America's Top Rebbetzins: Recent Episodes
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.
You have the ability to create the reality that you have always wanted! You can do this by creating awareness of your thoughts and the emotions and feelings those thoughts bring. If your thoughts don't reflect your true desires, and who you really are deep inside, you have the power to change those thoughts. Chana Mason gives you step by step instructions about how to create awareness of your thoughts and how to actually change your thinking pattern. This new thought pattern will evoke new, positive emotions and behavior to go along with those positive emotions. Those positive emotions will help to attract and manifest the things/people/situations that you want in your life.In this eye-opening interview, Chana teaches us about the power of breathwork to release past trauma and stored emotions. She also speaks in-depth about conscious meditation and how this practice can help us move forward in our lives, clearing trauma and helping us to become more focused as we grow into the person who we want to become.Chana Mason has dedicated the past two years of her life to all things personal growth oriented. She is a breathwork coach. Chana helps people use the quiet of their breath to attune to the rise and fall of their emotions, hold their emotions with compassion, and rekindle a love for themselves, for life, and for others.For more information, contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
Our kids have all types of feelings and emotions, and they may not yet know how to process those feelings and regulate their emotions. This can result in temper tantrums, yelling, crying, stealing, and expressing a wide array of behaviors that tend to drive us crazy as parents. So what is our children's bad behavior REALLY trying to tell us? When kids act out, they are telling us that they have deep and strong emotions. They need to be heard; they need to have their feelings acknowledged and validated. They need us, as parents, to remain calm and in control, because when we are calm and in control, we make them feel safe. We need to be present for our children in a loving way, even when we set boundaries for them. We can let them know that they are not able to do something, while at the same time showing then compassion and empathy. Emunah Steier, a psychiatrist, therapist, and mother of 3, who is passionate about family communication, shares the following tips for parents:1. We need to cultivate our consciousness that our kids are innately good; they are precious, holy souls that were hand picked specifically for us to parent. We don't always know what is going on inside of them that causes them to behave a certain way, and we need to connect with them to open a dialogue so that they can share their thoughts and feelings with us.2. We need to let our children know that ALL feelings are ok. Certain behaviors are not ok, but all feelings are acceptable.3. When our children do something to trigger us, we need to realize that it's not really them who is triggering us; it's something that already exists within us that is being triggered. We then need to take some time to sit with ourselves and explore what it is inside of us that we need to address and heal.Throughout our conversation, Emunah shares many examples and relatable personal stories that show how we can address "bad" behavior with our good kids, while judging them favorably.For further information, please email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
How do we guide our older teens as they transition into adulthood? What is our job as parents? What role do we play in the lives of our teens?Parenting coach and parenting workshop facilitator, Miriam Leibowtiz, answers these questions as she guides us in our parenting journey. The job of a parent is to help our children develop into the person that he or she was created to be, even if who they are is different from the way we would have wanted them to be. As children grow into teenagers and young adults, parents shift from the role of caretaker to the role of guide. When parents treat their teens with warmth, give them unconditional love, and set boundaries for them, without imposing their will on their child, they are giving that child the space to figure out who they really are. Often, when we try to impose our will on our teens, they will have a counter will to resist what we tell them to do. We need to actively listen to them, allow them to express their feelings, validate their feels, and accept them for who they are--even if they are different from us.As parents, we need to mourn and let go of the preconceived notions we had that our children were going to be a certain way. We need to feel our pain, and then to let go of it. We also need to have compassion on ourselves for the pain that we have gone through in our childhood. When we have empathy for ourselves, we will be able to be open to how our teens are feeling, and have empathy for them. This will help us have a soft heart and relate to our teens with love, which will foster connection. Miriam explains the above concepts in beautiful detail.Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
Whether you are a Jew living in Israel, Los Angeles, New York, or Mexico City, we are all part of one national collective soul. We are one family; one nation; one people. We are connected on an intrinsic, cellular level. Miriam Tawil, founder and director of Midreshet Eshel, a Sephardic seminary in Eretz Israel, shares with us about the connection between Israeli Jews and Jews who live outside of Israel (diaspora Jews.) She reminds us that Jews are actually supposed to live in Israel. We were exiled from the Holy Land as a punishment, but the ultimate goal is for all Jews, from everywhere in the world, to come together to live in Israel. For those Jews who are thinking about making aliyah, Miriam encourages them to know their Why. Why do you want to come to Israel? Knowing your why gets you through the How. Miriam says that there is something very special that binds together each and every Jew, no matter where they live. She also shares stories of Jews from various backgrounds (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, liberal, conservative, etc.) who come together to help each other. Jews give to other Jews, even if they don't know each other. There is something in the DNA of the Jewish people that enables them to be one big family. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
The cruelest yetzer hara of our generation is that voice of "being hard on ourselves." Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT our own internal voice speaking negatively to us. Rather, it's our yetzer hara trying to get the best of us by putting us down. It's actually the voice of the yetzer hara (not our own internal voice) that is wreaking havoc on us by telling us that we are not good enough, in a variety of ways....we are too fat, lazy, our house is a mess, etc.Nili Salem, a Torah teacher and a certified narrative therapist, shares with us some strategies to overcome this barrage of negativity. One tip she taught us was to:#1. Identify a person who you love, admire, or care for.#2. Imagine that the person your identified is going through exactly what you are going through and feeling exactly the way that you do. Think about what you would say to that person, and how you would say it (wording/tone of voice.)#3. Most likely, you would speak in a compassionate way to that person. If so, speak to yourself in that same compassionate way. If you don't imagine yourself speaking to that person in a compassionate way, then do NOT speak to yourself in the demeaning way that you imagined yourself speaking to that other person.Also, Nili reminded us that G-d is kind; everything about G-d is kind. So, if you hear a voice speaking to you in your head, and it's not kind, then it is NOT G-d. If it's not G-d, don't listen to it.For further info, please email atrebetzins@gmail.com
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
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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
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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
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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/1614659370This is the kids version of the book, called, Solution Champs:https://www.amazon.com/Solution-Champs-Miriam-Adahan/dp/1614658099Dr. 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
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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/zambiaContact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.orgContact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.GROWG: 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
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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.
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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 place2. Think about the situation that is bothering you, and notice where there is a sensation in your body3. Stay focused on that sensation. Follow the sensation wherever it moves in your body4. 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 place2. Think of the emotion or the situation that is bothering you3. 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.comFor more information on Chany's programs and coaching, visit: www.chanyfelberbaum.com
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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 youStep 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 heartWhen 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.
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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
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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.
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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.comShe also wrote a blog earlier on in Sarena's journey. If you would like to read about her story, please visit www.talismidnightmusings.com
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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. Gratitude2. Self-reflection3. RequestSunny 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
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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
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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.comThere 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: +1-917-748-8032In 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/4ayuHzyhiQ8Date: Sunday-ThursdayTime: 8:30pm Israel | 1:30pm NYSame time and link every nightJoin the Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7340551834Download the app in preparation: qrco.de/bbD92tABRAHAM’S LEGACY is an app that allows ppl around the world to complete the entire Tehillim within moments!Tehillim Warriors Projecthttps://youtu.be/rcNJPY9oYsIJoin 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
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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)
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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.
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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/
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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!
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Mindy Ribner is an international pioneer in the field of Jewish meditation. She has led spiritual workshops for over 40 years. Mindy is the author of six books, as well as a spiritual psychotherapist for individuals and couples. Each Hebrew month has its own Divine energy. In this interview, Mindy talks about the spiritual energies of the Hebrew month of Tevet. The month of Tevet offers unique spiritual opportunities to heal yourself of anger and jealousy. It's a time when we can really purify ourselves of negative emotions. Mindy shares some strategies to help people learn to love and accept themselves so that they can love and accept others. She also speaks about not taking things personally; someone else's actions are a reflection of them, not a reflection of you.
Mindy talks about Biblical women and the challenges that they faced, and how those challenges are similar to the ones that women face today.
Mindy also speaks about Jewish meditation and getting in touch with your higher self. For more information about Mindy, please visit www.melindaribner.com
Some of Mindy's Jewish meditations can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCnM73qROqdfIopJu5Dp1XVg
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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
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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:
- The world is dark, confused and upside down; values of family and community are low.
OR
- 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:
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Focus on the virtues (good qualities) of the other person
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Live by the motto: "What is important to you is important to me."
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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/
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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/
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Rivkie Kahn is the Director of Outreach for Brooklyn NCSY. She is also a hashgafa instructor for Project Makom; a bridal, marriage, and mikvah educator for My Gift of Mikvah; and she also trains and mentors kallah teachers from across North America, Britain, Israel and Australia.
In this authentic interview, Rivkie shares with us her meaningful journey, from not knowing what Passover was until she was a young adult to giving soulful lectures to Jews who had grown up Orthodox and were questioning their Jewish identity! Rivkie's story is very real, and it includes challenges, interactions with people who would go on to change the trajectory of her life, and powerful self-reflection about how far she has come, so far, in her journey.
