Meilech Kohn grew up Jewish, raised in a deeply Chasidic world. After years of bullying and pressure, he walked away from Judaism — and his life completely collapsed. Meilech became homeless. He struggled with drugs. He lost everything he once had. And then… he came back. In this raw and honest episode, Meilech shares the shocking reality of what happened after leaving a religious Jewish life — including encounters with police, time spent in jail cells, surviving homelessness, and the toll it took on his mental health. We talk openly about addiction, trauma, identity, and what it feels like to completely lose yourself. Before everything fell apart, Meilech was a popular Jewish singer, performing and recording music while living a very different life. Meilech shares the full story of how he found his way back — to his family, his Jewish roots, and his sense of self — after hitting rock bottom.This is a powerful Jewish story of collapse, survival, and return. Thank you to our sponsors:►BJX Helpline: If you or a family member is going through a spritual crisis scudule a consolation with Rabbi Fingerer today.Call 646-397-1544 or email [email protected] ►Iyun Halacha: Join the incredible online Halacha learning program!visit www.iyunhalacha.org or email [email protected] ►Ohr Olam: The Revolutionary Hebrew-English Mishnah BerurahGet a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or visit:https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ohr+olamFor more info and a free download, visit:https://www.ohr-olam.org ►Colel Chabad: Pushka App Download Colel Chabad’s Pushka app and help support over 47,000 families in need in Israel! https://pushkapp.cc/joyfulTo make a general donation: https://colelchabad.org/joyful ►Join the weekly Parsha inspiationEmail [email protected] or visit parshaknowledge.com Join our WhatsApp group:https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj or message 646-397-2320 Listen to the podcast by phone:USA: 605-562-3522Israel: 972-79-579-5099 Reach out to us:WhatsApp: 646-397-2320Email: [email protected] you for listening and remember to stay Jewish n’ Joyful :)

R' Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin was sentenced to 27 years in prison. In the middle of his 8th year in prison, on Zos Chanukah, President Donald Trump freed him. R' Rubashkin faced many challenges in prison but he never gave up. His story is one of hope and inspiration. In this episode, Aryeh sat down with R' Rubashkin and they discuss his life, his story, and how to trust in God, and get rid of stress and anxiety. This episode has been sponsored by: -Colel Chabad: Please help the poor people in Israel. Download the Pushka app or make a much needed donation. They need all the help they can get! Download the app by visiting pushkapp.cc/joyful or get it on your app store. Visit https://www.ColelChabad.org/joyful to make a much-needed donation! -Parsha Inspiration: Receive brief inspiration and a beautiful Dvar Torah to share at your Shabbos table email [email protected] or visit ⁠⁠⁠parshaknowledge.com⁠⁠⁠. - Ohr Olam: An Incredible Hebrew-English Mishnah Berurah that's changing the world! Get a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or their website ⁠⁠⁠www.ohr-olam.org⁠⁠⁠. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jewishnjoyful Join our new group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj To donate ⁠⁠or reach out message 646-397-2320 or email [email protected]

Dr. Yehudah Pryce started out as a teenage gang member robbing drug dealers and committing many crimes. When he was 19. Yehudah was sentenced to 24 Years in prison. Behind bars everything changed. Inside the cell Yehudah found faith. Today, he’s a Jew, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and he now leads mental health programs in prisons, helping those who share a past like his. In this episode of Jewish and Joyful, Dr. Yehuda Pryce shares his insane story: the gangster who found God in prison. Thank you to our sponsors: ►Torah Master: New Online Moadim Semicha Course starting this Wednesday August 27th on the topic of Sukkos. A clear, structured, and enjoyable way of Torah Learning. For more information and to sign up visit torahmaster.org. ►Colel Chabad: Download Colel Chabad’s Pushka app and help them support over 47,000 families in need in Israel!  Visit https://pushkapp.cc/joyful. To Make a general donation to Cole Chabad visit colelchabad.cc/joyful. ►Parsha Knowledge: Receive brief weekly inspiration to share at your Shabbos table.  To sign up email [email protected] or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠parshaknowledge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ►Ohr Olam: The Revelotionary Hebrew-English Mishnah Berurah. Get a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or visit ⁠https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/index/? q=ohr+olam%E2%81%A0&o=ohr+olam%E2%81%A0&q=ohr+olam. Visit their website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ohr-olam.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our WhatsApp group for exclusive inspiration and new releases: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj You can now listen to our podcast on the phone: USA: 605-562-3522 ISRAEL: 972-79-579-5099 To donate ⁠⁠or reach out to us WhatsApp us at 646-397-2320 or email [email protected]

