America's Top Rebbetzins

I am NOT my struggle, I AM my LIGHT. Very powerful words from Rebbetzin Ruty David, who is renown for her relatable manner and non judgmental way of engaging. She is authentic in her passionate commitment to spread Torah values as she works with the many brides who seek her out to help prepare them for their weddings. She also focuses on energetic healing to help people shift from self-doubt to self-empowerment.In our engaging conversation, Rebbetzin Ruty explains to us how we can find the light of Hashem inside ourselves and inside of others, including our husband. The first thing you need to do is to realize that Hashem chose YOU to radiate YOUR light--if He hadn't chosen you, then you wouldn't be here. Once you know yourself, you know Hashem. His pure essence is inside of you.Next, you need to understand that your TRUE ESSENCE is your LIGHT. Your soul is pure light. The darkness you experience is just the yetzer hara (the evil inclination.) Wherever you have the greatest struggle, you have the greatest light. If you want to know where your strengths are, look at your weaknesses. If you are struggling, turn inward and listen to your intuition. Your intuition is a soft voice; it's Hashem's voice guiding you. Listen to that voice.When things are hard for you, sit with your pain for a while. Express your pain. You can journal or write down your feelings. Then move the pain out of yourself through exercise, dance, music, or anything that moves the pain out of your psyche. You don't want to hold on to pain.Show yourself compassion, but don't drown in self-pity. Look for your inner light. Your intuition will guide you to see your light and, therefore, your strengths. It will allow you to shift your beliefs from "I'm not good enough" to "I am a shining light of goodness." By sitting with your pain and then shifting your mindset, you give yourself compassion with boundaries--Tiferet.Once we shift our mindset, we shift our energy. When we shift our own energy, creating a positive, loving light, others feel our energy shift, and THEIR energy also begins to shift, and they are more receptive to us. Our husband, children, family, friends, potential clients, will be drawn to us because we are radiating happiness and positivity. People want to be around light, not darkness. Also, we need to see the light in others, including our husband. The more light we see in ourselves, the bigger that light grows inside of us. Consequently, the more light we see in others (especially our husband), the more their light grows, and the more radiant they become.When you see the good in yourself and in others, your mind becomes accustomed to seeing the good, or looking for the good, instead of the negative. When you look for the good, you will find more good--both in yourself and in others.You can email me at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

The Omer is the 49-day time period between Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot. During this time, we climb up the emotional ladder by refining our character traits and regaining control of our emotions. We do this by focusing on the sefirot. A sefirah is an emotional attribute. For each of the 7 weeks between Passover and Shavuot, we focus on one sefirah each week.Rebbetzin Sara-Tova Yaffe, of the CBD Chabad Sydney, in Sydney, Australia, takes us through each of the 7 sefirot, and explains them in detail.Chesed--Kindness/love/benevolenceThis is the most important aspect for creating a foundation in our relationships. Rebbetzin Sara-Tova talks about the different types of relationships that we have: intrapersonal (the relationship you have with yourself), interpersonal (your relationships with others), and your relationship with Hashem (G-d). Chesed encompasses how we give and receive love.Question to ask yourself relating to Chesed: Do I take into consideration my partner's capacity to receive before I give? Gevurah--Discipline/justice/boundariesThis is the channel through which we express our love. It gives us our direction and purpose. It makes our love focused and purposeful.Question to ask yourself relating to Gevurah: Is my discipline restrained or is it excessive? Tiferet--Compassion/harmony/beautyThis is the perfect blend of chesed and gevurah. Tiferet is the truth, and it rises above the ego. It brings clarity to relationships. Tiferet helps us balance our needs with another person's needs so that we are not over giving or over taking. Question to ask yourself relating to Tiferet: Do I bond with the one you have compassion for, or do I remain apart? Netzach--Victorious/enduring/ambitiousThis is our drive, determination and tenacity to reach our goals. Netzach gives us the patience and the persistence to go after our dreams and desires without giving up. It brings security and commitment to relationships.Question to ask yourself relating to Netzach: Does my determination compromise my compassion for others? Hod--Humility/splendorHod gives Netzach direction. It gives us the awareness that Hashem is really the One who controls our success. As much effort as we put in while we persevere, it is Hashem who decides the outcome of our efforts. Hod brings awareness that all our gifts and