A meditation to open us up to the profound spiritual potential of Yom Kippur — the day of G-d's ultimate love. Together, we explore what it means for the day to atone, and how we might be softened and expanded by our encounter with Hashem. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In this raw conversation with Sara Mayberg, we explore Sara's personal process of Teshuvah and the path back to her divine soul, as someone who was already committed to her Jewish practice. We discuss how the inherent nature of the divine soul is to want G-d, how Sara began to develop a visceral experience of trust, and how grief can crack us open in transformative ways. Other topics explored: how financial struggles can be invitations to lean on G-d, the significance of community in the path back to ourselves, learning to see the divine in others, the ongoing process of return, and the journey to reclaiming a sense of choice in our Judaism and relationships. Sara can be contacted at [email protected]. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Reconnecting with Joy 01:26 The Journey of Trust and Divine Connection03:45 Awakening Through Relationships07:49 The Catalyst of Darkness11:04 Surrendering to the Void14:56 Finding G-d in Material Insecurity20:15 Navigating Financial Strain and Trust22:41 Grieving and Embracing New Perspectives29:31The Ongoing Conversation with Hashem32:28 Experiencing Hashem Within and Around Us34:18 Integrating Knowledge into the Body36:34 The Role of Prayer and Learning in Personal Growth38:59 Understanding the Animal and Divine Souls42:26 Compassion and Connection in Healing45:12 Seeing the Divine in Others48:37 Building Community and Support50:27 Reconnecting with Judaism and Mitzvot52:59 The Process of Teshuvah and Reclaiming Choice55:53 Acceptance and Compassion in Relationships59:04 Trusting the Power of Our Souls01:00:58 Letting Go to Make Space for What's Next 01:02:12 "I Love You"

Elul and the high holidays are a period of introspection and self accounting. In this conversation with Matti Banon, we discuss the Chassidic perspective on gentle growth, what it looks like to live our lives with agency while remaining humble enough to recognize our recurring flaws, the balance between intellect and emotion, the transformative power of compassion and curiosity, and the parenting truths that can guide us in becoming more whole ourselves. Matti Banon is a campus shlucha in Montreal who enjoys learning and delving into topics like marriage and parenting through the lens of Chassidus. Her children are her biggest helpers when it comes to her shlichus and self growth. She can be reached at [email protected]:Story of the Baal Shem Tov & the shofar: https://www.chabad.org/library/article cdo/aid/3080/jewish/The-Master-Key.htmChapter 27 of the Tanya (the sweet & spicy paths): https://www.chabad.org/library/tanya/tanya cdo/aid/7906/jewish/Chapter-27.htmMore about Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev: https://www.chabad.org/library/article cdo/aid/1007604/jewish/A-Brief-Biography.htmThe 4 Body System: https://a.co/d/djfpzDuParenting reference: Blimieheller.com* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction and Personal Background01:53 The Essence of Parenting and Nurturing05:13 Leading Ourselves: The Journey of Self-Discovery10:03 Awareness and Compassion: The First Steps14:42 The Role of Emotions in Personal Growth19:52 The Chassidic Balance of Intellect and Emotion 24:48 Transforming the Inner Critic29:43 Discipline and Connection in Parenting34:33 Embracing Imperfection and Growth39:27 The Importance of Compassion in Relationships44:34 Curiosity and Self-Exploration49:06 Final Thoughts

The Shofar is a call to face your own desire. Its explosive call on Rosh Hashanah is an invitation to be awoken to the depths within us, to witness the divine desire with which G-d created the world, and to have the courage to face the gaps between where we are and what we truly want.Source: Likkutei Torah Tiku Bachodesh, Parshas Netzavim, pg. 106SPONSOR:Sponsored in honor of Malka Mayasha bat Esther, for a year of blessings and joy. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:00:00 The Call of the Shofar: Awakening the Soul's Desire02:48 Rosh Hashanah: Renewal and Connection 06:08 Understanding G-d's Desire: The Essence of Creation08:47 Two Levels of Divine Will 11:55 The Gift of Rupture: Awakening Your Depths14:47 The Courage to Face Our True Desires18:07 Meeting G-d: The Divine Invitation on Rosh Hashanah

In this conversation, Gitty Hecht shares her transformative journey from a well-known makeup artist to a spiritual leader, exploring her relationship with G-d and the evolution of her self-worth. She explores moving from a fear-based connection with G-d to one of secure attachment and intimacy, the importance of embracing one's gifts, overcoming fear, dismantling self-imposed pedestals of spiritual leadership, and embracing her current role with humility and authenticity. Gitty emphasizes that everyone has something to offer to the world as they are and that the impact of our actions can resonate deeply, even if we don't always see it.Gitty Hecht is a Rebbetzin, speaker, and educator based in Queens, NY. Find more of her work here: https://linktr.ee/gittyhechtExplore her online courses here: https://stan.store/GittyHechtContact her at [email protected]. Find her on instagram @gittyhecht * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 - Guest Intro & Life Journey00:05:10 - Post-Divorce Transformation10:35:00 - Shame, Vulnerability, and G-d14:05:00 - Evolving Faith: From Fear to Connection21:58:00 - G-d's Unconditional Love27:12:00 - Finding Love & Safety00:30:39 - Dismantling the Pedestal of Spiritual Leadership34:35:00 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome41:00:00 - Torah Study & Leadership

Season Six is live! In today's episode, I share my vision for this new season of the podcast, some Torah about the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and Alter Rebbe, and the ways our diversity is a reflection of the inherent oneness woven through G-d, Torah, and the Jewish people.Source: a talk on Chai Elul given by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, recorded in Likutei Sichos, Vol. 24* * * * * * *If you believe in Human & Holy's work, consider partnering with us! To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In the first episode of Season 6, we sit down with three women, Sophia Rivka Rossi, Shaina Liberow-Schmukler, and Adira Shiff-Kest, to explore the impact of Chassidic wisdom on their individual experiences of Teshuvah and their process of returning to their divine souls. We explore the power of emotional honesty, humor, and even anger in our relationship with G-d, the importance of maintaining our own individual voices and what it looks like to truly choose G-d throughout life. EPISODE SPONSOR: Today’s episode is sponsored by Share, a global initiative connecting individuals to the timeless teachings of the inner dimension of Jewish wisdom, known as Pnimiyut Hatorah. Their mission is to inspire soulful living and learning by translating ancient insights for the contemporary moment. You can learn more on Share.Fund.Explore their new book, an English translation of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag’s Introduction to the Zohar: The Wisdom of Truth here: https://korenpub.com/products/introduction-to-the-zohar?srsltid=AfmBOooH7 qO1p7rBV6KCczFMDV3aeErxeHI67zRImb1g0hh2e3tUBqLTo inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction & Share Sponsorship02:49 Celebrating Chai Elul and the Impact of Chassidus05:43 When Judaism Entered My Inner World 09:02 Understanding Teshuvah: A Return to Self11:58 How the Tanya Impacted Me 14:47 G-d is Underneath the Pain 17:40 Emotional Honesty in a Relationship with G-d27:16 The Power of Holy Anger29:37 Being a Voice of Moral Courage 32:19 The Zigzags of Life 34:45 Finding Stillness in a Busy World38:35 There's More to You 41:45 A Jewish Experience of Joy45:48 Owning My Jewish Identity in Public 49:00 The Ideas That Changed Me49:53 From One Soul to Another

What if your relationship with G-d wasn't just in your head and heart, but lived in your entire body?Shimona Tzukernik, a somatic therapist and Torah teacher, describes the bridge between intellectual faith and visceral spiritual experience. How can we transform the visceral resistance we feel towards certain mitzvos?How can we lean into the body’s experience of a joyful, jewish life?Human & Holy is currently on a season break. Season Six airs on Sunday, September 7!* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Visceral Experience of God0:36 - Meet Shimona Tzukernik 2:24 - Shimona's Pivot to Somatic Therapy5:38 - What is Somatic Therapy? Understanding Body-Stored Memories10:29 - Visceral Yiddishkeit: Feeling Judaism in Your Body19:21 - "Your Head is Heaven" - Integrating Mind & Body Faith23:27 - Hair Covering Example: Physical Mitzvah Resistance30:03 - Hiddur Mitzvah: Engaging All Five Senses34:34 - Mitzvahs vs. Metaverse: Staying Grounded in Physical Reality37:54 - The Magic of Jewish Living & Repetitive Spiritual Experiences45:29 - Fight or Flight: Watching Emotions Flow Through You48:58 - Dealing with Dissociation During Spiritual Moments50:44 - Kavanah & Presence: Being Fully There with Hashem53:54 - Integration & Synthesis of Body-Soul Connection54:42 - Final Thoughts

What happens when kindness runs unchecked? In this re-aired episode of Human & Holy, we sit down with Miriam Cohen to explore the deep spiritual journey of over-giving, codependency, and emotional depletion—and how Jewish wisdom offers a path to healing.Season Six launches on Sunday, Sep. 7! ✨ * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