To reach Rivkie, please email her at kahnr@ncsy.org
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Rebbetzin Debbie Greenblatt is a popular lecturer, columnist and coach on a wide range of topics, including Jewish thought, marriage and relationships. She is also the founder of the Women's Division of the Gateways kiruv organization, as well as the educational director of a mentorship program through Core.
In this deep and powerful interview, Rebbetzin Debbie talks about developing the character trait of ayin tov--a good eye. She tells us that the soul is drawn to the positive, and the body is drawn to the negative. In order to combat that negative pull, we have to cultivate a positivity bias to judge others favorably, and to see our circumstances in life in a positive light.
It's important to note that eyes take in, and also, eyes transmit. It is possible to transmit a tremendously positive effect on a person or a situation, by seeing it through the perspective of a "good eye." Rebbetzin Debbie illustrates this point by telling a true story, involving Bibi Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. Having an ayin tov does not refer to the strength of our sight; it refers to the generosity of our vision.
Goodness is hidden beneath the surface, and you need to dig deeply to find it.
Powerful interview!!
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Miryam Swerdlov is the wise Jewish woman behind the inspirational and meaningful "Coffee with Miryam" videos and What's App messages.
In this very real, engaging and funny interview, Miryam talks to us about how to believe in ourselves and how to pursue the life path and mission that was meant uniquely for us. She warns us not to try to be somebody else--it's important that we be ourselves because there is no one in the world who can fulfil the mission that was given specifically to us!
Miryam also encourages us to reach out to other people and connect with them. You never know how much a phone call or a visit means to someone. You can make a huge difference in a person's life, just by extending yourself to include them.
Be real! Use what you have--your strengths, your abilities, your talents--in order to be the best you possible. Live your life to the fullest!
To watch "Coffee with Miryam," click on the link below: http://www.coffeewithmiryam.com/
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Rebbetzin Chana Deutsch, a member of the World Mizrachi Speakers Bureau, is a relationships expert and mentor. She specializes in helping women foster the connection, intimacy and love that they desire in a relationship.
In this funny and engaging interview, Rebbetzin Chana shows women how to step into their authentic selves. Our husbands want to love us for who we are. We are the most beautiful, attractive and sexy when we are real. When we give ourselves the permission to be ourselves, we are able to give ourselves exactly what we need, instead of waiting for our husband to give it to us, and end up disappointed and filled with resentment.
Rebbetzin Chana emphasizes that communication is integral to marriage. In order to have strong communication between a couple, we must create a sense of safety so that our husband will feel comfortable talking to us. We need to listen to our husband without rejecting him or his thoughts. If something is important to him, make it important to you because you love him. This creates a safe space for him to share his thoughts and feelings with you.
Also, Rebbetzin Chana reminds us that "different doesn't mean wrong." The way your husband does things may be different from the way you do them, but it doesn't mean that it's the wrong way. When we accept our husband for who he is, and show him respect through acceptance, we open up the opportunity for him to come closer to us. Above all, remember to embrace yourself as a woman. You are enough!
For more information about Rebbetzin Chana's coaching, and to listen to her podcast, please visit: https://absolutelyfeminine.com/
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Vivian Perez teaches classes in Tanya and the Torah portion of the week (both in English and Spanish) in Bal Harbour, Florida. The Tanya is a holy book, written by the founder of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. The Tanya explains the essence of the Jewish soul, as well as the mechanics of creation, the infinite quality of G-d, and the structure of the human personality.
Every Jew has two souls--a Nefesh Behamit, the animal soul, and the Nefesh Elokit, the G-dly soul. The G-dly soul is constantly pulling us up to do the right thing, to be kind, to elevate ourselves, and the animal soul pulls us downward to satisfy our bodily cravings. The two souls are in a constant battle inside our own bodies. Vivian teaches us that in order to overcome our animal soul, we need to understand where everything in our life is coming from--Hashem (G-d.) Nothing happens to us that we are not meant to experience. There is a mirror from the spiritual world into the physical world.
The circumstances and situations that manifest in our physical world (the things that happen to us) are a direct reflection of what is happening to our soul in the spiritual realm. When we are faced with a particular challenge, the way we handle that challenge depends on WHO WE ARE. There is no cookie cutter answer for everyone. Vivian explains this concept in depth and it is phenomenal and mind-blowing. Completely life changing!
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Rebbetzin Shterna Althaus is lives in Sydney, Australia, where she teaches bridal classes, marital and intimacy classes, parenting groups, and bat mitzvah lessons. She also has a podcast called Soul Cafe, which talks about the weekly Torah Portion. Rebbetzin Shterna is a certified counsellor, psychotherapist and life coach who helps many people around the world.
In this engaging interview, Rebbetzin Shterna speaks about shalom bayis (peace in the home), explaining that peace is the harmony of two opposites. When a husband and wife have peace with each other, they bring many blessings into the home, including an abundance of money. Peace is the vessel that holds G-d's blessings. It is very important to pray for peace in your marriage. She shares with us several concrete tips on how to achieve peace and harmony with your spouse. Some of these tips include:
--Speak gently to your spouse
--Look at your spouse with a positive eye: focus on all the good they have done for you
--Greet your spouse in a friendly way when they leave and when they enter your home
--Use the 5:1 magic ratio--tell your spouse 5 positives messages to every 1 negative message
Rebbetzin Shterna also talks to us about building a relationship with your teenagers. She encourages women to connect to your teen (and your spouse) through the 5 Love Languages:
--Acts of Service
--Gifts
--Quality Time
--Words of Affirmation
--Physical Touch Discover your teen's love language (and your spouse's love language) and give them love in the way that THEY prefer to receive it . It will make a HUGE difference in your relationship with your teen, as well as your spouse, by helping you build a lasting connection with them.
To reach Rebbetzin Shterna directly, email her at althaus613@gmail.com
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Rebbetzin Chaya Teldon is the Director of Major Events for Chabad of Long Island. She shares her story of losing her son at the age of 13, after his bar mitzvah. Rebbetzin Chaya speaks about the Jewish way of grieving and mourning. She explains that men handle grief differently from women. Her insights into the way the world runs and the journey of the soul are amazing. In this interview, Rebbetzin Chaya speaks about the Jewish way of burial versus cremation. She also talks about the role that the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) plays in the preparation of a body for burial.
Our takeaway message from this conversation is that G-d never makes mistakes. He always has a plan. Everything is predestined for us EXCEPT for the way we conduct ourselves. We need to have a positivity bias--always looking at things in a positive way. We also need to treat people with kindness. By living in this way, we elevate ourselves and those around us.
Rebbetzin Chaya's husband, Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, wrote a book about living your purpose, that was inspired by the grief he felt after losing his son. The book is called Eight Paths of Purpose, and can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Paths-Purpose-Tuvia-Teldon/dp/1977215807
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Rebbetzin Gila Ross is a certified parent educator who blends the latest research together with Jewish wisdom to help parents develop strong relationships and bring out the best in their teens! In this engaging interview, Rebbetzin Gila offers practical answers to tough parenting questions. She addresses what to do when teens show chutzpah or are non-compliant. She talks about communicating with your kids and how to develop relationships with them. By developing a strong relationship with our teens through engaging them in conversation at times that work for THEM, we create a safe and easy forum for teens to open up to us. Rebbetzin Gila speaks about what to do when your teen engages in risky behavior. We are given amazing strategies to deal with our teens' emotional outbursts and chaotic inner turmoil. We need to recognize our own emotions and regulate them so that we can model proper behavior to our children. We also need to show them how to set boundaries by setting our own boundaries and protecting them. Lots of amazing and helpful information in this interview!
To contact Rebbetzin Gila Ross directly, please email her at gilaross@gmail.com
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Sarah Karmely is a world-renown educator, counselor, and author. Her expertise is in the field of family purity, relationships, love and marriage. She emphasizes traditional Jewish marriage and family ideals. Sarah answers some really tough questions about marriage, in this interview. She talks about what to do if you are married to a controlling person. She also addresses the issue of mismatched sex drives. Overall, Sarah emphasizes that shalom bayis (peace in the home) brings all the blessings--money, health and happiness. She talks about treating your husband with respect, what that looks like, and how to achieve it.
To contact Sarah Karmely directly, email her at: sarahkarmely@aol.com
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Dr. Chavi Goldberg, founder of CyberSem (https://cybersem.com/) passionately discusses the significance that Jewish learning has in a woman's life. Just like doctors, lawyers, electricians, and other workers need to take courses and classes to keep up to date on the skills in their field, Jewish women need to do the same. When we learn Torah, it's not just an intellectual pursuit. We learn the skills that we need to run our homes, be good wives, good mothers, good friends, and good Jews. We need to keep current on how Judaism affects our lives now--this applies to any age. CyberSem offers accredited courses, as well as independent study courses on a variety of Jewish topics. With the flexibility of online learning, women can learn at their own pace and at their own convenience. To contact Chavi directly, please email her at cgoldberg@machontemima.org.