blessings are from above, so we should not be boastful.Question to ask yourself relating to Hod: Does my humility cause me to be anti-social, or does it express itself in empathy for others? Yesod--Foundation/bondingYosod is the ultimate attribute of emotional connection. It is the fusion of individuals together; not two separate people, but rather two people coming together as one person, through the act of bonding. This brings a sense of belonging to a relationship.Question to ask yourself relating to Yesod: Is my bonding conditional? Malchut--Kingship/sovereignty/nobilityThis is a state of being; the way you show up in the world. Malchut is how you hold yourself and present yourself to the world. It's an expression of dignity.Question to ask yourself relating to Malchut: Am I aware of my limitations and my strengths? You can email me at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

The way the world functions works through women. Our world moves through seasons. Similarly, women go through different phases in their monthly cycle that correlate with the seasons of nature. As women, when we understand the way our menstrual cycle works (even in perimenopause and menopause), we are able to better understand ourselves, especially our moods, our energy levels, and our natural tendencies during different times of the month.Malka Chana Amichai, a certified Postpartum Doula, is passionate about helping women connect to their femininity. Her mission is to educate and support women to be active participants in their own life experiences. She expanded her practice to become a Prenatal Yoga instructor, a Kallah teacher who gives premarital education to brides, and a sexual health mentor. He main objective is to empower women in their womanhood and to facilitate their reconnection with the divine feminine that flows through all of us.Below are the phases of our menstrual cycle, as they correspond to each season:Menstrual Phase--Winter--just like when it's cold in the winter, we cuddle up with cozy socks and a warm blanket, and tend to stay home, during the time we are menstruating, women go inward. They want to spend more time at home; they tend to want to be by themselves; they do a lot of inner work and self-care during this time of the month.Follicular Phase--Spring--just like in the spring when the flowers start blooming, and the weather starts getting warner, women start coming out of their shell more. They tend to want to be around people a bit more than during the menstrual phase. They experience more creativity, inspiration and hope.Ovulation Phase--Summer--just like in the summer when it's hot and everything is in full bloom, women are more aroused, they want to be closer with their partner, they want to be around their friends and be much more social and outgoing. This is the phase of the month when they feel most connected to others.Post Ovulation Phase--Fall--just like the fall is the transition between summer and winter, the post period phase is an in between time for women; a type of "nowhere zone," where we feel that we're neither here nor there. This is the time when we experience higher than usual anxiety. If you are in the perimenopause or menopause phase of your life, you can still connect to your cycle through the phases of the moon. Rosh Chodesh is a women's holiday, and it's marked by the New Moon.New Moon--correlates with the menstruation phase (winter)Waxing Moon--correlates with the follicular phase (spring)Full Moon--correlates with the ovulation phase (summer)Waning Moon--correlates with the post ovulation phase (fall)Malka Chana also talks about how mothers can introduce the concept of menstruation and periods to her preteen or teenage daughter, and how mothers can transmit to them the beauty of being a woman.For more information on Malka Chana, visit her website: https://www.bohemianbalabusta.com/about-me/Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

Attachment styles are our emotional blueprint, formed in our childhood, for the way we give and receive love, and for our ability to feel safe and emotionally close to others. There are four attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. Each of these attachment styles is very clearly explained by Dr. Marnee Firestone, a licensed psychologist in Boca Raton, Florida.1. Secure Attachment--this is the most healthy and balanced attachment style. The person is emotionally available for intimacy, as well as independence, without feeling fearful or guilty. They tend to be calm and well balanced. A person with secure attachment most likely received consistent love, validation and nurturing as a child.2. Anxious attachment--someone with this attachment style has a deep fear of abandonment. They seek constant love and reassurance. They can be overly smothering. They panic easily and they feel overly responsible for everyone and everything. They feel a personal sense of failure if their child is struggling, and tend to micromanage their children. A person with anxious attachment style was most likely given inconsistent love and care. Their emotional needs were sometimes tended to, and other times rejected or dismissed.3.Avoidant attachment--someone with avoidant attachment seeks to escape