While Human & Holy is currently on a season break, we're revisiting some of our most meaningful conversations from seasons past.This week's episode rerun is a conversation with Ester Zirkind, exploring the concept of Moach Shalit al Halev, the mind ruling over the heart. In a personal accounting of this idea, Ester speaks about the importance of our emotions in the equation. Using the mind to guide the heart is not about suppressing emotions. It’s a spiritual reframe: how to honor your heart while allowing your mind to gently lead the way. Stay tuned for Season 6 landing on Sunday, Sep. 7 ✨* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction: Season Break & Re-airing Beloved Episodes01:00 – Meet Ester Zirkind: Educator, Author, and Shlucha02:15 – What Is Moach Shalit al Halev? The Mind Governing the Heart04:00 – Growing Up Emotional in a Culture of Emotional Restraint05:40 – Shame Around Sensitivity: A Personal Struggle07:00 – Discovering the Enneagram & Sefirot Connection09:00 – Finding Her Place: Embracing Tiferes and Deep Feeling10:30 – The Path to True Self-Understanding and Emotional Leadership12:00 – Why Naming Feelings Is the Key to Mastering Them13:45 – Teaching Girls to “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”15:00 – The Power of Regulated Emotion in Conscious Living16:45 – Accepting Differences: Understanding Others Through Soul Roots18:00 – Esther’s Book: A Memoir Born of Midlife and Honesty19:30 – Four Years of Illness, Grief, and Redemption21:15 – The Life and Loss of Baruch Menachem Mendel23:00 – Choosing Risk, Choosing Life: A Mother's Courage24:45 – Battling Illness While Rebuilding Faith26:15 – The Power of a Supportive Marriage27:30 – Choosing Gratitude Over Bitterness29:00 – On Missing Eretz Yisrael and Spiritual Longing30:30 – Disappointment, Bitterness, and Faith in Divine Timing32:00 – The Balance Between Emotion and Intuition33:30 – How Do You Know If You’re Getting It Right?35:00 – Give Yourself Time: Practical Emotional Guidance36:30 – Respecting Your Process, History, and Emotions38:00 – Grieving Honestly as a Path to Healing39:15 – The Pain Is a Pathway: Choosing to Feel and Grow40:20 – Final Reflections

What does it actually look like to internalize the identity of the soul as our own? To approach our own reflection with a deep understanding of our essence, of the way it does not hinge on anything but the piece of G-d inside? In this episode, Shterna Ginsberg explores how to stop depending on others for your sense of self and find the infinite worth that lies within.|| To find more of Shterna's work, visit www.energizedliving.org. To sponsor an episode, please visit humanandholy.com/sponsor or email us at [email protected] & Holy is currently on a season break. This episode originally aired in June 2022. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS0:00 - The Search for Sense of Self0:36 - Meet Shterna Ginsberg1:47 - What is the Neshama? 2:59 - Roots vs. Fruits: Why We Miss Our Essence4:34 - The Self-Care Problem: No Self to Care For6:09 - How to Bridge Concept to Experience7:21 - Hidden Hashem in a "Realistic" World8:07 - Power Dynamics: Who Controls Your Life?10:57 - Healthy vs. Unhealthy Dependency11:48 - The Inner Island of Love & Dignity13:41 - The Bell Story: Faith Must Be Practiced16:08 - Chochma, Bina, Das: Three Steps to Integration18:32 - Dealing with Inner Resistance & Toxic Self-Talk19:29 - Setting Up Your Internal "Fire Department"20:45 - The Shaitel Story: Practical Soul Identity22:37 - Essence vs. Personality: What's Really You?25:40 - "Just Be Nice"26:38 - No Excuses for Not Shining Your Light28:18 - Marriage Without a Self: The Dangerous Dynamic30:14 - "I'll Give You Everything for a Sense of Self"32:40 - Parenting from Wholeness vs. Neediness34:16 - The Apple Story: When Identity Depends on Details36:10 - Unconditional Love Requires Soul-Centered Identity38:21 - Root of All Problems40:45 - "You Are Worthy" - Empty vs. Soul-Based Truth43:08 - The Virtual Reality Experiment46:27 - Living in Hashem's Reality vs. Virtual Reality48:44 - Breaking Through the Barrier50:35 - Practical Integration: Using Daily Mitzvos52:28 - The Bell System: Connecting Dots in Your Day54:04 - Who Is the Self?

Freidy Yanover speaks about our challenges being signs that can direct us towards the next step of our journey. If we are open, we can allow them to nudge us more deeply into our lives and relationships with G-d. If we are open, we can allow them to nudge us more deeply into our lives and relationships with G-d.This episode originally aired in Feb., 2022* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction: Season Break 01:10 – Freidy’s Story Begins: From Chassidic Home to Spiritual Awakening02:45 – Chassidic Thought vs. Chassidic Lifestyle04:30 – The Turning Point: Tragedy and the Birth of Conscious Connection06:15 – Asking “What Now?” Instead of “Why Me?”08:00 – A Letter to the Rebbe—and a Life-Changing Response10:30 – From Challenge to Clarity: The Path to Purpose12:45 – Understanding Nisayon as a Path to Nes (Miracle)15:20 – Flags in the Desert: Imagery, Identity, and Divine Direction17:00 – Mourning Honestly While Seeking Meaning19:00 – From Personal Loss to Helping Others Heal21:00 – The Need for Constant Renewal in Our Relationship With Hashem26:00 – Learning at 4am: Motherhood, Torah, and the Drive to Go Deeper28:30 – Every Life Has Challenge, So Every Life Has Opportunity30:20 – Going Deeper in Torah Study: Not Just Reading, But Absorbing32:45 – How Footnotes & Sources Unlock Spiritual Depth34:40 – Advice for the Woman Living in Challenge: Feel First, Then Ask “What”36:30 – Our Mind and Heart Are Meant to Work Together38:00 – What Flag Is G-d Waving in Your Life?

While we take a season break, we’re bringing back this conversation with Rus Devora Wallen, who shares her own experience with a stroke, and lessons from her clients on how the greatest descents in our lives are often a preparation and a catalyst for unparalleled ascent. Find more of Rus Devorah’s work on toratherapeutics.com ||* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Introduction 1:55 - Meet Devora Wallen: Licensed Clinical Social Worker3:25 - Understanding Yerida L'Tzorech Aliyah (Descent for Ascent)5:46 - The Stroke Story: Shavuos Morning Crisis7:26 - Emergency Signs: When Something Goes Wrong9:50 - Hospital Experience & Spiritual Tools12:15 - The Turning Point: Gratitude & Second Life13:44 - Physical Transformation: Better Than Age 2515:26 - Managing High Energy Positively18:11 - Client Story: Postpartum Psychosis Recovery21:07 - Mirror Neurons & Relationship Dynamics23:41 - Unexpected Healing: Tourette's Syndrome Improvement24:44 - The Three-Legged Stool: Mind, Body, Soul26:36 - Depression 29:02 - Caring for Aging Parents & Life Changes30:43 - The Bike Ride Breakthrough31:41 - Moving Creates Motivation34:14 - Mitzvah Leads to Mitzvah35:20 - Three-Legged Stool Method Explained37:35 - Bedtime Breathing Contest Technique39:45 - Basic Breathing for Beginners41:12 - Live Meditation Demonstration Begins45:01 - Post-Meditation Discussion & Benefits46:54 - Mental Muscle Training & Daily Practice48:14 - Meditation as Mental Exercise, Not Relaxation49:30 - Closing Thoughts

While Human & Holy is on a season break, we’re bringing back this conversation with Chayale Tzukernik, where we explore the role our thoughts play in the way we view the world. Chayale speaks about bridging the gap between her intellectual understanding of an idea and its practical implications in her life. We discuss questioning our natural thought processes in order to guide them towards a more objective truth, and how to practically reframe our experiences in order to align them with a more G-dly perspective of the world.* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction: Struggling with judgmental thoughts01:10 – Season break announcement 01:42 – Meet Chayale Tzukernik 03:05 – Why thought is central in Chassidus04:38 – The transformative power of thought06:45 – Internal vs. external harmony through intentional thinking08:10 – Reframing control: from force to gentle inner teaching10:00 – Bridging the gap between knowing and living Torah ideas12:03 – Making Torah personal: internalizing Hashem’s love13:44 – Choosing thoughts vs. controlling them15:40 – Thoughts as clutter: does it spark joy?17:32 – From default judgment to G-dly perception19:00 – Questioning our own perceptions: trusting Hashem’s view over ours21:20 – Releasing attachment to negative thoughts22:20 – Reframing fear through divine perspective24:30 – Parenting and fear: letting go of control26:07 – Moving self out of the center, putting G-d in His place27:50 – Thinking good 28:40 – The case for conscious thought selection30:20 – Judging others: from coercion to spiritual re-alignment33:10 – Practical steps to retrain your thoughts35:10 – Replacing old narratives with Torah truth36:45 – Personalizing Torah ideas to real relationships38:30 – Applying Chassidus to judgment in daily life40:00 – Looking for evidence of the soul in others41:30 – Final thoughts: transformation through gentle redirection42:55 – Outro: Season 6 returns Sept 7