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Rebbetzin Sarah Feldbrand talks about the importance of personal growth through working on your middos (character traits.) She emphasizes that we can't control what happens to us, but we can control our reactions. We can control our anger; we can increase our patience; we can deepen our bitachon (trust in G-d.) The first thing we need to to is to observe ourselves and notice our triggers. Then we need to dig down to the root and discover why we were triggered. We then need to figure out what would prevent us from being triggered. Most importantly, we need to remind ourselves that Hashem is in charge! We need to communicate with G-d all day long, asking him for Divine assistance to help us with our personal growth. Character traits that we must remove from ourselves as soon as possible: Anger and Arrogance. The supreme (best) character trait: Humility. To ask Rebbetzin Sarah for guidance in your personal matters, please email her directly at ask.the.rebetzin@gmail.com
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Rabbanit Batya Ivry-Friedman talks about the important role that Jewish women have in sharing their own unique gifts in order to bring a community together. She emphasizes that there is so much beauty in the diversity of the Jewish community because we all have something to contribute that will help others. We were all given our personal strengths from G-d, and as Jewish women, we have the power to be leaders by using those gifts to commit ourselves to fulfilling the needs of our community. Now, more than ever, Jewish women have a variety of platforms, like social media, podcasts, and roles of leadership in their community, where they can really and truly elevate the mundane and make it holy.
Rabbanit Batya also talks about how her mother inspired a love of Judaism in her and her siblings because she always had G-d in her life. She set a beautiful example of doing chesed in her community--whenever someone needed help, they would call her, and she would be there to offer what she could to help them. In this way, Rabbanit Batya's mother embodied a love for G-d and Torah, and passed that example on to her children.
Rabbanit Bayta mentioned the Kosher Food Expo that she is putting together, which will be taking place at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood, NJ on Monday, November 7, 2022. For more information, please visit: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fooexp202/event/856327/
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Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org, the author of six books, and a speaker for My Gift of Mikvah. Chana offers an engaging, in-depth perspective of the mitzvah of mikvah. It's not just a physical immersion in a body of water; going to the mikvah is a spiritual action that has the power to significantly enhance your relationship with your husband, help you develop a closer connection to G-d, and bring you closer to achieving your purpose in life.
Also, if you are having difficulty getting pregnant, going to the mikvah can help unclog spiritual blockages that have led to the challenge of physically manifesting a baby.
Chana also talks about how it's never to late to go to the mikvah--even if you are in menopause! Going to the mikvah at whatever point you are in your life (whether you still get your period, or if you are in menopause), has the power to retroactively turn your past sins into mitzvot!! Chana explains that you can turn all those times you didn't fulfil your obligation to go to the mikvah into mitzvahs (instead of sins) just by going to the mikvah at the proper time in the near future! If you have any questions about mikvah, please email me, and I will connect you with someone who will be able to answer even the most intimate questions.
My email is atrebbetzins@gmail.com.
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Chaya Mink-Benchemhoun hosts incredible Torah classes on Zoom every Wednesday evening. (If you miss a class, she sends out a recording.) Her classes are truly inspiring! For more information about Chaya's classes, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com, and I will connect you with Chaya.
In this interview, Chaya shares with us incredible stories of inspiration and acts of kindness that go beyond. In one true story that she shared, Chaya relates a time when a friend of hers who did not observe shabbat, decided to keep shabbat fully just one time, and as a result, a sick man in the hospital recovered and was able to go home! We don't always know the effects our actions have on others.
Chaya also shared another story about how she sent food to a friend, just out of kindness, not realizing that her friend didn't know how she would feed her kids that day! Our actions have direct reactions.
If you are presented with an opportunity to do a mitzvah or an act of kindness for someone, seize the opportunity! Our mitzvahs have the power to protect us.
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Rebbetzin Chanie Fogelman, the co-director of Central Mass Chabad, in Worcester, Massachusetts, gives an in-depth explanation of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. She also explains the connection between all the fall Jewish holidays, from Rosh Hashahna to Yom Kippur, all the way through to Simchat Torah. We begin the fall holidays with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, which is the day where we crown G-d as King of the world, and receive a judgement for what our life will hold for us during the upcoming year. Rebbetzin Chanie then explains that between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are the Days of Awe where we have an opportunity to repent for our sins and apologize to those whom we have hurt. On Yom Kippur, our judgements from Rosh Hashana are sealed. Rebbetzin Chanie explains that on Yom Kippur, Moshe received the second set of tablet on which the 10 commandments were written. This second giving of the 10 commandments is a symbol that the connection between a Jew and G-d is unbreakable, no matter what a person has done. (The first set of 10 commandments were brought down by Moshe on the holiday of Shavuot. However, when Moshe saw Jewish worshiping the Golden Calf, he smashed the stone tablets on which the 10 commandments were written, and broke them. Therefore, he needed to get a second set from G-d. It's this second set of 10 commandments, which were not broken, that Moshe gave to the Jewish people on Yom Kippur.) Right after Yom Kippur, we celebrate a holiday called Sukkot. We go out of our secure homes and eat (and sometimes sleep) in a flimsy hut called a Sukkah, which is built outside. The walls of the Sukkah are like the arms of a person, enveloping you in a hug and holding you close. This symbolizes G-d's closeness and love for each and every Jew, no matter where they are in their level of observance. On Sukkot, we shake 4 species. Each specie represents a different type of Jew--all of whom are beloved by G-d. The etrog symbolizes the person who learns Torah and keep the mitzvot (commandments.) The lulav symbolizes the person who learns Torah, but doesn't keep most of the mitzvot. The hadassim symbolize the person who keeps the mitzvot, but who doesn't learn Torah. The aravot symbolize the person who doesn't learn Torah and doesn't keep the mitzvot. All the species are shaken together and represent the fact that all Jews are needed, and we all complete each other. The eighth day of Sukkot is a holiday called Shemini Atzeret. The number 8 is above nature, and symbolizes that G-d's love for us is above anything that any of us do; no matter what, G-d loves us unconditionally. The bond between a Jew and G-d is unbreakable. On Shemini Atzeret, G-d stays close to us for one more day, giving us strength for the entire year! The day after Shemini Atzeret is Simchat Torah. On this day, we finish reading the entire Torah, and we dance around happily with the Torah. The Torah scroll is closed when we are dancing to symbolize that any Jew, whether they are well-versed in Torah or not, is invited to partake in the holiday because they are beloved by G-d.
For those of you who speak Hebrew, the following website features the Rebbetzin's dear brother who passed away, sharing the Lubavitcher Rebbe's teachings on Sukkot: https://www.youtube.com/user/ponipoy
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Rebbetzin Brynie Stiefel of Chabad of Voronezh, Russia, talks about the real meaning behind the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the holiday of atonement for our mistakes. On Yom Kippur, we focus on our soul, not our body. Rebbetzin Brynie also discusses forgiveness of ourselves and others. She delves into the 4-step process of teshuva, returning our soul to its original state of holiness and purity:
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Confession--say out loud what you did wrong
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Feel sincere and true regret about what you did wrong
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Commit to not making that same mistake again--action step
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Give extra tzedakah (charity) to atone for the mistake
Rebbetzin Brynie also talks about the connection between Yom Kippur and Purim, highlighting that our goal in this world is to take the physical and elevate it to the spiritual.
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Chany Rosengarten talks about the importance of creating boundaries in our lives in order to have healthy relationships with our husbands and children, and also in business. You need to know where you stop and where the other person begins. You are you; you are not your child, or your husband, or your friend, or your boss; YOU ARE YOU. You need to discover yourself; get to know yourself and who you are. Having boundaries helps you develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-respect. These are Chany's 4 Steps to Creating a Boundary: L--love--you are a manifestation of love. You are enough. A--autonomy--know who you are and what you want. N--negotiation--ask for what you need. It's your job to take care of yourself. D--direction--know where you want to go and what that destination looks like. For more information of Chany Rosengarten and the courses she offers, visit her website: https://gitty-chany-s-school.thinkific.com/
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Rebbetzin Ivy Kalazan talks about how Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year) is a time for planting the seeds of our intentions for the coming year. Rosh Hashana is not about the past; it's about the future. When we have our mind focused on positivity and our intentions, that energy flows from our head (our thoughts) to the rest of the body, and is manifested in our speech and our actions. Rosh Hashana is a day of possibility. In order for our Rosh Hashana resolutions (intentions) to really last through the whole year, we much take one small action step that is concrete. Once we are consistent with our actions, they become new habits, and we slowly change, grow, and become more elevated human beings.
