Popular Shows by Miriam Ribiat

1

Mrs. Leah Paley: The Chapter That Lives On

Jun 17, 2026

50:02

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! When the doctor said, “Your son Yossi failed remission,” his loving mother gently answered, “No, he didn’t fail remission. The chemotherapy failed to achieve remission.” But in a life guided by emunah, did the wording really matter, when they believed the outcome was always in Hashem’s hands? Still, Mrs. Leah Paley and her husband did everything they possibly could to help their son recover from leukemia. As Yossi lay in the hospital, his mother played a recording of the parshah he hoped to lain for his upcoming bar mitzvah, only a few weeks away. But six weeks before that long-awaited day, Yossi returned his holy neshamah to Hashem. The pain was immense. The loneliness was crushing. Back then, there was far less support for bereaved parents. Well-meaning friends cared deeply, but often did not know how to truly help. But Leah worked on herself. She worked deeply on her relationship with Hashem. One major turning point came through a remarkable experience involving a Sefer Torah dedicated l’ilui nishmas her son. Today, the Paleys live in Israel, where Leah found connection with other bereaved mothers. Those relationships became an important source of comfort and understanding in her grief journey. She is also a devoted volunteer for Mayrim, helping support other bereaved mothers. Yossi Paley will never be forgotten. He remains a beloved chapter in the Paley family story. The page may have turned, and life continued forward, but Yossi’s chapter is still deeply loved, remembered, and very much alive in the hearts of his family. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

2

Mrs. Faigie Horowitz: The Silent Grief of Grandparents

May 27, 2026

45:20

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! The Silent Grief of Grandparents Mrs. Faigie Horowitz never planned on starting a support group for grandmothers who lost a married child. But then, within just three days, she met three different women living through that exact loss. One woman could barely speak about it. One was drowning in unbearable pain. And the other quietly said, “I follow my daughter’s lead.” Three grandmothers. Three reactions. One heartbreak that almost no one talks about. That was the moment Mrs. Horowitz realized: this grief needed a space of its own. And when she shared the idea of creating a support group for these grandmothers, the response was immediate: “Yes. This is needed.” In this deeply moving podcast episode, Mrs. Horowitz speaks about the complicated and often invisible grief of grandparents after the loss of a child who left behind a spouse and children. She also shares a powerful idea rooted in research: children who feel connected to their family story are often more resilient, confident, and emotionally grounded. It makes sense.Why do we still tell over Yetzias Mitzrayim generation after generation? Because stories shape identity. Similarly, when a parent dies, children are often left longing to know: What was my parent like? What made them laugh? What mattered to them? Sometimes those conversations feel too painful to ask directly. But through stories, memories, and connection to the larger family narrative, grandchildren can still feel deeply connected to where they come from — and to the parent they lost. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

3

Mrs. Aliza Bulow: Beyond the Silence: Healing After Suicide

Feb 25, 2025

57:49

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! The world of mental health is ever-evolving, deepening our understanding of the brain, the causes of mental illnesses, and their treatments. In this podcast, we share the poignant story of Mrs. Aliza Bulow, whose beloved son Doni tragically died by suicide. Although his loss was devastating, it did not come as a shock. Doni had battled with suicidal thoughts for years, and his mother is grateful for their beautiful, loving relationship and the support she could provide during his struggles. She always hoped for a different outcome but acknowledges that 'He was born when he was supposed to be, and he died when he was supposed to.' If Doni were born today, perhaps better treatments might have been available. However, this was the journey Hashem chose for him. When the rabbi asked, 'What should we tell the community about Doni's cause of death?' both Mrs. Bulow and her husband insisted on honesty, aiming to dismantle the stigma surrounding suicide. It is a mental health issue, and concealing it only complicates the grief. There is no shame in it, and through this podcast, Mrs. Bulow continues her mission to bring this message to light. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

4

Sitting Shivah for the Brother I Didn’t Want to Sit For with Rabbi Naftoli Kassorla לעילוי נשמת אליהו נתן בן הרב חיים יוסף

Mar 22, 2024

44:49

Rabbi Naftoli Kassorla, Speaker, Teacher and Rebbi in Yerushalayim Imagine getting an unexpected call informing you that your brother died. Presumably, you would always remember it as one of the most difficult phone calls of your life. But what happens if you haven’t spoken to that brother or had any kind of real relationship with him in years? For valid reasons Rabbi Kassorla had found it simply impossible to maintain a relationship with him. In fact, Rabbi Kassorla was told that because of this history, he wasn’t even required to sit shivah. But his wife saw that perhaps it wasn’t so clear-cut. She encouraged her husband to re-ask the shailah. And so began a journey of grief that was very far from typical. Since that fateful phone call, Rabbi Kassorla has worked hard on himself, grappling with feelings of grief and confusion. Today, he has so much to share about that journey. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

5

Rabbi Doniel Hexter: Messages of Hope from Our Gedolim

Mar 12, 2025

45:05

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! When Rabbi Doniel Hexter faced the profound grief of losing his 19-year-old son, he embarked on a quest for solace. His search led him to explore how revered gedolim have historically navigated their losses. Rabbi Hexter delved into a wealth of old letters and writings, uncovering a mosaic of grief and resilience that spanned generations. This research culminated in his book, Voices of Consolation, a compelling anthology that offers a rare glimpse into the personal hardships of our spiritual leaders. Despite his naturally reserved demeanor, Rabbi Hexter brings these stories to life in his podcast, providing insightful perspectives on using the wisdom of our gedolim as beacons during life’s darkest moments. His approach not only enriches our understanding of their teachings but also helps us understand that we are human and experiencing pain is normal. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

6

Mrs. Maya Namdar: They Call Her Mrs. Moshiach

Feb 12, 2025

50:19

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Why was there a knock on the door at 1 a.m.? This could only mean something bad. But what? Mrs. Namdar could never have imagined that the Hatzolah personnel standing at her door were there to tell her the unthinkable: a drunk driver, Liel, no pulse. All she remembers is screaming, “NO! How can this be? It can’t be!” And so began her journey of grief—a path filled with immense pain. Yet, with her natural optimism, Maya shares how she began searching for answers. One place her search led her was to a deeper understanding of Moshiach. As she yearns for His arrival, she holds on tightly, saying, “He is coming.” “People make fun of me,” she admits. “I’ve even been called Mrs. Moshiach. But that’s okay. This is the only way I can survive. And I believe. I truly believe YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

7

Mrs. Yitta Miriam Weiss: I’m Not Just a Grandmother, I Am THE Grandmother

Jan 29, 2025

37:25

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Mrs. Yitta Miriam Weiss is a bereaved Bobby. The pain of losing a grandchild is profound, whether you are a Grandma, Bubby, Savta, or anything else. Mrs. Weiss eloquently depicts the ache of missing her grandchild. She speaks powerfully about walking the tightrope of her own grief while also supporting her children in theirs. A grandmother may have many other grandchildren, but this podcast raises an important awareness: no matter how many grandchildren a person may have, the loss of one is the loss of an entire world, and it hurts deeply. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

8

Mrs. Elissa Felder: What Comes Next: For Them and For Us

Jan 15, 2025

46:31

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Grief can be an overwhelming journey, but the enduring connections we hold with our loved ones can provide us with profound understanding and healing. Join us for a deeply moving conversation with Mrs. Elissa Felder, who shares the intimate story of her infant son Sam's passing 35 years ago. Her poignant recount of the brief yet impactful time with Sam, who faced severe medical challenges, reveals how these deep bonds transcend time and grief. Elissa insights into maintaining this connection with Sam illuminate the eternal nature of love and loss.We also explore the spiritual dimensions of life and death, focusing on the concept of the neshama, or soul, and its interplay with the physical body. Using metaphors like the glass blower, we delve into how the divine breath infuses us with life and purpose. Our conversation touches on traditional practices surrounding death, such as the significance of closing the eyes and mouth, which underscore the sacred nature of the body's journey. By examining these spiritual insights, we are reminded of the urgency to live life fully, cherishing the vessels that carry our souls.Finally, Elissa shares her personal path to healing and the lessons she learned from the deaths of her son and her mother. Through therapy and storytelling, she has found ways to keep their memories alive while supporting others on their grief journeys. Her reflections on finding meaning in suffering and the role divine intervention played in her experiences offer a source of comfort and strength to listeners who may be grappling with their own losses. Tune in to discover how these sacred passages from life to death can foster resilience and compassion. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

9

Mrs. Devorie Kreiman: Grief’s Unbearable Math

Jan 1, 2025

50:16

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Hear the heartfelt reflections of Mrs. Devorie Kreiman, a mother whose story is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Mrs. Kreiman shares her profound experiences of loss and resilience as she navigates the challenges of living with the knowledge of a rare mitochondrial disorder affecting her family. Through unimaginable grief and the joy of raising healthy children, she offers insights into the balance between personal choices and divine will, shedding light on the spiritual journey that accompanies such trials.Our discussion takes a deep dive into the complex emotions tied to parental grief and the societal pressures surrounding mourning. Mrs. Kreiman opens up about the struggle to reconcile appearances with internal turmoil, revealing how societal expectations often clash with the rawness of personal loss. Her candid sharing of personal stories and interactions with others who have faced similar tragedies highlights the deeply personal and evolving nature of grief, emphasizing the need for community support and the transformative power of accepting life's challenges.The conversation rounds off with a focus on healing and spiritual growth, where Mrs. Kreiman reflects on the importance of embracing support systems, such as therapy or medication, and the strength found in seeking help. She discusses the metaphor of "Lech Lecha" from the Torah, encouraging listeners to trust their unique paths and harness the power of resilience through everyday decisions. This episode is a testament to the potential for spiritual and personal growth, reminding us of the profound lessons in nurturing and acceptance that can emerge from adversity. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

10

Can You Please Tell Me What to Say? with Mrs. Chumi Friedman

Jun 17, 2024

50:01

Chumi FriedmanDirector of HUG, a division of A Time for those who have experienced perinatal or infant loss · My sister-in-law had a stillborn. The one-year mark is coming up. Should I say something to her? · My brother lost an eleven-year-old son. But he was very special-needs. His bar mitzvah is coming up; they wouldn’t have made a real celebration anyway. Should I say something? · Does it make sense that my sister-in-law doesn’t want to talk about her loss while my brother-in-law wants to talk nonstop? I thought men are more reticent. · Is it better to say something cliché or just to say nothing? These questions and more are posed to Mrs. Chumi Friedman all the time. There is no “one-answer-fits-all” here. She doesn’t know the person you are wondering about. But you do. Come listen and hopefully gain some valuable insights. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

11

Apart from Her Family: When Grief is Complicated By Shira Bamberger (name has been changed) לעילוי נשמת חנניה בן גבריאל

