Jews in her community.

Currently, Chabad of Zambia is in the middle of a major fundraiser. They need funds to purchase a generator, since they now have no electricity or running water for up to 10 hours a day.It would mean so much if you would take a small part in their mission.You can donate here: Www.charidy.com/zambia Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 27, 202436:55
Rebbetzin Shifra Fried--How to Create a Great Relationship with Your Teenager

Rebbetzin Shifra Fried--How to Create a Great Relationship with Your Teenager

The teenage years can be a challenging time, both for kids and for parents...but there is a way to make things easier, and to actually create a great relationship with your teenager. Rebbetzin Shifra Fried, Empowerment Coach and the rebbetzin of Young Israel of Bedford Bay, in Brooklyn, New York, shares with us that the real work begins by us parents working on ourselves. We need to love and value OURSELVES, BEFORE we love and value our teenagers. The way that we think and feel about ourselves reflects in the way we treat others, especially our children. We need to take care of ourselves and show ourselves compassion. Most importantly, we need to recognize who we are, which leads us to the question, "Who are WE?" We are a divine piece of Hashem (G-d). We have a spark of divinity within us. When we recognize this divinity, this piece of G-d within ourselves, we begin to see it in others, including our children. When we learn to love and respect ourselves, we learn to love and respect our children. This is the turning point in our relationship with our teenagers. Rebbetzin Shifra encourages us to approach our children with a loving energy. Teens can read our energy, even if our words don't match the energy we are giving off. We can be really angry and still have a smile on our face, but our teens know that something is off. We need to be ok with dealing with our emotions privately, without judging our emotions. We need to feel whatever it is that we need to feel so that we can process our emotions and not repress them. Once we are able to regulate our emotions, we are in a much better position to be able to smile at our teenager warmly, while also radiating that warmth. We also need to listen to our children and acknowledge and validate their feelings. We need to hold back from fixing their issues, offering advice, saying "I told you so," and JUST LISTEN TO YOUR TEENAGER so that they feel heard and validated. If you have a teen that doesn't want to talk, remind them constantly that you love them and that you are always here for them. Even if they never talk to you about their challenges, feeling your love and them knowing that you love them makes a huge difference in their inner world. If you would like to connect with Rebbetzin Shifra for her coaching or workshops, please visit: https://coachshifra.com/ Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 27, 202450:04
Rebbetzin Sara Blumenfeld--What is life like for Jews in Peru? (Jewish in Peru)

Rebbetzin Sara Blumenfeld--What is life like for Jews in Peru? (Jewish in Peru)

What is it like to be a Jew in Peru? Do they have kosher food? A mikveh? A minyan? What do they do for Hanukkah? Purim? Pesach? Shabbat?

Rebbetzin Sara Blumenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Peru, talks about Jewish life in Lima, Peru. When Rebbetzin Sara, and her husband, Rabbi Zalman Blumenfeld, first came to Lima, there was no kosher food, no Hanukkah candles, no menorahs. In fact, there were terrorists instead. She describes living without electricity! From there, she helped to create and foster a Jewish environment that now has Torah classes for women and men, a large Pesach seder, parsha of the week sheets for both adults and kids, Hamantaschen for Purim, a mikvah, and other Jewish amenities that make being Jewish in Peru much easier than it has been in the past.

Rebbetzin Sara speaks about the purpose of the Chabad emissaries all around the world (including Peru). Their purpose is to wake up the Yiddishkeit of each Jew; to wake up the soul of a Jew. Rebbetzin Sara also emphasizes that everything we do is to bring Moshiach! May he come today!!

Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 26, 202440:00
Rosally Saltsman-Power of Positive Speech (Words Create Reality/Change Your Speech Change Your Life)

Rosally Saltsman-Power of Positive Speech (Words Create Reality/Change Your Speech Change Your Life)

Words have power! Words create worlds! Change your words, change your life! Words create our reality! Prolific author and journalist, Rosally Saltsman speaks to us about the power of positive speech. She explains how we can use words to build and also to destroy. We talk about the power of speech when it comes to parenting children. Children build their identity based on what we say to them and how we speak to them. When we speak, we need to be less critical and less judgemental. Instead, we need to focus on the positive aspects of the child (or adult), and use our words to express that positivity. The positive words that we use in our home have the power to uplift and lighten up the atmosphere, making life more enjoyable for all. Conversely, we have the power to traumatize children (and adults too) with the words that we use. We need to be aware of the fact that our words have a very powerful affect on others. Rosally and I also spoke about the effect of positive and negative self-talk. The way we speak to ourselves is just as important as the way we speak to others. We will get more out of ourselves if we speak to ourselves in a loving way. Rosally shared a beautiful story about how she was able to transform a grumpy janitor into a happy, vibrant person, simply using her words--it's a great story! Rosally has a wonderful What's App group with daily inspiration in Shemirat Halashon (the laws of speech.) I personally am part of the group and enjoy it very much. If you would like to be part of our group, please click here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GyPSFXJCB0N3Nqz1SxGSHq

Feb 22, 202441:06
Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea Raichman-How to Instill Love of Judaism in Your Children

Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea Raichman-How to Instill Love of Judaism in Your Children

As Jewish parents, we want to instill a love of Judaism in our children that will last them throughout their lives, into adulthood. Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea Raichman, co-director of Chabad Manaus, in the Amazon region of Brazil, speaks to us about how to cultivate in our children a love of mitzvot (commandments) and a love of serving G-d (Hashem.) Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea believes in parenting with calmness and a personal love for and connection to Hashem. She educates her children in the mitzvot with a feeling of love. Once children know what the right thing is to do, and what they should be doing, she does not police them. Don't police your kids. You can gently remind then what they should be doing, but don't stand over them watching them until they obey. By arming your children with knowledge, given over in a loving way, and giving them gentle reminders now and then, you empower your children by allowing them to make the ultimate choice about their actions. Once kids feel like they have the power to choose right from wrong, their ultimate choice is between them and Hashem. We also have to teach children according to their way. Children are all different; they learn differently and they have different inclinations. Learn to see past a child (or adult's) exterior, and focus on their true essence; their soul. Just because a child (or adult) doesn't dress a certain way or keep all the mitzvot, doesn't mean that they are not a spiritual human being with a deep connection to Hashem. It is this connection that is most precious to Hashem, and we shouldn't put people down or judge them according to how they present externally, rather we need to focus on they type of person they are internally. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 21, 202443:16
Liel Shitrit-Survivor of Nova Music Festival Shares Story of October 7 Hamas Terror Attack in Israel

Liel Shitrit-Survivor of Nova Music Festival Shares Story of October 7 Hamas Terror Attack in Israel

Survivor of the Nova Music Festival, Liel Shitrit, shares her story of how she survived the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Liel was with her friends at the festival when Hamas invaded and started shooting at people around 6:30a.m. She describes leaving the festival and how different groups of terrorists shot at her and her friends. One of her friends was shot in the head. (He survived.) Another friend was kidnapped and is currently being held hostage--BRING THEM HOME NOW! Liel spoke about how the terrorists murdered everyone in cold blood---she described them not as people, but as monsters. She talked about seeing her friends shot, body parts everywhere (legs, arms, and even heads that were displaced from bodies.) She felt horror and terror at seeing this. Liel went on to describe how she and her friends hid in a bathroom for 6 hours. The door had no lock, so one of her friends held it closed for the entire 6 hours until IDF troops arrived. Liel spoke about how she is processing her emotions, how her family is handling the situation, and what she would say to the hostages right now, if she had the opportunity to speak with them. This is a raw and truthful first-person account of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 15, 202449:44
Rebbetzin Dassi Bigio-Life Lessons I Learned From My Father (Honoring Your Mother and Father)

Rebbetzin Dassi Bigio-Life Lessons I Learned From My Father (Honoring Your Mother and Father)