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Rebbetzin Margie Szerer talks about the two souls that are present inside of each Jew; the animal soul and the G-dly soul. The two souls are always fighting inside of us. The animal soul pulls us down toward our most basic needs, and our G-dly soul yearns to connect to Hashem. When we are connected to our G-dly soul, we are able to be in a state of emunah (faith in Hashem) and bitachon (trust in Hashem.) Hashem is with us at all times. He often disguises himself in nature. Those who live in the "natural" world live by the forces of nature (weather, stock market, normal explanations for everyday occurrences). People who live with the infinite reality of Hashem are able to see His hand in everyday situations (like the sunrise, a sick child getting healthy, receiving unexpected money.) They know that Hashem is with us all the time everywhere. When we bypass the natural world and are able to see Hashem in our everyday lives, we train ourselves to live in closeness with Him. The greater our bond to Hashem, the greater our trust (bitachon) in Him.
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Rebbetzin Sarah Barash is the co-founder of the Chabad Jewish Center of Jupiter, Florida. She talks about getting in touch with your inner essence; your divine soul. When we say Modah Ani in the morning, we start off the day by getting in touch with our soul and thanking Hashem for returning our soul to us. Hashem has infinite compassion for us as He wakes us up in the morning. It is part of our mission in life to expand our soul and spread that compassion to others. When we connect to Hashem through prayer and mitzvot, we shed light on the darkness and reveal Hashem's essence, thereby fulfilling our soul mission. That is deep!!!
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Rebbetzin Gail Michalowicz is the rebbetzin of the Westmount Shul and Learning Center in the Thornhill Jewish Community of Toronto. She talks to us about the astounding parallels between exercise and Torah. Just like we have a personal trainer at the gym to help us workout our bodies, Hashem is the personal trainer of our soul. Just like the trainer at the gym starts us off using lighter weights and fewer exercise repetitions, Hashem starts us off with small challenges until our spiritual muscles strengthen and then He gives us harder challenges to make us stronger internally. Rebbetzin Gail emphasizes that we need to have a healthy body so that our soul can do its job.
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Devorah Sisso is an internationally acclaimed Torah educator, motivational speaker and life coach. She is also a single, divorced mom with two kids. Listen to what she has to say about divorce--preventing it, and when you can't prevent it, listen to what she has to say about mourning your loss and then reclaiming yourself. Devorah talks about others being a mirror for ourselves. She also talks about a woman's very serious need to fill her own cup and to be there for herself. Don't stay in your pit! If you don't see yourself, no one will see you!
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Rebbetzin Miriam Yerushalmi gives a powerful interview about Cognitive Behavioral Torah Therapy, which is an innovative technique that helps people change their destructive thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior and emotions. This type of therapy has helped people overcome anxiety and depression. Rebbetzin Miriam talks about the four elements that we are made of: water, fire, air, and earth, and how they effect us. She talks about the proper way to eat and the way that food affects our neshama (soul). She also discusses how discusses the following essential things that all people need to stay healthy: strengthen spirituality, strengthen brain function, and pay attention to what and how much we eat. For more information on Rebbetzin Miriam, her books and Cognitive Behavioral Torah Therapy, please visit: https://yournewheights.com/
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Raquel Kirszenbaum helps us redefine our definition of happiness. It's NOT comfort=pleasure=happiness; it's happiness=acceptance. It's through acceptance of our challenges that we grow. Raquel emphasizes that we are sometimes upset because G-d doesn't give us what we want. In that instance, we are saying to G-d: "If I were G-d, I would do things differently. He should do what I think is right." However, this is not the case, and that type of thinking doesn't bring us happiness. We must strengthen our emuna to understand that G-d doesn't always give us what we want, but he does always give us what we need. It is really He who knows better than us what we really and truly need because He is the one who sees the big picture. We need to fully trust G-d.
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This interview has so much wisdom! Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka is the leading teacher of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's wisdom for women in North America. She has written several books, including May You Have a Day: Making Every Day Better with the Teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and also Mashiach: Hope for Turbulent Times. Chaya Rivka tells us that in order to have healthy relationships, we have to project the positive. We have to train ourselves to think about the positive in others, AS WELL AS the positive within ourselves. The secret to having healthy and fulfilling relationships is to focus on changing our thoughts and perspectives. We need to do hitbodedut (personal prayer to Hashem in our own words). The same Hashem that gives us the problem, also gives us the solution. We need to focus on the good in the person, while at the same time asking for Hashem's help through prayer.
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Danit Schusterman was a Chabad Emissary in Maui, Hawaii before moving to New York. She is the author of "A Jewish Homeschool Blog" and the Maui Kosher cookbook. In this authentic interview, Danit shares with us the power of "action-oriented" love. She explains to us that in order to develop a good relationship with your child, it has to be based on connection and trust. As parents (and teachers), we need to connect with our children where they are. Get to know your children (or students). Figure out what they like to do and what they are good at doing. Then, actively support them in that interest, EVEN IF YOU don't share that same interest. True love is doing for a person what makes THEM happy, not necessarily what makes you happy. When you create a bond with people through connection, you end up on the same team. Once you are on the same team, the power struggles decrease because your kids (and students) know that you love them and care about them for WHO THEY ARE, and that your love for them is unconditional. That is how they thrive, and that is how healthy family (and classroom) dynamics are created.
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Rebbetzin Yael Kaisman explains to us how to achieve our true greatness; it's based on internal success, not external success. Hashem gives us "gifts" in life. Those "gifts" include our talents, abilities, skills, and financial circumstances, as well as our situation in life (both good and seemingly bad.) The way we use those "gifts" to develop our internal strength and to refine our personality traits and characteristics is what defines our true success. People praise us and applaud us for achieving external success, but no one but ourselves and Hashem sees our internal success. At the end of our life, we will ultimately be judged by our internal success and all the hard work and effort we put into developing who we are as people. Hashem is in control of everything. We have no control over our external success, but we do have control over our internal success, and internal success is forever!
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Rebbetzin Miriam Lipskier is the co-founder and Director of the Chabad Student Center at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. In this powerful interview, she teaches us that while previous generations of Jews had to deal with outside forces persecuting them (enslavement in Egypt, Spanish Inquisition, pograms, Holocaust, etc.), our generation is battling our own personal darkness that is within us. The work of our generation is to transform chaos into light. We need to work on getting rid of our depression and anxiety through revealing Hashem's light in this world, specifically by revealing Hashem's light within ourselves. We each have a mission and a purpose in the world. A large part of our mission is to refine our character traits by bringing Hashem into the picture. Rebbetzin Miriam emphasizes that each one of us is worthy exactly because a piece of G-d is inside of us; the light of G-d has infinite value inside of us. Moshiach now!
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Empower yourself!
Rebbetzin Shterna Ginsberg is the co-founder, along with her husband, of Mosdos Chinuch Gan Yisroel, where she has served as an educator since 1998. In 2012, Rebbetzin Shterna founded Energized Living https://www.energizedliving.org/ Rebbetzin Shterna shares with us some of the life changing principles from her book, Your Awesome Self. She reminds us that there is really only one operative truth in this world, and that is Hashem. Rebbetzin Shterna gives us practical tools for how we can stop listening to that voice of shame inside of our head, telling us that we are not good enough, and instead, start tuning into our authentic truth--each one of us is a holy neshama; a divine spark of Hashem. No one is better than us, and we are not better than anyone else. In this podcast, we learn how to develop a true sense of self and to see how that sense of self is connected directly to Hashem. Learn how to let your authentic self shine and empower yourself!
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Rebbetzin Chanie Goldman is the co-director of the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She shares her special journey as the Chabad rebbetzin on a college campus, as well as the mother of a child with Downs Syndrome. The life lessons she shares with us are meaningful and deep. She tells us that all Jews are one soul and that soul is part of Hashem. Our true essence is Hashem. We need to really work on looking at each other as neshamas, instead of focusing on our outside characteristics. Each soul is inherently valuable, not because of what it contributes, but because it is a part of G-d...we are innately holy. Regarding our own personal struggles, we need to know: It's not GOING to be good, it's ALREADY good!
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Rebbetzin Toby Bernstein is the co-founder of the Chabad Romano Center in Richmond Hill, Canada. She shares some interesting insights about how we can encourage Jews to become more interested in fulfilling the mitzvot, and what we can do to help our family and friends become more engaged in Yidishkeit.
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Rebbetzin Tamar Taback is the founder of the Nexus School for Transformational Torah. In this conversation, she delves deeply into the meaning of the 22-verse poem known as the Ayshet Chayil. She shares with us that you are ALREADY an aishet chayil. Hashem made each one of us unique and innately precious to Him. We need to give ourselves permission to be ourselves. Rebbetzin Taback talks about the 4 levels of interpretation of this poem that is sung to a woman, by her husband, on Friday night before kiddush (blessing over the wine.) She also gives us three way to help us rise more deeply into our own aishet chayil: 1. Start each day with prayer--connecting with your Creator first thing in the morning is very powerful. 2. Do what you already do with more awareness and intention. 3. Make Torah learning a priority--it will make a significant difference in your life. Rebbetzin Taback wrote a book called Rising! Into Your Aishet Chayil, spinning the story of feminine growth through Torah. 22 verses = 19 women. $18 https://www.school.thenexus.org/courses/aishet-chayil Visit The Nexus, home to Rebbetzin Taback's free shiur treasury and the Nexus School of Transformational Torah for Women, including the flagship Rise! into your highest Feminine series (and more). Subscribe at www.thenexus.org, or contact info@thenexus.org. To watch the first class of Chava, foundations of femininity free, click HERE: https://thenexus.org/riseseries/.