conflicts or arguments in the relationship. They are scared to show emotion or affection because they are scared of being rejected or neglected. They tend to withdraw from both intimacy and arguments for fear of not being accepted by their spouse. A person with avoidant attachment most likely did not have their emotional needs met. 4. Disorganized attachment--someone with disorganized attachment has a push/pull dynamic. They intensely crave closeness, but once someone gets close, they immediately push them away because real intimacy is scary for them. They are highly emotional, have a heightened fear of abandonment, and they are reactive. They have difficulty self-soothing, and they tend to attract chaos in relationships. Disorganized attachment develops as the result of trauma in childhood.Dr. Marnee explains how each of these attachment styles shows up in marriage and parenting. You can change your attachment style by becoming aware of what your attachment style is, and working to emotionally regulate yourself so that you can think clearly and respond appropriately to the people and situations in your life.If you would like Dr. Marnee's free e-book on 4 Tips To Reduce Anxiety in Your Teen, please email me at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com For families interested in Dr. Marnee's program, it is called Break the Anxiety Cycle. https://breakanxietycycle.com/ Dr. Marnee Firestone & Tamar Oppenheimer, LCSW, help parents of anxious teens by teaching them effective and practical strategies that are proven to support teens in building confidence, empowering them to pursue their goals, and ultimately bringing a sense of calm to stressed households. As we approach summer, many parents of anxious teens are searching for ways to reset and prepare their families for a better school year ahead. Break the Anxiety Cycle is a structured, parent-based program created to help families disrupt the patterns that unintentionally reinforce anxiety. Rather than placing the full burden on the teen, this program empowers parents with tools to create real change at home—reducing reactivity, rebuilding connection, and promoting resilience.Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

When you live your life with joy and calm, you can think more clearly and make better decisions.Beverly Chimes is a social worker and a life coach with more than 20 years of experience. She is an expert at helping people untangle complex situations and relationships so that they can take care of their inner world and show up for themselves, and for others, with more ease.In this lively conversation, Beverly teaches us how to avoid overwhelm and burnout. The first thing that Beverly recommends to do is to take a few breaks in your day ON PURPOSE. Use those breaks to truly refresh you. Put your device down; no electronics. Have a snack while looking out the window. Step outside for 5 minutes to get a breath of fresh air. Sip on your iced coffee or drink a delicious glass of water while giving your brain and eyes a break from whatever it is that you were doing. Take this break on purpose, with a purpose--to clear your mind from chaos and allow it to relax and be calm.The second thing that Beverly advises is to create joy ON PURPOSE. Identify a few things that you really enjoy doing (yoga, walking in nature, taking an art class, shopping, etc.) and schedule it into your calendar for a set day and time so that you can look forward to it. The more joyful things that you can regularly schedule for yourself, the better. When we do things in our lives that bring us joy, we become happier people. When we are happier, are thoughts become clear and our emotions begin to regulate and become balanced.In order to further enhance our emotional regulation, we need to understand that thoughts create feelings/emotions, and those feelings/emotions create our actions. We act based off our feelings/emotions. If our emotions are not regulated, we tend to become explosive, rageful, anxious, and sad. We need to look at is what is actually happening before we become dysregulated. What thoughts were we having? What did those thoughts cause us to do? Quite often we have a narrative of our story playing and replaying in our minds every day; this could be things that happened in childhood, negative messages and limited beliefs. If we are thinking, and therefore living, from that negative place, we can't expect ourselves to emotionally regulate and we can't expect ourselves to be happy. In order to become emotionally regulated and happy, we need to work with someone to understand where our thoughts and limiting beliefs are coming from, and then discard those that no longer serve us.To contact Beverly, visit her website: https://www.beverlychimes.com/Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