While we take a season break, we’re bringing back this unforgettable conversation with Devorie Kreiman, a mother, educator, and woman of deep faith who has lived through unimaginable loss.In this episode, Devorie shares the raw journey of losing multiple childre, and the lifelong work of finding G-d in the depths of grief. With honesty, courage, and spiritual clarity, she teaches us how to move from “life is impossible” to “I am possible,” holding pain and faith in the same breath.Find out more about Devorie Kreiman and purchase her book, "Even If I'm Not" at www.devoriekreiman.comThis episode originally aired June 2022. Season 6 returns on Sunday, Sep. 7.* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. * * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Introduction: Season break 00:53 – Meet Devorie Kreiman and her story of loss and faith02:15 – Losing her first child: the diagnosis and heartbreak03:30 – A pattern of illness: discovering a genetic condition04:40 – The sudden, tragic death of her son Yossi06:15 – Teaching HaYom Yom the day Yossi died07:30 – The mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles through grief08:55 – Beginning the spiritual journey of doing what feels impossible10:00 – The early years: grieving four sick children11:40 – The pain of stopping to have more children13:15 – What her sick children taught her about unconditional love14:30 – Navigating deep jealousy, pain, and spiritual honesty16:00 – How her son's passing reshaped her identity and reality17:50 – The quiet, paralyzing grief after Yossi’s death18:40 – “Even If I’m Not” – the story behind the title of her book20:30 – Frozen with pain: knowing truth but struggling to live it21:30 – The role of EMDR, EFT, and therapy in healing22:30 – A powerful memory from Simchas Torah: “I’m possible”25:00 – The final day of shiva and a miraculous moment of hope26:45 – Tapping into the soul’s strength: “We are possible”28:00 – The deeper awareness of a soul’s journey and Hashem’s plan29:00 – Spiritual growth vs. prolonged grief – finding the balance30:00 – Becoming a grandmother to Yossi’s namesake31:40 – Navigating bittersweet joy through birth and loss33:00 – Real-time self-talk: making space for grief and joy34:30 – Reclaiming rituals like Shabbos candles with new meaning36:15 – The lifelong challenge of answering “How many children do you have?”37:20 – Deepened joy and gratitude that grows through loss38:30 – Appreciation, laughter, and high-quality living after grief39:40 – Final advice: how to bring Chassidus into daily struggle41:00 – “We need light in the tunnel, not just at the end”42:00 – Closing thoughts: a life of small lights, faith, and awareness43:10 – Outro: Human & Holy Season 6 returns September 7

Wrapping up Season 5 of Human & Holy! We will be going on a season break and re-airing some favorite episodes until Season 6 airs on Sunday, Sep. 7 ✨To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, share your feedback or guest recommendations, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation about singlehood, self-worth, and the spiritual journey of opening yourself up to receive G-d's blessings. Jackie, a former psychologist turned global dating mentor, shares powerful insights about faith and personal identity, her story of finding her soulmate at 44, having a baby at 50, and the profound inner work she experienced during that time.To contact Jackie or learn more about her courses, you can find her at jackieglaser.com or find Jackie on Instagram: datingbyjackieg EPISODE SPONSOR:This episode is sponsored by Tov Bookkeeping, founded by Tova Munitz. Message @TovaBookkeeping on instagram or Whatsapp 323-770-9356 to book a free 20 minute consultation. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction & The Power of Inner Shifts01:25 - Meet Jackie Glaser: Psychologist Turned Dating Coach04:00 - Helping Others Dissolve Inner Blockages06:00 - Single by Design, Not by Punishment08:15 - Jackie's Journey11:00 - 14 Years of Waiting: Wrestling with Hashem13:30 - The Myth of "Not Being Whole Enough" for Marriage16:00 - Soulmates, Timing & Hashem’s Bigger Plan18:10 - Crushed to Create: The Olive Oil Analogy20:00 - Spiritual Bypassing vs. Real Inner Work23:00 - Mirror Moments: Patterns That Reveal Our Growth Areas26:15 - How Self-Worth Impacts Dating & Relationships28:30 - Building Self-Trust through Somatic & Emotional Work32:00 - Dissolving Fear & Receiving Blessings35:00 - How We Project Internal Beliefs onto Others38:00 - Rejection, Self-Worth & Emotional Resilience41:00 - Our Flaws Are Filters, Not Failures44:00 - Shadchanim, Boundaries & Trusting Hashem47:00 - True Bitachon: Trusting Hashem in Action49:30 - Real Life Example: Surgery, Fear & Hashem’s Protection53:00 - The Role of Anxiety as a Spiritual Opportunity56:00 - Loneliness, Desperation & How to Nurture Ourselves59:00 - Healthy Yearning vs. Desperation in Dating01:02:00 - Who You Marry Reflects Where You’re At01:04:00 - Manifesting, Misconceptions & Hashem’s Role01:06:30 - How to Support Single Friends with Sensitivity

A lesson from the red heifer about how faith is not something that is created or imposed on our lives, but is the ground that everything instinctively rests on. Also: being a channel for giving to others despite our own blockages, leaning into our engraved experience of faith, and the invitation in the unexplainable laws within the Torah.Based on a talk from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Parshas Chukas, Chelek Alef.* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In this intergenerational conversation, mother and daughter open their hearts to reflect on what it means to be impacted by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in today’s world. From personal encounters with the Rebbe to honest reflections on what it looks like to be shifted by the Rebbe's teachings without his physical presence, we explore the rich empowerment, divine awareness and love of another Jew that characterizes the Lubavitcher Rebbe's impact.C. Rochel Duchman is a Certified Life Coach (by Infiniti Coaching Training) and Dating Coach. She believes each person has exceptional gifts and greatness to contribute to the universe. As a coach, she is committed to helping each individual uncover and reach their limitless potential. Find out more at Autumncoaching.net. Instagram: Autumncoaching. Facebook: Autumn Coaching. Phone: 323-620-3618Srula Chaiton is a guiding force in the lives of children and families—leading with warmth, vision, and deep compassion. Through her work with Kol Yakov Yehuda, camp, and dance, she has shaped some of the most innovative programming for girls, especially around Shabbos and Jewish identity, setting a new standard for creativity and meaning. As a proud member of Chai Lifeline’s crisis intervention team and one of the first female CTMs with Magen Am, Srula brings calm, strength, and action where it’s needed most. Devoted wife, beloved mother, and vibrant community builder, she lives each day with purpose—rooted in faith, growth, and an unshakable belief in the power of the neshama. She can be contacted at [email protected].* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Welcome00:45 – Meet Srula Chaiton: Building Spiritual Community for Kids02:20 – Experiencing the Rebbe's Impact Beyond Physical Presence04:00 – A Tzaddik's Soul After Their Passing06:30 – I Feel Empowered to Have an Impact 08:15 – Making the Rebbe’s Energy Accessible Today08:55 – Why Do You Want Your Children to Feel Connected to the Rebbe? 11:50 – Total Immersion: My Life is Not Made of Fragmented Pieces 14:30 – Encouraging Teens to Ask and Learn17:00 – Meet Rochel Duchman: Growing Up with a Legendary Chabad Legacy19:00 – "I Was Your Chossid Before You Were My Rebbe"20:12 – Growing Up in Close Proximity to the Rebbe 22:00 – Personal Story: My Private Audience with the Rebbe24:29 – Use the Gifts That You Have 25:45 – The Rebbe’s Belief in Me Still Gives Me Strength28:00 – How Did the Rebbe's Passing Impact You?30:20 – Empowering the Individual Soul32:30 – Intergenerational Reflection: What We Admire in Each Other35:00 – Truth, Faith, and the Power of Stories38:10 – Teaching Through Experience and Realness42:00 – A Personal Letter and Unexpected Answer43:37 – Footage of the Rebbe's Leadership 44:51– Lifting Others Will Uplift You 46:00 – What Messages from the Rebbe Would You Like to See More Integrated?48:08 – Returning to Our Core51:00 – Judaism is Coming Alive 52:00 – How Would You Like to See the Rebbe's Impact Develop?55:06 – Trusting the Next Generation

A moving source exploring how our beloved biblical characters were unaware of the way their lives were being recorded as the text of the Torah and what that teaches us about the sacredness of the lived experience of our Judaism and how our lives are becoming a part of the Torah's story, too. Sources:Rus Rabbah 5Rupture and Reconstruction: The Transformation of Contemporary Orthodoxy by Haym Soloveitchik linked here: https://traditiononline.org/rupture-and-reconstruction-the-transformation-of-contemporary-orthodoxy* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

How do you move from fear to purpose? Bestselling author and TikTok exec Michal Oshman shares how discovering her soul helped her overcome anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. She opens up about parenting with intention, redefining success, and embracing the concept of bitul—spiritual humility—as a path to clarity and peace.Michal Oshman is the former Head of Company Culture, Diversity and Inclusion at TikTok Europe, and was formerly responsible for international leadership and team development at Facebook. Throughout her career, Michal has trained and coached hundreds of tech leaders. She served as an officer in the IDF, and has three university degrees in psychodynamic and systemic thinking, sociology, and anthropology. Michal lives with her husband and their children in London, UK. Find out more about Michal on michaloshman.com. Contact Michal at [email protected] inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro: Fear, Purpose & Jewish Wisdom01:37 – Meet Michal Oshman05:10 – Fear vs. Anxiety09:00 – Discovering the Jewish Soul14:00 – You Are Here for a Reason18:00 – Parenting with Soul, Not Fear22:10 – Hashem as a Life Partner25:20 – The Holiness of Marriage29:20 – Confidence vs. Fear in the Workplace33:50 – Letting Go of Parental Perfection38:10 – Finding Purpose Through Life Phases44:45 – Discovering and Using Your Gifts48:00 – What Is Bitul?52:25 – Living for a Mission Greater Than the Self55:00 – The Power of Honest Friendship57:20 – You Are Needed