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So much wisdom! Rebbetzin Leah Wilhelm is the Chabad emissary at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She shares three distinct Chassidic teachings and helps us apply them to our lives. Rebbetzin Leah shares the teaching of Miriam bat Bilga--learning to see the good in others and bring it out. She also shares about hecksher mitzvah--the beforehand preparations that we do in order to carry out a mitzvah. She also talks about how to navigate feelings of guilt and shame through Cheshbon HaNefesh (making a checklist of everything that you did during the day in order to see where you excelled and the areas where you need to improve.)
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Rebbetzin Devorah Buxbaum is the co-founder of the LEV Experience. She talks about the power that we, as human beings, have to positively affect ourselves AND those around us JUST with our thoughts. We are able to affect POWERFUL changes in our lives and in those around us, simply by rewiring our thoughts. First, we need to be aware of our thoughts. Then, we need to envision our goal in detail--really create a strong visual in our minds of how we will think and feel when we actually reach our goal. Make our vision so real that we can almost feel it as reality. Then, we need to rewrite the narrative that we tell ourselves. Instead of thinking negative thoughts like we will never reach our goal, we don't deserve it, etc., we need to think of the type of person we will be WHEN we reach our goal. Our thoughts create our reality! Rebbetzin Devorah thoroughly explains each step in detail. She also talks about how we can love others the way we love ourselves (Ahavas Yisroel.) The things she says about loving yourself first, before you can love someone else, are truly eye opening.
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Rebbetzin Chaya Chava Pavlov is the founder and director of She'arim College of Jewish Studies for Women, located on Jerusalem. Rebbetzin Pavlov talks about the reasons why we are jealous, and gives us tools and strategies to work through this often counterproductive, albeit human, emotion. One of the three reasons that Rebbetzin Pavlov states is the root of our jealousy, is that we feel something in our life is missing and someone else has it! Among the multiple strategies that she offers to help us move past our jealousy is that we need to strengthen our emuna muscles: Each and every day, Hashem gives us exactly what we need, including our blessings AND our challenges. Rebbetzin Pavlov does say that we are sometimes able to use our jealous feelings for productive purposes. To do this, we need to be of the mindset to figure out what we REALLY want without taking away from what the other person has.
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Rebbetzin Bracha Leeds is the Chabad emissary at the University of California in Berkeley. She talks to us about the middah (character trait) of tznius (modesty) as a mindset. It's not about the clothes we wear, it's about "What does Hashem want from us in this moment?" She emphasizes that we are not exempt from stepping forward when we are needed. That is such a powerful statement! We all have something to contribute and none of us are allowed to withhold the gifts that Hashem gave us to share in this world. Regarding tznius, Rebbetzin Bracha encourages us to look at it from these points of view: 1. Tznius is yiras shamayim--fear of Hashem. It's an awareness of Hashem's presence. Know before whom you stand. 2. Determine what parts of the body really need to be covered. We want to draw only appropriate attention to us. 3. Don't follow the ways of the other nations. We are Jews and we are unique in our ways. 4. Women shouldn't wear men's clothing and men shouldn't wear women's clothing. 5. Men and women are on the same team--we should support each other by not putting a stumbling block in front of the blind. Men are given the mitzvah of not looking at women in a desirous manner. By wearing clothing that is modest and not revealing, we remove that pressure from men when they look at us.
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If you have ever wondered about what is truly behind our obsession with food and eating, and if you really want to know how to achieve optimal health, you must listen to this interview. It was FASCINATING!!! Thank you Shimona Krengel Tzukernik!!!
A coach and an international lecturer, Shimona Tzukernik is the creator of The Method, a practical approach to personal transformation, rooted in Torah principles and ancient mystical teachings. The Method is offered live, via teleconference and on the web. However, her most intimate work is done one-on-one as a coach for private clients. Having coached hundreds of individuals, she now offers certification in The Method.
Shimona is also a certified Somatic Therapist who helps people recover from trauma.
Shimona is offering America's Top Rebbetzins podcast listeners her program, 7 Foods for 7 Habits free! To receive the program materials, visit: https://shimona.org/product/7-foods-habits-nutrition/.
Enter code: Vera at checkout for a free gift.
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We all have challenges in life. In this engaging interview, Rebbetzin Maryashie Deren, Chabad emissary at the Chabad of Greenwich, Connecticut, teaches us how to develop trust in G-d through 7 steps:
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G-d is full of compassion and love
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G-d is attentive and never ignores us
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No one knows us better than G-d
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Any harm or benefit that we receive is all from G-d
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G-d can get us out of any situation, no matter how dire or hopeless
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Only G-d knows what we really need (better than we know for ourselves)
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We are always deserving of G-d's blessings
The book that Rebbetzin Maryashie talks about in the interview is Shaar Habitachon--The Gates of Trust. Let go and let G-D!
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Rabbanit Chana Henkin is the Founder and Dean of Nishmat. She is one of today's most acclaimed Jewish educators and a leader in re-drawing the landscape of Torah leadership and scholarship for women. Rabbanit Chana has been instrumental in creating a group of Yoatzot Halacha--women who are highly educated at the level of rabbis, specifically in the field of taharat hamishpacha. The yoatzot are able to help women guide women who are struggling with infertility. Many women have been able to conceive and become pregnant upon following the advice of the yoatzot, which incorporates the Jewish laws of family purity. The yoatzot can also answer questions about the laws of family purity, menstrual cycles, mikvah, and thousands of other questions pertaining to women and their bodies. To reach a yoetzet, you can visit www.yoatzot.com or call 1-877-963-8938 (1-877-yoetzet) from the United States. Also, The Nishmat Ha-Bayit book can be purchased from Maggid publishers: https://korenpub.com/products/nishmat-ha-bayit
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Rebbetzin Fay Kranz Greene was an emissary of the Lubavitcher Rebbe for more than 30 years in various cities, including Detroit, Michigan and Richmond, Virginia. She was the managing editor of The Richmond Jewish News, and is a contributor to various Chabad publications and websites. Rebbetzin Fay shares her truly incredible journey from a seemingly ordinary young girl to an extraordinary rebbetzin and Chabad shlucha (emissary). She reminisces about memories with her family growing up, including a poignant ode to her mother, who was an extraordinary person--listen to the interview to hear all those details and more! This is truly a nostalgic and inspirational episode!
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Rebbetzin Raizel Rosenfeld is the rebbetzin of Chabad of Portugal, located in Lisbon. She talks about accepting ourselves just as we are, imperfections and all. Accepting ourselves makes it easier to accept others. No one is perfect; only Hashem is perfect. You just need to try your best, and if you fail, just pick yourself up again. Hashem wants us to use the talents that He gave to us. We need to focus on cultivating and refining our own talents, and not worry about keeping up with what others are doing. Rebbetzin Raizel also offers some concrete tips on preparing for Pesach without going crazy. Remember: dust is not chametz and our children are not the korban.
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Rebbetzin Dena Schusterman is the rebbetzin of Chabad Intown in Atlanta, Georgia. Rebbetzin Dena offers practical pointers on truly connecting with our children, as opposed to controlling them. Authentic connection leads to a strong parent-child relationship and ultimately leads your child to be more willing to cooperate you because they have formed a bond with you. She also talks about empathetic listening and really feeling the pain of your child so that they feel that you understand them and that you are not dismissing them. Rebbetzin Dena talks about the 3 brain states: Reptilian Brain (am I safe?), Emotional Brain (am I loved?), and the Pre-Frontal Cortex (makes meaning from our circumstances.) My favorite quote from this interview: Rejection is Hashem's protection! Really a strong and informative interview for those who have children or grandchildren!
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Rebbetzin Bassy Landa is the Chabad Rebbetzin of the Chabad Jewish Center in St. Charles, Missouri. Rebbetzin Bassy talks about the two souls that each of us has: the G-dly soul and the animal soul. Hashem created us with both physical and holy inclinations and both of those inclinations is what makes us human. She tells us that our animal soul is actually a vehicle of expression for our G-dly soul, and that both souls have value for us. As human beings, we have a choice to be more elevated (to be kinder, more patient, judge with a favorable eye. etc.) and we should always do our best, but when we fall short of our expectations, we should have compassion on ourselves. Hashem created us with all our flaws, and when we make mistakes, He has compassion on us. We must also have compassion on ourselves and on others. We are all putting forward our best efforts to do the best we can with what we have. We need to acknowledge that within ourselves and others. The beauty is in the struggle.