Rebbetzin Chavi Welton, and her husband, Rabbi Levi Welton, were recently appointed shluchim (emissaries) for Chabad of Vanderbilt Alumni Association, working with your professionals in Manhattan. They will also be going on shlichus to Dix Hills, Long Island in New York, to help enhance outreach activities of the Chai Center. In addition to her spiritual work, Rebbetzin Chavi is also an OB-Gyn doctor!Rebbetzin Chavi teaches us that childbirth has a very strong connection to Chasidus. She explains that according to Basi L'Gani, a Chassidic discourse written by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Jewish people are recognized as Hashem's bride, just like the woman is the bride to her husband, the chassan. Their purpose in this world is to elevate the mundane to the spiritual. In terms of having a baby, the woman experiences a physical pregnancy and childbirth. She nurses, changes diapers, bathes, and provides necessary physical care for her infant. Spiritually, the Shechina is the feminine presence of Hashem (G-d.) Making a sacred space in our world for the Shechina to rest is a very feminine task. This is done by the woman as she raises her child to observe Hashem's commandments, and therefore elevates the physical to the spiritual, bringing holiness into the world.The geula (coming of Moshiach) is often compared to childbirth. As the woman gets closer to actually birthing her child, her contractions get quicker and she experiences the most pain and discomfort. As we get closer to Moshiach being revealed, the Jewish people are experiencing various forms of severe suffering (hostages, war, anxiety, emotional disorders, etc.) May Moshiah come soon so that we can experience true pleasure and peace!Rebbetzin Chavi teaches us something very interesting about the word Caesar. The word, Caesar, means to cut. Thousands of years ago, Julius Caesar's grandfather was delivered by someone cutting his great grand-mother's stomach open to pull out the baby. This name, Caesar, stuck to future generations of the family. Caesar was a leader. A leader does what no one else can do. When they need something to happen, they will go to all lengths and extremes, literally breaking down walls (both physical and metaphorical) to make it happen. When a woman delivers a baby via Caesarian Section (C-Section), the doctor literally breaks down a wall (the mother's stomach) to take out the baby. Spiritually, it is said that the women will bring Moshiach by "breaking down walls" in their dedication to Hashem, keeping the mitzvos of the Torah, and raising children who act justly and morally, bringing Hashem's light into the world.Rebbetzin Chavi goes on to speak about pregnancy and the post-partum period of childbirth, and shares insights as to how the chasidic perspective can enhance a woman's experiences in these phases of her life. She also talks about the role that Chasidus plays in her job as a doctor and in her interactions with her patients. What resonated with me the most is the way she lives her life in total alignment with her Chasidic values and beliefs. She is an example of a righteous and wise Chasidic woman, and she conducts herself as such in the hospital with her patients. Leading by example, instead of forcing her beliefs on others, allows people to have the space to absorb her teachings and mannerisms, and to emulate them, if they choose to do so, out of their own accord.Conact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

There is a narcissism pandemic in our world. For those who are in relationships with narcissists--whether it's your boyfriend/husband, mother/father or sibling, being in a relationship with a narcissist is not easy. In this interview with Rikki Jacobson Davies, we learn how to identify the signs of a narcissist, and how to navigate our relationship with them. Rikki is the clinical director and founder of the Center for Relational Resilience. She is passionate about helping people heal from relational trauma with clarity, truth and resilience. A private clinician and lecturer, Rikki has developed a unique approach to healing from complicated, confusing, and painful relationships.First, we need to recognize that being in a relationship with a narcissist falls into the category of relational trauma--trauma in the context of a close relationship. (This is different from trauma someone sustained that came from a more distant relationship, like a teacher, a community member, or a stranger.)How do you actually know if your husband (or other family member) is a narcissist? A narcissist is a person who has a severely under developed sense of self; their basic emotional core is missing. This is a person who has an extremely fragile ego and needs another person to constantly validate them, appreciate them, see them hear them, focus on their needs exclusively, and build them up continuously because they can't do that for themselves. They are pre-occupied with validating and affirming their own existence and that they matter. Since they are very insecure, they will do anything they can to get their emotional sustenance from other people. They will manipulate and intimidate until they get their way. One tactic of manipulation is love bombing--flooding someone with a lot of love and loving gestures to either bring them into a relationship initially, or pull them back into the relationship when they try to leave. While most people develop their sense of self as young children, narcissists seemed to skip that step due to circumstances in their early childhood years that prevented normal inner growth and development. While people don't enjoy being criticized, a