May 27, 2024

42:33

Some of the podcasts that receive the most feedback are those that delve into complex relationships. It might seem that if a relationship is challenging or even painful, losing a loved one within that dynamic wouldn't be as difficult or would provide a measure of relief. However, more often than not, that assumption doesn't hold true. In fact, the loss of a loved one within a difficult relationship can be even harder to navigate than when someone is in a typical relationship. Shira had complicated relationships with much of her family. But her father was always her supporter and cheerleader. The news of his illness was completely devastating for her, and it made the dynamics with her siblings more complicated than ever. Sometimes she felt as if they made decisions about her father’s treatment just to spite her. It was so hard and so hurtful. After his petirah she sat shivah by herself, without her family. Now she holds onto the memories of the special moments she had with her father – the one thing that no one can take away from her. Grief hurts. But as crazy as it sounds, my hope is that the only kind of grief anyone should ever experience is grief from losing someone within a normal, beautiful relationship. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

12

Apart from Her Family: When Grief is Complicated By Shira Bamberger (name has been changed)

May 6, 2024

42:15

Some of the podcasts that receive the most feedback are those that delve into complex relationships. It might seem that if a relationship is challenging or even painful, losing a loved one within that dynamic wouldn't be as difficult or would provide a measure of relief. However, more often than not, that assumption doesn't hold true. In fact, the loss of a loved one within a difficult relationship can be even harder to navigate than when someone is in a typical relationship. Shira had complicated relationships with much of her family. But her father was always her supporter and cheerleader. The news of his illness was completely devastating for her, and it made the dynamics with her siblings more complicated than ever. Sometimes she felt as if they made decisions about her father’s treatment just to spite her. It was so hard and so hurtful. After his petirah she sat shivah by herself, without her family. Now she holds onto the memories of the special moments she had with her father – the one thing that no one can take away from her. Grief hurts. But as crazy as it sounds, my hope is that the only kind of grief anyone should ever experience is grief from losing someone within a normal, beautiful relationship. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

13

No Such Thing as a Perfect Relationship with Mrs. Esther Gendelman,

May 13, 2024

50:11

Mrs. Esther Gendelman, MS, LPC, ACSMrs. Esther Gendelman’s passion is to help people foster meaningful relationships. There is no such thing as a perfect person, which means there’s also no such thing as a perfect relationship, although some relationships feel rock solid. Yet loss can impact even the strongest relationships with ripples of uncertainty.A mother can feel so confused as she watches her daughter navigate the pain of losing a child.Where is her place in all this? And does her pain as a grandmother count at all? Similarly, after a wife loses a parent, her husband may be confused by her changes in behavior and mood swings. Loss affects not only immediate family members but also extends its reach to siblings,neighbors, and friends.In the wake of profound loss, individuals may find themselves navigating uncharted territory in their relationships. Moreover, if relationships were already strained before the loss, the added burden can exacerbate existing struggles.Listen to Mrs. Gendelman as she speaks with much wisdom and understanding. Relationships can be complicated. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be wonderful. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

14

Killed for being Jewish with Mr. Hillel Fuld

Apr 15, 2024

18:29

Hillel Fuld was preparing for Yom Kippur. Although he had heard the news about a terror attack in the neighborhood where his brother lived, he didn’t know that his brother was the victim. Because… well, these things only happen to other people. Except that sometimes they can happen to us. During this time, when our hearts are with our brothers in Eretz Yisrael, when we all need to work on our emunah and we wonder why the world hates us, Mr. Fuld reminds us that halachah b’yaduah she’Eisav sonei l’Yaakov. We can’t change that. But we can recognize that wherever we may find ourselves, we need to be absolutely committed to making a Kiddush Hashem. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

15

Chanie Delman, LCSW, PMH-C: No Such Thing as Too Short to Matter

May 7, 2025

50:12

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Mrs. Chanie Delman is an exceptionally sympathetic person, deeply attuned to the pain of losing a baby who was born incompatible with life. She understands how a parent may struggle with this loss — not only with their own grief but also with the conflicting messages they may receive from family, friends, and even their own inner voices telling them, "It isn’t so bad." Mrs. Delman, who has worked with hundreds of women and couples facing this kind of loss, gently encourages parents with messages of validation and support. In this podcast, she shares important guidance on how to explain your needs to your spouse, how to seek support from family members and friends, and how to avoid being so hard on yourself after experiencing such a devastating loss. Chanie also speaks about the difference between pity and empathy — how most people long for empathy but deeply resent pity. She helps us understand how to become vessels of genuine empathy, showing real, heartfelt care for those going through such a difficult time. But perhaps the most powerful lesson is Chanie herself — a living example of compassion and understanding for those who have endured the heartbreaking loss of a stillborn or a baby who lived only a few minutes. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

16

Lessons from the Paper Menshies with Mrs. Mindy Blumenfeld, LCSW לעילוי נשמת שמעון הלל בן חיים יצחק אייזיק

Mar 18, 2024

43:24

Mrs. Mindy Blumenfeld, LCSWMrs. Mindy Blumenfeld is positive and upbeat. She is smiley, and she makes you smile.You would never know that she lost her youngest son Hillel to cancer. Although she hasbeen profoundly impacted by her loss, she won’t let the pain bring her down intonegativity.She started writing about Hillel as a means of finding comfort. But really, her journeywith writing about her son began with the puppets she created when Hillel was firstdiagnosed at age six. Faced with the challenge of keeping him occupied during difficulttreatments, she created cute little puppets. These whimsical characters not onlyprovided a distraction for Hillel but also became a source of comfort throughout hisbattle, even during his relapse at the age of eleven and his subsequent years of illnessuntil he succumbed at age sixteen.While initially crafted for one young child, these puppets have surpassed their originalpurpose. They are now featured in a book designed to teach children about facingchallenges, and surprisingly, they have become valuable teachers for adults as well.The story of these endearing puppets has also earned a place on the Relief from Griefpodcast. Mrs. Blumenfeld&#39;s resilience and creativity shine through, turning a personal journey of pain into a story that just might make you smile.Click here to order the book https://www.israelbookshoppublications.com/store/pc/Hillel-and-the-Paper-Menschies-PRE-ORDER-29p10056.htm https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

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Rabbi Aaron Brode

Mar 4, 2024

28:57

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Twice in one year with Mrs. Barbara Bensoussan

Feb 19, 2024

33:50

Mrs. Barbara Bensoussan Novelist and well-known contributor to frum publications The young mother checked in to the hospital to have a baby. Nothing out of the ordinary. But this time, nothing went as expected. Not many people die from childbirth today, but Mrs. Benssousan’s daughter Miriam did. When her birth experience went awry, the doctors worked all night, desperately trying to ensure a happy outcome. They saved the baby. But the mother remained in a coma for the next four months until she passed away. This precious newborn never got to know her mother. Her two older sisters have, at best, only hazy memories. And then, before the year of aveilus was done, tragedy struck again. Mrs. Benssousan’s six-year-old grandson came down with what appeared to be a simple infection. But complications set in. For six months he fought for his life before succumbing. Yet, despite her losses, Barabara is such a positive person. She clings to her emunah. And she clings to doing what is right. She has been through a lot and she has a lot to offer. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

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My Brother Tuli with Mrs. Soroh Leah (Rickman) Cohen

Feb 5, 2024

42:19

My Brother TuliMrs. Soroh Leah (Rickman) Cohen The Getting Used to Having a Pebble in Your Shoe podcast with Rabbi Benjy Rickman has gotten many hundreds of views. If you listen, you will understand why. When his son Tuli passed away, his world ended. The pain was so intense, it seemed to him that life must have stopped for the whole world. How could life move forward when his beloved son had died? But life did move forward, and Rabbi Rickman learned how to move forward with his pain, role-modeling for his family how to do so as well. And then Hashem blessed the family with a simchah. It was with much gratitude and joy that they celebrated the engagement and wedding of their daughter Soroh Leah. Like her father, Soroh Leah Rickman, now Cohen, has so much to share, but this time from the perspective of one who lost a sibling. She was so close to Tuli. She missed him like crazy. He wasn’t even at her wedding. But her husband is getting to know the brother-in-law he never met. Listening to Mrs. Cohen’s experiences and insights will give listeners a peek into what it can be like for those who lost a sibling. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

20

The Exercising Rebbetzin with Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin לעילוי נשמת חיים צבי בן אברהם יצחק

Jan 22, 2024

42:13

Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin Rav of Adas Aish Kodesh in Manchester England She was Rebbetzin Rubin, but she was known as Chaiky. She had a way with people. Everyone who knew her felt loved and embraced by her – because she loved life, and she loved the people in her life. Whether it was her congregants or the ladies from the exercise class she gave, they all felt how deeply she cared. Chaiky was a powerhouse of a person. She was always on the go, yet somehow had time for everyone. She was on the phone with her grandson Pinny one day, but she needed to leave to be on time for her exercise class. She handed the phone to her husband and told him, “Here, you talk to Pinny.” And then she died. Her husband, a choshuve rav and mechanech, introduces himself as Chaiky’s husband. Because to him that is who he is. He is everything because of his wife. It is four years now since her petirah. He says, “The searing pain has diminished somewhat, but it hasn’t disappeared. I live with it always.” Yet through his pain he talks about accepting difficult nisyonos. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

21

What the Torah Has to Say with Rabbi Henoch Plotnik

Jan 9, 2024

52:33

Rabbi Henoch Plotnik Rosh Mesivta of Kesser Yonah, well-known speaker, actively involved with LINKS The Torah recognizes the pain of loss, and the Torah gives us guidelines for navigating loss with the laws of shivah and aveilus, many of which correspond to the state of the neshamah of the niftar. There is much that we deduce about loss from the Torah, whether from Avraham Avinu, Aharon HaKohen or Dovid HaMelech. Rabbi Plotnik talks to us about loss through the lens of the Torah, sharing stories past and present to give perspective. Rabbi Plotnik acknowledges that loss is so painful. A he talks about strengthening emunah and learning from those who walked the path ahead of us. He is known to be an inspiring speaker; when you listen to this episode, you will understand why. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

22

Everlasting Love in Seven Weeks with Mrs. Devorah Schendler,

Dec 25, 2023

35:48

Mrs. Devorah Schendler, author of Compatible with Life Giving birth to a stillborn baby was so painful. Yet looking back, Mrs. Devorah Schendler saw how that experience strengthened her emunah muscle for the next great challenge – giving birth to a baby diagnosed with Trisomy-13, a syndrome that is incompatible with life. For seven-and-a-half weeks, the Schendlers threw themselves into taking care of their sick baby. At the same time, they had children at home who also needed their mommy; Mrs. Schendler found herself engaged in a balancing act that was confusing and sometimes very difficult. Even when the baby was home, he always came first, yet the children loved him. His petirah was hard on the entire family. Not too long ago, the Schendlers welcomed a beautiful baby girl into their family. She is a cherished treasure that no one in the family takes for granted. And her name? Well, it is a beautiful name that describes exactly what the family went through. But to hear what it is, you need to first listen to Devorah share her story. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