Honor your father and mother is a strong Torah commandment (mitzvah). Your parents are your main teachers in life, imparting to you many valuable lessons. Rebbetzin Dassi Bigio, co-director of the Chabad House in San Andres, Colombia, talks about the life lessons that her father exemplified for her while she was growing up. One important lesson that Rebbetzin Dassi's father shared with her is to always think about other people. Life is not all about you, so don't be selfish. Think about others and what they need, and try to provide it for the, Rebbetzin Dassi's father also taught her to never give up. Her father was very goal-oriented and was always working on achieving his goals. He faced many great challenges along the way, but he never stopped believing in his goals and he never stopped working toward them. Another life lesson that Rebbetzin Dassi shared from her father was the idea of thinking big. When you have a dream, thought or goal, don't limit yourself. Think big. In addition, we spoke about the obligation of honoring your parents, even if they were abusive or neglectful, as well as if they tell you to do things that you don't agree with, or actions that go against the Torah. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Feb 08, 202435:51
Rachel Leah Ismaili- Return to Your Authentic Self Through Mind/Body/Soul Healing (5 Soul Levels)

Rachel Leah Ismaili- Return to Your Authentic Self Through Mind/Body/Soul Healing (5 Soul Levels)

When the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change--that's when authentic growth happens. We break free from "playing small" and step into our greatness. We break free from our fears and start taking action and doing the things that we are meant to do in our lifetime. Rachel Leah Ismaili, the founder of MAYYIM Myofascial Release, creates a safe space for authentic healing to occurs. She offers women a fully integrative mind/body/emotions and soul healing journey. In this VERY DEEP DISCUSSION, Rachel Leah explains to us how we can begin to heal our traumas, physical, sexual and emotional, and tune into ourselves to rediscover who we are. Rachel Leah speaks about the deepest healing of ourselves through the 5 levels of our soul: Nefesh--the part of our soul that is most bound to our physical realm. It is here that healing of the nervous system through hands-on therapeutic body work liberates the body of the pain it is holding energetically. Ruah--the emotional sphere of our soul where we can use breathwork to release our subconscious fears. Music plays a key role here, in addition to breathwork. Neshama--this is the part of our soul that is our cognition center. It includes our self-perception; our thoughts; our pre-frontal cortex. This is where cognitive behavioral therapy comes in to help us change our thoughts and thought patterns. Chaya--this is the part of our soul that observes the ego; the mindfulness part of our soul. We are not our thoughts, we are the observers of our thoughts. This is our true ratzon (our true will). This is where we can align our will to Hashem's will. This is the transcendent part of our soul. Yehida--this is our pintele yid--the very essence of our soul as a Jew. This is our truest self.

Feb 06, 202458:01
Rebbetzin Zeesy Deren--How to Make Lighting Shabbat Candles More Meaningful (Mindful Connection)

Rebbetzin Zeesy Deren--How to Make Lighting Shabbat Candles More Meaningful (Mindful Connection)

Jewish women light shabbat (shabbos) candles every Friday night. This is a very special time when we take a deep breath, pause, and truly connect with Hashem (G-d), our Creator. This mitzvah is a connection point from us to G-d, to our fellow Jewish women, and to each other. Girls begin lighting shabbos candles at the age of 3 years old. From the age of 3 until they are married, girls light one shabbos candle. Once the girl is married, she lights two candles, and then adds additional candles for every child that she has. Shabbos candle lighting is a time of deep introspection and connection to Hashem. We ask for His blessings for ourselves, our family members, the members of our community, and for all the Jews in the world. Friday night, right after lighting the shabbat candles, is an ideal time for us to speak directly to Hashem in our own words. Shabbos candles are sometimes called "neshek," which stands for neirot shabbos kodesh, the holy shabbat candles. They are the secret weapon of all Jewish women who bring holiness to the world by literally creating a light in the darkness when they kindle the shabbat candles. Rebbetzin Zeesy Deren encourages us to be mindful by focusing on where you are right now and what you are doing right now. She tells us to single task, instead of multi-task. This makes life more meaningful, and offers us opportunities for connection. We have so many things going on in our lives, but we need to surrender to what Hashem wants for us. We need to have menucha--complete comfort and rest, knowing that Hashem placed us where ever we are in life by Divine providence; we are exactly where we need to be at this time because it was Divinely ordained for us. Rebbetzin Zeesy encourages us to speak with Hashem in our own words throughout the week so that we can maintain a strong connection to Him at all times. Rebbetzin Zeesy is the director of Sinai Academy Jewish International School and Cape Town Torah High School. She is also the female spiritual leader of Blouberg Jewish Community Centre. She gives ongoing "soul talks" in her community, sharing her passion of bringing people closer to their soul source. She is a facilitator of Echadoneness (https://www.echad.co.za/), where she helps Jewish women explore Jewish mindfulness and meditation. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 16, 202436:16
Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg--Why Do Married Jewish Women Cover Their Hair?

Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg--Why Do Married Jewish Women Cover Their Hair?

Covering your hair as a married Jewish woman can sometimes be a challenging mitzvah. Why do Jewish women cover their hair? What is the right way to fulfill this mitzvah? Why are there so many types of hair coverings--wigs (sheitels), falls, hats, hair wraps, scarves, tichels, baseball caps? Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg answers all these questions and many more. She clearly explains, in detail, from where we get this beautiful mitzvah of hair covering, and she gives a wide range of opinions for how much hair should be covered. Rabbanit Shayna compassionately talks about how to begin covering your hair, if you would like to take on this mitzvah. Please check out Deracheha for more information on this topic and others that relate to women and mitzvot. www.deracheha.org Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 10, 202457:10
Ruth Hilu--How to Manifest Your Desires (The Secret of Turning Your Dreams into Reality)

Ruth Hilu--How to Manifest Your Desires (The Secret of Turning Your Dreams into Reality)

Manifest your dreams and turn your deepest desires into reality. We all have things that we want--a big house, money, close relationships, a loving marriage, well-behaved children...the list goes on...and it should because we are worthy of receiving that which we desire. Through manifestation, we co-create our reality with Hashem (G-d.) We need to understand that Hashem WANTS to GIVE to US. In order to receive, we must know that we are worthy of receiving from Him. We need to daven (pray) to Him for that which we desire, and we need to have emunah (faith) that we will receive what we ask for. Ruth Hilu, a master life coach from Mexico City, explains to us in detail what manifestation is, and how we can use this powerful tool in our lives. She explains that we need to look deeply into our desires in order to make sure that we really want them. We need to deeply visualize exactly what we want, in great detail. We need to ONLY focus on the positive aspects of what we desire, not looking at any roadblocks or difficulties potentially associated with it--only visualize the end product. We must do this 1-3 times a day, every day, for 21 days (3 weeks.) During this time, we also pray for what we want, believe that we will receive it, and align ourselves with our desire in thought, speech and action, as if we already have that which we want. In this way, we create our vessel to receive our blessing. While we wait for our desire to manifest, we need to be our own companion, and act with compassion toward ourselves. Finally, we need to be open to receiving our desires by fully and completely knowing that we ARE worthy of receiving that which we want. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 09, 202401:05:34
Michal Horowitz: Loving Your Fellow Jew, Learning to Look Past the Superficialities

Michal Horowitz: Loving Your Fellow Jew, Learning to Look Past the Superficialities