healthy person can take critique, learn from it and grow from it without throwing a temper tantrum or flying into a rage. Criticism to a narcissist is like kryptonite to a narcissist. They avoid criticism at all costs because their fragile ego simply cannot handle it.So how can we deal with the narcissist in our lives? According to Rikki, people to set aside their own personal finances so that they feel as financially secure as possible, in case they need to leave the relationship, so that they don't have to rely on the narcissist for money.Rikki encourages us to get support from family and friends. We need to find our people--those who will listen to us, encourage us, and stand by us. When we build relationships with friends and family who envelop us with love and positivity, we build a life for ourselves outside of our relationship with the narcissist. We can still be happy and whole people who are in a relationship that did not go the way they dreamed. Whether you decide to stay in the relationship or leave, YOU have your own innate value and worth that has nothing to do with the narcissist. You can have a beautiful life despite of your relationship. You can reach Rikki through her website: www.relationalresilience.comYou can also email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

Are you in a confusing relationship? This type of relationship most often occurs within families. It could be with your husband, mother, father, sister, in-laws, or even with your extended family.Is there someone who intentionally or unintentionally gaslights you or sends you mixed messages, causing you to doubt your self-worth, your values or core beliefs? Maybe you have a parent who consistently invalidates your feelings? Or perhaps you have a husband who doesn't move toward your bid to connect? Their behavior isn't outwardly "out to get you," but it makes you start to question yourself, your feelings, and how you experience the world. Their behavior causes you to doubt yourself, and think that maybe there is something wrong with you. It might even be making you feel guilty for something that is not your fault.If you are in a confusing relationship, you might be managing other people's behavior in order to protect yourself...and you are also managing your own reactions so as not to agitate other people's emotions. This can be exhausting!Also, did you know that people can exhibit self-centered narcissistic behavior without actually having a narcissistic disorder? In this truly insightful conversation with Shev Simon, an IFS (Internal Family Systems Practitioner), she sheds lights on confusing relationships so that women make sense of their experiences and show up in life with more calm and ease.For more information and to schedule a chat with Shev, you can reach her here:Website: shevsimoncoaching.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/shev.simon.9Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

"We died a thousand deaths before we were murdered," is the stand out quote from today's conversation with Rebbetzin Lisa Cook, rebbetzin of the Cincinnati Jewish Experience (CJX). This quote says it all!Rebbetzin Lisa is teaches mikvah education to Jewish women of all backgrounds and levels, works as a mikvah attendant at the Cincinnati community mikvah, is part of the Cincy chevra kadisha, and is currently in the 3rd cohort of the Core MMC Program led by Rebbetzins Aliza Bulow, Debbie Greenblatt, and Rochel Goldbaum.One of the aspects of her job that Rebbetzin Lisa is most passionate about is taking people on trips to Poland, where they experience what life was like for the Jews of Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust. Rebbetzin Lisa's groups visit concentration camps, such as Treblinka and Auschwitz, cemetaries such as the Warsaw Cemetary, and other historical sites like the Warsaw Ghetto and Bialystok. The men and women who participate in these trips are not just learning about Jewish history in Poland, they are experiencing the sites and the stories first hand. They are standing in the same places where their ancestors stood, just a few decades ago. They hear stories of what pre-war Poland was like, from the Polish people themselves--Jews and non-Jews alike. This experience is incredibly personal and life-changing for many. Kosher food is provided for the people on the trip, as they are deeply affected, inspired, awed and empowered by what they are witnessing.If you would like to participate in a Poland Experience trip with Rebbetzin Lisa, please contact me, and I will put you in touch with her. I can be reached via email at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