23

Standing Shivah לעילוי נשמת ציפא רבקה בת ברוך

Dec 11, 2023

30:37

Mrs. Rachel Stein Prolific author, most recently of the book Uplift She was a young mother with a houseful of children, and at this difficult time in her life, she felt torn in too many directions. Should she stay with her sick and dying mother or go home to her sick children who need a mommy to care for them? It seemed as if her mother was holding her own, so she left the hospital to be with her children for a bit. While still in the car on the way home, she got the call. Her mother had died. Alone in the hospital without her only child at her side. Rachel was very hard on herself. How could she have left her mother? What had she been thinking? It took some time until eventually she realized that what had happened hadn’t been in her control. Nothing is. Hashem orchestrates each event so that they happen just the way they are supposed to. And Rachel believes her mother was somehow waiting for her daughter to leave before she died. She was protecting her little girl until the last moment. She did take the lessons of her experience with her. Many years later when her elderly father-in-law was dying, she went to great lengths so that her husband wouldn’t miss the petirah. With a flurry of last-minute arrangements, she and her husband were present when her father-in-law passed away. She obviously didn’t sit shivah for her father-in-law. But she “stood” shivah. Because we can lose people we love but don’t have the halachos of an aveil. It was a different journey than when she lost her mother. But it was a journey of loss nonetheless. In her calm way, Mrs. Rachel Stein offers clarity and understanding about different kinds of loss and grief. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

24

Where are You, Dovi? With Mrs. Feige Steinmetz Mother of Dovi Steinmetz, who perished in the Meron tragedy

Nov 27, 2023

49:42

Mrs. Feige Steinmetz Mother of Dovi Steinmetz, who perished in the Meron tragedy Lag Ba’Omer taf shin peh aleph (2021) is seared into our collective Jewish memory. It was on that day that a stampede took place in Meron, resulting in death and injury for many people. At first it seemed that Dovi was safe. Then his parents were unsure. And then it was confirmed: Dovi had been killed in Meron. How does a mother handle such news? Mrs. Steinmetz was in shock. It made no sense. How could it be? The Steinmetzes rushed to get to Eretz Yisrael. But in Ben Gurion airport the security personnel gave them a hard time, still particular about Covid restrictions. Come listen to this strong woman. Hear her pain and her chizzuk. Hear the realness in her words and about her decision to be okay despite not being okay. Because after losing a child, a mother will never be the same.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

25

Mrs. Sarah Guigue : Filling the Emunah Balloon

Nov 12, 2025

1:07:43

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! This episode begins with Miriam Ribiat sharing about her newly released book, Forever in Our Hearts. Sarah immediately lights up. “Yes—I love that title!” she exclaims. “You see, I lost my baby. She was stillborn in my ninth month. But she’s alive forever inside of me. I light a Shabbos candle for her and bake challah l’iluy nishmas her. So yes, she may not be alive in this world, but she’s alive forever in my heart.” Sarah opens up about her journey through pregnancy, the devastating news of a very sick baby, and her growing emunah as she faced Hashem’s plan. She speaks about the deep pain, the isolation, and the strength it took to rise again. Listen as Sarah shares how she slowly rebuilt her connection with Hashem—one tefillah, one step, one breath at a time. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

26

Mrs. Shoshana Rieber: The Purple Lady

Jul 8, 2026

1:06:58

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Dovid was just 17 days away from his bar mitzvah. One night, his mother went in to check on him before she went to sleep. "Rest in peace," she said as she straightened his blanket. What? Why would she say those words? Because perhaps, deep down, she sensed that he was already no longer alive. The next morning, they discovered that Dovid had returned his neshamah during the night. It was shocking. It was unimaginable. But this was now their new reality. It has been about 21 years since Dovid was niftar. Yet Dovid is still very much alive in their home and in their hearts. Mrs. Rieber has dedicated her life to helping other bereaved parents. She travels wherever she is needed, offering comfort and chizuk to those walking the painful journey she knows so well. At one point, someone referred to her as "the lady who was wearing purple." Ever since, she has made sure to wear something purple every day. There has to be a touch of purple, because she is now known as the Purple Lady. While she spends her days strengthening others, she continues to turn to Hashem for her own strength and for a constant nechamah. "No one is alone," she says. "No one is alone. But each person has to make the decision to reach out and find support." YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

27

Rabbi Leo Dee: What if this is the way Hashem wanted it to be?

Mar 18, 2026

45:35

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! After Rabbi Leo Dee lost his wife and two daughters in a terrorist attack, people asked many “what if” questions. What if you hadn’t moved from England? What if the whole family had been in one car? “Every one of those what-ifs went through my mind many times,” he shares. But then another question emerged:What if this is the way Hashem wanted it? Obviously this is the way it was meant to be.Does it hurt? Terribly.But it wasn’t a mistake. Rabbi Dee made the conscious choice not to remain trapped in his grief, forgetting those around him. His three surviving children still needed their father. And so, through tears and pain, he told them: “We just lived Chapter One of our lives. Now we turn the page to Chapter Two.” There may always be pain.But they will live with as much simcha as they can. Is it always easy? No.Is it possible? Yes. Do you want to hear how? Click below. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

28

Mrs. Chaya Lasson: No Regrets Left in the Room

Mar 5, 2026

57:15

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! No Regrets Left in the Room Mrs. Chaya Lasson didn’t set out to become a voice for end-of-life care. But somewhere along the way, she stepped into a role she came to deeply love — director of Bridges Palliative Care. In many frum circles, the word hospice carries weight. It feels final. Frightening. Almost like surrender. But Chaya gently challenges that perception. Hospice, she explains, is not about giving up. It’s about comfort. About dignity. About bringing medical expertise into a moment when suffering can be eased. And often, when a patient becomes more comfortable, something shifts. Strength returns. Sometimes even enough to resume curative treatment. Her work isn’t only medical. It’s legacy work. She guides families through difficult conversations — not only about pain and comfort, but about the practical realities we tend to avoid: DNRs, advance directives, medical power of attorney, wills. Conversations that feel overwhelming. Or even frightening. Not morbid — but real. So that when the time comes, there are fewer unspoken words. Fewer rushed decisions. And fewer regrets left sitting in the room. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

29

Mr. Rob Airley: Into A Burning Building

Feb 18, 2026

43:56

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Mr. Rob Airley looks at a picture of his son, Binyamin, and asks the question no parent should ever have to ask: Why? Why did you run into that burning building? But he also knows the answer. Binyamin had always put others first. Chesed wasn’t something he did—it was who he was. Even though he didn’t have to go in, he ran forward to help save his fellow soldiers. There were hidden terrorists inside the building. Binyamin was killed. October 7th changed the world. For chayalim—and for the parents of chayalim—fear and anxiety took on a new meaning. So did bravery. Binyamin served in a combat unit, and his parents were deeply proud of him, even as they lived with constant fear. Today, the Airley family is preparing to send their next son to fight for Klal Yisrael. In this episode, we hear Binyamin’s story and learn about Beit Binyamin—the legacy that ensures his life continues to inspire. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

30

Mrs. Ester Katz Silvers: A Train Crash in the ’60s

Feb 4, 2026

30:08

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! It was the 1960s, in Wichita, Kansas. Back then, it was a small town with very few Jews, and the Jewish families stuck together as a close-knit community. One morning, Ester walked into the kitchen and saw her parents sitting at the table with an open newspaper between them. They were both looking at her — the kind of look that silently says, you tell her. “What happened?” Ester asked. “There was an accident,” her parents said. “A car–train accident. Four boys were killed.” One of them was a boy who worked in her father’s store — just two years older than Esther. In those days, no one talked about death. You didn’t process it. You didn’t sit with it. You simply went on. And so Esther went on too. Sometimes she thought about the boy, but she told herself to move forward, just like everyone else did. It wasn’t until many years later, when Ester wrote her first book, that she found herself writing about a train accident — slowly, unknowingly processing a loss that had stayed with her for over twenty years. Life later brought Ester to Shilo, in Eretz Yisroel, where she and her family were forced to face death again — this time through terror. Her children lost friends. Madrichim were niftar. Loss was no longer distant or unnamed. And this time, Ester did not turn away. Her parting message is simple: let them talk. Today, we have far more resources and support than in the past — but the most important thing remains the same. Children need space to speak, to ask, to remember, and to be heard. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

31

Mrs. Miram Israeli: Songs Of Strength

Jan 14, 2026

37:39

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Many of us know the song Ima Tagidi Li. It’s sung in moments of joy, trust, and quiet faith. What most people don’t know is that Mrs. Miriam Israeli wrote this song years earlier, after the birth of her oldest daughter — when her family was still growing, when children were being added one by one — a time when the thought that she would one day bury a child simply did not exist. But the unthinkable eventually became her reality. Throughout his illness, and after his petirah, Mrs. Israeli continued to compose and sing — songs of hope, songs of emunah. Because when a parent loses a child, the only way to keep going is with emunah. Miriam’s emunah and bitachon had been deeply ingrained in her from her parents. In this episode, Miriam shares her journey with honesty and gentleness — what it means to keep believing, to keep living, and to keep singing, even after the unthinkable has happened. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

32

Mrs. Feige Steinmetz: Asking why—and learning to accept that some answers never come.

Jan 7, 2026

53:45

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Do you remember where you were that Thursday night, Lag BaOmer, almost five years ago, when the stampede happened in Meron? Forty-five kedoshim were killed. And Dovi Steinmetz was one of them. That night, Feige Steinmetz stayed awake, frantic, trying to reach her son. She called him over one hundred times. “Dovi, if you don’t call me back, I’ll kill you,” she said—half joking, half desperate, like only a mother can be. But he couldn’t call back. He had already been niftar. And so began Feige’s journey through grief. She spent time searching for answers—meeting with gedolim, asking questions, hoping to understand why. Eventually, she came to a painful acceptance: some questions will never be answered. But her son is never far from her heart. “Grief is always with me,” Feigie says. “Some days I tell it, Okay, today you’re in control. And other days, I tell it, Today, I’m taking control back.” In this episode, listen to a bereaved mother share her story— a story filled with deep pain, intense love, and quiet growth. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

33

Mrs.Chaya Teldon: A minute and Forever

Dec 24, 2025

48:11

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Grief can feel like a minute and forever. In this episode, a mother shares her journey with a son who lived with cystic fibrosis, underwent a double lung transplant, celebrated his bar mitzvah, and was niftar shortly after. We talk about the quiet choices that shape a family in loss: keeping life fair for siblings during endless hospital stays, preserving normalcy with schoolwork and chores, and refusing to erase a child’s presence from the home. She shares simple line,that is anything but simple. It is not bad, it’s sad; hold pain and joy in the same heart. She talks about how yearly milestones, and daily tefillah can hold you when answers can’t. For those unsure where to begin, she offers small, doable steps: such as saying a perek of Tehillim tied to a child’s age, and treating each mitzvah as a deposit in a loved one’s “account.” Along the way, her husband’s book, Eight Paths of Purpose, emerges as a gentle field guide for hard seasons. If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who might need it, subscribe for more meaningful stories, and leave a review so others can find us. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

34

Mrs. Elisheva Stein: To Isaac, Chavi, and Barry — With Love, Always.

