The Medrash teaches that every person has three names: the one our parents give us, the one our friends give us, and the ones we make for ourselves. In this episode, we dive deep into a single verse in Parshat Vayakhel to explore what it truly means name ourselves, and why the greatness of our ancestors only becomes relevant once we become a person in our own right. * * * * * * * Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Devori Nussbaum, a psychotherapist and Tanya teacher, about emotional honesty in our spiritual growth and living with open-hearted presence. Devori shares her unique approach to integrating Chassidus and psychotherapy, offering powerful insights into shedding old identities, processing the grief of life, and tapping into the opportunity for connection with G-d at every moment. Devori is an integrative psychotherapist who has trained in many different healing modalities including body psychotherapy, imago therapy, logotherapy, the energetics of food, quantum touch, breathwork, CBT, NLP, EMDR, IFS, inner child work and somatic modalities. She is also passionate about teaching Chassidus in a way that is accessible, relevant and embodied, showing people that these teachings are not just nice ideas, but a description of our reality. Get in touch with Devori and find out more about her work on www.devorinussbaum.com. * * * * * * * EPISODE SPONSOR: "Miss Rose is Worried" by Estee Cohen is a heartwarming story that shows that every child's individuality is a gift. Their quirks and character traits, if nurtured rather than suppressed, become the foundation of who they are meant to be. Link to purchase the book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-rose-is-worried-estee-cohen/1146818067 To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Sneak Peek & Sponsorship 02:25 – Meet Devori Nussbaum 04:45 – The Power of Real Human Presence 07:12 – What Is Chassidus Meant to Do for the Human Psyche? 12:00 – Finding the Balance Between Presence & Spiritual Aspiration 18:04 – Embracing the Void: Turning Emotional Numbness into a Portal for Growth 21:15 – Seeing Beneath the Surface of Reality 26:00 – How Unprocessed Grief Blocks Our Hearts—and How to Reopen Them 30:11 - The Role of Grief in Spiritual Growth 36:01 - Holy Honesty 38:00 – Bringing G-d into Daily Life 44:53 - Navigating the Fear of Change 47:00 – Regulating Your Nervous System 54:30 – One Minute a Day: Building Presence in Busy Lives 1:02:15 – Kavanah and Mitzvot: How One Moment Can Fill a Lifetime 1:07:30 – Animal Soul vs. Divine Soul: A Compassionate Integration 1:12:00 – Redefining Iskafya: Presence, Breath, and Spiritual Discipline 1:16:30 – Choosing Growth vs. Chasing Perfection 1:29:10 - Crumbling into Grief 1:41:00 – How to Navigate Religious Trauma 1:44:15 – Parents, Fear, and Compassion: Reframing the Narrative 1:47:00 – The Magic of Retreats 1:53:30 – Personal Journey: From Control to Joy 1:57:05 – Presence, Honesty, and Shedding the Snake Skin 1:59:00 – Host’s Outro

Reflections on my birthday, why I think about my mortality, and a Modeh Ani meditation. Episode sponsored by an anonymous sponsor in honor of our LA Tanya class. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Birthday Reflections 1:27 - Why I Think About My Mortality 4:30 - The Gift of Another Day 5:45 - Forgetting Who We Are 7:33 - Saying Modeh Ani With Intention 9:22 - The Memory of Prayer 12:16 - A Modeh Ani Meditation

A deeply personal and Torah-rich conversation on facing darkness from within. Kiki opens up about her own journey with anxiety and depression, sharing how she moved from resenting the darkness she experienced to believing in its inherent blessing. Drawing on biblical stories, Kiki weaves profound insight with raw personal honesty. She explores what it practically means to face darkness, professional help as a prerequisite to faith-based tools and the belief that our inner light is inextinguishable, no matter what darkness we are facing. Kiki is a Chabad Shlucha for a community in Israel, teaches weekly Chassidus and Kabbalah classes in person and online. She is a bridal educator and mikvah attendant, and is passionate about learning and teaching chassidus. Find her classes on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kabbalahwithkiki Find her classes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6uscGnRqwgd2j8qwkk542M?si=FIxIy73QQNWw7qVSbDYRUg Email her at [email protected] and find her on instagram at @kabbalahwithkiki. * * * * * * * Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction 01:43 — Today's topic: Torah wisdom on facing inner and outer darkness 02:14 — Why this is personal: Kiki's journey with anxiety and depression 03:30 — Showing up to teach even on the hardest days 05:14 — Biblical context: Abraham, Yaakov, and descending into Egypt 06:00 — The Kabbalistic purpose of exile: 07:38 — Descent before ascent 08:20 — Yaakov wrestling with the angel 10:00 — What blessing is this bringing me? 11:15 — The blessing is not external 13:13 — Practically speaking: what does facing darkness actually look like? 15:00 — The Hillel model: lighting one candle when the darkness feels overwhelming 16:50 — Going outward as a tool: moving out of yourself to find light 18:35 — The fear of being swallowed by darkness 20:30 — Balancing inward processing and outward giving 23:10 — Designating time for pain 25:00 — When mental health requires medical treatment first 26:24 — Yosef vs. his brothers: two worldviews on how to live in a dark world 28:30 — The brothers' approach: protect holiness by withdrawing from the world 29:30 — Yosef's approach: engage with darkness and elevate it 30:45 — Galus as a dream: the power of opposites coexisting 35:00 — Two kinds of dreams: exile's confusion vs. Yosef's redemptive vision 40:50 — What happened to our dreams? 43:00 — Changing "if only" to "only because" 46:00 — Two approaches to supporting people in their darkness 48:00 — Yaakov's model: sometimes when you're in the pit can't climb out alone 50:00 — Yosef's model: the power of presence 52:30 — Just sitting with someone is enough 54:30 — Kiki's personal postpartum depression 56:30 — The inextinguishable light 58:30 — How to support someone in darkness 59:26 — Soul-to-soul closing message