Michal Horowitz regularly teaches classes and presents guest lectures on various topics related to Torah, Judaism and Jewish thought. Her goal is to bring the beauty, inspiration, and depth of Torah to others, no matter their age, affiliation, or prior Torah background. Michal believes that life can be beautiful, turbulent, joyous, and painful. As complex as life is, it is the teachings and wisdom of the Torah that helps to guide us along the way. Michal helps us better understand the Torah commandment of, "You shall love your fellow Jew as you love yourself. I am Hashem, your G-d." She explains that the actual commandment is, "Love for your fellow Jews what you love for yourself. I am Hashem, your G-d." This means, that you should want for your fellow Jews what you want for yourself. For example, if you want money for yourself, want money for your fellow Jew. If you want food to eat, a house to live in, happiness in your life, etc., want all these things for your fellow Jew as well. Hashem can give to you as much as He gives to others. His love for you and all the Jews is unlimited, and all the things that He has to give are unlimited as well. Feel free to ask Hashem for abundance for yourself, as well as your fellow Jew. Don't set limits on your love. Also, don't hold a grudge against a fellow Jew. We are strong when we are united. Our enemies can't harm us when we are unified. In order to want good for our fellow Jews, and value them as human beings, we must fist truly understand our own self worth and value. It's vital to know that you are here because you are important, and because you have a mission. Hashem, who knows everything, put you here because He feels that you matter and He loves you. If Hashem loves you and thinks that you are worthy of being in this world, then you should value yourself as well. Only when we believe in our own self-worth and believe that we have something to contribute, can we want good for our fellow Jews. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 02, 202457:18
Chavi Kestenbaum--Mother-in-law/Daughter-in-law: Friend or Foe

Chavi Kestenbaum--Mother-in-law/Daughter-in-law: Friend or Foe

Chavi Kestenbaum is a registered nurse and psychotherapist. She is also a certified mastery coach from the Dina Freedman Academy. Chavi specializes in facilitating communication and harmony in family relationships. She also guides mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law through conflict resolution. Chavi radiates positivity to those around her, which helps her clients tap into and access the inherent love within themselves. In our conversation, Chavi talks about the role of the mother-in-law, and encourages her to embrace her daughter-in-law completely, EVEN if she is not whom the mother-in-law would have chosen for her son. As the mature adult, the mother-in-law needs to learn to deal with her feelings and emotions separately (maybe speaking to a friend, a therapist, or a mentor), and then approach her daughter-in-law in a loving way to establish open communication. It's the mother-in-law who sets the tone for the relationship. She needs to give space and boundaries for her daughter-in-law to approach her (or not.) She needs to make her daughter-in-law feel comfortable. The daughter-in-law needs to be respectful to her mother-in-law. She needs to drop all the negative mother-in-law stereotypes and also establish open communication. Chavi encourages daughters-in-law to be curious about their mother-in-law, and get to know her for who she is--she may actually be a very kind and loving person. Overall, it's important to note that if someone is acting mean, cold, or aloof, don't take it personally. Quite often mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law have their own pain and struggles that the other doesn't know about, and although those their actions toward each other might be negative, it's not personal. The key is to establish open communication and to speak with each other in a respectful tone and a lot of understanding. Chavi can be reached by email at kest@rogers.com

Dec 24, 202346:07
Devori Nussbaum: Facing Your Fears

Devori Nussbaum: Facing Your Fears

Devori is a psychotherapist. She is a trauma therapist who has a multidisciplinary approach to challenges by addressing them through mind, body and breath. Some of the modalities that she has trained in include IFS, Body Psychotherapy, EMDR, Comprehensive Resource Model, Logotherapy, and the Imago model of relationship therapy. Devori uses her knowledge of human psychology and relationships to help people face their fears and break free of all that they feel is holding them back from living an inspired and meaningful life. In this deep interview, Devori explains the intersection of spirituality and psychology. She explains that spirituality is everything that you can't touch; thoughts, feelings, emotions, and the life force energy that animates you. Devori also explains that psychology deals with our inner world, which also includes our thoughts, feelings and emotions. In other words, psychology helps us manage our spirituality. When you fuse the two together, you can have a deep and full understanding of who you truly are as your authentic self. Devori talks about having two souls--the animal soul and the G-dly soul. The animal soul protects us--it's our defense mechanism. It often motivates us to mask our pain through food, alcohol. drugs, shopping, and other forms of escapism. The G-dly soul helps us to live our lives and make decisions from our own value system. Devori encourages us to feel our pain, instead of masking it with addictions, avoidance, anger, or any other defense mechanism. She explains that to truly heal ourselves, we need to face our emotions and give ourselves an opportunity to feel our emotions in our body, and observe our emotions as they move through our body. When we face our fears by feeling our emotions our pain, they moves through us, and eventually, move out of us. When we are no longer operating from a place of fear, we are able to access our G-dly soul, and make decisions based on what we truly value.

Dec 20, 202355:52
Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Laber: Speaking the Language of the Soul (Being a Light in the Darkness)

Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Laber: Speaking the Language of the Soul (Being a Light in the Darkness)

Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Laber is the co-director of the Jewish Greenbush Retreat Campus, and also of the Chabad of Greenbush and Southern Rensselaer County. She is also the founder and director of the Jewish Girls Retreat and Jewish Girls Unite, as well as the GROW Connection Network global online community for girls and women. Rebbetzin Nechama Dina is a certified life coach and the author of several books, including GROW Through Prayer and 3 GROW planners. In this deep and profound interview, Rebbetzin Nechama Dina shares with us her effective GROW method for meaningful prayer, and for living a meaningful life. She encourages us to be a spark of light that illuminates the darkness, and she teaches us how to do it through the GROW method. GROW G: Gratitude, which corresponds with the prayer of Birkat Ha Shahar. With gratitude, we open our heart to connection. Even if we are struggling with a challenge, we can be grateful to be alive. R: Recognition, which corresponds to the prayers of Pesuki d'Zimrah. In this step, we process gratitude in more detail. We recognize what is going on in our world, and we open our heart to connection. We realize the divinity is in the details. O: Oneness, which corresponds to the Shema prayer. Hashem (G-d) is one. Everything has the oneness of Hashem inside of it, including our challenges. He wants us to find him. Through oneness, we create an action step. We think, "What does Hashem want from me at this time?" We take on one small action. Hashem is our partner in every situation in live, and He guides us. Through oneness, we create a spiritual intention to connect to Hashem. W: Wish, which corresponds to the Shemona Esrei prayer. We take ownership of our connection with Hashem and with others. We ask Hashem to please fulfill our wishes and needs by creating a dwelling space for Him in this world. When we daven, it's important to remember Who is before You. "Daven" comes from the French word, devant, in front of. Remember in front of Whom you stand. Tefillah means attachment and connection. Siddur is from the word, "seder," which means order. That is why there is an order to our prayers. For more information on GROW, or to contact Rebbetzin Nechama Dina, please visit www.growconnectionnetwork.com

Dec 14, 202357:22
Rivki Silver: From Midwestern Protestant to Orthodox Jew--One Woman's Personal Story of Conversion

Rivki Silver: From Midwestern Protestant to Orthodox Jew--One Woman's Personal Story of Conversion

Rivki Silver is the co-host of the popular Deep Meaningful Conversations podcast. She is a regular contributor to Family First magazine, and her writing can also be found on many popular Jewish websites. She is an engaging public speaker, and has spoken for high schools, seminaries, and Project Inspire. Rivki holds a degree in music performance, and has performed internationally with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and bands. In this fascinating interview, Rivki shares her personal story about how she went from growing up as a Protestant in the Midwestern region of the United States to becoming an Orthodox Jewish woman. Her story is authentic and compelling. She gives an honest account of how she became interested in Judaism and went through the conversion process. She also talks candidly about what life is like for her now, being fully observant. We talk about how Rivki's family reacted to her conversion, as well as how converts and Ba'al Teshuvas can maintain good relationships with their families, even if their families are not observant.