Dec 10, 2025

57:31

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! You may have read her story in Ami Magazine — the kind of story that supposedly “doesn’t happen.” But it did. To Elisheva Stein. Losing two children and a husband is a reality most people can’t even imagine, let alone believe could truly happen. And yet, when you speak to Elisheva, she tells you something so simple, so startling: “I buy every book. I read. Books on emunah, books on Tehillim… I just try to live with joy, to live connected to Hashem.” Sometimes she admits that she looks upward and asks her own neshama, “Why did you agree to all this?” But listening to Elisheva doesn’t pull you down. It lifts you. It makes you realize how extraordinary Klal Yisroel is — how we move through the deepest pain with dignity, faith, and quiet strength. So come listen to Elisheva. Be moved. Be strengthened. But don’t call her “inspirational.” Because she’ll tell you, “What should I do? I wasn’t given a choice. So I try to do my best with what Hashem gave me.” Sorry, Elisheva… but to me, that is inspirational. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

35

Mrs. Sarah Rosner: A Mother’s Love: Fierce, Faithful, Forever

Nov 26, 2025

50:05

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Yossi was thriving in his yeshiva in Florida. But like any bochur, he was ready for bein hazmanim. Within the first few days of being home, though, his father noticed that Yossi was walking strangely. And after that, things seemed to get worse and worse. It was during COVID, and getting an appointment with a specialized pediatric neurologist was not easy. But, as only a mother can, Sarah called one doctor after another, persevering until she managed to get Yosef seen by a doctor at CHOP Hospital. Once he was there, things declined rapidly. The diagnosis of a brain tumor was not a surprise—but what shocked everyone was how quickly Yosef was deteriorating. This young, healthy teenage boy, who had barely ever caught a cold, was suddenly losing all function. Sarah was the most devoted mother, lovingly caring for her son through it all. It has now been three years since his petirah. Sarah continues to work on deepening her connection to Hashem, understanding the mind-body connection, and supporting others who find themselves in harrowing situations. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

36

Esther Goldstein, LCSW: Human First, Therapist Second

Mar 26, 2025

52:13

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Esther Goldstein radiates empathy. Esther’s childhood experiences with grief shaped the path her life took, and now as a highly sought-after therapist, her primary desire is to help her clients navigate their grief.Esther and I discuss the importance of connecting with clients on a personal level. Being a therapist isn't only about knowing the clinical facts and what the research says; it's about making genuine connections and respecting each other's experiences and personalities.Esther talks about transparency—being open about what you're experiencing - even with your children. It's okay to tell your children, "I'm a bit anxious about something, but I will work through it. You don’t have to worry." Speaking of transparency… come listen to Esther share her own experiences in taking a client role instead of a therapist role when she realized she would benefit from a therapist's help. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

37

Rabbi Shalom Hammer : Gila’s Way, Saving Lives

Oct 29, 2025

51:02

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Gila Hammer was a bright light who drew everyone in with her warmth and kindness. When she died from suicide at just 18 years old, her father, Rabbi Shalom Hammer, founded Gila’s Way — a nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention and education. As Rabbi Hammer says, “The only way I know to confront death is by helping to save lives.” In this moving episode, Rabbi Hammer shares his story — from the tragedy that changed his life to his work supporting traumatized IDF soldiers — and how he channels his pain into purpose through Gila’s Way, bringing awareness, hope, and healing to others. To find out more about Gila's Way you can visit the website at: Gilasway.com To speak to Rabbi Hammer or to schedule a speaking tour you can email: [email protected] YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

38

Yaffa Dyckman, LCSW: Recognizing Life’s Optical Illusion

Sep 25, 2025

41:27

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! The morning after her baby passed away, Yaffa looked out the window and saw the sun shining. She couldn’t understand how the sun can shine when there was an empty crib in her home and baby clothes that would never be worn again. With time and a lot of inner work, she and her husband came to a new perspective. Yaffa describes life as an optical illusion: when you focus on only one part of the picture, it can hurt unbearably. But when you pull back and the picture shifts you can see something greater at play. Instead of feeling that they “lost” their son, they came to realize that they had gained 14 precious months with him. As Yaffa says, it is better to have had him for that time than for him never to have been born. Today, Yaffa is an LCSW who works extensively with clients on their trauma. She shares with us how trauma affects the body and mind—and how recognizing when you’re “stuck” can be the first step toward healing. With the right communication skills and openness to accept help or support from organizations, people can move forward in ways they never imagined. Yaffa misses her baby, who would be around 22 years old today. She feels the pain at times, but she doesn’t allow herself to stay stuck there. Instead, she chooses to look for faith and continue forward, finding the light in life even through loss. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

39

Mrs. Devorah Rosenfeld: My Special Sister Chanie

Sep 10, 2025

51:29

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Devorah was just five years old when she finally became a big sister. She adored her tiny newborn sibling, swaddled in pink, and stepped naturally into the role of the best big sister. At first, Devorah didn’t think it was unusual that her house was filled with nurses and therapists coming and going. To her, that was simply what a newborn needed. But as she grew older and noticed her friends’ relationships with their sisters, she realized that her own little sister, Chanie, was different. The things her friends did with their siblings were things she would never be able to do with Chanie—because Chanie was born with special needs. Still, Devorah's love never dimmed. She cared for Chanie, played with her, and shared her life with her. Their bond was unshakable. When Chanie was sick and in the hospital, Devorah spent as much time by her side as she could. Chanie would call, “Devorah, when are you coming?” And Devorah always came. Although their parents were equally dedicated, the sisterly connection between Devorah and Chanie was uniquely powerful. And when Chanie was niftar, Devorah was devastated. They may never have done the same things as other sisters, but their fierce love was beyond comparison. Today, Devorah’s home still holds Chanie’s presence. Pictures of her sister hang on the fridge. And when Devorah lifts her baby daughter—named Chanie—she whispers, “You are named after this special sister of mine. You share her name. You have a glorious namesake.” YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

40

Rabbi Akiva Sutofsky: The Lump in His Throat

Aug 27, 2025

49:03

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Rabbi Akiva Sutofsky was living a fulfilling life — a beloved school therapist, a devoted father, and especially close to his youngest son, Yitzy. One day, Yitzy complained of a sore throat. When he looked in the mirror with a flashlight, he noticed a large lump. The doctor diagnosed it as an infection and prescribed antibiotics — but they didn’t help. Nor did the next round. And so, the Sutofsky family’s routine life was turned upside down as they began the harrowing journey of cancer with their beloved son and brother, Yitzy. Yitzy was an intuitive, kind-hearted boy who easily connected with others. The entire community rallied around him, davening with love and urgency. He celebrated his bar mitzvah in a shul in Philadelphia, not far from the hospital where he was receiving treatment. And then, he began to speak with startling spiritual clarity: “Don’t be sad,” he would say. “My mission in this world is coming to an end. But if you ever feel down, do mitzvos and daven for my neshama. Maybe that will help ease your pain.” Yitzy was niftar surrounded by his family. The entire community mourned with them, deeply impacted by his brief but powerful life. In this episode, Rabbi Sutofsky shares the story of Yitzy’s illness and petirah, as well as the pain, faith, and growth that emerged from his grief. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

41

Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg: Father and Rabbi: A Wearer of Two Hats

Aug 13, 2025

57:21

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! For many years, Rabbi Ginzberg supported families grieving the loss of a child. Then it happened to him. His daughter, Sarala, became ill and was nifteres at the age of seventeen. He reflects on the profound difference between being a supportive spectator and becoming an active participant in grief. And yet, even in the depths of his pain, he discovered what can help ease it. Yes, he misses her deeply. Yes, he wishes she had married and built a family like her friends. But he has found ways to stay connected to her—by doing what he can for her neshamah. In some ways, he says, he feels more connected to Sarala than to his living children whom he can see and speak to. In this episode, Rabbi Ginzberg shares how he finds nechamah through the words of gedolim and talmidei chachamim, and how we can lean into the ways our leaders have dealt with painful loss. After all, we are human and will feel the pain—but we also know that support exists in a Torahdik way. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

42

Dr. Hindie M. Klein: Remembering Aryeh Zev ben Nissan Yehudah – A Mother’s Grief, Forty Years Later

Jul 30, 2025

34:59

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! He was a precious little boy, born with cystic fibrosis. For nine and a half years, Aryeh Zev lived a life full of struggle — but also full of determination, and friendship. Despite frequent hospital trips, he went to school and built strong friendships. He even had a special connection with the Ribnitzer Rebbe, who recognized the holiness of his neshamah. Now, forty years later, Dr. Hindie M. Klein’s grandchild just got married. At the Sheva Brachos, they spoke about Aryeh Zev — because his memory is still alive. His parents never let go of their beloved son’s presence in their lives. In this deeply honest episode, Dr. Hindie M. Klein shares how she and her husband each grieved in their own way — and how they learned to respect one another’s needs. While they were able to do big projects l’iluy nishmas their son, she reminds us that quiet acts of tzedakah or private mitzvos done at home are just as meaningful. And if you ever want to see the shoes of a little nine-year-old boy who left a huge imprint on the world — you can knock on Dr. Klein’s door. She still knows exactly where they are. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

43

Adina Kaplan: Saying Goodbye to My Best Friend

Jun 11, 2025

50:23

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! Adina Kaplan was best friends with Miriam Holman since they were in diapers. While they didn’t quite get along as babies, as they grew older, they became close friends, forming a strong bond that carried them through elementary school, high school, seminary, and beyond. When Adina was just 18 years old, Miriam was diagnosed with a terrible illness. Adina became a tremendous source of support for Miriam, helping her navigate the fears and unknown that came with her diagnosis. Three years after Miriam’s diagnosis, she was hospitalized, and Adina’s life changed forever. Her days revolved around Miriam’s wellbeing. She was by her side day in and day out, always trying to do more and make ease Miriam’s pain. Unfortunately, Miriam passed away a few months later, leaving Adina grieving the loss of her dearest friend. When Adina got married a year and a half later, it was very hard for her to process that Miriam wouldn’t be there to celebrate her big day. She couldn’t believe her husband would never meet her best friend.Adina, along with Miriam’s family and friends, keeps Miriam’s memory alive. They talk about her, reminiscing on special times, commemorate her yahrtzeit together, and hold tight to the joy Miriam brought into the world.Adina remains closely connected to the Holmans, and they treasure their relationship with their daughter’s dear friend.Today, Adina runs Mayrim in Eretz Yisroel, continuing Miriam’s legacy by supporting bereaved families and helping them through their grief. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