Time rushes forward and in attempt to control its passage, we often find ourselves divvying it up into smaller sections, mining it for every ounce of productive energy, or missing it entirely. In this episode, we explore how mitzvos offer us a way to suspend time---not by escaping it, but by entering it more deeply. Each mitzvah invites us into a moment of stillness within the endless flow of life. These moments of interaction with the divine don’t just change our experience of time, but reshape us as people. Our beings are shifted by the way we choose to inhabit the moments of our lives.Source mentioned: Maamer V’Avraham Zaken 5738 Sefer Hamamorim Melukat Vol. 1* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Miriam Tenenbaum about the power of a mother's influence, staying connected to a deeper calling while experiencing the mundane moments of motherhood, and staying grounded within your sense of self while showing up for others. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

Thoughts on the neatness of religious art, what my process has been around learning to voice the honest emotional experience of life through poetry, and King David's model for creating spiritual art from a raw place within. Sources mentioned in this episode: Orthodoxy, Wealth, and Tackiness by Alex S. Ozar from Tradition, Spring 2025 Issue 57.2Psalm 22: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me; why so far from delivering me and from my anguished roaring?...I cry by day, You do not answer.." * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Devori Nussbaum, a psychotherapist and Tanya teacher, about emotional honesty in our spiritual growth and living with open-hearted presence. Devori shares her unique approach to integrating Chassidus and psychotherapy, offering powerful insights into shedding old identities, processing the grief of life, and tapping into the opportunity for connection with G-d at every moment. Devori is an integrative psychotherapist who has trained in many different healing modalities including body psychotherapy, imago therapy, logotherapy, the energetics of food, quantum touch, breathwork, CBT, NLP, EMDR, IFS, inner child work and somatic modalities. She is also passionate about teaching Chassidus in a way that is accessible, relevant and embodied, showing people that these teachings are not just nice ideas, but a description of our reality. Get in touch with Devori and find out more about her work on www.devorinussbaum.com. * * * * * * *EPISODE SPONSOR: "Miss Rose is Worried" by Estee Cohen is a heartwarming story that shows that every child's individuality is a gift. Their quirks and character traits, if nurtured rather than suppressed, become the foundation of who they are meant to be. Link to purchase the book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-rose-is-worried-estee-cohen/1146818067To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Sneak Peek & Sponsorship02:25 – Meet Devori Nussbaum04:45 – The Power of Real Human Presence07:12 – What Is Chassidus Meant to Do for the Human Psyche?12:00 – Finding the Balance Between Presence & Spiritual Aspiration18:04 – Embracing the Void: Turning Emotional Numbness into a Portal for Growth21:15 – Seeing Beneath the Surface of Reality26:00 – How Unprocessed Grief Blocks Our Hearts—and How to Reopen Them30:11 - The Role of Grief in Spiritual Growth36:01 - Holy Honesty38:00 – Bringing G-d into Daily Life44:53 - Navigating the Fear of Change47:00 – Regulating Your Nervous System 54:30 – One Minute a Day: Building Presence in Busy Lives1:02:15 – Kavanah and Mitzvot: How One Moment Can Fill a Lifetime1:07:30 – Animal Soul vs. Divine Soul: A Compassionate Integration1:12:00 – Redefining Iskafya: Presence, Breath, and Spiritual Discipline1:16:30 – Choosing Growth vs. Chasing Perfection1:29:10 - Crumbling into Grief1:41:00 – How to Navigate Religious Trauma1:44:15 – Parents, Fear, and Compassion: Reframing the Narrative1:47:00 – The Magic of Retreats1:53:30 – Personal Journey: From Control to Joy1:57:05 – Presence, Honesty, and Shedding the Snake Skin1:59:00 – Host’s Outro

The cost of undeveloped potential, the misguided instinct to protect our brightest lights, why Dinah felt an internal call to leave her home and lead, and why the world is waiting for women to trust and raise their own distinct voices. Based on a talk of the Lubavitcher Rebbe about Dinah. Likkutei Sichos, Volume 35, Vayishlach Sicha 3.Link to the episode with Rivky Kaplan: https://humanandholy.com/the-feminine-spirit-a-rising-force-rivky-kaplan* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

We spend weeks leading up to Shavuot refining our characters. And then we receive G-d's Torah, which asks us to faithfully reflect the light of the Divine in this world. Does the Torah mark a path to self development or self transcendence? What might it look like to be both surrendered and distinctly who we are? * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - The Gift of the Torah02:50 - Understanding Bitul: Reflecting the Divine 05:57 - The Interplay of Self-Development and Self-Transcendence08:51 - The Role of Rosh Chodesh in Preparing for Receiving the Torah12:04 - Naaseh v'Nishmah: Redefining Our Sense of Self 15:07 - Expanding, Not Shrinking

In honor of Shavuos, three women — Lauren Nagel, Devora Pinson, and Chana Arnold — sit down for a raw and honest conversation about receiving the Torah anew in our adult lives. What are some of the things that have disconnected us from the Torah over the years? What are some of the things that have softened those blockages? And in what ways has the Torah become the greatest gift of our lives?If you connected to something that was shared in this episode, let our generous guests know:Devora Pinson: [email protected] Nagel: [email protected] Arnold: [email protected] SPONSORS:This episode is sponsored by Finds By Rivka. Think of Rivka’s finds as a personal shopper who sifts through the sale pages to find the best Tznius clothing deals! Join 3,000+ other women who are loving the group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LBOxmcsZin66u7brbOvx4l* * * * * * *Babyccino is a Mommy & Me class curriculum designed to facilitate meaningful, Jewish experiences for mothers and babies. We can only receive the Torah that is given to us, and the Torah is given to children, first, by their mothers. Find out more here: www.babyccinoclass.com* * * * * * *This episode is co-sponsored and dedicated with love by Riki to a special "Human & Holy" person, mother and friend, Miriam Frimet Bas Tzivia, upon her birthday. May it be a Zchus. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek00:17 - Host's Intro01:45 - Sponsorship Message: Finds by Rivka03:03 - Meet the Guests: Devora, Chana, Lauren05:18 - Spiritual Backgrounds08:52 - I Needed More 12:10 - The Torah Feeds My Soul16:34 - Choosing the Torah Again17:50 - The Torah as a Tree of Life 19:58 - I Was Just Repeating What I Learned 22:55 - Real Learning Creates Space for Real Struggles24:21 - Letting Go of Perfectionism 30:06 - I Lost Everything 32:28 - When I Began to Access Hashem33:27 - Holding Pain & Faith Simultaneously35:33 - I Am Not Alone 37:37 - A Real Relationship Welcomes Your Full Self 40:54 - What Do We Do With Our Freedom?42:05 - The Torah Can't Be Done in Isolation44:30 - I Skip to My Torah Classes46:05 - From "I Have to" to "I Get To"49:51 - Torah is an Overflowing Ocean51:08 - Raising Kids with G-d Consciousness54:01 - When You See the Light Shining in Other Women 54:37 - The Torah Shifted Me 56:22 - Investing in Our Relationship with G-d58:24 - Shavuos as a Relationship Renewal01:01:07 - Sharing Torah at the Table01:01:44 - Beautifying Our Experience of the Torah 01:04:38 - Host's Outro

Answering listener questions on maturing in our Judaism, maintaining a spiritual sense of self when mothering small children, friendship, Torah study, and spiritual ruts. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A personal journey of discovering Jewish meditation, taking the cerebral act of study and grounding it in the body through focus and breath. Explore the balance between body and soul, the power of intention in prayer, the difference between Jewish and Eastern meditation, and the spiritual practice of finding balance in our characters through the Sefirot.A mom of seven, Zeesy is the director of Sinai Academy Jewish International School and Cape Town Torah High School. She is the spiritual feminine leader of Blouberg Jewish Community Centre. Zeesy gives ongoing psycho-spiritual ‘soultalks’ in the community, sharing her passion of bringing people closer to their soul source. She coaches women around the world with ‘Echad coaching’ bringing body and soul together.Find out more about Zeesy's work here: www.echad.co.zaGet in touch with Zeesy at [email protected] * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:17 - Host's Intro 01:17 - Support Human & Holy01:39 - Welcome Zeesy03:34 - The Birth of Echad: Mindfulness & Meditation 05:31 - Integrating Body and Soul in Spiritual Practice09:01 - Learning & Practicing Meditation10:47 - Chassidic Meditation Practice14:05 - Jewish Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation18:22 - An Example of Jewish Meditation22:24 - How Torah Learning Becomes Embodied24:57 - Da’at: Intimacy with G-d Through Torah and Body32:10 - Practical Tools for Spiritual Integration34:00 - The Power of Single Tasking34:52 - Morning Rituals and Connection to Nature36:13 - Building a Meaningful Prayer Practice38:45 - Integrating Gratitude into Daily Life41:00 - Heartfelt Prayer: Emotional Presence in Judaism42:42 - Understanding the Sefirot and Personal Growth48:19 - Balancing Character Traits49:46 - Breathing the Sefirot Into Your Day51:57 - Hashem in the Slow Lane: Trusting Divine Timing54:18 - Peak Judaism: When Body and Soul Are One55:34 - Experiencing G-d On Slower Days57:30 - Vulnerability in Prayer59:58 - Grounding Ourselves in Our Bodies1:03:43 - Host's Outro