Dec 13, 202338:38
Chany Felberbaum: Eliminate Emotional Trauma at the Core; Stop Surviving and Start Thriving

Chany Felberbaum: Eliminate Emotional Trauma at the Core; Stop Surviving and Start Thriving

Chany Felberbaum is a certified life coach whose mission it is to help women eliminate trauma at the core so that they can stop surviving and finally start thriving! She created life-changing online programs where women can get powerful tools for mind and emotional healing and well-being. Chany is passionate about helping women release their trauma and move forward with their life, without the weight of "stuck" emotions. In this engaging interview, Chany gives us tools for helping us to process our emotions so that they don't create blockages in our body. She gives us techniques and tools to process our trauma and avoid being "triggered." First and foremost, Chany encourages us to become aware that when we are upset or triggered, it's not always the other person; quite often it's the other person triggering something that is already inside of us. This "something" is usually unprocessed emotions from our past that are stuck inside of us, waiting to be released. One tool that Chany shares with us is the Peace Process: 1. Find a comfortable place 2. Think about the situation that is bothering you, and notice where there is a sensation in your body 3. Stay focused on that sensation. Follow the sensation wherever it moves in your body 4. Focus on the sensation in your body for 10-15 minutes each day Eventually, the emotion dissolves and becomes processed, and you become less and less triggered. Another tool that Chany teaches us is called, "Can I Let This Go?" 1. Find a comfortable place 2. Think of the emotion or the situation that is bothering you 3. Inhale deeply and ask yourself, "Can I let this Go?" 4. Exhale and say, either "yes" or "no" 5. Even if you say "no," you will notice that you feel less of a burden, and more relaxed

You can email Chany at: chany@rapidrecoverycoaching.com For more information on Chany's programs and coaching, visit: www.chanyfelberbaum.com





Dec 12, 202359:15
Evonne Marzouk--Learning How to Forgive (Forgiveness)

Evonne Marzouk--Learning How to Forgive (Forgiveness)

Evonne Marzouk is the author of the Jewish novel The Prophetess. She was also the founder and former Executive Director of a Jewish environmental organization called Canfei Nesharim, and is currently a board member of its successor organization, GrowTorah. She worked with rabbis, scientists, educators and community leaders to create and distribute Torah teachings on the environment. Evonne has worked at the United States Environmental Protection Agency for over 20 years. Evonne also created Heroine's Journal: A Jewish Mystical Journey of Growing into Your Gifts, to empower Jewish women to live their greatest dreams. Evonne speaks in detail about the process of forgiving someone who has hurt you. Step 1: be willing to fully feel the pain that the person caused you Step 2: be willing to acknowledge that you don't know every detail in the situation (you don't know what that person was thinking at the time they hurt you, what you may have needed to learn from being hurt, etc.) Step 3: make space in your heart (feel compassion) for the imperfect person who hurt you in order to forgive them with your whole heart When you are trying to forgive someone, it is helpful to process your feelings. One way to do that is to write down your feelings in a journal or notebook. Writing takes the feelings out of your head and body, and puts them on paper. It is also very important to understand that no one is perfect and that we need to have compassion for the other person's imperfections and humanity. Ultimately, forgiveness is a choice.

Nov 28, 202344:16
Tzirel Liba Greenberg: The Deeper Meaning of Shabbat/Shabbos

Tzirel Liba Greenberg: The Deeper Meaning of Shabbat/Shabbos

Tzirel Liba Greenberg is a singer and composer who has written over 100 original songs! (She plays one of her songs on a guitar, and sings toward the end of the interview--kol isha alert!) Tzirel Liba also started The Shabbos Queen Project podcast, which can be heard on SoundCloud. Her friendly, easy approach, performing talent and inspirational messages make The Shabbos Queen Project lessons SO powerful! She consistently captivates her audiences as she shares Emunah tools, Torah wisdom, and beautiful music to help guide Jewish women through the ups and downs in life. Tzirel Liba speaks beautifully about the deeper meaning of shabbos. She says that shabbat is the source of all blessings. Our yearning for a connection with Hashem brings abundance upon us. We have the potential to create miracles by bringing Hashem into our lives through the things that we do, especially the things we do to prepare for shabbat. We need to be mindful each day to do something to prepare for shabbos, whether it's buying food or shabbos candles, making our shabbos menu, inviting guests, cleaning our house, cooking, and many other things that we can do each day to mindfully bring us into the realm of shabbos, and of course, closer to Hashem. Tzirel Liba speaks about shabbos candles being a woman's most powerful weapon. When we light shabbat candles 10 minutes before the candle lighting time on the Jewish calendar, we open up the gates of blessings to fall upon us. We do this through the prayers that we say right after we light the candles. We show Hashem that we are so excited about shabbat that we want to take it on early by lighting the shabbat candles early. Then, we pour our hearts out to Hashem and ask him for anything and everything we need. Tzirel Liba also speaks about the holiness of kiddish and challah. In addition, she speaks about the importance of gratitude in order to help us get into the mind frame of connecting to Hashem. Tzirel Liba and her husband will be going on tour of the United States, speaking about shabbat and its magic. This tour is called A Peak Behind The Vail. If you would like to reach Tzirel Liba, please email her at theshabbosqueenproject@gmail. com or email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Nov 20, 202354:34
Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka Zwolinsky: How to Fight Anti-Semitism (Come Prepared to the Battle)

Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka Zwolinsky: How to Fight Anti-Semitism (Come Prepared to the Battle)

Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka Zwolinsky is the leading teacher of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's wisdom for women in North America. She brings compassion and deep understanding of psychospiritual trauma, transition and growth to her coaching, lectures and workshops in community centers, synagogues, schools, and other venues, as well as online to students on six continents. As the founding director of both BreslovWoman.org and previously, BRI Women, she has been teaching, leading trips for women to Jewish Ukraine, and much more. She is the author of numerous books including Mashiach: Hope for Turbulent Times; May You Have a Day: Making Every Day Better with the Teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov; and others. We are currently in a war between good and evil. We need to come to our battles prepared. Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka shares with us psychospiritual tools and strategies to fight anti-semitism. Psychospirituality is the close bond between individual psychology and spirituality. Our psychological state is intertwined with our spiritual state. Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka stressed that instead of using our time and energy to feel hate toward our enemy, we instead should turn that time and energy toward loving our fellow Jew and ourselves. Some ways that we can channel our feelings include: 1. Hitbodedut--personal prayer to G-d (pouring out heart out to our Creator by speaking to Him out loud, using our own words.) 2. Consciously being the bearer of good news every day.

Nov 09, 202352:52
Rebbetzin Tali Wohlgelernter Raising a Child with a Rare Disease; A Mother's Personal Story

Rebbetzin Tali Wohlgelernter Raising a Child with a Rare Disease; A Mother's Personal Story

Rebbetzin Tali Wohlgelernter, and her husband, Rabbi Tzvi Wohlgelernter, are the directors of Mizrachi OU JLIC in Givat Shmuel and Bar Ilan. In this very candid interview, Rebbetzin Tali shares her personal story about raising a daughter with Dravet Syndrome (a severe form of epilepsy with seizures that are long and unpredictable.) Rebbetzin Tali shares how her daughter, Sarena's, illness impacted hers, her husband, and her three other daughters. She also talks about her faith in Hashem (G-d) and how that is helping her get through her life being as human as possible, with good days and bad days, just like everyone else. Rebbetzin Tali speaks about how Sarena's illness united her entire family--not just her immediate family, but her extended family as well. She also talks about the best things to do (and not to do) when we reach out to families who are struggling with caring for a special needs child. Three nuggets of wisdom and empowerment that we can take away from today's conversation are: 1. Ask for help--reach out to a friend to go out for coffee (or invite her to come over for coffee or to keep you company); if you need help making meals, ask for help; if you need help taking care of your other kids, ask for it; don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help. 2. Don't lie to yourself. Take some time for yourself and be really honest about your situation. 3. Read the book, Living in the Presence; A Jewish Mindfulness Guide for Everyday Life by Benjamin Epstein. This book will help you to live in the moment without worrying about the past or the future. Being in the moment will help you get through your day. If you would like to contact Rebbetzin Tali, she can be reached at: ttw613@gmail.com She also wrote a blog earlier on in Sarena's journey. If you would like to read about her story, please visit www.talismidnightmusings.com