Shoshana Manssouri stumbled into the role of being a mikveh attendant as a young woman. Over the years, she has developed a deep reverence for the experience of accompanying women to immerse in the mikvah's holy waters. Today, she shares the deeper meaning behind mikvah immersion, what makes these ritual waters holy, and the experiences that made her fall in love with her role. * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In this conversation, Gitty Hecht shares her transformative journey from a well-known makeup artist to a spiritual leader, exploring her relationship with G-d and the evolution of her self-worth. She explores moving from a fear-based connection with G-d to one of secure attachment and intimacy, the importance of embracing one's gifts, overcoming fear, dismantling self-imposed pedestals of spiritual leadership, and embracing her current role with humility and authenticity. Gitty emphasizes that everyone has something to offer to the world as they are and that the impact of our actions can resonate deeply, even if we don't always see it. Gitty Hecht is a Rebbetzin, speaker, and educator based in Queens, NY. Find more of her work here: https://linktr.ee/gittyhecht Explore her online courses here: https://stan.store/GittyHecht Contact her at [email protected]. Find her on instagram @gittyhecht * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 - Guest Intro & Life Journey 00:05:10 - Post-Divorce Transformation 10:35:00 - Shame, Vulnerability, and G-d 14:05:00 - Evolving Faith: From Fear to Connection 21:58:00 - G-d's Unconditional Love 27:12:00 - Finding Love & Safety 00:30:39 - Dismantling the Pedestal of Spiritual Leadership 34:35:00 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 41:00:00 - Torah Study & Leadership

A historical, halachic and cultural exploration of women's celebration of Simchas Torah. Through a poll of women's experiences, a deep dive into relevant halachic and historical sources, and an analysis of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe asking if the women of his community could dance with the Torah, we explore questions like: Is Simchas Torah a “men’s holiday”? Is there an essential difference between men and women’s relationship to this day? How did the custom to dance with the Torah develop? Can women dance with the Torah? Should women dance at all? Join us in exploring women's relationship to this joyful, celebratory holiday. Sources: The Diary of Samuel Pepys, entry for October 14, 1663 "Law as Love" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Shlomo Riskin, Listening to G-d (New Milford, CT: Maggid, 2010), pp.193-96 Lubavitcher Rebbe's letter to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, 13 Kislev 1976 Rambam Hilchot Shofar V'sukka V'lulav 8:14 Chemdat Yamim III Sukka 8 "Dancing With the Torah" by Laurie Novick R. Moshe Meiselman, Jewish Woman in Jewish Law (New York, 1978) Shulchan Aruch OC 88 * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Introduction: Why We're Exploring This Topic 02:49 What Simchas Torah Means to Me 05:24 Poll Results on Women's Experiences of Simchas Torah 7:00 Is There an Essential Difference Between Men and Women's Relationship to Dancing on Simchas Torah? 9:39 Participating Through Watching 10:32 Being a Bystander 11:18 The Pain of Alienation 13:39 Why Do Women Dance? 14:40 What Motivates Women's Desire to Dance With the Torah? 17:20 When Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Went to Ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Advice 21:18 The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Retraction 23:50 When Samuel Pepys Visited a Synagogue in 1663 25:30 The Evolution of the Tradition of Dancing 29:11 What is the Barrier to Women Dancing with the Torah? 31:10 Diversity of Rabbinic Perspectives on the Topic 32:40 Exploring the Custom Women Took Upon Themselves Not to Touch the Torah 39:15 Recognizing the Nuances of this Topic 41:30 Women Yearning to Dance with the Torah 43:55 Cultural Impact of Each Woman's Experience 45:00 Ensuring a Vibrant Women's Section 47:00 Simchas Torah Belongs to the Entire Jewish People

A live conversation with my mother about joy, reflections on life when living so close to hardship, her work caring for people in their most tenuous moments, the privilege of being in a position of giving, raising children with Jewish values outside of a Jewish community, letting yourself dream, and so much more. Rochel Lazaroff is the co-founder and co-director of Aishel House, a hospitality home for patients and their families visiting the Texas Medical Center, a shlucha, mother of eleven, and Torah teacher. Find out more about her work here: aishelhouse.org. Contact her at [email protected] Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.