"How can you expect your husband to treat you like a woman when you don't act like one?" This is a quote that was shared with us during our interesting conversation on Hasidic Feminism. Chava Green, an educator, writer, and public speaker, has a PhD in Religion from Emory, where she wrote her dissertation on Hasidic Feminism. Chava explains that secular feminism focuses on the equality of men and women. The differences between them seem to have been erased. There is a notion that women can, and should, do everything that men can do. In contrast, Hasidic feminism believes that there is, in fact, a difference between men and women. Women and men have different roles, but the importance of those roles is equal. It's not that one gender is better or more powerful than the other. Rather, men and women work together and each of their roles are necessary and also complementary to each other. Women create the holiness and sanctity of the home through their bina yeseira--their deep understanding of what's happening under the surface. They are able to nurture their families from a different place than men. They have access to a softer place of connection and wisdom of what needs to be done--more than what meets the eye. Women function beyond the surface to see actual reality, which is not always the way it presents itself. The power and glory of a woman is what is within her. She accepts what is, and elevates it. Chava shares the concept that men are the givers and women are the receivers. Women don't have to do it all. They don't need to have the masculine energy of pushing forward and accomplishing and getting things done. If women feel overwhelmed, they should daven to Hashem (G-d) to help them become a receiver. We need to look for Hashem in every situation.Chava encourages women to be their whole feminine selves!To hear more from Dr. Chava Green check out her website at https://thehasidicfeminist.wordpress.com/ or sign up for her monthly newsletter on all things Jewish and gender related, https://the-hasidic-feminist.kit.com/16d7257907Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.comVera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit: https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

In any darkness that you are going through, there is light. In your depression, in your anxiety, in your co-dependency, there is light. It's actually the darkest darkness that leads us to the light light.Rachy Friedlander is an Emotional Mastery Coach and a TEB Practitioner (TEB stands for Transforming the Experience-Based Brain.) In this fascinating interview, Rachy talks to us about the vital role that regulating our nervous system has on our body and our soul. If we have suffered from trauma in our lives, or our needs were unmet, or we felt like we were in survival mode for extended periods of time, our bodies hold those traumas and fears. Over time, we begin to operate in survival mode, even if no one is threatening us. Rachy talks about nervous system regulation so that we can FINALLY calm ourselves down and begin to feel safe. It's the feeling of safety that is the core of emotional healing. One way to begin feeling safe is to stop and focus on your breathing for a few minutes. You heart rate will slow down, and you will begin to feel safe. Once we feel safe, we can observe our emotions--anger, sadness, frustration, fear, happiness, melancholy, etc. It's important that we observe our emotions WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. Rachy goes on to explain the kabbalistic aspect of emotional healing. She tell us that every feeling, every emotion, every desire, every thought, every word, and every action that you have ever had, are having right now, or will have, is encompassed in the concept of All Is. Everything inside of you and outside of you is part of All Is. Everything (All) was put in place by Hashem (G-d) for our own good; to help us achieve our higher purpose. Ask yourself, "Am I safe right now?" Take into account what is realistically happening for you right now--WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. Don't judge your feelings or emotions; just observe what is. Creating safety and emotional regulation inside of yourself will slowly, over time, help you feel whole. Own your wholeness.Rachy has an incredible online course called, Becoming Your Own Therapist. This course, as well as more information on Rachy, and the opportunity to work with her to achieve your own healing, is offered on her website:https://www.coachrachy.com/aboutContact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Redemption, tranquility, peace, love, and happiness...GEULA!No matter where you are in your marriage (newlywed, married for 30 years, happily married, on the verge of divorce), the tools and strategies that Rebbetzin Chana Margulies, co-founder of Geula Wives, shared in this conversation, is going to take your relationship with your husband to a NEW LEVEL!In this very refreshing and eye opening conversation, Rebbetzin Chana talks about women taking 100% control over their own happiness. If we even think our husband is responsible for just 1% of our happiness, we find ourselves focusing all our energy on that 1% and focusing on the lack therein. Rebbetzin Chana speaks in depth about how we can focus on ourselves, an fill up our bucket so that we can be happy in our own right without waiting for someone else to make us happy. She distinguishes between doing and being in your feminine.When a Jewish woman is happy in her home, she bring geula energy to her marriage and to the world around her.Rebbetzin Chana also speaks about revitalizing a challenging marriage. She discusses how a woman can see miracles, even if she finds herself at the end of her rope in a marriage, if she refocuses her