Does each generation get less spiritually sensitive? What is the original source for the idea of "Yeridos Hadoros" -- the decline of the generations -- and in what ways are we experiencing a reversal of that idea? Explore the deeper meaning of Lag Ba'Omer, a teaching from R' Tzadok about the ascent of the generations and why there is an unprecedented spiritual attunement to the deepest parts of Torah. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation about discovering a loving relationship with G-d through grief. Bianca shares her personal journey of loss and how it led her to a deeper understanding of G-d's love and connection. We discuss expressing raw emotions in prayer, the Torah as a love letter from G-d, and the significance of gratitude and daily conversation in building a relationship with the Divine.Bianca Benisti Kaffash is a motivational speaker and spiritual coach who has walked through her own challenges to discover a deeper connection with Hashem and the beauty of Torah. She believes in the power of reconnecting with the sacred language of prayer and Torah—something that’s often been cheapened or lost. Now, Bianca is passionate about bringing others back to that language, helping them experience the profound beauty and strength it offers. Through spiritual coaching, personalized prayers, and leading meaningful events, Bianca empowers others to find healing, clarity, and a true connection with Hashem. Follow her on Instagram @ritainspired for raw, heartfelt inspiration and a journey back to the light of Torah. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:16 - Host’s Intro01:10 - Introduction of Bianca Benisti 02:43 - Welcome Bianca02:51 - Bianca’s Background + Starting Rita Inspired 04:31 - Grief and Torah as a Healing Language 06:05 - Being Reintroduced to the Torah as Hashem’s Love Language06:46 - Shifting from Obedience to Connection 08:15 - Mourning Laws as Divine Comfort 09:59 - Inviting G-d In 11:07 - The Only Way Out is Through11:50 - Experiencing Hashem’s Love Through Loss 13:35 - Surrendering to G-d 15:37 - Having a Conversation with G-d 18:33 - How to Pray When It Feels Imaginative 23:49 - Personal Gratitude and Emotional Honesty 28:46 - How Grief & Singlehood Shaped My Prayer 29:57 - Hashem Wants to Spend Time with Me30:34 - The Exodus: Crying Out to G-d Sparks Redemption 32:05 - Simple, Raw Prayers Can Bring Miracles 34:13 - Studying Torah to Understand G-d36:15 - Mitzvot Are Love Maps, Not Restrictions 38:32 - The Message Behind Jealousy 39:46 - Hashem Just Wants You to Be You40:39 - When G-d Doesn’t Reveal Everything 42:01 - Being Motivated by Love43:32 - Crisis Can Reveal G-d’s Emotional Presence 46:14 - Finding Clarity in Torah 47:49 - G-d will Find a Way to Get Into Your Painful Moments48:22 - My Joy Under The Chuppah 51:35 - Host’s Outro

A reading of the poem "How a Place Becomes Holy" by Yehoshua November, reflections on the power of calling out to G-d with the few, ambiguous words we have, and the delicate invitations in both creativity and faith to trust what stirs inside us. Episode sponsored in honor of the safety and protection of the Jewish people in the Holy Land. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS00:00 - "How a Place Becomes Holy"02:00 - Self-Trust in Creativity03:45 - Holiness as the Subtext of Reality04:22 - Story of Yeshaya Bar-Daki: A Cry for Life06:50 - An Experience at the Mikvah 08:58 - The Holiness in Everyday Life11:45 - Trusting the Heart's Longings

A conversation with Rivky Kaplan exploring what it means to lean into the feminine spirit in both the private and public sphere, the Lubavitcher Rebbe's vision for Jewish womanhood, the wisdom available to us in our cycles and the seasons of our life, how to stay connected to the woman beneath the role of mother, and the power of sisterhood in helping us find our voices. Rivky Kaplan is a Chabad Shlucha in Tzfat, Israel with her husband Chaim and family. Rivky teaches Torah and Chassidut in various seminaries as well as many adult education classes both in Israel and abroad. She is passionate about engaging her students in the text and making Torah concepts personal and relevant. Rivky is a Yoetzet Halacha and has recently opened a one of a kind Educational Visitors center in their newly renovated Mikva. She is also a trained Fertility Fellow providing guidance to couples navigating the challenges of infertility. Rivky is also a very proud Bubby. You can contact Rivky at [email protected] inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:27 - Host's Intro 02:13 - Welcome Rivky05:51 - Rosh Chodesh: A Gift to Women07:35 -The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Vision for Jewish Womanhood10:26 - Why Chana Decided to Stay Home15:00 - Giving Your Child That Little Bit More16:26 - Why Dena Went Out to Lead17:35 - Personifying Internality: The Feminine Spirit19:03 - Beyond Biological Motherhood: A Spiritual Role21:00 - Expanding the Walls of the Home 23:46 - Capitalizing on What is Unique About Us 25:40 - If the Workplace Was Designed for Women's Needs28:55 - The World is Waking Up to Feminine Values29:55 - Listening to Our Bodies32:50 - I Expected Myself to Be a Full Moon Every Day33:25 - Understanding the Hormonal Phases 35:15 - Attuning Ourselves to Our Bodies 37:58 - The Phases of Our Menstrual Cycles38:44 - Wishing My Mother Could Hold My Babies42:55 - Our Bodies Hold Paradox 44:28 - Carrying Life and Grief in Israel 46:40 - A Disconnect From Our Bodies47:50 - Navigating Life's Seasons: We Are Both Chana and Dina50:33 - Being Present Where You Are52:50 - Staying Connected to What Fuels Me56:33 - What is a Feminine Way of Giving?57:56 - Story of the Rebbe: What is the Identifier of a Jewish Girl? 1:01:30 - Shifting the Way the World Sees Jewish Women1:04:30 - Have We Internalized That Vision? 01:07:05 - Menopause and Its Impact on a Woman’s Identity1:09:24 - Expanding the Why's That Carried You1:11:30 - How to Nurture Yourself When You're a Mother 1:13:37 - G-d Trusts Us1:17:35 - Having a Firsthand Experience of the Torah1:20:48 - Teaching From a Place of Trust 1:24:25 - Textual Learning Makes Space for Critical Thinking 1:30:58 - There Are Many Ways of Serving G-d 1:33:18 - I Felt Escorted to the Mikvah by the Chain of Jewish Women 1:37:33 - The Contemporary Sisterhood 1:40:00 - Female Soldiers Immersing in the Mikvah 1:41:42 - How to Create Your Own Sisterhood 1:43:28 - You Need One Person to Truly See You 1:49:00 - The World is Waiting for Every Woman's Voice01:50:05 - Host’s Outro

Personal reflections on some of the central themes in Reclaiming Dignity. Exploring the sanctity of our inner worlds, what it truly means to walk before G-d, how tznius shows up in the way we speak, share of ourselves and spend money, why legislating every detail of tznius robs us of the ability to cultivate own own internal sensitivities, and what it might look like to infuse our clothing with the depth of tznius, instead of having them define it.Link to purchase the book at 15% off: https://mosaicapress.com/product/recl.... Human & Holy discount code is humanandholy15. Find out more on the website www.reclaimingdignity.com. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Bracha Poliakoff, co-author of the groundbreaking book Reclaiming Dignity, exploring the deep, spiritual meaning of Tzniut in Judaism. Far from being just a dress code, this episode explores Tzniut as a powerful expression of dignity, internality, and self-respect for both men and women. We discuss halachic sources, misconceptions around modesty, and why more is not always better in this sensitive and central Jewish value.Bracha Poliakoff, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker, speaker, and writer. She currently serves as the founder and director of continuing education at Bright Ideas Continuing Education, providing high-quality programs for mental health professionals in the United States and Canada. Bracha has a strong commitment to Jewish education, having taught Torah to high schoolers and adults in various settings, founded a number of Jewish learning initiatives, and co-authoring Reclaiming Dignity: A Guide to Tzniut for Men and Women. As a passionate member of the Orthodox community, she actively gives back and makes a difference, including serving on the boards of Keneseth Beth Israel (Richmond, VA) and the Women’s Institute of Torah/Mesorah Baltimore (Baltimore, MD). Bracha is also committed to personal and professional development, having participated in The Associated’s Young Leadership Council, Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative Leadership Summit, and the Orthodox Leadership Project. She lives in Baltimore, MD, with her husband and three children. Bracha can be contacted at [email protected] book, Reclaiming Dignity, can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/4iP9j1O. Find out more on the website www.reclaimingdignity.com. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sneak Peek 00:34 Host’s Intro02:35 Welcome Bracha03:33 Why Write a Book on Tznius? 08:10 The Importance of Women’s Voices in the Conversation About Tzniut11:00 Is Tzniut for Men?13:07 A Torah Source for Men's Tzniut: Dignity in War16:07 The Parts of Tzniut That No One Will Ever See18:10 Shifting My Own Experience of Tzniut21:36 Removing the Judgment and Pressure 24:08 Are Introverts More Tzniut?28:37 The Difference Between Erva and Tzniut30:11 Do Women Dress Tzniut for Men?35:03 The Negative Impacts of Overemphasizing External Modesty36:21 Mutual Respect Between Men and Women 38:23 Excessive Modesty Can Sexualize Women39:26 More is Not Always Better41:21 Women's Pictures in Magazines46:00 The Cost of Exclusion50:32 When I Didn't Want My Own Picture Published 52:00 Determining Your Own Boundaries53:51 Materialism & Other Areas of Tzniut Beyond Clothing57:37 How Does Bracha Aim to Show Up? 01:00:57 Host’s Outro