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Rebbetzin Gevura Davis of Aish Philadelphia talks about a Jewish woman's true beauty. It's not about hair, nails and shoes. True beauty is not actually even about outer appearance. It's about your own inner essence of beauty that comes out in your daily life. Your true essence must be good in order for you to be authentically beautiful. In the words of Torah wisdom, true beauty is achieved when a person's insides match their outsides. It's a woman's attitude toward her own beauty that makes her attractive. Rebbetzin Gevura also talks about how Hashem braided Chava's hair on erev Shabbos in order to make her look beautiful. This is one of the reasons that we braid challah on Shabbos in order to make it special.
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Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved Rigler is the author of several books, including her latest I've Been Here Before: When Souls of the Holocaust Return. This riveting books talks about souls coming back into this world in order to do a tikkun. Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved specifically addresses the return of souls who were alive during the time of the Holocaust. She shares true stories from her book about people, alive today, who are reincarnations of souls who went through hardships during the Holocaust. The stories are gripping and fascinating. I've Been Here Before: When Souls of the Holocaust Return can be purchased at https://menuchapublishers.com/gsp48ppqd6 Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved also teaches a marriage class through Jewish Workshops. For more information on this class, please visit: https://jewishworkshops.com/jw/product/the-kesher-wife-workshop/ For additional information on Rebbetzin Sara Yoheved and her articles and books, please visit: https://sararigler.com/
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Rebbetzin Lisa Septimus is the Yoetzet Halacha of the Five Towns. She is also the Rebbetzin of Young Israel of North Woodmere, and a Judaic Studies Teacher at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck, New York. She talks about the responsibilities of a Yoetzet Halacha, and how having a woman in this position is helpful for other women in the community. Rebbetzin Lisa also talks about having women in various leadership positions within the shul and the community. She also discusses various ways to make women feel more comfortable coming to shul and community events. Lastly, Rebbetzin Lisa addresses ways that women can meet each other and make friends as adults. (It's a lot easier to make friends when you are a kid, but this interview has some creative ways to connect to others as an adult.)
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Bracha Goetz, a popular author of inspirational books for children, did what many people struggle to do everyday...she overcame an eating disorder. For those who have been down this road--emotional eating, binge eating, bulemia, anorexia, overeating--Bracha offers hope in the form of the Pleasure Ladder. Bracha tells her story of disordered eating while she was a student at Harvard University. She explained that the purpose of life is to experience the greatest pleasure possible. She refers to the 5 levels of pleasure that can be found on the Pleasure Ladder. These 5 levels of pleasure correspond to the 5 levels of our soul.
Level 1 (the lowest level corresponds with the Nefesh soul): Physical Pleasure--this includes natural foods, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, etc., as well as movement like walking in nature and doing yoga.
Level 2 (corresponds with the Ruach soul): Love--focusing on the virtues of another person fills us with an emotional feeling toward that person.
Level 3 (corresponds to the Neshama soul): Doing things that are meaningful, like acts of chessed (acts of kindness) where we help others.
Level 4 (corresponds to the Chaya soul): Creativity--bringing out our uniqueness by using our G-d given talents and putting them to action in this world.
Level 5 (the highest level corresponds to the Yechida soul): Being in a state of transcendence, otherwise known as a state of awe where you feel connected to yourself, to those around you, and to Hashem.
Bracha Goetz wrote a book teaching kids to make healthy food choices, enjoy exercise, and get enough sleep to stay healthy. This book is called Let's Stay Healthy. All of Bracha's books can be found on this website: https://www.goetzbookshop.com/
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Rebbetzin Haya Uzan, and her husband, Israel Uzan, are the Chabad emissaries in Abuja, Nigeria. In this fascinating interview, Rebbetzin Haya talks about the Jewish community of Nigeria, and the incredible infrastructure that she and her husband were able to create to serve the Jewish community. Rebbetzin Haya worked with her husband to build a mikvah, create a pre-school, and teach classes to women and also to men in the community. They even built a kosher supermarket in Abuja with kosher meat imported from South Africa! Rebbetzin Haya and her husband also started a program called Chabad Aid, which helps the non-Jewish Nigerian population. There is such incredible work that is being done by the Jewish community of Nigeria!
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Rebbetzin Rachel Isaacs, the rebbetzin at the Rebibo Center for Jewish life in Phoenix, Arizona, talks about the importance of being yourself. We are all unique individuals created by G-d. We all have a unique purpose in life. When we feel comfortable in our skin, we can feel free to be who we are, and only then, can we accomplish what we are meant to do in this world. Everyone contributes to the world with their own talents and abilities. Rebbetzin Rachel also talks about helping our kids feel like they belong and also to feel proud of who they are. There is a balance between fitting in with everyone else and still being true to yourself. Children (and adults alike) need to be the best version of themselves.
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Rebbetzin Simone Broide of the Boca Raton Synagogue discusses a variety of chesed activities that can be done by people of all ages. She also talks about family chesed projects. There are so many ways that people can get involved in acts of kindness and touch the lives of others, affecting then in a positive way. Acts of kindness benefit the giver as well as the receiver.
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Rebbetzin Abby Fink, the rebbetzin of Young Israel of New Rochelle, talks about the importance of being part of the Jewish community. She discusses the significance of every single Jew in the community and also talks about how each person has their own unique talents that they can contribute to make the community strong and vibrant. Rebbetzin Fink also talks about the delicate subject of what a person can do if they feel that another congregant hurt them or wronged them. It's a great perspective on why Jewish community is so vital to Jewish life and how each Jew is special and needed.
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Rebbetzin Chaya Chitrik of Chabad of Istanbul, Turkey, shares with us some powerful life changing perspectives on seeing the revealed good in our lives. When we proactively seek out the positive aspects of people and situations, and when we really rewire our brain to look for our blessings (instead of things that are going wrong), we draw down revealed good from Hashem. You see what you focus on. When we seek out the positive, our world doesn't change; how we see it and how we experience it changes. Think good and it will be good is not just a saying--it's a way of life.
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Rebbetzin Miriam Mammon talks about the often forgotten mitzvah of self-care. When you take care of yourself, you are really and truly able to give of yourself to others. When you just give and give and give, you feel depleted emotionally and exhausted physically. You become bitter and resentful, and then no one really benefits from your giving. However, if you do make the time to take care of yourself (and it doesn't have to be a lot of time), you fill yourself up so that you can give to others without resentment. Rebbetzin Miriam also talks about what self-care really is, and she also discusses knowing the right type of self-care to give yourself. If you are giving to yourself physically, but what you really need is emotional or spiritual self-care, you will not feel fulfilled. When you give yourself the right kind of care, you begin to come to life!
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Rebbetzin Shifra Sharfstein is co-director of Chabad at Georgia Tech and Georgia State Universities. She talks about the real meaning behind prayer--establishing a close connection with Hashem. Nothing in life is by chance. Hashem prepares our path for everything. When you start your day with meaningful prayer, you own your day. You don't have to pray for a lengthy amount of time. Saying just one prayer with devotion from your heart is worth more than reciting the entire prayer book and not feeling anything. Rebbetzin Shifra also gives us some tips on how to fit even just five minutes of prayer into our day.
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Rebbetzin Shula Bryski, the rebbetzin of Chabad of Thousand Oaks in California teaches us to be truly present in the moment. Being present in the moment and appreciating what we have and what is all around us leads us to develop an attitude of gratitude. Having an attitude of gratitude is what brings us happiness. She also tells us that Hashem is with us at ALL times, and we need to be grateful for everything--the revealed good, and also those challenging situations that don't feel so good. This is because everything is from Hashem.
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Rebbetzin Zelly Refson helps us shape the way we look at gratitude. Rebbetzin Zelly shows us how to curate our consciousness so that we learn to look for our blessings instead of what we are lacking. We choose our attitude to focus on our blessings. What we think about is our choice. Our thoughts are one of the only things that we really have control over. She also talks about the struggle she faced when giving birth to her second child, and how she managed to change her perspective about subsequent births. She mentions the organization, Bonei Olam, which has a campaign for women to light candles each shabbat, give $1 to charity, and pray for a couple who is struggling with infertility. To learn more about Bonei Olam, please visit https://www.boneiolam.org/
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Rebbetzin Lea Goldstein, is the principal at Derech HaTorah in Rochester, New York. She shares with us practical tools for raising strong, confident and happy kids--and she does it from a principal's point of view. Her strategies for instilling self-worth and self-confidence in children are right on target! She delves into being a firm parent and setting boundaries as well as the pitfalls of being an overprotective parent. Rebbetzin Lea also speaks about giving a child recognition for things that they have authentically worked hared for, and she tells us how exactly to make a child feel valued, safe, and worthy.
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Rebbetzin Chaya Sarah Silberberg of the Chabad Torah Center in West Bloomfield, Michigan, shares words of wisdom on elevating shabbos, and making every day holy and special--hint: it's not hard! She also talks about the power of Jewish femininity and making the most out of life.
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If you have teens, you need to listen to this interview!