44

Mrs. Miriam Kahn: My Doubly Special Son

May 21, 2025

1:04:16

Your feedback is what keeps us going. Whether it’s positive, constructive, or somewhere in between — we appreciate it all. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or recommendations for our podcast, please share them with us! "My son Zev was special." It’s a sentiment many bereaved parents will share about their child who was niftar. But Zevi wasn’t just special because of his love for people and life, his love for shul, and his intuitive, on-target perceptions. He was special because he was special needs.His mother, Miriam Kahn, dedicated her life to her beloved Zev. Whatever she could do for him, she did—and somehow, whatever she couldn’t do for him, she also did. Zev was very young when his parents divorced, but somehow, he understood that his mother could use space and love. And he gave it to her. He wasn’t just beloved to his mother, but to his sisters as well. Zev was a valuable and delicious part of their lives. And as his sisters married and became mothers, their children were never embarrassed or uncomfortable around their Uncle Zev—because he was Zev. When Zev was in his upper 20s, living at home wasn’t possible for him anymore. It was with great sadness and a lot of tears that she moved him into a home. But she constantly visited him and continued to shower him with love. And now that she had some time to herself, she went on her first vacation since Zev was born. It was there, in the hotel early one morning, that she got a phone call from the home. They told her, “Everything is not okay.” “What does that mean?” Miriam yelled. “He’s okay—like alive, right?” “I’m so sorry. A few hours ago, he was sleeping peacefully… and then he suddenly was niftar.” My special son with special needs. I love him so much. I miss him so much. Baruch Hashem, I have grandsons named after him. He lives on in our family. In our hearts and minds, he will never die. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsK24OSmIYG XWzeplhfmb8LJcWKphITh&si=untn3fmHLLaEEFNmApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relief-from-grief-by-mayrim/id1788349916Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AvWNp0DrHqE5AVYJHooiK?si=ufpIObuGRumS5uFXmvrpgA Questions or feedback? Email me at: [email protected]

45

I am Just a Little Boy with Rabbi Chaim Ellis, LCSW לעילוי נשמת חיים צבי בן אברהם יצחק

Nov 13, 2023

38:08

Rabbi Chaim Ellis, LCSW He was only four years old when his mother died. His memories of her are vague, and most of them are built from the pictures he has seen and the stories people have shared. A year-and-a-half after his mother’s passing his father remarried. Rabbi Ellis shares that his stepmother is a wonderful person, and he has always had a good relationship with her. But while he grew up with two parents and a beautiful model of shalom bayis, he did not grow up with a mother. Because there is no replacement for a mother. When Rabbi Ellis was growing up, he was sure that he was the only yasom in the world. When he did find a peer who also lost a parent, he was quick to connect with him. He was always a good listener and people opened up to him. He feels that this led him to his career as a therapist. Today he is a successful therapist in Passaic, NJ, and he is very involved in Shloimy’s Club, the boys’ division of LINKS. He is also an author and has written about the silver linings he has found in different unique situations. Come learn from the boy who grew up without a mother.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

46

Links of Laughter with Mrs. Sarah Rivkah Kohn

Jul 4, 2022

1:01:33

Sarah Rivkah KohnFounder and Director, Links When you think of grief and loss, do you think of jokes and laughter? Probably not. It’s not typically a topic that will make people laugh. But morbid humor takes the sadness and makes you laugh. It can give a brokenhearted person relief from the pain even if just for a few seconds. Sarah Rivkah and I share that common love of morbid humor. It hurts so much to lose loved ones, and all the jokes in the world won’t take away that pain, but for those few seconds that something funny and morbid come to mind, I want to share it and laugh with others over it. As Sarah Rivkah laughs and cries, she also accomplishes. What started off as a small newsletter entitled Links, morphed into a huge organization, with hundreds of girls and dozens of programs. The goal of Links is to help ease the pain of children and teenagers that lost a parent – no matter what it takes. And if someone has an idea that may benefit these girls or boys, whether it is big or small, Sarah Rivkah Kohn is on it. So come listen and laugh and cry along with us. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

47

Finding our Personal Paths to Healing with the Shoenig Siblings

Dec 5, 2022

1:13:10

We were five siblings. We are now three. Our sister and brother died. So did our parents. We traveled the journey of loss together. But we have each taken different paths to healing. Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, Founder and Global Director of Kids Kicking Cancer and Clinical Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been close to our family for years and continues to be supportive to all of us. On this podcast Rabbi Goldberg becomes the moderator as he interviews me together with my two sisters, Penina Flagler and Naomi Engel. Come listen to three sisters who shared a journey but have each forged their own paths. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

48

My Little Yossi: Missing My Preemie with Mrs. Estie Rotstein

Nov 21, 2022

1:02:45

Mrs. Esti Rotsein When Esti began feeling abdominal pains early in her third trimester, her sisters urged her to check out what sounded like labor pains. Esti laughed at them. After all, she was a long way from her due date. Why would she be in labor? She wasn’t laughing a few hours later as her twin son and daughter were born. They may have been preemies, but they were fighters. Her little boy Yosef Leib was doing well. And then he developed an infection. He fought to live, but Hashem willed otherwise. Eighteen years later, Esti is a happy, upbeat person and a real pleasure to talk to, but she still holds the pain of her loss in her heart and freely admits that she misses her little boy. At the same time, she shares lessons and inspiration that might blow you away. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

49

A Time to Listen, a Time to Give with Rebbetzin Feigy Twerski לעלוי נשמת אסתר פעריל בת שלמה

Nov 7, 2022

43:16

Rebbetzin Feigy Twerski Noted speaker and lecturer, beloved Rebbetzin Rebbetzin Feigy Twerski is a devoted Rebbetzin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is also a well-known writer and speaker. I very much enjoy reading her columns and was delighted when she agreed to join us on the podcast. She has navigated many challenges in her own life and has also served as a support for countless community members. Listening to her speak from personal experience, as well as from the perspective of a mentor/rebbetzin, is truly intriguing. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

50

Rising Past the Pain with Rabbi Aron Litwin - לעלוי נשמת פעסיל בת משה אברהם

Oct 24, 2022

58:02

Rabbi Aron LitwinPsychotherapist and Co-Founder of Mekimi in EnglandSeventeen-year-old Aron Litwin was sitting and learning in a shul in Manchester one morning. He remembers thinking it was odd when a friend who wasn’t usually around then walked in. But when his rebbi walked in soon after, he knew something was wrong. The only thing the rebbi told him was that his father had collapsed and was very sick. He was needed at home immediately. When Aron finally reached his mother, she told him that his father had passed away, and the levayah would be that afternoon. Now young Aron had to learn how to live a life without his father – a father with whom he had been very close.All this took place years ago, but talking about his father still brings tears to the now-grown Rabbi Litwin’s eyes. Yet those tears have not gone to waste; as co-founder of Mekimi, a London-base dorganization that offers care and support to young orphans, he is taking his painful experiences and using them to benefit others. And he is also accomplishing great things in his role of husband, father and therapist, passing down the mesorah he received from his beloved father, a”h, and his mother, tb”l’ch.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

51

Is Pain the Elephant in the Room with Mrs. Sara Aliza Scheinberg - לעלוי נשמת אליהו בן שמואל יעקב

Sep 28, 2022

42:56

Lecturer for Partners in Torah of Detroit, Yeshivah Bais Yehudah and the Chofetz Chaim Heritage FoundationShe is lots of fun and full of life. Conversations with her are characterized by her trademark sense of humor. But talk to Sara Aliza for more than five minutes, and you will find that she is deep and introspective. She hasn’t let life simply happen. She takes what she’s been given and uses it to grow. It makes sense that her speeches are so well-received. After all, she doesn’t just lecture. She lives what she speaks about.When Sara Aliza’s father died suddenly, leaving his wife a young widow and his children orphans, Sara Aliza’s pain was so deep. Her father had been the family’s rock. How could they possibly go on? Listen as Sara Aliza shares her experiences. I hope you’ll be inspired the way I was.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

52

Rolling with the Punches with the Rolling Rabbi with Mrs. Shaindel Simes - לעלוי נשמת ברכה אסתר מלכה בת אליהו

Sep 12, 2022

1:01:45

Mrs. Shaindel SimesTeacher and author of The Rolling Rabbi When life throws us punches, we can make a conscious decision: will we bow to them or roll with them? The Simes family chose to roll with them.On that fateful summer day, as Rabbi Simes stood davening minchah, no one could have known that this would be the last time he would stand on his own feet. That evening, a terrible car accident turned his family’s life upside down. With Hashem’s kindness, everyone survived, most with only light injuries – except for Rabbi Simes. The young father and lecturer was severely injured. And life for the Simes family would never be the same.Rabbi and Mrs. Simes rose above their incredible challenges, and for several years, Rabbi Simes became “the Rolling Rabbi.” In his new capacity, he continued to teach and inspire. Unfortunately, he eventually succumbed to his injuries, and Mrs. Simes now carries on his legacy.With this podcast, you will be inspired and awed at how a family is able to embrace life, laugh and lovingly accept extremely challenging circumstances.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

53

When a High-School Friend Loses a Parent with Mrs. Miriam Ribiat

Aug 29, 2022

1:05:10

Zoom talk for teens given through Project Light by Mrs. Miriam Ribiat It might be your high-school friend, or it might be your daughter’s high-school friend that lost a parent. What should you say? How do you know if you said something hurtful or helpful? Maybe you feel confused, not knowing what is the right and wrong thing to do or say. Or maybe what was right yesterday is wrong today. It isn’t easy to know, and it’s likely you’ll get it wrong at some point. But this speech is enlightening, as it gives some guidelines and answers questions that came straight from the girls. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

54

When Loss Strikes, We Have Questions with Mrs. Lori Palatnik

Aug 15, 2022

45:44

Mrs. Lori PalatnikMomentum Founding Director Whatever your level of religious observance, when you experience a loss, you might have many questions: Where is the neshamah now? How do I know that he or she is really happy? This can bring up other questions, questions about your own mortality: when I die, where will I go? Will I have regrets about the life I lived? Mrs. Lori Palatnik, author of the book Remember My Soul, explores this topic with us. She describes how the neshamah doesn’t want to be born and then doesn’t want to die. This is the story of every soul’s journey; gaining a greater understanding of this journey can help you find deeper meaning and focus in your life. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