Oct 31, 202349:53
Sunny Levi: Personal Prayer is a Life Changer

Sunny Levi: Personal Prayer is a Life Changer

Sunny Levi is a 7th-degree black belt Taekwondo Master. She is also a personal fitness trainer. She teaches martial arts, self-defense, strength training, yoga, and kickboxing to women and children. In addition to teaching others how to defend themselves and be physically fit, Sunny also teaches women to be spiritually fit through her Hitbodedut Spiritual Bootcamp. Hitbodedut is personal prayer. Through personal prayer, speaking to G-d in our own words, we can form a deep, close and personal connection to Him. This connection turns us into a vessel to receive miracles. Sunny speaks in details about the three major components of hitbodedut: 1. Gratitude 2. Self-reflection 3. Request Sunny also speaks about the magnitude of thanking Hashem for the things in your live that are the most difficult. She also talks about how when you pray for someone else who is in a similar situation to yours, G-d will answer your prayer first. For more information on Sunny Levi's Hitbodedut Spiritual Bootcamp, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Oct 30, 202342:26
Rebbetzin Sarah Korn: Countering Anti-Semitism on College Campuses

Rebbetzin Sarah Korn: Countering Anti-Semitism on College Campuses

Rebbetzin Sarah Korn is the co-director of Chabad House Bowery. She runs a student center for downtown Manhattan universities including New York University (NYU), Baruch, Cooper Union, and Hunter College as their main schools, but they also have attendees from others schools too. Rebbetzin Sarah shares with us some of the challenges that Jewish students are currently facing on college campuses, and gives us concrete strategies on how they can counter anti-semitism and pro-Palestinian propaganda. Some important takeaways from our conversation: --Jews are not vengeful; we are people of justice. --Those who do acts of injustice must be held responsible for their actions. If there are professors who speak out against Israel, in favor of Hamas terrorism, they need to be reported (to the school administration and/or to the police.) --Jewish people are different sparks of one soul (we are all parts of the same soul, in different bodies.) When you shift your consciousness, you shift the consciousness of all the Jewish people. In other words, your thoughts and actions affect others. The things that we think about affect the way we feel. The way we feel affects the way we behave. We have to be a strong force of light to dispel the darkness. Rebbetzin Sarah shares with us exactly how to do this. Rebbetzin Sarah also tells a story about the power of lighting shabbos candles. Shabbos candles are neshek--weapons; spiritual weapons. At this time, in addition to fighting evil on a physical level, we need to fight it on a spiritual level. Shabbos candles are just one of the many spiritual weapons that we must use in this war. For a bullet pointed article on Responding to Questions and Disinformation about Israel, please click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w8ZQ4gdcGGnblEpjoJnQ6TslWll_71BJ/view

Oct 26, 202346:20
Orly Wahba: Israel is at War. What Can We Do Now?

Orly Wahba: Israel is at War. What Can We Do Now?

When we proclaim what we want, we have the ability to create miracles! Israel is at war with Hamas. Each and every Jew is fighting this battle. Some Jews are on the ground, fighting with guns and tanks; that is the physical war. However, even if you are not fighting the physical war, you can still be engaged in the spiritual war. We are all Spiritual Warriors, each of us helping to win this war in our own way. Orly speaks to us about how each Jew can do something that they connect with in order to help Israel win the war. Some people bake challah, others send much needed items to Israel, and you should do what resonates with you. Orly shares an interesting story about how her friend, who loves to drive, donates her time driving goods all around Israel to those who need them. We are all soldiers in Hashem's army; we all have to man our post in our own way. Orly talks about a few of the campaigns that she is implementing on the spiritual war front to help protect the soldiers. Through her free app, Abraham's Legacy, she holds an event every evening, Sunday-Thursday, via Zoom (link below) where people read Tehillim (Psalms), finishing the entire book of psalms multiple times a night. Psalms are a HUGE spiritual protection for our soldiers! Orly also speaks about the mitzvah of netilat yadaim (spiritual washing of the hands.) She has a company called Netilah, which makes special hand washing cups made our of 100% pure copper. Copper has a tremendous connection to healing. Aside from being a natural antibacterial metal, kabbalistically, copper has a deep spiritual purpose. Copper connects with and purifies water upon contact; it protects the water before it reaches your hands. For more information on Netilah, please visit www.netillah.com There is a link between our voices, which we use for davening (praying), and our hands. When we refrain from speaking badly about others, we purify our voices. When we have pure voices, our prayers can reach G-d more quickly and easily; they don't get stuck in the energy of negativity. We can achieve this purification of our voices by JUDGING OTHERS FAVORABLY and speaking well of others. When we think good, we speak good. Think good, and it will be good. Regarding our hands, when we sleep 1/60 of our soul dies. Death is considered impure. When we wake up from sleep, we use a netilat yadaim cup (also known as a klee), to do a spiritual washing of our hands, which Orly explains to us. This washing of our hands, done slowly, and with focus and good intention, can purify our hands. When our hands are purified, the things that we do with them are elevated; baking challah, cooking, making cards for soldiers, packing supplies for the IDF, etc. What you do with pure hands and pure intentions is an elevated mitzvah. Orly can be reached at: info@abrahamslegacy.com or via Whatsapp: +1-917-748-8032 In trying times such as these we find ourselves asking what can we do to help? Tefillah has always and will always be something we can turn to. As we know every prayer said, every chapter of Tehillim brings a tremendous level of protection. And so Orly asks you to join her each night for 30 minutes at 8:30pm Israel time to read Tehillim in unison. WATCH the video below, share and encourage others to join us. https://youtu.be/4ayuHzyhiQ8 *Date: Sunday-Thursday* *Time: 8:30pm Israel | 1:30pm NY* Same time and link every night *Join the Zoom:* https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7340551834 *Download the app in preparation:* qrco.de/bbD92t ABRAHAM’S LEGACY is an app that allows ppl *around the world to complete the entire Tehillim within moments!* Tehillim Warriors Project https://youtu.be/rcNJPY9oYsI Join our Unit of Tehillim Warriors by taking on the same 5 min window every day to say Tehillim for our soldiers and hostages. You’re being called to battle with your tefillot…are you READY to answer the call? Enlist NOW! Please SHARE! www.abrahamslegacy.com/warrior

Oct 25, 202341:44
Miriam Racquel Feldman: Align With Your Soul Through Somatic Healing (Heal with the Real Deal)

Miriam Racquel Feldman: Align With Your Soul Through Somatic Healing (Heal with the Real Deal)

Miriam Racquel (Meryl) Feldman is a wife, mom, Somatic Healer, Marriage Coach, Trauma & Anxiety Specialist and award-winning Author of the memoir, God Said What?! #MyOrthodoxLife. She helps empower women to trust the wisdom of their bodies, emotions, and souls as well as blogging about the mystical happenings of an ever-changing world. She once got her kicks from rehabilitating seals in California and now leads an adventurous life raising a bunch of kids along with her husband. If you meet her, be prepared to take part in philosophical discussions about the healing of humankind and the transformation of the world into a place of peace. Download free e-guides and receive Somatic Healing Tips at: MiriamRacquel.com YourMarriageMagic.com and link to purchase: God Said What?! #MyOrthodoxLife (https://www.amazon.com/dp/1737745402?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860)

Sep 07, 202344:57
Rebbetzin Mina Eisenbach--Why Does It Matter What You Do? (Every Neshama is Valuable)

Rebbetzin Mina Eisenbach--Why Does It Matter What You Do? (Every Neshama is Valuable)

Rebbetzin Mina Eisenbach, along with her husband, Rabbi Joseph Eisenbach, are the co-directors of Chabad Lubavitch of Northeast, Connecticut. This is one of the smallest Chabad houses in the world. Chabad is actually an acronym for Chochma, Bina, Da'at; Chochma means Wisdom, Bina means Understanding, and Da'at means Knowledge. Rebbetzin Mina beautifully illustrates the importance that each and every one of us has as human beings. We all have a piece of G-d (Hashem) inside of us. We are all G-dly beings. This makes us inherently valuable and precious in His eyes. He seeks a two-way relationship with us. It's not just us praising G-d and asking Him for things; it's about G-d interacting with us too. We receive part of our Jewish soul at birth, the second part of our soul at our bris (for a boy) or at our baby naming (for a girl), and the third part of our soul at our bar or bat mitzvah. As the mother of 13 children, Rebbetzin Mina shares her wisdom about raising children, keeping at the forefront of her mind that each and every child is a blessing.