Dr. Tamar Perlman teaches us practical and effective strategies to parent our teenagers. This is where Torah meets psychology. In order to develop a relationship with our teens, where they will talk to us and open up to us, we need to be curious about them--we need to deeply listen to what they are telling us. When we speak with our teens, we need to to respect who they are as individuals; they are not us, they are their own person. Respect leads to impact. If we want them to listen to us, we need to begin by respecting them. Once we develop a relationship with us, our words and advice will have a deeper impact on them, and we will be able to better guide them. They want to see that they really matter to you. This interview has so many more nuggets of wisdom, and the ones mentioned above are explained more deeply in the interview.
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Rebbetzin Nomi Freeman gives a powerful interview on near death experiences (NDE). She shares stories from people who have had near death experiences (NDE). Rebbetzin Nomi also speaks about the after death communications she received from her father who passed away. She emphasizes that in the after world, good deeds, forgiveness and Torah knowledge are the currency and those are the things that matter most to Hashem. We have an opportunity now, in this life, to amass our "riches" and to do teshuva for the things we have done wrong. This is a very powerful and meaningful in-depth interview that has the potential to be lifechanging!
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Rebbetzin Gitty Blotner discusses the power of a Jewish woman, as the director of her home, to create a Jewish home by setting a certain tone of love, warmth and nurturing. As Jewish women, we make our husbands feel like kings, and our husbands, in turn, treat us like queens. We have the power of bina to read in between the lines of what is left unsaid in order to meet the real needs of our husbands and children. We inherited this spiritual DNA from our Jewish foremothers.
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Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky, director of SHIVITI www.shiviti.org.il, teaches us how we can all achieve true joy, starting by changing our perspective/mindset. Rebbetzin Golshevsky shares with us concrete tools on how to look at the positive aspects of a person/situation and how to thank Hashem for the good AS WELL AS the seemingly bad. She shows us how to discover the pleasure in simplicity, and also how to cultivate gratitude. Joy revitalizes the body. We find strength and joy in our connection with Hashem. Rebbetzin Golshevsky explains how to make the concept of joy a reality in our lives.
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Rebbetzin Via Kimche discusses EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), also known as tapping. Energy gets stuck in the body, which can result in physical and emotional illnesses. EFT helps to rebalance the energy inside of a person, so that the body can heal itself. This technique can be done with kids, teens and adults with the help of an EFT practitioner. EFT is great for helping people deal with anxiety, depression, trauma, weight loss, addictions, and other emotional maladies.
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Rebbetzin Aidy Kuravsky is the Chabad emissary to Pushkino, Russia, which is right outside of Moscow. Rebbetzin Aidy shares inspiring stories of discovering Jewish "diamonds," in the most remote places in Russia and bringing those Jews back to Judaism. Rebbetzin Aidy talks about her experience of having moved from Toronto, Canada to Russia with her husband and 9 children so that she can reach the Jews in that area of the world. This interview is very meaningful and illustrates the message of living life with purpose.
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Rebbetzin Sara Blau's book, Close To You--Daily Spiritual Meditations Inspired by the Tanya, guides us in connecting to Hashem in a very real way. We have control over our thoughts, and our thoughts lead to our feelings. By THINKING deeply, or meditating, on the holy messages given to us in the Tanya, we can learn to FEEL genuine love for Hashem. The book is available on the following website: https://www.meaningfullife.com/closetoyou/
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Rebbetzin Rivkah Slonim, Chabad emissary at Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY, shares practical Jewish wisdom, coupled with modern psychology, in an effort to guide parents in raising their children. It's important to give children a strong sense of their own unique purpose in this world, and show them that fulfilling their purpose leads to true happiness. We must deeply love our children, and connect them to Hashem through our love. We must also model the type of moral, elevated behavior that we would like our children to emulate. We are their role models. Lots of great nuggets of wisdom in this interview!
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Rebbetzin Rivka Slatkin and her husband, Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin, run The Marriage Restoration Project (https://themarriagerestorationproject.com/) to help couples learn what to do when the dream that they had for their marriage turns into a nightmare. Rebbetzin Rivka and her husband help couples learn to communicate and get to know each other using various techniques, including Imago therapy, which she discusses in the interview. She teaches couples how to stop fighting and how to make their marriage stronger. Point to Ponder: Get Curious About Your Spouse.
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Rebbetzin Devora Boroosan talks about how women can enjoy physical intimacy with their husbands, even after experiencing emotional and/or physical trauma in the past. She emphasizes that women need to take care of themselves so that they can better connect with their husbands, both emotionally and physically. Don't underestimate the enjoyment of physical intimacy for women. Hashem created physical intimacy for women to feel pleasure too! Key point to ponder: I'm going to think about the good today.
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Rebbetzin Batya Burd-Oved talks about the experience of witnessing her husband drown, and about the way she used Emunah (faith in Hashem) to overcome her grief and deal with her loss. It's the powerful story of how a 39-year old widow with several children turns her grief into closeness with G-d. Through this experience, Rebbetzin Batya learned that everything good and painful is for us to come closer to G-d. It's our own choice to turn toward Him. We are all souls in evolution. Stop fighting what is in your reality and accept it so that you can grow. Rebbetzin Batya runs an organization called Western Wall Prayers that allows people from all over the world to access the transformative ritual of having a Torah scholar pray for them at the Western Wall for 40 days. To learn more, please visit www.westernwallprayers.org
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Rebbetzin Rachel Welfeld gives us a first-hand demonstration on how to heal our inner child. Many of the issues that we are struggling with today are due to traumatic experiences we had when we were younger. Once we learn how to properly heal our inner child, we can deal with our current struggles from a position of calmness and confidence. Rebbetzin Rachel also teaches us the importance of truly being in the moment, and she gives us the tools to help us be present in the current moment of our lives. To get in touch with Rebbetzin Rachel, you can What's App her at 404-819-9444 or email rachelwelfeld@gmail.com
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Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches us how to navigate life and move forward in our chaotic world. Our control is in how we choose to respond to situations. We are not in control of what happens to us, but we are in control over how we respond. She also talks about developing meaningful connections through spiritual bonding, which is what gives us true pleasure in life.
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Rebbetzin Rochel Goldbaum gives us the key to a happy marriage--delight in your differences. Hashem (G-d) made you and your spouse different from each other for a reason. Rebbetzin Rochel offers practical strategies for how couples can embrace their differences and learn how to love the differences in their spouse, instead of arguing that they are not doing things the way that we do them. With the concrete (and very doable tools that she gives us), you will be able to work together to resolve conflicts, including challenges with kids and money!
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Rebbetzin Orit Esther Riter offers solid strategies to help us transcend the difficulties and challenges in our lives through emuna. She explores the healing power of emuna energy and gives us direction to help us surpass our own perceived limitations so that we can become the best version of ourselves. For more inspiring words of wisdom from Rebbetzin Orit Esther Riter, please visit: www.dailydoseofemuna.com and www.oremunaenergy.com
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Rebbetzin Ruchi Koval is the co-founder and associate director of the Jewish Family Experience, an independent Sunday school and Jewish congregation near Cleveland, Ohio. She talks to us about the possible meanings behind unanswered prayers. She also offers insightful perspectives on how to relate to Hashem (G-d) through our prayers, and shares personal anecdotes to help illustrate key points.
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Rebbetzin Dahlia Topolosky is the rebbetzin at Kehilat Pardes in Rockville, Maryland. She is also a psychologist at Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington. Rebbetzin Dahlia talks about the different symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. She gives us many concrete strategies to reduce anxiety and minimize panic attacks. She also talk about how parents can help teens manage anxiety.
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Rebbetzin Ariela Davis offers insightful perspectives on how women can find strength, meaning and resilience to face life's challenges through Torah learning. The words of Torah that she shares are meaningful and relatable. She also talks about how handling life's struggles with strength leads to resilience. It's never too late to change your life, no matter what has happened in the past. There is always strong hope for self-growth and a happy future. Rebbetzin Ariela is currently the principal of Ulpanat Orly in Bet Shemesh, Israel. Ulpanat Orly is a high school for Anglos and recent Olot who are having a challenging time finding their place in the Israeli school system.
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Rebbetzin D'Vorah Miller shares short, and meaningful insights into the weekly parsha as well as the Jewish holidays. This interview contains key insights about dealing with some of life's challenging situations. Rebbetzin D'Vorah's book, Up to G-d: Down to Earth Thoughts on Elevated Living is available on Amazon.