55

Uplifting with Mrs. Chani Schriebhand

Aug 1, 2022

42:09

Mrs. Chani Schreibhand Founder and Editor, Uplift magazine Chani is one of two children of Harav Y. Reuven and Rebbetzin Chaiky Rubin. As an only daughter, she enjoyed an especially close relationship with her mother, a well-known and beloved role model in their community. But one day, with no warning, Rebbetzin Rubin died. Chani was at such a loss; she missed her mother terribly. Instead of wallowing in her pain, Chani undertook to do something l’iluy nishmas her mother, and that’s how Uplift magazine was created. Rebbetzin Rubin dedicated her life to uplifting Jewish women; fittingly, Chani created this women’s magazine to focus on facilitating those daily conversations we all wish we could have but feel inhibited to express aloud; now it has grown into a beautiful, full-color monthly publication. If you live in the UK, you probably have access to this inspiring publication. Exciting update: the soon-to-be released newest issue will now be available to readers in NY, LA, Miami and the Catskills. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

56

Understanding Trauma in Loss with Dr. Norman Blumenthal

Jul 18, 2022

38:29

Understanding Trauma in LossDr. Norman Blumenthal, Director, Trauma Services, Zachter Family National Trauma Center and Ohel Children's Home and Family ServicesDr. Norman Blumenthal is well known in the world of trauma intervention. He has given of himself tirelessly to guide fellow Jews through loss, particularly in circumstances of overwhelming tragedy. Yet despite the major impact Dr. Blumenthal has had on so many people, he remains humble and easily approachable, remaining focused on the goal of bettering himself and helping fellow Jews to the best of his ability. In this conversation, his deep understanding of trauma in loss is conveyed in his characteristic unassuming manner. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

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I Never Knew Him, But I Miss Him with Mrs. Nechama Avigayil Brailofsky לעילוי נשמת שרה רבקה בת אלכסנדר

Dec 19, 2022

50:20

Mrs. Nechama Avigayil Brailofsky, Transformational Coach and founder of “Balance through the Sefiros” Mrs.Nechama Avigayil Brailofsky grew up as Avigayil Gobioff – although her last name was actually Shafronsky. Avigayil never had the chance to know her father— not even for a day. Her father, R’ Avrohom Zelik Shafronsky, a budding talmid chacham, was niftar before his precious baby daughter was born. Avigayil grew up in a loving, stable home with her mother, stepfather, sister and a bunch of half siblings. Still, she held onto a strong determination to carry on her special father’s legacy. She felt couldn’t she let him down. Today, she leads “The Share,” an interactive weekly shiur. She is the founder of Hallel, a nonprofit fund for emotional healing. She is also a transformational coach and the facilitator of “Balance through the Sefiros,” a workshop that combines art and deep concepts to heal and achieve balance in all relationships. And in case that isn’t enough, she is a public speaker, as well as an instructor for kallah teachers. Indeed, she is creating a beautiful legacy in her father’s footsteps. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

58

Loss Compounded: Loss in Divorce With Mrs. Tali Arieff

Jun 20, 2022

53:45

Tali Arieff LCSW, RPTClinical Editor for I Wish Someone Would Have Told MeOne day I timidly picked up the phone and called Mrs. Tali Arieff. In a shy and hesitant voice I explained that I was calling to see if she could help me with a project I had undertaken: to write a book for teens that had lost a parent. Tali liked the idea and came on board. I have since spoken to her many times and have gained tremendous respect for her. She is a talented and caring therapist with so much insight and clarity on many different topics. She is also a pleasure to work with. It was so clear to me that she would have much to offer on this podcast. Tali does not disappoint. She focuses on the challenges of losing a parent when the parents are divorced. It’s a dimension of loss of which many people are not cognizant. In her articulate way, Tali portrays eye-opening, real-life scenes that will hopefully train us to become more sensitive people, particularly to those in this situation.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

59

Moving Forward While Looking Backward with Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn

Jun 7, 2022

43:26

Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn Author, Speaker and Mohel Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn is a well-known and beloved mohel, author and speaker – and I don’t think he really needs any introduction. For me this podcast is so valuable because he talks about my bubby and my father, two very special people. He also understands so well what a person might be experiencing after a loss and offers valuable and practical tips for how to move forward. As always, Rabbi Krohn is inspirational and interesting. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

60

A Daughters Devotion with Mrs. Chaya Leah Rothstein

May 23, 2022

47:09

Mrs. Chaya Leah Rothstein Author of Welcome to Our Jewish HomeMrs. Chaya Leah Rothstein is a beloved first-grade morah and the busy mother of a large family, k”ah. Previous responsibilities notwithstanding, when her mother began to show signs of dementia, she stepped up to the plate to care for her with utmost sensitivity, honor and respect. Eventually, the Rothsteins built an extension on to their home and brought their mother/grandmother to live with them. As she cared for her mother with singular dedication, Chaya Leah found herself grieving for the mother she once had but was now slipping away. When her mother was niftar, the intensity of emotions Chaya Leah felt surprised her, as she thought she had already grieved for the loss of her mother. But grief does strange things to a person. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

61

Insights from Working in Palliative Care with Mrs. Sarah Korenblit, LCSW

May 9, 2022

50:42

Sarah Korenblit spent years working in palliative care. Through Sarah’s initial work as a social worker for people dependent on dialysis, she gained an understanding of the challenges faced by those with long-term and terminal illnesses. Eventually she used those skills to assist families with children who were mentally compromised or terminally ill. After the birth of her own special-needs child, Sarah was no longer able to work with this population. Ultimately, she opened her own therapy company, which allowed her to care for all her children, while helping other families in so many ways. One of Sarah’s overriding messages to those training in the medical field is to do what you can to remain compassionate but at the same time to do what it takes not to burn out. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

62

Becoming an Orphan with Rabbi Avrahom Pressburger

Apr 25, 2022

52:51

He was just a bachur in yeshivah going about his regular day. Then he received a call from his rebbi and regular ceased to exist. The rebbi told him his father had been in an accident and that Avram was going home. Avram felt scared, but he was sure his father would be okay. Right? I mean fathers don’t just go on business trips and die. But that is exactly what happened. And Avram had to face a whole new reality: Shabbos and yom tov without his father; making decisions about which yeshivahs to attend without his father; seeing his mother as an aching widow. Despite the challenges, he knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, living the life of an ehrliche ben Torah and filling his days with chesed. Come listen to this husband and father as he relates his struggles and growth as a boy who suddenly became an orphan. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

63

A Rabbi’s Experiences with Loss with Rabbi Moshe Taub

Apr 10, 2022

45:20

Rabbi of Young Israel of Holliswood, Menahel of Telshe of Riverdale, and Ami columnist and editor He knows the pain of loss because he experienced it. As a rabbi, he frequently helps his congregants navigate loss. Although he doesn’t always know what to say in the face of others’ pain, here he offers some of the stories, insights and ideas he shares that might be helpful during your time of loss and grief. As you listen to him speak, you will hopefully be inspired and find the strength to carry on. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

64

Turned into a Widow by Terrorists with Mrs. Risa Rotman

Mar 28, 2022

41:52

Turned into a Widow by Terrorists Mrs. Risa Rotman Author of Terror and Emunah in Har Nof It was a calm morning, and Mrs. Risa Rotman was looking forward to catching up on housework and errands. Instead she heard sirens. Sirens she tried to ignore until she couldn’t anymore. There had been a terrible terrorist attack in the Har Nof shul, directly down the block from her house. Men who had been davening there had been killed. Risa’s husband was one of the victims. Rabbi Rotman survived the actual attack but remained in a coma for a year. Risa remained dedicated to his care until he passed away. She learned to juggle taking care of her sick husband with the responsibilities of being a single mother. And through it all, she felt herself growing closer and closer to Hashem. She was strongly encouraged by a good friend to keep a journal. “It will help you,” she insisted. The end result of that journal is her book, Terror and Emunah in Har Nof. The book is inspiring and so is its author. Listen as she talks about the terror and trauma she lived through and grew from. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

65

Grief When You’re Not an Aveil with Mr. Meir (Donni) Silverstein

Mar 14, 2022

55:47

Grief When You’re Not an Aveil Mr. Meir (Donni) Silverstein, LCSW Donni Silverstein experienced multiple losses in his life. But none of the losses were any that required him to sit shivah. Still, the pain he felt was so intense. He started doubting if he was normal. His life wasn’t affected on a daily basis by these deaths. He could have gone a year without speaking to the people who had passed away. So why was he having such a strong reaction to their deaths? Come listen as Donni shares how he learned that the loss of people from one’s childhood can be really painful. And even if his reaction was stronger than those of other members of his family, there was nothing wrong with him. Losing a childhood friend, even one with whom you spoke once a year, is a genuine loss. As Donni trained to become a licensed social worker, he gained a greater understanding of how loss affects us. And with this newfound clarity, he shares his journey of loss and healing. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

66

Life after Loss: Learning to Live Without My Son with Mrs. Sherri Mandell

Feb 28, 2022

38:27

Mrs. Sherri Mandell Israeli-American author, mother and activist; founder of The Koby Mandell Foundation Koby Mandell was a good boy. One day he acted a bit out of character and skipped school to hike in the canyon near his home. That decision cost him his life. Koby, just thirteen years old, was cruelly killed by Arab terrorists. His mother Sherri had to learn how to live in a new world, a world in which her son was no longer present. The pain she experienced was intense. In her book The Road to Resilience, Sherri teaches us that we can get through the most painful situations. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel the pain. But with the right support, we can be okay. Hear how Mrs. Sherri Mandell took her heartbreaking experience and used it as the impetus for creating the Koby Mandell Foundation. Listen as she shares how she learned to find her resilience. Be inspired at the strength that a grieving mother demonstrates. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

67

I Loved my Stepfather; I Still Wanted to Know my Father with Mrs. Toby Klein

Feb 14, 2022

49:30

Mrs. Toby Klein Certified Life Coach Director-Little Links of Pearls As a young girl, Toby knew she was different, but she couldn’t explain how. It was just a feeling she carried around with her. In those days, the general mindset was not to tell children anything. The less they knew the better. And that’s why Toby was carrying around a secret – a secret that became a burden – and she wasn’t even sure what it was. Come listen to Toby’s story. Come hear how a picture in the attic confirmed her suspicions: her father was actually her stepfather. Her biological father had died when she was a baby. Although her relationship with her stepfather was warm and loving, she says, “I still felt a need to know where I came from. I always wanted to know more about my biological father.” Growing up in a wonderful blended family didn’t negate the reality that she was an orphan. Decades later, she still feels the pain of her loss. On this podcast she offers her insights about what life can be like for an orphan who never knew her parent. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