Reflections on my birthday, why I think about my mortality, and a Modeh Ani meditation. Episode sponsored by an anonymous sponsor in honor of our LA Tanya class. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Birthday Reflections1:27 - Why I Think About My Mortality 4:30 - The Gift of Another Day 5:45 - Forgetting Who We Are 7:33 - Saying Modeh Ani With Intention 9:22 - The Memory of Prayer12:16 - A Modeh Ani Meditation

A conversation exploring the Jewish view of death, grief, and the afterlife. Drawing from her personal losses and decades of spiritual exploration, Elissa shares her journey, reflections from her work preparing bodies for Jewish burial, and powerful insights on mourning rituals and what they can teach us about what it means to truly live. Elissa Felder is the Coordinator for Core’s Communities of Practice. Elissa started and actively manages Core’s community of practice for women engaged with traditional chevrah kadisha. She is responsible for providing on-going professional development for the community. The knowledge she acquired through her work motivated her to write her book, From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage of Life After Death. Additionally, she is very active in her local chevrah kadisha and speaks widely on this topic. Elissa is the Founding Director of Core Connects RI, a non-profit organization that aims to deepen women’s connections to one another, to Jewish wisdom, and to Jewish values, as well as to empower each other to find greater meaning, purpose, and possibility in life and to cultivate unity without uniformity. As director she is passionate about providing others with opportunities to grow and become. She runs programming both online and in person. Elissa is passionate about bringing Jews together and celebrating their commonalities rather than their differences. Through all of these experiences, Elissa mentors and encourages others on their journeys.You can purchase Elissa's book here: https://mosaicapress.com/product/from-one-life-to-the-next-life/?srsltid=AfmBOorymKsRPl9qZlNH91dglhkMuoqSkLUd1EdThXJfSxY72ARG1UeJElissa can be reached at [email protected] To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:54 - Host’s Intro03:30 - Welcome Elissa05:50 - Where Did My Son Go?07:33 - What Happens After Death? 09:28 - The Soul Separates From Its Body in Stages10:41 - Purification of the Soul 11:37 - Resurrection of the Dead: A Soul Reunited with Its Body 12:51 - The Deeper Meaning Behind Chevra Kadisha Practices15:09 - Talking to a Soul: Preparing for Life, Not Death 16:15 - Analogies for Resurrection18:18 - Why Return to the Body If the Soul Experiences Divine Bliss? 21:11 - Why Are We Here? 23:05 - Elevating Each Part of the Body 24:50 - Living with an Awareness of Life's Fragility26:27 - The Significance of Morning Prayers27:22 - Grief is Love28:36 - Communal Presence During Shiva29:34 - Witnessing Grief 32:12 - The Power of Small Acts of Love33:18 - Why We Let Mourners Lead37:00 - The Soul’s Journey After Death38:50 - Grief as a Companion39:47 - The Chevra Kedisha’s Love for the Deceased40:41 - The Rabbi Who Cared for My Father 42:44 - Caring For My Granddaughter45:04 - Welcoming the Soul 46:13 - Do We Access the Soul at its Grave?48:38 - It Is About Life49:16 - Navigating Grief 52:00 - Letting Our Emotions Flow 57:05 - Choosing Love Over Anger After Loss 01:00:12 - Host’s Outro

An episode about the last day of Pesach, becoming receptive to divine revelation, eating the food of Redemption and the vulnerability of hope.Timestamps:00:00 - Host's Intro 00:52 - The Moshiach Seudah3:18 - Forty Two Journeys 4:59 - Becoming Receptive to Divine Light6:17 - Living in a Post Truth Era8:49 - Eating the Food of Moshiach 11:06 - Rising to Meet a New Reality 11:49 - Experiencing the Moshiach Seudah As a Child 13:31 - The Vulnerability of HopeTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A teaching about the four sons as four identities within, the choice between cynicism and wonder when observing our lives from the outside, and the gifts hidden in our unexplored questions. Episode sponsored in honor of the speedy Refuah of Sholom Dovber ben Chava.To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.Timestamps:00:00 - Introducing Solo Sessions00:56 - The Four Sons as Four Identities Within 02:07 - Seeing Our Judaism From the Outside 02:56 - Juxtaposing the Wise & Wicked Sons' Questions03:25 - Defining Our Questions & Immersing Ourselves in the Search05:38 - Cynicism or Wonder?08:20 - When Our Judaism Feels Jaded 09:55 - Learning How to Ask 11:50 - Discussion Game Link to the episode from last year, where we played a conversation game based on this teaching about the four sons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd3LVLhvMQY

A personal conversation about creating a Seder that allows us to bring our full selves to the experience, finding an accessible entrance into the essence of Jewish holidays and rituals after becoming a mother, and some of the teachings about the steps of the Seder that have welcomed Chani in. Chani is a wife, mother, poet, writer, and aspiring florist. She's an all around creative, and loves bringing beauty and meaning into everyday life. She dabbles in freelance writing and content creation alongside her work at a preschool and a nonprofit organization. You can find her writing and content on Instagram @chani lipovenko and Substack (Tulips & Tantrums). Chani can be contacted at [email protected]. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:00:37 - Host's Introduction 0:02:03 - Welcome Chani0:02:43 - How it Started 0:04:34 - Reimagining the Seder Experience0:09:56 - Where Am I in This Ritual?0:14:21 - Leaning into the Physical Act of a Mitzvah0:17:35 - Experiencing the Essence of a Holiday0:21:55 - Staying Open to Unexpected Inspiration 0:23:20 - I Can't Recreate My Pre-Baby Life 0:27:10 - Experiencing the Seder as a Personal Journey0:29:02 - Being An Open Vessel to What the Seder Has to Offer 0:31:25 - Bring Your Heartbreak 0:32:28 - The Soul Can Never Be in Exile0:35:19 - Encouraging Questions in Our Judaism 0:38:45 - Encouraging Questions 0:41:25 - The Steps of the Seder Are Leading Us Somewhere0:42:27 - Postpartum: Holding Both Brokenness and Wholeness 0:45:45 - How G-d Sees Us0:48:13 - Opening the Door to Miracles0:51:38 - Allowing Ourselves to be Transformed in Small Ways 0:52:28 - The End of the Seder is the Beginning of Freedom 0:53:09 - Host’s Outro

A conversation with Rachel Luftglass, a passionate Judaic educator and Tanach scholar, about finding our spiritual role models within the Torah. Racheli shares her journey from struggling with Tanach as a student to falling in love with its stories and teachings, how the characters in Tanach guide her in everyday life, and how engaging deeply with biblical characters can transform the way we live. This discussion includes lessons from biblical characters like Yirmiyahu, Nechemiah, the daughters of Tzelofchad, Devorah, Batya, and Esther. Mrs. Racheli Luftglass is the Principal of Judaic Studies at YULA Girls High School and a kallah teacher. Before moving to the West Coast, she taught at The Frisch School in Paramus, NJ, in the Nach Department and in the Learning Center. At the OU Women’s Initiative, Mrs. Luftglass has served as a Counting Toward Sinai Scholar-in-Residence, presented shiurim and taught “Yirmiyahu’s Canon for Calamity” – an interactive in-depth course at the ALIT Virtual Summer Learning Program. She also taught Sefer Nechemia to over 5,000 women worldwide for Torat Imecha Nach Yomi. Mrs. Luftglass began her career at The Moriah School in Englewood, NJ, where she taught both mainstream and enrichment Judaic Studies classes as well as secular studies in the school’s Gesher Yehuda Program. Mrs. Luftglass graduated from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women with a B.A. in music and psychology and holds an M.A. from Columbia University’s Teachers College with a concentration in Education of the Gifted and of the Learning Disabled. She has also completed coursework at Columbia University towards a doctorate degree in neuropsychology. Mrs. Luftglass lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and five children. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:00:37 - Host's Introduction 0:02:10 - Welcome Racheli 0:04:06 - A Personal Passion for Tanach0:06:00 - The Lost Art of Letter Writing 0:06:54 - The Daughters of Tzelofchad0:09:15 - Which Characters Do You Currently Connect With? 0:10:25 - How It All Began: Racheli’s Early Experiences with Tanach0:11:03 - Intertextuality in Tanach0:13:31 - What We Can Learn From Hashem’s Vulnerable Moments 0:17:10 - Teaching as a Means of Mastery0:17:54 - Understanding the Prophets0:19:34 - Yirmiyahu: Survival and Identity in Exile0:27:22 - Roots and Branches: Continuity in Judaism0:28:01 - Inner Sense of Connection to Your Values0:30:19 - Finding Personal Guidance in Tanach0:32:11 - Devorah: An Unapologetic Voice0:40:29 - Recurring Themes in the Women in Tanach0:42:43 - I Am in a Dance With Hashem0:44:05 - When Hashem Says No 0:47:45 - Following Your Curiosity in Your Studies0:49:11 - Accessing Tanach 0:52:24 - Connecting Through Art and Personal Stories0:53:18 - Finding Personal Role Models Within Tanach0:53:59 - Lessons from Batya & Esther0:56:38 - Choosing Not to Become Bitter0:58:36 - Host's Outro