Aug 16, 202352:40
Orly Wahba: When You Realize that You Matter, You Realize That Your Choices Matter (Choose Kindness)

Orly Wahba: When You Realize that You Matter, You Realize That Your Choices Matter (Choose Kindness)

Orly Wahba is an international motivational speaker, educator, entrepreneur, author, and community activist. She is passionate about inspiring people to make the world a kinder place. In this engaging interview, Orly shares with us a powerful message: When We Value Ourselves, We Value the Choices that We Make. Our choices have an impact on other people. When we choose to be kind to others, we literally have the power to change not only their lives, but the lives of hundreds of other people through a ripple affect as our one small act of kindness is payed forward. It is so important to know that When We Understand Our Own Value, We Understand the Value of Other People. Orly also talks about discovering and actualizing our life purpose. The first step is to write down your dream and WHY you want to achieve it. Don't worry about HOW to achieve it; just fully and deeply understand WHY you want it. Then, write down your dream or vision on a piece of paper; go into as much detail as you can. Don't be overwhelmed by the gap between where you are now, and where you want to be. The next step is to write down one or two small actions that you will take that will be bring you closer to your dream. Once you complete those actions, write down the next actions that will bring you even closer to your dream. This is a process that takes time. As you start to manifest your dream, Hashem (G-d) will send you opportunities and resources to continuously take you to the next level. Don't give up! Orly is the founder of Life Vest, a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and educate people of all backgrounds to lead a life of kindness. (Life Vest website: https://www.lifevestinside.com/about/our-founder/) Orly also created the Abraham's legacy app, which she named after her grandfather. With the Abraham’s Legacy app, groups of people can complete the book of tehillim thousands of times a day, collectively with the entire world. Saying tehillim has been known to heal people and create miracles. The Abraham's Legacy app puts this process at your fingertips. To download the app, visit: https://abrahamslegacy.com/

Aug 02, 202301:00:59
Rebbetzin Fruma Schapiro Shares Deep Insights on Shavuos (Shavuot): Jews Receive Torah on Mt. Sinai

Rebbetzin Fruma Schapiro Shares Deep Insights on Shavuos (Shavuot): Jews Receive Torah on Mt. Sinai

Rebbetzin Fruma Schapiro, along with her husband, Rabbi Nochum Schapiro, run the Chabad North Shore in St. Ives, Australia, which is a suburb of Sydney. Rebbetzin Fruma shares deep insights about the Jewish holiday of Shavuos (Shavuot.) This is such a powerful holiday when G-d Himself gave the Jews the Torah while they were standing at the foot of Mt. Sinai. She explains to us the reason why we study Torah all night on the first night of Shavuos. She also shares with us why we eat dairy products of this holiday, and why we read the Book of Ruth in synagogue. Rebbetzin Fruma gives us the reason behind the custom of decorating our homes and synagogues with flowers in honor of this holiday. Hint: Shavuos is the day of judgement for the trees! Most importantly, Rebbetzin Fruma shares with us the importance and the relevance of Shavuos and Torah in our lives today. She emphasizes that after the giving of the Torah on Shavuos, the spiritual and the material converged into permanence; they were no longer separate entities. We have the power and the privilege of elevating every area of our material lives into the spiritual realm.

May 16, 202340:28
Rebbetzin Sara Oppenheim Explores the Depth of Passover (Pesach)

Rebbetzin Sara Oppenheim Explores the Depth of Passover (Pesach)

Rebbetzin Sara Oppenheim, along with her husband, Rabbi Chanoch Oppenheim, run the Charlotte Torah Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rebbetzin Sara deeply explores both the story of Passover, and its meaning and relevance in our lives today. She shares with us KEY elements that will help us in living our best life. She challenges us to recognize the we are not in control over most things in our life; G-d is ultimately in control. Once we recognize that, we can have a relationship with G-d and let Him into every area of our lives--then we will see how bright we will shine! Passover is not a commemoration of past events. Every year, on this holiday, we can tap into the energy from the original Passover, in order to free ourselves from our own personal Mitzrayim. When we have faith in Hashem (G-d), and trust in Him, we can attain personal freedom, and live a life of inner peace.

Mar 28, 202358:02
Rebbetzin Braha Bender--Discover the Secrets of Purim

Rebbetzin Braha Bender--Discover the Secrets of Purim

Kol Isha Warning--there is a moment in this video, toward the beginning, where Rebbetzin Braha Bender says a word in a sing-song type of voice. If you would like to avoid hearing the "singing," please start watching the video toward the middle.  

Rebbetzin Braha Bender is an excellent story teller. She shares with us the story of Purim, in richness and in depth. She talks about how G-d concealed his presence throughout the story, although He was really there, every step of the way, guiding the Jews to salvation.  

Rebbetzin Braha also talks about the way we fulfill the four mitzvot (commandments) of Purim: hearing the Megillah reading, giving mishloah manot (baskets of food and drink); matanot L'evyonim (giving money to the poor; and having a Purim seuda (the festive Purim meal.)

Feb 17, 202352:22
Rebbetzin Shayndel Plotkin--Celebrating Tu B'Shevat: the Birthday of the Trees

Rebbetzin Shayndel Plotkin--Celebrating Tu B'Shevat: the Birthday of the Trees

Rebbetzin Shayndel Plotkin is the Executive Director of Liumi West Retreat in South Florida. She is a also teacher, writer and facilitator of educational seminars, as well as a community farmer.    

In this meaningful interview, Shayndel talks about the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat. Celebrated on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Tu B'Shevat is the birthday of the trees. We can learn a lot about life from this holiday. One of the most important things we learn, is that time is sacred. Judaism marks milestones of time. There is a time to give and a time to receive. When we first plant a tree, we need to wait three years before we can eat from the fruit of the tree. Also, before we eat the fruit, we need to say a blessing so that we elevate the physical, and turn it into something spiritual. When we eat, we flourish.  

Shayndel also talks about the 7 species that we eat on Tu B' Shevat. These foods grow in the land of Israel: 

figs

olives

dates 

grapes

barley 

wheat 

pomegranates  


For more information on Liumi West, please visit: https://www.liumiisrael.com/upcoming-events

Jan 30, 202334:11
Miriam Campbell--Developing Emotional Regulation and Problem-Solving Skills to Help Kids and Parents

Miriam Campbell--Developing Emotional Regulation and Problem-Solving Skills to Help Kids and Parents

Miriam Campbell is a speech language pathologist and social worker. She is also the founder of Skills for Connection, through which she provides coaching courses for parents and professionals to support children in social-emotional skill development. Miriam is the author of Bubble Double, a book that focuses on building connection from a perspective of positive and playful empowerment.  

In this very informative and authentic interview, Miriam talks to us about how to develop social-emotional skills, emotional regulation, and problem solving skills in our children. She emphasizes that first we need to know who WE are as adults, as human beings. Once we acknowledge our own feelings (sad, angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, joyful, excited, happy, etc.) we can help our children identify with those feelings in themselves. We can help them develop a sense of self.   This interview is full of excellent information for both parents and teachers so that they can help kids learn practical skills for life in order for them to grow into happy, capable human beings who are able to be calm, emotionally regulated, problem solvers.  