68

Doula and Midwife-in-Training With Mrs AIdy Hoffman

Jun 5, 2023

46:34

Doula and Midwife-in-Training Many midwives will say they love their job. They help bring pure joy and precious innocence into the world. Mrs. Hoffman loves her job as a doula and soon-to-be midwife – but she was brave enough to take on a different role, the parts that can be so emotionally wrenching and difficult. She is the person many people call when they find out they will be giving birth to a stillborn or a baby with a fetal anomaly. Mrs. Hoffman supports them through the delivery and helps them cope with their pain. She is selfless with her time and encouragement. In this podcast she shares how it isn’t easy to be in a room with so much pain. But seeing time and again how so many couples come to accept Hashem’s will can be so inspiring. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

69

The Burning Heart with Mrs Zissy Muller לעילוי נשמת חיים צבי בן אברהם יצחק

Oct 30, 2023

55:25

Mrs. Zissy Muller She woke up one night and heard heavy rain outside her window. In a state of panic, she called her father and asked, “Where are the shovels? It’s raining. My child is cold. We must go dig him out of his grave.” Meet Zissy Muller. No, she isn’t crazy. She is a mother who lost her child. When her beloved son died completely unexpectedly, she was thrust into a brand-new world of pain that was so intense, it felt as if she was being burned by a blazing flame. Continuing with life seemed so impossible – and also, so wrong. How could she go on when her child would never grow up? Although she couldn’t dig her son out of his grave, she dug and dug internally to get to a place of acceptance and serenity. She wanted to be a happy person despite her pain. Zissy says it as it is. She offers a wealth of guidance in how to grow from pain. And yes, her heart still feels the burning pain at times; never is there a day that she doesn’t think about her son. But the fire has died down to flickering sparks, which flare up on occasion. This podcast offers chizzuk to those that lost a child and deep insight into what parents might experience after losing a child. Even many years after the loss.https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

70

Don’t Explain Because There is No Explanation with' Rabbi Sruli Fried, MSW

Oct 16, 2023

42:53

Don’t Explain Because There is No Explanation Rabbi Sruli Fried, MSW Director of Chai Lifeline NJ/ PA When a young child (in the NJ/PA) region has just been diagnosed, is on his deathbed or has just been niftar, Rabbi Fried is there. He sits with the family, and he cries with the family. His sensitivity hasn’t waned over time. Likely it has deepened. Over the years, parents have shared with Rabbi Fried various things that can be helpful after losing a child and other things that can be hurtful. With true compassion and understanding he relays what he has learned. I could have easily spoken to Rabbi Fried for a few more hours, but I told him I wouldn’t take more than an hour of his time. I had to keep my word – to him and to my listeners. I wonder if the listeners would have stayed on for the three hours I wished we could have spoken for. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

71

Lessons from the Past with Mrs. Chaya Ginzberg

Sep 11, 2023

21:55

Lessons from the Past Mrs. Chaya Ginzberg BYA Teacher Rivky, Mrs. Ginzberg’s daughter, was a young mother of four children when she was niftar. On this podcast, Mrs. Ginzberg shares how although each family member struggled with their pain in their own way, the family held onto each other for dear life. With acceptance and faith there were no family politics. The relationship with her son-in-law, grandchildren and her son-in-law’s new wife remained peaceful and respectful. And then tragedy struck again when her husband was niftar. But Mrs. Ginzberg shares that she has role models and chinuch from her past to guide her through her challenges. She says, “Aleph is for emunah and beis is for bitachon. My ancestors lost their entire families in the war, but they passed down a legacy of positivity.” This podcast is shorter than most, but it is packed with inspiration. I think you’ll enjoy listening and gain a lot! https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

72

Be Here for Me and I Will Be There for You with Mrs Deeni Yurkansky

Aug 28, 2023

41:15

Mrs. Deenie Yurkansky If you listen to Mrs. Yurkansky, you may be blown away. I know I was. Her son Shaul was a most beloved son and friend. He was gentle and kind, and his mother misses him. It doesn’t matter how many years have gone by. A mother’s heart will never stop aching for her child. But her connection to him is still strong, and she looks for signals from him. Before he died, he said, “Ma, don’t forget about me 24/7.” When I asked her to come onto the podcast, she said, “Of course! It will be me giving over Shaul’s legacy, and Shaul helping me give it over.” Listen as she keeps his legacy alive with her beautiful, heartfelt words. They give her chizzuk while she gives chizzuk to others. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

73

Do I Believe with Rabbi Shmuel Kohn

Aug 8, 2023

38:18

Rabbi Shmuel Kohn, Therapist and Director of Shloimy’s Club When people go through a tough nisayon, it isn’t uncommon to feel angry at Hashem. A person might shut down or feel numb, and they may even feel unable to daven. This can cause a lot of inner turmoil. Where is my emunah? Do I not believe in Hashem? From the time we are young we are taught that everything that happens is from Hashem, so if I’m thinking this way, I must be a terrible person. Or not. You may just be a person who went through a very painful experience. As humans we might feel these emotions and condemn ourselves when we do. Rabbi Kohn so clearly explains how feeling anger and pain or asking questions of Hashem doesn’t mean you don’t believe. There is room for both. You are not an apikores just because you have these questions. Rabbi Kohn explores this concept so beautifully from therapeutic and hashkafic perspectives. Come listen and gain clarity and insight. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

74

Do I Believe with Rabbi Shmuel Kohen

Aug 7, 2023

38:18

Rabbi Shmuel Kohen, Therapist and Director of Shloimy’s Club When people go through a tough nisayon, it isn’t uncommon to feel angry at Hashem. A person might shut down or feel numb, and they may even feel unable to daven. This can cause a lot of inner turmoil. Where is my emunah? Do I not believe in Hashem? From the time we are young we are taught that everything that happens is from Hashem, so if I’m thinking this way, I must be a terrible person. Or not. You may just be a person who went through a very painful experience. As humans we might feel these emotions and condemn ourselves when we do. Rabbi Kohn so clearly explains how feeling anger and pain or asking questions of Hashem doesn’t mean you don’t believe. There is room for both. You are not an apikores just because you have these questions. Rabbi Kohn explores this concept so beautifully from therapeutic and hashkafic perspectives. Come listen and gain clarity and insight. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

75

I Want to Be Cremated With Mrs. Robin Meyerson

Jul 31, 2023

47:33

Mrs. Robin Meyerson, West Coast Director of NASCK (National Association of Chevrah Kadisha)Mrs. Robin Meyerson has a passion, and she passionately shares it. That passion is to help prevent cremation. She exhorts her listeners: “As Jews, we are all one, so when one Jew is being cremated, it affects all of us. We must stop this from happening.” She repeats so many times that she is available 24/6 to help save a Jew from being cremated. Robin laments that there are so many misconceptions about cremation versus burial. Many people think cremation is cheaper or better for the environment. One person shared that she was scared to be buried because she doesn’t like bugs! Robin clearly explains the fallacy of such thinking. She personally gets involved and does whatever she can to bring fellow Jews to proper kevurah. What does this have to do with you? There are many frum people who have non-frum relatives. And that is why this podcast is so important. Robin’s message is aimed at the frum community. Do you have a non-frum relative, neighbor or friend? Talk to them about kevuras Yisrael now, when they are still living; once they have passed on, their post-death plans will be very difficult to change. Are you scared to touch upon this topic or unsure about how to broach it? Robin shares her cell number twice on this podcast. She is waiting to support you through this vital conversation. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

76

Tangled Emotions with Mrs. Leah Subar

Jul 17, 2023

41:06

Mrs. Leah Subar, AEDP Psychotherapist People are typically wired with a tendency toward hope and resilience. Even when a child grows up in an abusive home, the desire to repair the relationship with one’s parent is so strong. An adult child will often try and try to make it work before they realize it’s impossible to change someone else. With proper rabbinic guidance, the adult child might need to establish very strict boundaries with the parent or maybe even cut off ties. But every so often there is that little bit of hope. Maybe, just maybe, the parent will finally get it. Maybe the birth of a baby or the marriage of a grandchild will help them see things differently, more clearly. Maybe, the child thinks, it is worth another shot. Usually, it isn’t. Yet when the parent dies, the hope dies along with the parent. Now, the relationship will never change. If a person was so hurt by the niftar, it makes sense to think that now there will be some relief. But often instead of relief there is guilt, confusion and anger. When an abusive parent dies, the grief process their children experience can be far more traumatic than if the relationship was healthy and positive. Mrs. Leah Subar has honored the Relief from Grief podcast by sharing her experience and insights regarding grieving the death of a family member when the relationship was complicated. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

77

When There are No Zaidies with Mrs Erika Needelman

Jul 3, 2023

44:18

Mrs Erika Needelman - Life CoachShe knew she would be young when her father died. She knew because she saw how much younger all of her friend’s parents were as compared to her own. The young Erika grew up, married and had children. Her father, although elderly, was still alive and a loving grandparent. And then, one day, her father-in-law, who had been perfectly healthy, died. Just like that. She had to make sense of her elderly sick father still being alive, while her relatively young, healthy father-in-law was not. She had to support a grieving husband while she herself was also grieving. It was a hard time. One lesson she took to heart was to enjoy whatever time she had with her father. During the last bit of his life, she made sure to have him over and to visit him. She made sure that her children knew their Zaidy. Now that he has passed on, she misses her father. But she also feels so sad that her children have no Zaidies. How she aches for her father to continue shepping nachas. And as the only frum family members, she and her husband know it is up to them and their children to continue giving their Zaidies nachas up in Shamayim. With that in mind, Mrs. Needelman and her husband continue to work on themselves to grow in Yiddishkeit and in yiras Shamayim. Because after all, her children do have Zaidies. They just have a different kind of relationship with them now. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

78

Forever Connected with Rabbi Nachum Seltzer

Jun 19, 2023

41:09

Rabbi Seltzer is a well-known speaker and author of 45 books, including the Zera Shimshon series and his latest bestseller, 90 Seconds. When Dovid Hamelech lost his son Avshalom, he screamed “B’ni” nine times with heartrending screams. Yitzchak Avinu was only comforted many years after losing his mother Sarah, when he brought Rivkah to her tent, and the tent returned to the way it had been when Sarah was alive. We learn about grief from the Torah. Rabbi Seltzer shares some of the Torah’s perspectives. He also shares many stories that show that those of us still in this world remain connected to our loved one in the Olam Ha’Emes. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

79

Relief from Grief Trailer

Jan 30, 2022

4:25

Welcome to the Relief from Grief podcast, where we talk with a broad spectrum of people about their life stories. My hope is that either you'll hear a story that is similar to your own or aspects of it that you can connect to. Even if an experience is very different from yours, perhaps you can find something within it, an element or an idea or a perspective, that really speaks to you or gives you insight into yourself. Some of the goals I hope to realize with this podcast include normalizing grief, bringing awareness to the general population and helping people recognize that certain thoughts and behaviors stem from grief. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