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Rebbetzin Bat-Chen Grossman helps husbands and wives get connected for real. She shares with us the C.A.L.M. method to bring couples together for ultimate closeness and happiness. C--Connect to Yourself; A--Ask for Clarity; L--Listen to the Answer; M--Master a Higher Level of Consciousness. To join her FREE virtual Marriage Breakthrough Retreat (January 17-20 & 23-25, 2022), visit https://connectedforreal.com/retreat/
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Our very special guest, Robin Meyerson, who does planning and life coaching for Rabbi Nivin's Chaburas, gives us strategies for finding our own special purpose in life. She also discusses creating the right mindset to find happiness in this world and the next world. Robin's book, Middos Miracles, which talks about miracles experienced every day by regular people like you and me, is available on her website, https://www.robinmeyerson.org/
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Rebbetzin Leah Shemtov, Executive Co-Director of Chabad of Stamford-Jewish Center for Life and Learning opens our eyes to the fact that challah is not just bread--it's SO much more! Women have the power to bring out and elevate the hidden. Challah is recognition that everything we have is from Hashem. The MORE we recognize that what we have is from Hashem, the more abundance and blessings He will give to us.
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Rebbetzin Yocheved Goldberg, rebbetzin of the Boca Raton Synagogue in Boca Raton, Florida, discusses the importance of belonging to a Jewish community, as well as the roles and responsibilities of a community rebbetzin. The feeling of belonging, brought about through the warmth of the community rebbetzin, and by the programming offered by local synagogues is the cornerstone of a Jewish community.
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Rebbetzin Devorah Kigel helps women figure out how to find the husband that is right for them. She discusses the "non negotiable list," as well as the "must have" list, and goes over how to spot red flags in a relationship. She also gives us great advice on how to put our best foot forward, and how to connect with our partner before and after he becomes our husband.
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Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreis-Wolff uses Jewish principles to guide us in parenting kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. She talks about helping kids with anxiety, how to properly discipline your child, and how to truly make them feel grateful for what they have. Her wise parenting tips are practical and doable. If you want the real deal when it comes to parenting, it's right here in this episode!
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Rebbetzin Chaya Meyer discusses the key elements to building a Jewish home. She talks about the physical items found in a home that make it Jewish, along with meaningful Jewish rituals and Jewish core values. She gives a beautiful and uplifting interview about the deep inner beauty of a Jewish home.
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Rebbetzin Daniella Rudoff, the Marriage Architect, talks about relationship building skills and developing communication skills between men and women. If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, or would like to sponsor a future podcast, email us at atrebbetzins@gmail.com
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Rebbetzin Lifshy Ajzenszmidt is the rebbetzin of South Caulfield Hebrew Congregation in Melbourne, Australia. She talks about our intrinsic value as human being and as Jews. Rebbetzin Lifshy talks about self-acceptance as well as our responsibility in this world. The world was created for us, and by just being alive, we each have our own individual value.
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Rebbetzin Mimi David, Director of Women's Education for Aish HaTorah in St. Louis, Missouri, instills in us pride for being a woman. G-d created women with special qualities and strengths, unique to them, that men don't have. Women can be strong, smart, capable, independent, and feminine at the same time. Enjoy this powerful interview with a wise rebbetzin who really gets what being a woman is really about.
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Rebbetzin Devorah Eisenbach helps us learn how to be truly happy by following the Golden Triangle principle from Chovos Halevavos--Duties of the Heart, or as Rabbi Avigdor Miller calls it, Duties of The Mind. Rebbetzin Devorah gives us some interesting and practical tips on not taking life for granted and seeing how a situation that we think is bad, is actually for our good.
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Chabad of the West Side's Rebbetzin Sarah Alevsky creates programs to bring Jews back to Judaism. Through her innovative "Chalk Shabbat" campaign, Hebrew school, and children's shul services, Rebbetzin Sarah provides fun and engaging programming that draws Jews back to their roots.
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Rebbetzin Shaindy Eisenberg, daughter of Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreis-Wolff and granddaughter of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, talks about having inner dignity and a strong sense of self. Being truly confident about the holy being you are on the inside is reflected in the way you present yourself on the outside.
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Rebbetzin Gitty Epstein gives us practical and very doable tips on how to "set the emotional temperature in our home," focus on the positive aspects of both your husband and your children, and see your husband through Eyes of Respect (very important!) Your husband is who he is because of you, and he will grow and change and become who he is meant to become because of you.
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Rebbetzin Chana Goldstein of Phoenix, AZ discusses 6 attributes that women should work on developing in order to live a more fulfilled and meaningful life. Those attributes are ambition, courage, confidence, self-esteem, resilience, and determination. Rebbetzin Chana speaks about each attribute in detail, and discusses the important role they play in our lives.
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Rebbetzin Tova Chazanow, assistant director at the Chabad House of Monmouth County in New Jersey, illustrates how having a purpose in life brings happiness. Rebbetzin Tova shares powerful stories of hashgaha pratis, Divine Providence, that show that by just being alive, you have a purpose and a deep impact on others. She also shares intriguing information of emunah and bitachon.
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Rebbetzin Chaya Reich is a renown kallah teacher who gives us effective and practical strategies to turn our husband into our soulmate. She gives marriage and physical intimacy workshops to women (and her husband offers a series of these workshops for men) , in which she talks about the link between emotional intimacy and physical intimacy, and how to enhance both. To sign up for Rebbetzin Chaya's workshops, email her at chaya@cozyrosybooks.com. If you have questions about intimacy and/or your physical relationship with your husband, and would like to speak with a knowledgeable rebbetzin or kallah teacher anonymously (you don't have to give your name or any identifying information about who you are), please call the Ani Le Dodi Helpline at 646-746-4343.
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Rebbetzin Chaya Malka Abramson, author of Who By Fire, shares her story of how she was caught in a horrific house fire that burned over 85% of her body, as she repeatedly went back into her burning apartment to save her three children and her grandmother. Rebbetzin Chaya Malka turned tragedy into triumph by starting the Chaya Malka Burn Foundation, which provides burn patients with support and wide-range tools for healing. For more information on the foundation, please visit http://cmburnfoundation.com/
In a burn emergency, you can call the Chaya Malka Burn Foundation Hotline at +972 587 627 954 (Israel phone number.)
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Rebbetzin K. Sarah Cohen gives a powerful interview on emunah and bitachon. She also talks about hasgaha pratis and seeing the hand of Hashem in every aspect of our lives.
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Rebbetzin Chana Bracha Siegelbaum, founder and director of Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin: Holistic Torah Study for Women on the Land, talks about the hidden power of the Hebrew month of Tevet. Listen to find out what Tevet has to do with anger and how it is a particularly good time to transform this emotion. As part of her school, Rebbetzin Chana Bracha will be giving an inspiring and interactive online program called Return to Your Roots, which is offered in December 2021. To sign up for that program, and to learn about other programs that she offers, email her at director@berotbatayin.org or visit https://www.berotbatayin.org/
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Scottsdale Torah Center Rebbetzin Ayala Shoshan discusses taking responsibility for how we show up in our marriage. She removes the spotlight from the faults of our spouse, and shines it on the things he does right. In this podcast we learn about taking responsibility for how we show up in our marriage, and taking charge of shaping our relationships.
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Aish Penn State Rebbetzin Shifra Chessler offers an interesting perspective on battling depression and stress. She also give us some great advice on how to deal with difficult people.
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Every Hebrew month has its own special energy. Rebbetzin Amit Yaghoubi talks about the power of the month of Kislev, the significance of the 8 days of Chanukah, and gives us an easy way to bring miracles into our lives.
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An incredible interview with Rebbetzin Rivka Malka Perlman! If you have ever thought about making true transformation in your life, this podcast will get you started in the right direction. After a near-death experience during the birth of her youngest child, Rebbetzin Rivka Malka came to realize her true mission in life. To date, she has helped hundreds of women change who they are by changing what they do. She taught them how to nurture their innate strengths and guide them toward healing and self-love. You do not want to miss this episode! If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, or if you would like to sponsor a future episode, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com.
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Marital intimacy brings us an abundance of blessings! If you are wondering about the connection between what happens in the bedroom and the plentiful abundance in our lives, Rebbetzin Goldie Plotkin explains all that and more! If you have any questions about the podcast, please email atrebbetzins@gmail.com
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Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match! Rebbetzin Rachel Tessler Lopatin is a skilled matchmaker who brings people together. If you or someone you know is looking for their soulmate, create a profile on the website, https://www.sawyouatsinai.com/ and Rebbetzin Rachel will do her best to find you a find and catch you a catch! If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, please email atrebbetzins@gmail.com
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Rebbetzin Ilana Cowland shares ways we can have power over our thoughts, nurturing our positive thoughts and keeping out the negative thoughts. She also speaks about women's emotional health and well-being, and what we can do to stop worrying and live happy lives.
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Rebbetzin Elana Mizrahi brings the Torah to life and makes it real for us on a practical level. She shows us how to incorporate Torah teachings into our every day lives. She gives us brilliant advice on raising children, setting goals and lets us know exactly who is in charge of all the outcomes in our lives--Hashem! Rebbetzin Mizrahi is relatable, funny, and to the point. This interview is not to be missed! Lots of nuggets of wisdom here!
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Rebbetzin Yaffa Palti talks about acceptance, the power of the Jewish woman, and achieving inner peace and happiness.
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