If you know a parent who might be interested in becoming empowered with tools to nurture their child's social emotional development, here is the whatsapp link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GcEYGLBWmMW4pafgFlqvE2

Jan 25, 202336:36
Rebbetzin Manya Lazaroff--Parenting with Jewish Values (and No Guilt)

Rebbetzin Manya Lazaroff--Parenting with Jewish Values (and No Guilt)

Rebbetzin Manya Lazaroff is the co-director of the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.   

In this down-to-earth and very relatable interview, Rebbetzin Manya talks to us about parent-child relationships and how to interact with our children while understanding who they are, and respecting them as individuals. She emphasizes that each child came into the world with a specific purpose; each child has a Divinely ordained reason that they are here. We, as parents, need to help them be the best that they can be with the challenges, strengths, talents, and abilities they in particular, were given. If we accept that our kids and human, and that we are also human, and that we all make mistakes, we remove the need for guilt, and we are better able to think clearly. We can then help our children clearly identify their challenges, and help them come up with solutions. Rebbetzin Manya also said that we need to explain to our children the reasons behind things we value and deem important. Also, if they encounter something that doesn't feel right to them, they should question it--if one person doesn't know the answer, they should ask someone else. If something doesn't feel right to you, don't do it.

Jan 24, 202352:40
Gitty Stolik--Creating a Mindset of Joy

Gitty Stolik--Creating a Mindset of Joy

Gitty Stolik is an educator who helps challenged children. She is also the author of two books, "It's Okay to Laugh, Seriously" and "New Joy, Response to a Changing World."  

Gitty differentiates between joy and happiness. She emphasizes that joy is a G-dly attribute; it's the natural state of the soul. Joy is internally generated and has no ego. Happiness, goes up and down (it's not steady). Happiness is dependent on our situation; it depends on our circumstances and is self-centered.  Gitty speaks about how to create sustainable joy in our lives. Perspective and reframing are key, as is laughter.  Laughter connects us on a G-dly level.  

To be in touch with Gitty, or to participate in her classes, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 23, 202359:20
Rebbetzin Adina Landa--How to be the Calm, Confident Mom

Rebbetzin Adina Landa--How to be the Calm, Confident Mom

Rebbetzin Adina Landa is a certified life coach who specializes in helping moms go from stressed and overwhelmed to calm and confident.  

In this fun and informative interview, Rebbetzin Adina talks about what to do before, DURING, and after an incident when a child really triggers you to the point of rage.  She shares with us practical strategies about how we can work on ourselves by creating new positive mental highways and rewire our thinking as well as having compassion on ourselves.  

Rebbetzin Adina also discusses the importance of taking care of yourself and filling your tank so that you are fulfilled and living the life that YOU want to live. She emphasizes that we, as women, are doing the most important job in the world--being a mom; it's a job that only a woman can do. Rebbetzin Adina describes to us what taking care of yourself realistically looks like. (Hint: she talks about creating a Wellness Menu of things that you personally need to have in your life, in addition to food, drink, sleep, and exercise, in order to fulfill yourself so that you can give to others.)  

Rebbetzin Adina has a group coaching membership program: https://www.group.adinalanda.com/membership/  The program is called The Calm & Confident Chabad Mom Tribe, and ALL moms are welcome, because the truth is that we all deal with the same stuff!

Jan 18, 202337:27
Mindy Ribner--The Hebrew Month of Tevet is a Powerful Time to Manage Anger
Jan 18, 202351:44
Rivka Malka Perlman--Living Your Life with Purpose, Balance and Joy

Rivka Malka Perlman--Living Your Life with Purpose, Balance and Joy

Rivka Malka Perlman is a Transformation Life Coach. Her path was born through her own personal transformation that came as a result of a time in her life when she literally needed to decompose and become someone new. The pain that she experienced in her own life eventually led to her receiving the gifts that she always wanted, but fell short of. Those were the gifts of emunah, self love, boundaries, deep meaningful healthy friendships, forgiveness, an understanding of femininity, and a wellspring of joy.  It's these gifts that Rivka Malka shares and teaches in her work with hundreds of women all over the world.   

In this powerful and truly engaging interview, Rivka Malka talks to us about living our life mission. She also speaks to us about getting support from other women who can really "see" us for who we are, and who can reflect back to us our good qualities; women who have compassion for us. When we are able to get the support we need from other women, and also, when we are able to fill void in ourselves, we are able to be better wives to our husbands and mothers to our children. A woman's job is to be happy--when she is happy, that happiness spills over to her family and others around her, thereby uplifting everyone.  

Rivka Malka also tells us that balance is done over time. We can't juggle all the balls in one day. We need to be in the flow of what Hashem sends to us.  

Rivka Malka also talks to us about her Fun and Done Advanced Coaching and Business Training Program which helps coaches, teachers, and small business owners use the skills and knowledge that they already have, and market their skills to potential clients. This program will help people create their own website with personalized branding and logo. It also will give them the support that they need to get more clients.   

To sign up for the Fun and Done Business Course, please visit: https://rivkamalka.com/advanced-coaching-and-business-training-program/ 

To sign up for Transformation Life Coaching School, please visit: https://rivkamalka.com/ For more info, contact atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Jan 10, 202344:33
Lori Palatnik Talks about Moshiach

Lori Palatnik Talks about Moshiach

Lori Palatnik is a world-renowned Jewish educator, speaker, writer and media personality. She is also the Founding Director of Momentum (formerly known as the JWRP.)   

In this powerful interview, Lori talks about Moshiach, also known as the Messiah, the long-awaited Jewish leader who will usher in an era of world peace and    G-dly awareness. Moshiach is a human being that will be born into the world. We will all have unbelievable clarity when he comes. 

Lori talks about the two conditions under which Moshiach can come: 

1. The world is dark, confused and upside down; values of family and community are low.  

OR 

2. The Jewish people rise up and become a powerful light to the nations 

Lori emphasizes that love with a purpose will bring Moshiach. We must have Jewish unity. In order to have Jewish unity, we need to actually love each other. Lori shares three ways how we can learn to love a person: 

1. Focus on the virtues (good qualities) of the other person 

2. Live by the motto: "What is important to you is important to me." 

3. The more you give to a person, the more you love them  

For more information on the Momentum program, and the opportunity to join thousands of women on a life changing trip to Israel, please visit: https://momentumunlimited.org/

Jan 10, 202348:09
Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Marrus--Conquering Post-Partum Depression and Anxiety

Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Marrus--Conquering Post-Partum Depression and Anxiety

Rebbetzin Devorah Leah Marrus is the co-director of programming at Chabad of South Carolina. She is also a marriage, couples and family psychotherapist. 

In this engaging interview, Rebbetzin Devorah Leah emphasizes how important it is for a new mother to have support as she transitions into this new chapter of her life, whether it's her first child or her 6th child. She also tells us how important it is for a new mother to communicate with her husband before, during and after the pregnancy, so that they can build a stronger bond, making things easier, once the baby arrives. They should have clear goals on what roles the mother and the father will have--who will do the cleaning and cooking; who will get up with the baby each night; who will take care of the other kids while the mother is resting and recovering, etc. It's so important that a mother understands what her needs are so that she communicate those needs and asks for the right help and support.  

Rebbetzin Devorah Leah also outlined an interesting strategy to communicate with your husband. It's called the "Daily Temperature Reading." She clearly goes through each of the components that go on during this very effective type of communication.   

Rebbetzin Devorah Leah also talks about the symptoms of post-partum anxiety and depression, and whom to reach out to for help.  If you are struggling with post-partum depression or anxiety, please reach out for help to your doctor, friend, family, or member of the community. People want to help you.