vision of marriage and has a clear direction of where she is going within her marriage. This offers her the perfect opportunity to focus on cleaning up resentment and disrespect in her marriage, instead of waiting and insisting on her husband to change. (When we want people to change, they don't....so what do we do instead? Listen to what Rebbetzin Chana has to say--she is wise beyond her years!)Hashem arranges all marriages. You don't marry someone by mistake. Your marriage has a Divine purpose. There is a reason that you are married to this particular person (even if they are driving you crazy.) But you can't go on this marriage journey alone. Speaking to a coach at Geula Wives takes the pressure off you and gives you strategies and support to renew your relationship with your husband. You are not alone. You have support.To Learn more about Geulawives and to be in touch with Chana Margulies contact admin@geulawives.org or What's App +44 741 862 7582To receive free geulawives content subscribe here, GeulaWives.org To join the Pre-Peseach/ Sefirat HaOmer program visit GeulaWives Circle Your special coupon code is SEFIRA To join the free What's App group click here https://chat.whatsapp.com/DiKcfYJZnul3TSAWUlSUqi GeulaWives Podcast InstagramTo read Chana's books click here.  Jumping In puddles  Nurturing Light  Start with the good part 

If G-d didn't need YOU, He would not have woken YOU up today. You are here because you are NEEDED.A Jew is never Stuck. People are built to stand upright because their minds rule over their hearts.Mitzvot are the spiritual clothing of the soul. They are your responsibility, and they give you purpose. Mitzvot are a connection point between you and Hashem.Above are just some of the deep insights that Rebbetzin Chani Shemtov, a Chabad Emissary at the University of Illinois in Chicago, shares with us in this very powerful conversation. We start off speaking about the Modeh Ani prayer, which is the very first thing that we say when we wake up in the morning. This prayer doesn't have Hashem's name in it. This is because we have just awoken from sleep, and we need to do the traditional washing of our hands (netilat yadayim ) before we say Hashem's name. However, Modeh Ani is said right when we wake up, before we wash our hands. It is for this reason that Hashem's name is not said during this prayer.The first word of the Modeh Ani prayer is "Modeh," translated in English as "grateful." We literally start off our day with gratitude. It has been scientifically researched, studied, and proven that gratitude leads to happiness. By starting off our day with being grateful that G-d gave our soul back to us, we are beginning on a positive, optimistic, and happy note. (When we sleep, we are 1/60 dead, so G-d needs to restore our soul to us in order for us to wake up. We are therefore grateful to Him for giving us life, each and every day.) Remember, if G-d woke you up, He gave you life. The reason He gave you life is because you have a purpose in this world that you still have an opportunity to fulfil. Otherwise, He would not have woken you up.Following the Modeh Ani prayer, we have the morning blessings, birkot hashakar. These are a series of 15 blessings. Each of these blessings begin with the words, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe...," and then goes on to mention specific things.Rebbetzin Chani and I spoke about several of the 15 blessings, in detail.We talked about, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who frees those who are bound." From this, we learn that a Jew is never stuck. We have free will every single moment of the day. What we said or did 5 minutes ago, yesterday, or last year, doesn't need to define what we do or who we are 10 minutes from now. Hashem recreates the world every single moment. Because of this, we are never stuck, and we always have the ability to move forward in any direction, at any moment.Then, we spoke about, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who stands upright those who are bent over." Many animals are made such that their head, heart and lower organs are on the same level. However, humans are created such that our head is on top, our heart is below our head, and then come our lower organs. This structure shows that our head rules our conduct, not our emotions, or our desires. It is the head that must make clear choices for us to follow. We then get to the controversial blessing that a man says in the morning, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, for not having made me a woman." The reason behind this blessing is that mitzvot are a point of connection between Hashem and humans. In His infinite wisdom, Hashem gave men more commandments that He gave to women. They need these commandments for their spiritual growth, and since they are commanded with more mitzvot, they have a more points of connection to Him than women. Women, however, do have many mitzvot that they have the responsibility to fulfil. However, they are not confined to time-bound mitzvot because their primary responsibility is taking care of their family. Rebbetzin Chani explains this beautifully!If you don't know how to read Hebrew, you can say the blessings in your native language.