A conversation about the Lubavitcher Rebbe's perspective on fighting antisemitism, what it truly means to be a light unto the nations and how to find moral clarity in a Godless society. Inbal Levin is a writer, former fashion model, and social media director for Chabad on Campus. You can connect with her via instagram @itsinbal.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:01:00 - Introduction of Inbal Levin0:02:25 - Welcome Inbal 0:03:08 - Inbal’s Background0:03:46 - Passion for Fashion0:05:57 - Creativity is Holy 0:06:28 - The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Reflections on the Depth of Art 0:09:11 - Girls on the Cover of the Moshiach Times Magazine0:10:48 - The Rebbe’s Conversation with the Israeli Beauty Queen0:14:54 - Being a Jew in Public0:18:12 - Helping Others Up the Volume on their Own Jewish Pride 0:21:05 - Embracing Jewish Identity in Modern Times0:21:31 - Inspiring Other's in Their Own Heritage0:24:25 - The Responsibility of Being the Chosen People 0:26:15 - Moral Clarity 0:27:30 - A Moment of Silence0:31:00 - A Universal Call to G-dly Awareness0:32:53 - Bringing Torah to the World0:37:55 - The Power of Shabbos Candles0:43:46 - Mitzvah Campaigns: A Response to Darkness0:50:40 - The Rebbe’s Approach to Antisemitism 0:52:28 - The Haggadah Focuses on Freedom, Not Suffering0:53:19 - A Judaism of Joy0:57:15 -Awakening Through Tragedy01:00:02 - Judaism Asks for Participation 01:03:03 - The Impact of Jewish Rituals on Future Generations01:05:55 - Follow Up Story on Inbal’s Flight 01:07:40 - Podcast Outro

A conversation with Chanie Krasnianski, a seasoned educator and shlucha on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, NY, about the beauty of the Jewish perspective on sexuality, mikvah, and marriage. Explore the spiritual depth of physical attraction, the beauty and struggles that can arise with the laws of family purity, how to navigate religious differences in a relationship, and the deep potential for holiness and profound connection within our most intimate spaces. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:0:00:00 - The Bedroom is the Holy of Holies0:00:41 - Partner With Human & Holy 0:01:57 - Guest Introduction: Chanie Krasnjanski0:03:01 - Welcome Chanie 0:03:27 - Topic: Holy Intimacy0:03:33 - Chanie’s Background 0:05:53 - Bringing Holiness to Marriage0:07:07 - You Want to Fix the World, Fix Your World0:08:05 - In Times of Crisis, Strengthen the Home 0:09:11 - The Art of Holy Intimacy: Connection0:09:42 - How Do You Begin This Conversation?0:10:27 - Reclaiming Your Sexuality 0:12:48 - Boundaries as Protection, Not Restriction0:14:08 - What is the Jewish Perspective on Sexuality?0:14:28 - The Physical Reality Mirrors the Spiritual Reality0:15:11 - The Kabbalistic Understanding of Male & Female Attraction0:18:22 - Attraction Outside of Marriage 0:19:05 - The Torah's Perspective Keeps You Honest0:20:27 - You Choose How to Satisfy Your Hunger 0:22:13 - Halacha Is Not a Checklist0:26:39 - Accepting the Imperfections in Our Relationship with G-d0:27:48 - Judaism is Not a Religion0:28:17 - A Child Learns Faith In Infancy0:30:36 - Reframing Your Understanding of the Mikvah0:31:10 - The Spiritual Significance of Mikvah Immersion0:33:01 - Femininity is a Divine Vessel0:34:42 - You Can't Override the Spiritual Level of Your Spouse0:35:59 - Building a Relationship with G-d 0:38:26 - Overcoming Personal Discomfort with Mikvah Ladies0:41:42 - Your Triggers are Signals 0:43:41 - When Your Spouse Wants Something But It Isn't the Highest Halachic Standard0:46:07 - When You Feel Uncomfortable Speaking to a Mentor About Intimate Topics0:52:02 - Religious Guilt Around Sexuality 0:55:11 - G-d as a Loving Father0:56:40 - You Are Not Your Spouse’s Rabbi0:57:10 - When a Spouse Is Resistant to the Other's Spiritual Growth 01:02:58 - Your Spouse is a Mirror 01:04:09 - When Niddah Draws You Apart 01:08:21 - The Seasons of Marriage 01:10:49 - There’s Usually a Deeper Reason01:12:30 - Differentiating Between Law & Custom (Halacha & Chumra)01:15:13 - Strengthening the Mitzvah of Family Purity 01:19:13 - The Jewish Ideals of Sexual Intimacy Are Designed to Encourage Connection01:23:24 - Seeking Out the Right Rabbi or Mentor01:25:24 - Inviting G-d into Our Bedrooms 1:27:31 - Through Intimacy, We Become G-dlike 1:28:02 Host's Outro

A deep lesson from the Purim story about who we give our power to, showing up to create imperfect vessels while believing that G-d can send miracles that far surpass our efforts, and learning to see past the veneer of concealment and experience the soul's identity as primary in our lives. Video episode is available on Youtube. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation about the lessons we can learn from Megillas Esther for our current times, walking through the doorways G-d calls us to, navigating responsibilities that we didn't sign up for, the synthesis of modern wisdom with Torah, differentiating between the sacred and unsacred, and how to begin developing a relationship with Torah study. Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. She previously served as the director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership and an associate professor of curriculum and pedagogy at The George Washington University. Erica is the author or co-author of 15 books on leadership, the Hebrew Bible and spirituality. Erica has a daily podcast, “Take Your Soul to Work.” Her book Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Maggid) was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Her latest book is Kohelet and the Search for Meaning (Maggid). She and her husband live in Maryland and have four children, another four through marriage, and six exquisite grandchildren. Explore more of her work at ericabrown.com.Video episode is available on Youtube. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations. Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:50 Welcome Dr. Erica Brown 4:43 What We Can Learn from Megillas Esther 10:10 How Can We Show Up Right Now?12:58 A Relationship with G-d is Dynamic15:10 Harnessing the Jewish Shift in the Diaspora 18:00 The Power of Invitation19:00 Developing a Personal Interest in Tanach21:58 Bringing the Totality of Ourselves to the Text23:10 The Story of Jonah: The Wishful Fantasy of Adulthood24:45 When Your Responsibilities Feel Like Too Much 27:58 Getting Guidance From Those Who Have Walked the Path20:55 When You Didn't Sign Up for What Life is Asking of You33:50 Asking for Help: Esther and Mordechai's Partnership 35:05 The Mezuzah: Walking Through the Doorway With G-d37:50 Bringing All Worlds of Wisdom to the Torah 40:50 Filtering Out the Unholy43:20 Will AI Change the Way We Study Torah?47:10 Advice on Developing a Relationship with Torah Study

A conversation about believing in ourselves as much as G-d does, rising to G-d’s call for our mission in this world, moving past numbers as our metric of success, and what we can each learn from Chabad Shluchim.Rachel Jacobs, originally from Los Angeles, California, currently serves as Rebbetzin of Singers Hill Synagogue in Birmingham, England. She is also the Educational Director of the Torah Tots nursery school, the Cheder, and the Jewish studies program at the local King David Primary School. Over the past 20 years, Rachel has gained recognition as an inspiring Jewish speaker, with a particular focus on women’s issues and marriage. Her warmth, charisma, and insightful teachings have touched the lives of Jewish women across the United States and Europe. You can contact Rachel via [email protected] and on instagram @Rachelcjacobs.Today's episode is dedicated in honor of Levi Yizchok ben Chaim Tzvi a"h. Support his family here: https://raisethon.com/leviwolosow. Do a mitzvah in his honor and share it here: https://onemitzvah.org/leviw.Episode Partners:TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription featuring exclusive Jewish content created and sourced by Toveedo. Use code HH10 for 10% off at Toveedo.com.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.00:27 Toveedo Sponsorship 01:48 Dedication to Levi Wolosow (Levi Yitzchok ben Chaim Tzvi a"h)02:38 Welcome Rachel Jacobs 10:10 We Were Born Because G-d Believes in Us 20:01 How to Build True Self Esteem 25:40 How to Respond to G-d's Call When We Don't Feel Perfectly Suited30:06 Moving Past Numbers as a Metric for Success 39:17 Focusing On the Needs of Your Community 42:14 Showing Up Without Expectation of Results 46:16 Consciously Elevating Others 51:37 Stepping Back to Appreciate Our Roles55:50 Nurturing the Potential in Others When We Don't See It01:01:10 We Can't Control the Outcome of Our Guidance 01:06:06 Every Person Has a Mission to Fulfill