Jan 04, 202340:03
Rebbetzin Chana Bilek--In-Laws, Friends and Colleagues: Effectively Managing Close Relationships

Rebbetzin Chana Bilek--In-Laws, Friends and Colleagues: Effectively Managing Close Relationships

Rebbetzin Chana Bilek is a Korean-American Orthodox Jewish woman who was born into poverty in South Korea, and was adopted as a young child. She is now a life coach, consultant, public speaker, and the wife of an Orthodox rabbi in Baltimore, Maryland!  

Chana shares with us some very practical strategies for effectively managing relationships with our friends, co-workers, in-laws, and extended family. She explains to us how we can set specific goals for our relationships and realistic expectations for achieving those goals. She also teaches us to respect our feelings--our feelings matter and they count. If we don't respect our feelings, we will end up feeling resentful and doing this out of resentment. Self-care is not selfish! Chana shows us how to say "no" with dignity.

Jan 02, 202344:51
Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz--Jews Are One Family; We Are All Responsible For Each Other

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz--Jews Are One Family; We Are All Responsible For Each Other

Rebbetzin Faigie Horowitz is a writer, advocate, non-profit veteran, and co-founder of JWOW!, Jewish Women of Wisdom, a community for Orthodox midlife women. Her message is clear and powerful: if you see another Jew in need, help them. Jews are soldiers in Hashem's (G-d's) army; we are responsible for taking care of each other.  

Rebbetzin Faigie talks about various ways that women can get involved in helping their community. She underscores that the main reason for extending yourself to help another Jew is because we are all a family, and we have a personal commitment to take care of our fellow Jews.

Dec 22, 202253:47
Rebbetzin Channy Lapine: The Basics of Keeping Kosher (And Yes, Vegan Cheeseburgers are Okay)

Rebbetzin Channy Lapine: The Basics of Keeping Kosher (And Yes, Vegan Cheeseburgers are Okay)

Rebbetzin Channy Lapine is the co-director of the Chabad Jewish Center of Missouri University and Mid-Missouri. She talks about the basics of keeping a kosher home, as well as the foods that we can and cannot eat. She also explains the fundamentals of Cholov Yisrael kosher dairy, as well as Glatt kosher meat. Rebbetzin Channy answers a listener's question about why it's not permissible to eat chicken parmesan (but a veggie cheeseburger or a Beyond Burger cheeseburger is totally find to eat.)

Dec 12, 202224:33
Rebbetzin Nechamy Simon: The Kabbalah of Hanukkah (Uncovering Secrets of this Miraculous Holiday)

Rebbetzin Nechamy Simon: The Kabbalah of Hanukkah (Uncovering Secrets of this Miraculous Holiday)

Rebbetzin Nechamy Simon is the co-director of the Teaneck Chabad House. She gives an amazing, in-depth interview about the kabbalistic aspects of the holiday of Hanukkah (Chanukah), including the dreidel, the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, and the darkness associated with this time of year.   

Concepts to remember: 

*Everything comes from Hashem--our periods of personal darkness and light are just facets of the greater picture. 

*Everything physical is a manifestation of something spiritual 

*Jews are here to be a light in the darkness--a light to other nations 

*We should take a moment each day just to experience the pleasure of simply being 

*Just as we light the Hanukkah candles incrementally, one at a time, so too we increase our personal growth one step at a time. We celebrate each little step.  The journey itself is part of the mission. 

*Our soul is like a ladder; we must focus on going up one rung at a time 

*Things in life don't get easier, but we get stronger 

*8 is the number of transcendence. We are above nature, and G-d can create miracles for us, even if we don't deserve them

Dec 12, 202245:23
Devorah Leah Andrusier Part 2: Overcoming Addictions in the Jewish Community

Devorah Leah Andrusier Part 2: Overcoming Addictions in the Jewish Community

Devorah Leah Andrusier is an addictions coach who helps people overcome their battle with all different types of addictions.  Devorah Leah tells us that for the addict, their addiction of choice (alcohol, drugs, sex, food, etc.) is the solution, not the problem. They are trying to numb themselves and escape their pain. Most addicts feel unseen; they have no one to lean on for support; they are wrestling with their pain alone.

So what can we do to help? Devorah Leah talks about the signs of addiction. She then emphasizes that if we have a loved one who is struggling, we should give them complete and unconditional love and acceptance--JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE AND ACCEPT SOMEONE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE APPROVE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.

Devorah Leah really gives us some great tools to use when building relationships with our family and friends so that we can prevent a possible addiction in the future, and also, so that we help them if they are currently struggling.  Devorah Leah also talks about the difference between guilt and shame, which many addicts have.

Devorah Leah suggests that if you have a loved one who is struggling with drug addiction to please consider carrying the nasal spray called Narcan. (She talks about it during the interview.) If you administer Narcan during the first 2-3 minutes that someone has an overdose, you can save their life.

The opposite of addiction is connection.

Dec 12, 202212:05
Devorah Leah Andrusier Part 1: Overcoming Addictions in the Jewish Community

Devorah Leah Andrusier Part 1: Overcoming Addictions in the Jewish Community

Devorah Leah Andrusier is an addictions coach who helps people overcome their battle with all different types of addictions.  Devorah Leah tells us that for the addict, their addiction of choice (alcohol, drugs, sex, food, etc.) is the solution, not the problem. They are trying to numb themselves and escape their pain. Most addicts feel unseen; they have no one to lean on for support; they are wrestling with their pain alone.   

So what can we do to help? Devorah Leah talks about the signs of addiction. She then emphasizes that if we have a loved one who is struggling, we should give them complete and unconditional love and acceptance--JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE AND ACCEPT SOMEONE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE APPROVE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR. 

Devorah Leah really gives us some great tools to use when building relationships with our family and friends so that we can prevent a possible addiction in the future, and also, so that we help them if they are currently struggling.  Devorah Leah also talks about the difference between guilt and shame, which many addicts have.  

Devorah Leah suggests that if you have a loved one who is struggling with drug addiction to please consider carrying the nasal spray called Narcan. (She talks about it during the interview.) If you administer Narcan during the first 2-3 minutes that someone has an overdose, you can save their life.  

The opposite of addiction is connection.

Dec 12, 202232:52
Rebbetzin Fraidy Gerlitzky-Creating a RelationSHIFT: Amazing Marriage Transformation!

Rebbetzin Fraidy Gerlitzky-Creating a RelationSHIFT: Amazing Marriage Transformation!

Rebbetzin Fraidy Gerlitzly and her husband, Rabbi Levi Gerlitzky, run the Chabad Jewish Center Big Island in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Rebbetzin Fraidy has trained with Sara Gita Soble to become a Relationshift coach in order to help women transform their relationships with their husbands, using the 13 Relationshift Principles that are based on genuine Torah sources.  

Rebbetzin Fraidy shared three of those principles with us:   

1. Receiving is made up of Space and Value--the man is the giver and the woman is the receiver. When a woman is open to receiving a man's thoughts and ideas, she creates a space for him to express himself (without jumping in, cutting him off, or yelling at him.) In addition, when a woman asks herself the value of what her husband contributes to their relationship, she can step back and truly see the good that he brings into the marriage. This helps her reframe him, and thereby reframe her perspective. What we look for, is what we find. When we perceive things differently, we act differently. 

2. I Choose the Third Way--Often, a man will have one idea of what to do, and a woman will have a different idea of what to do in a certain situation. Instead of the usual 50/50 compromise, Rebbetzin Fraidy explains to us how opening space for a third way helps both the woman and the man to open up opportunities for another solution that works for them both.  

3. I Choose to Trust the Connection--Trusting the connection strengthens the connection. Rebbetzin Fraidy talks about how women can tap into the connection between them and their husband that is always available.  

To learn more about Relationshift, or to hire a Relationshift coach, visit https://www.createrelationshift.com/

Dec 07, 202245:42