Ari Lesser was chasing music — then music led him back to G-d. In this episode of Jewish and Joyful, we sit down with Ari Lesser, the viral Jewish rapper whose lyrics went from hip-hop to Torah, Psalms, and faith. Hear how rapping Tehillim (Psalms) changed his life and brought him to Orthodox Judaism. Ari is also a Nazir which you will hear more about. From the stage to spirituality, Ari’s journey has inspired millions. His music about Israel, God, and truth blends raw honesty with deep Jewish soul — proving that rap can be holy too. This Episode is Brought to You By: ► Ohr Olam: The Revolutionary Hebrew-English Mishnah BerurahGet a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or visit:https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ohr+olamFor more info and a free download, visit:https://www.ohr-olam.org ------------------------------------------------------- ► Torah Sweets: Free Weekly Torah PublicationLooking for weekly inspiration on the Parsha, insights into marriage, stories, halacha, or short quotes for your Shabbos table?Torah Sweets is your free one-stop magazine packed with Torah insights for everyone.📩 Email: [email protected]📱 WhatsApp: 718-675-9370 ------------------------------------------------------- ► Colel Chabad: Pushka AppDownload Colel Chabad’s Pushka app and help support over 47,000 families in need in Israel!📲 https://pushkapp.cc/joyfulTo make a general donation: https://colelchabad.org/joyful 📞 Stay Connected 💬 Join our WhatsApp group:https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj 🎧 Listen to the podcast by phone:USA: 605-562-3522Israel: 972-79-579-5099 To donate or reach out:WhatsApp: 646-397-2320Email: [email protected] Thank you for listening and remember to stay joyful :)

Yankel Meislin was a teenager from Long Island who's past involved drugs, drug dealing, and gangs, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of hidden cash. Yankel has a crazy and griping story of how he escaped his crazy past life and becoming a life coach and helping others. He went from being a dealer to a healer. This episode has been sponsored by: -Parsha Inspiration: Receive brief inspiration to share at your Shabbos table email ⁠[email protected]⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠parshaknowledge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. - Ohr Olam: An Incredible Hebrew-English Mishnah Berurah that's changing the world! Get a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or visit ⁠⁠https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ohr+olam⁠⁠  Check out their website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ohr-olam.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our new WhatsApp group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch our podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Jewishnjoyful⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can now listen to the podcast on the phone: USA: 605-562-3522 ISRAEL: 972-79-579-5099 To donate ⁠⁠or reach out WhatsApp us at 646-397-2320 or email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Nissim Black is an American-Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Growing up as an hip hop rapper and gangster he has a wild story of how he found God and became an Hassidic Jew. In this episode of Jewish n' Joyful, Nissim shares his powerful story. He also talks about Black Lives Matter, Jewish Music, and some awesome inspiration. This episode ahs been sponsored by: -Parsha Inspiration: Recive brief inspiration and a beautiful Dvar Torah to share at your Shabbos table email [email protected] or visit ⁠⁠⁠parshaknowledge.com⁠⁠⁠. - Ohr Olam: An Incredible Hebrew-English Mishnah Berurah that's changing the world! Get a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or their website ⁠⁠⁠www.ohr-olam.org⁠⁠⁠. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jewishnjoyful Join our new group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj To donate ⁠⁠or reach out message 646-397-2320 or email [email protected]

Lipa Schmeltzer is an American singer, entertainer, and composer. He has an incredible journey and life story. This is a raw and authentic conversation about life, growth, music, art, and healing. This episode has been sponsored by: -Colel Chabad: Download Colel Chabad’s Pushka app and help them support over 47,000 families in need! Visit pushkapp.cc/joyful.  -Parsha Inspiration: Receive brief inspiration to share at your Shabbos table email [email protected] or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠parshaknowledge.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. - Ohr Olam: An Incredible Hebrew-English Mishnah Berurah that's changing the world! Get a copy at your local Jewish bookstore or visit ⁠https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ohr+olam⁠  Check out their website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ohr-olam.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch our podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Jewishnjoyful⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our new WhatsApp group: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can now listen to the podcast on the phone: USA: 605-562-3522 ISRAEL: 972-79-579-5099 To donate ⁠⁠or reach out WhatsApp us at 646-397-2320 or email [email protected]