A conversation about embracing the many ways of seeing the Torah while remaining rooted in our values, the difference between judgment and discernment, impacting people without preaching, and how to approach the decision to have another baby. Dena Schusterman is a founder of Chabad Intown in Atlanta, a Jewish educator and a founding director of both the Intown Jewish Preschool and Hebrew School. Dena writes about parenting and applied Torah and Chassidic thought, her articles have appeared on Kveller, Chabad.org, Groknation, Ami magazine and the Atlanta Jewish Times. Dena is currently working on writing her first book. She and her husband Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman are native Californians and have been living in Atlanta for 20 years. They have 8 children. You can contact Dena at [email protected] and on instagram @denads. Link to Dena's first episode with Human & Holy: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rZZHw2SdusrTq6xiz1FHC?si=4b9607a0f2d74ac5Episode Partners:TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription featuring exclusive Jewish content created and sourced by Toveedo. Use code HH10 for 10% off at Toveedo.com.ZELDA HAIR: A wig company that champions the holistic process of hair covering for Jewish women. Shop Zelda Hair at zeldahairshop.com and discover the heart behind the brand on Instagram @zeldahair.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.Timestamps:0:00:23 Toveedo Sponsorship0:00:45 Zelda Hair Sponsorship 0:01:15 Host’s Introduction0:02:48 Welcome Dena Schusterman 0:06:36 Why I’m Publishing a Memoir0:10:37 You Can’t Tell People How to Think0:13:00 Don’t Give People Answers to Questions They Never Asked0:16:00 People Will Misunderstand You0:17:08 Standing in Front of the Rebbe as a Child0:19:34 Why Do We Feel the Need to Source Everything?0:20:39 Chiddushei Torah: Writing Down Our Thoughts on Torah0:22:58 Humility When We Interpret the Torah 0:23:43 Trusting Our Barometers for Truth 0:24:22 Knowing When Other People’s Ideas Are Not For You0:25:41 The Difference Between Judgment & Discernment0:27:25 Seventy Ways of Understanding the Torah0:28:50 Can Women Choose Not to be in Magazines?0:33:20 Respecting Other Communities’ Religious Choices0:35:22 Judging People Who Are More Religious Than Us0:38:50 Trusting Other People’s Spiritual Paths0:41:50 Having Strong Jewish Values 0:44:50 Live in a Way That Speaks for Itself0:46:38 Being a Shlucha Without Preaching 0:49:31 Sharing Our Convictions 0:53:00 Educating Our Children Without Fear0:54:15 Being Role Models for Our Children0:56:00 The Rebbe Met People Where They Were At0:57:10 How to Make the Decision to Have a Baby 0:58:25 What is the Jewish Perspective on Pru U’rvu?1:03:44 Have One More Child Than You Ideally Want to Have1:04:37 Approaching Hashem with Receptivity 1:06:23 When We Face Discomfort, Hashem Comforts Us1:07:25 The Difference Between Trust and Free Falling 1:08:15 What to Do When Having Another Child Feels Like Too Much 1:09:43 What Does Having a Large Family Actually Mean?1:10:27 Showing Up as Ourselves1:11:25 We Are Each Called to be Leaders1:13:45 Learning How to Live with What is

Orthodox Jewish singer Shaindy Plotzker discusses her journey within the music industry, using our talents and voices for the sake of a higher purpose, performing for women’s only crowds and the blessings she’s seen come of it, seeing G-d as the source of both our successes and hardships, learning how to rest, elevating other women in her industry, advice for aspiring artists, and the deep intention that guides her every move.Discover more from Shaindy Plotzker at shaindyplotzker.com and by streaming her music on Youtube, Spotify and all music streaming platforms. Connect with her on instagram via @shaindyplotzkermusic.Episode Partners:TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription featuring exclusive Jewish content created and sourced by Toveedo. Use code HH10 for 10% off at Toveedo.com.ZELDA HAIR: A wig company that champions the holistic process of hair covering for Jewish women. Shop Zelda Hair at zeldahairshop.com and discover the heart behind the brand on Instagram @zeldahair.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.0:15 Toveedo Sponsorship1:06 Host's Introduction2:20 Welcome Shaindy Plotzker 3:00 What Makes Shaindy Who She Is?5:17 Shaindy's Journey into the Music World8:02 What Do I Want to be Known For?9:50 Putting the Spotlight on Others11:00 The Spiritual Significance of Women's Concerts14:20 The Challenges & Rewards of Singing for Women Only 15:45 Getting Halachic Guidance on Her Career18:10 Seeing Open Blessings from Doing the Right Thing20:00 I Am Not Motivated by Self Expression25:00 My Talent is a Vessel for G-d27:28 How Does Faith in G-d Impact Her Business?30:26 Put Your Trust in G-d, Not People31:30 The Jewish People's Story (Kol Isha)35:35 Advice On Faith When Business is Hard38:00 My Voice Doesn't Define Me39:30 Defining Yourself Beyond Success42:12 Lifting Up Fellow Artists in Her Industry49:16 Can Jewish Music Hold Sorrowful Emotion?54:55 Music Writing Process56:15 Joy and Sadness Can Coexist58:35 Being Intentional About How I Share 59:42 A Moving Concert in Israel After Oct. 7th1:06:27 Hold Onto Hope 1:08:54 Knowing When to Say No to an Opportunity1:12:04 Learning How to Rest1:21:18 Advice to Jewish Women With Unique Talents1:25:08 Stop Being a Perfectionist and Start Somewhere1:30:00 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts1:37:12 Zelda Hair Sponsorship & Host's Outro

A thorough conversation about women’s roles, the beauty and significance of Jewish law, and the lived experience of women’s Judaism.This episode is dedicated by Schwartzie’s daughters in honor of the 8th yartzeit of their father, Shlomo Yitzchak Ben Moshe, aka Schwartzie. Do a mitzvah in his honor.Today’s episode explores questions like:What is the ideal definition of a Jewish woman’s role within Judaism?Do we have an impossible vision of what a Jewish woman is?Should we meet women's desires for more spiritual engagement with suspicion?Do women belong in shul?What does it mean for the Jewish woman to be the heart of the home? Has Laurie ever struggled with Jewish womanhood?What is the halachic significance of women’s mitzvot?Laurie Novick is the Director and Head Writer of Deracheha, a comprehensive resource for women and mitzvot. She has worked as a Yoetzet Halacha since Fall 5763 and teaches at Migdal Oz. Laurie is also a Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counsellor, a member of a pilot cohort of Yoatzot Halacha who have received advanced training in fertility issues and Halacha and taught for many years at Nishmat. She has degrees in Bible, Jewish Education, and Talmud and has also done graduate work in Counseling.Contact Laurie here: [email protected] to Deracheha here: deracheha.orgLink to the piece that includes discussion of Rebbitzen Bayla Falkhttps://www.deracheha.org/concepts-introduction/Episode Partners:TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription featuring exclusive Jewish content created and sourced by Toveedo. Use code HH10 for 10% off at Toveedo.com.ZELDA HAIR: A wig company that champions the holistic process of hair covering for Jewish women. Shop Zelda Hair at zeldahairshop.com and discover the heart behind the brand on Instagram @zeldahair.Email us at [email protected]:00 Introduction00:00:30 Toveedo Sponsorship00:01:00 Zelda Hair Sponsorship00:01:28 Host’s Introduction00:03:00 Welcome Laurie Novick00:05:25 Developing a Personal Interest In Women and Halacha00:07:30 Every Jewish Woman Deserves Access to Sources On This Topic00:10:00 Does Exploration of this Topic Have to be Motivated by Discontent?00:12:24 All Topics of Torah Are Interconnected00:13:00 We Used to Learn About Jewish Womanhood From Our Mothers00:17:00 The Lived Experience of Judaism Begins in the Home00:19:20 Deepening Our Experience of Judaism Through Study00:20:00 How Would You Define a Woman’s Role?00:23:40 Do We Have an Impossible Vision of what a Jewish Woman is?00:28:00 Honing in On Your Personal Values00:29:45 Is The Woman the Heart of the Home?00:34:38 Honing in On What Each Holiday Means to You00:36:48 When Your Spiritual Yearnings as a Woman Are Met With Suspicion00:40:00 Trusting Your Desire To Do Mitzvos00:42:38 Eating In The Sukkah as a Woman00:43:30 How to Channel Your Desire To Be More Engaged00:46:00 The Halachic Significance of Women’s Mitzvos00:47:27 This Is Not a Problem, It Is An Opportunity00:47:55 Women’s Relationship to Shul & Torah Reading00:51:00 There Are Many Women Within Each of Us00:52:50 Shutting Down Our Channels of Connection00:54:15 Is This for the Sake of Heaven?01:01:16 What Is Halacha?1:05:29 Jewish Law is Responsive to Life’s Nuances1:07:30 Why Learning the Backstory to Halacha is Important1:10:40 The Variety of Halachic Opinions1:12:36 The Lived Experience of Jewish Law1:17:00 The Significance of Learning Halacha From a Woman’s Perspective1:20:23 Women’s Halachic Obligations Reveal the Fundamental Definition of Mitzvos1:22:00 Women Should Not Be a Footnote1:25:22 Has Laurie Ever Struggled with What It Means to be a Jewish Woman?1:27:50 Questions Are a Healthy Part of Our Spiritual Paths1:28:22 Making Simchas Torah More Woman Friendly1:31:00 What Has Torah Study Given Laurie As a Person?1:31:31 Jewish Role Models1:33:20 What Does It Mean to be a Jewish Woman?