80

A Year in Review: Powerful Takeaways from Our Incredible Podcast Guests לעילוי נשמת אברהם יצחק בן חיים צבי

May 23, 2023

1:17:34

Ask anyone who knows me from my growing-up days. Back then, they would have laughed at the prospect of me hosting a podcast. It just wasn’t my type. But here I am, doing just that – and I get regular calls in response. People tell me, “Thank you so much. I love your podcast. I am finding it so helpful.” I feel gratified that Hashem has given me the opportunity to do this. Loss is so painful, and if I can help even a small fraction of those in pain, then I am grateful. Never would I have imagined the vast array of people I have hosted so far. There are those that share their own personal stories of loss, and then there are the rabbis and therapists and founders of important initiatives. It is so rewarding to see that more and more people are listening. That keeps me going. Now that it’s over a year since we’ve begun, I decided it was time to review. This isn’t a podcast with one person talking, but rather, snippets from many guests who came on over the past year, sharing their experience or chizzuk. After you listen, you might just feel like listening to them all. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

81

The Day Our Oldest Brother Died with the Kranczer Siblings לעילוי נשמת פייגא בתיה בת פרץ

May 8, 2023

44:51

Rabbi Yehuda Kranczer was the most giving, selfless person, a ba’al chesed who would do anything for anybody. Tragically, one morning he was found bent over a sefer in shul – without a pulse. The close-knit Detroit community was devastated by the loss. Rabbi Kranczer had been a bulwark of support to so many people. His brother Rabbi Meir Kranczer was called to the scene. His other siblings Mr. Mordechai Kranczer and Mrs. Miriam Getter were going about their regular daily routines when they received the life-transforming phone call that their brother had died. This podcast doesn’t only talk about their experiences and their growth. The conversation with the Kranczer siblings also touches on the important topics of Olam Hazeh, Olam Habah and the coming of Mashiach. I felt honored to meet and speak with this special family. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

82

Challenges of Remarriage with Rabbi Rubinstein לעלוי נשמת אלכסענדר בן אברהם אלימלך

Apr 24, 2023

46:48

Rabbi Y.Y. Rubenstein is a Scottish-American rabbi who inspires and encourages the countless people who reach out to him for guidance. He is also the author of many books and a sought-after speaker His wife lay on her death bed. Rabbi Rubenstein knew that barring a nes as great as Yetziyas Mitzrayim, his wife was dying. Yet when she said to him, “Promise me that you will remarry – and I even know who you should remarry,” he wanted to scream, “No, no, no.” He didn’t want to admit that his wife was dying. And so he only consented to her requests out of pity that she should not use any more of her waning strength begging him to comply. Rabbi Rubenstein talks about intellectual responses and heart-based responses. He talks about remarriage and how blended families can be such a blessing or alternatively, how children can tear them apart. He speaks from personal experience. He speaks from rabbinical experience. He is also a sought-after speaker and talented author. He hears stories. He shares stories. He tries to reach out to others and to help. Have others found him helpful? Tune it to find out. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

83

The Shmuz Comes to Relief from Grief with Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier לעלוי נשמת אלכסענדר בן אברהם אלימלך

Mar 27, 2023

45:27

The Shmuz Comes to Relief from Grief Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier is the founder of theshmuz.com and the author of many books. He is also the man behind The Shmuz, a forty-five-minute weekly shiur that has been enjoyed around the globe for over ten years. At times emotional pain can be worse than physical pain. It can be more debilitating than a physical injury. And the kind of pain that follows loss can be all-encompassing. Although it is not physical pain, it can hurt in every part of the body. People in the throes of this pain will say, “I can’t do this. I need help” and turn to their rav or rebbe for chizzuk. Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier is a rabbi who has supported many through painful experiences, and he shares important perspectives on experiencing and handling tough times. Rabbi Shafier is knowledgeable in many topics of Torah and hashkafah. As a well-known lecturer and author, he offers valuable insights on so many issues that a frum person today might face. His perspective on pain has an interesting twist. “Don’t think it doesn’t hurt or that you shouldn’t feel it,” he says, “but remember…” Remember what? Tune in to the podcast to hear more. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

84

Functioning! On the Outside Only with Mrs. Shani (Stefansky) Waldman לעילוי נשמת מינקא מרים בת אליהו

Mar 13, 2023

46:44

Mrs. Shani (Stefansky) Waldman, Founder of Samcheinu “I felt like I lived on a different planet,” Mrs. Waldman says. “I may have been managing. Perhaps I went to the bus stop with my children, bought my children shoes and did my grocery shopping, just like every other mother. But living without a husband was living on a different planet.” Her mother introduced her to some friends of hers that were also widows, but they were much older than she was, and she didn’t find it helpful to speak to them. One evening she was invited to a get-together for like-minded widows. It was a warm gathering that took place around someone’s dining room table. Connecting to these women was so comforting. And so, Mrs. Waldman and a friend organized another gathering of this sort. Once and then again and again and again. Word spread, and each time the gatherings grew to include more women. What began around a dining-room table has since grown to become a huge organization known as Samcheinu. As soon as she opens her mouth you will appreciate that Mrs. Waldman is a born orator and teacher. She explains the pain of widowhood and the goal of Samcheinu so clearly and articulately that I was really mesmerized. Let me know if you were similarly spellbound!Samchainu Information: [email protected] Phone number: 718-419-8690 https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

85

Dealing With Loss From Covid לעילוי נשמת ישראל בן אהרן הלוי

Feb 27, 2023

34:36

Mrs. Libby (Samet) Kraft was in high school when her family moved to Passaic, where her father opened a pediatric office. It wasn’t long before Dr. Samet became a well-known member of the community and a beloved doctor. Together with his wife, Dr. Samet went above and beyond his responsibility as a doctor. A pediatrician can be privy to many non-medical issues that a family might be dealing with; the Samets stepped in quietly to take care of so many people’s needs. Libby shares: “My father was there for everyone. But he was also always there for us.” It was Mrs. Samet who first came down with Covid. The children were worried but reassured by their father that she would be fine. And she was, B”H. When Dr. Samet became sick, although they were also worried, the children encouraged each other that he would also be fine. Unfortunately, the Malach Hamaves snuck in and took the life of this beloved husband, father and doctor. Mrs. Kraft shares the details of her family’s grief journey. More than anything, her mother and siblings benefited from connecting and from supporting one another. And that is what they continue to do. Most amazingly, their wonderful, positive, understanding mother continues to encourage and help each of her children, as she learns to live without her beloved partner and husband. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

86

Getting Used to Having a Pebble in Your Shoe with Rabbi Benjy Rickman לעילוי נשמת אלטר יחזקאל בן אליהו

Feb 13, 2023

45:28

Just because the Rickmans’ 16-year-old son was sick, there was no cause for worry. Surely Naftoli would be back to himself by tomorrow or the next day at most. Except that he wasn’t. With each day Naftoli’s condition deteriorated, until his parents were concerned enough to call an ambulance. No one could have imagined that this young, formerly strong boy would never make it back home. The doctors were stumped. They shrugged their shoulders and said, “He is the sickest child on the ward, but we don’t know what’s wrong with him.” Naftoli had always towered over his father. How painful it was for his parents to watch as he became weaker and weaker until he was niftar. It is now 3+ years later, but the pain of that loss is still so intense. Sometimes it can feel as if a fire is burning around Rabbi Rickman’s heart. He wants his son back. Can you blame him? Yet his life is a lesson in emunah and how to go forward despite the pain. Rabbi Rickman shares, “The pain is always in my heart. It is something I got used to. But we must go forward. We must because this is what Hashem wants from us.” https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

87

Mayrim for Miriam with Mr. Glen Holman

Jan 31, 2023

50:06

Mr. Glen Holman, founder of Mayrim Family Retreat One of the worst possible things a parent can hear is the words: “Your child is very sick,” or “We are trying our best, but pray for a miracle.” Imagine what it must have felt like for the Holmans to hear such words not once, but twice. Two precious daughters had their lives snuffed out at a very young age. Yet Mr. Holman is happy and upbeat. He doesn’t sit and wallow in his pain. At the same time, he says very clearly that his two girls, Nechomah Liba and Miriam, are with him in his heart every single day. Many parents who have lost a child grapple with what they can do to keep their child’s memory alive. When Nechomah Liba Holman was niftar, her big sister Miriam helped her parents run a small Shabbaton for families that lost a child. They called it “The Holman Family Retreat.” Miriam was actively involved in running it and creating more programs. She wanted to continue doing something for her little sister. Unfortunately, Miriam herself was stricken with a horrible disease, but even in her hospital bed, while in great pain, Miriam did whatever she could for the Shabbaton and for the sake of the grieving family members who would attend. After her petirah at the age of 21, it made sense to change the name of the Shabbaton to Mayrim – to lift up, something that Miriam had started doing when she was just a young girl. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

88

From Pain to Purpose with Mrs. Ruchi Rosenfeld,

Jan 16, 2023

53:05

Mrs. Ruchi Rosenfeld, Director of Kanfei Yonah and author of Comfort, Courage and Clarity Without warning, Mrs. Ruchi Rosenfeld was thrust into the world of terminal illness and death. In rapid succession she watched as her father, her father-in-law and her mother fell ill and then passed away. For three years straight, her household was in aveilus. The pain she felt during that time was raw and deep. But after the years of mourning, she was determined to do her best for the neshamos of the niftarim. She set a powerful example of what can and should be done l’ilui nishmas. A powerhouse who sees a need and tries to fill it, Ruchy is someone who channeled her pain into many worthy causes. Today she is an active bikur cholim volunteer and director of Kanfei Yonah, an organization that assists families in which a parent is struggling with mental illness or extreme emotional distress. She also co-authored with me the book Comfort, Courage and Clarity, which offers support to adults who have lost a parent. https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

89

A Poet’s Story with Mrs. Judy Landman,

Jan 2, 2023

48:45

Mrs. Judy Landman, Director of Blinks Mrs. Judy Landman is a talented poet. When I read her writing, I feel almost as if the words simply flow effortlessly from her pen. I didn’t ask her if that’s true, but I do know that nothing in life is ever that simple – and that is certainly true of her life experiences. Judy was living a comfortable life in Budapest, Hungary when her father suddenly passed away. At the urging of her father’s relatives in America, her mother picked up with Judy and her brother and moved to a new country. Judy’s mother was a strong-willed woman who raised her children in a happy, growth-oriented home, and Judy’s memories of her childhood are positive. But the older she got, the more she wondered about her father. Her memories of him were just a wisp of something. She longed for a clearer picture. Judy may never have known her father, but her grief was real. And her grief journey led her to becoming the director of Blinks (the Baltimore branch of Links). Why not come listen as she shares her story? https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/ https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/

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