Are you in need of a blessing for something? Good health? Money? Shiduchim? Improving your marriage? Getting pregnant? Parenting children? or literally anything else?Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani promised blessings to those who learn his holy sefer, Zera Shimshon, consistently. This could be once a day, once a week, once a month, as long as it is on a consistent basis, you will see blessings in your life.Rabbi Nachmani is an 18th century Jewish Italian kabbalist who wrote mefarshim (commentary) on many of the holy texts. He has commentaries on the Torah parsha of the week, on Tehillim (Psalms), and on other holy books as well.Through learning Zera Shimson (translated as the seed of Shimshon), we begin to have increased menuhas hanefesh (calmness of the soul), emunah (faith in G-d), and bitachon (trust in G-d). Our day becomes more meaningful and spiritual. We are able to think more clearly.In this mesmerizing interview with Rebbetzin Esti Goodstein, principal of Shalsheles Bais Yaakov High School in Brooklyn, New York, we learn all about the Zera Shimshon, including the Zera Shimshon on parshat Pekudei about shabbos. Rebbetzin Esti is a graduate of Machon Bais Yaakov Intensive Seminary, and has been in the field of education for several years. She has a Masters' Degree in Psychology from Columbia University. She has also taught in Prospect Park High School, Machon Bais Yaakov High School, Orot Sarah High School, Touro University, Gamla College, and Manhattan High School for Girls.Rebbetzin Esti emphasizes that tests (nissayanos) happen in life. Sometimes we go through something that is very hard for us, but there is always hope for salvation and growth, especially if we learn Torah through Zera Shimshon. To be added to Rebbetzin Esti's Zera Shimson group, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Every Hebrew month has its own unique energy that is specific to that month. The energy of Nissan is that of new beginnings and miracles--POWERFULIn the month of Nissan, G-d does for us, as opposed to in Tishrei, when we do for G-d. So what did G-d do for us in Nissan? He took us out of Egypt! In the story of Pesach (Passover), Hashem (G-d) physically took us out of Egypt (Mitzrayim.) The word, Mitzrayim, means narrow or limited. Hashem took us out of a limited place, and into an open, expanded place--eretz Israel. On a personal level, during the month of Nissan, Hashem helps take each and every one of us out of our own personal Mitzrayim, our own personal limitations. We can use the energy of Nissan to begin removing our own personal klippot--shells/blockages, LIMITATIONS. When we work on eliminating our personal limitations, G-d helps us. Once we remove our limitations, we have boundless, endless capacity to actualize our potential in this world, and fulfill our life mission.On a national level, our limitation is that we are not a unified people; we are fragmented. However, the month of Nissan is not only the month of new beginnings, but it is also the month of miracles. When we unite as a nation, Hashem can literally make miracles for us, like He did with the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea.)The astrological sign for Nissan is Aries, the ram. This animal, the ram, is associated with the lamb. At the time that the Jews were in Egypt, the lamb was worshiped as an idol by the Egyptians. Hashem commanded the Jews to take a lamb into their house, tie it to their bedpost, and then kill it. Then, they were commanded to smear the lamb of the blood on their doorpost, in the place which we now put up a mezuzah, indicating to the angel of death that he should jump or skip over this house because it was a Jewish house. In this way, the Jews elevated an idol from being something that was wrongfully worshiped, into something that was elevated by being used to save lives.Rebbetzin Mattie Pil suggests that we can take our modern day idol of technology and use it to listen to Torah classes, Torah podcasts, read Jewish texts online, and overall use this "idol" for holy purposes.Rebbetzin Mattie, also shares with us that the Hebrew letter associated with the month of Nisan is the letter "hey." She explains that G-d created the world with the letter, "hey," as He spoke the world into existence. We can use our words to tap into our G-dly soul through prayer, which is a form of meditation with our Creator.Rebbetzin Mattie, is the rebbetzin of the Schneerson Center, a synagogue in San Francisco, California. She has been an educator for over 40 years. She is also a certified life coach, and teaches kabbala for women.Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Before we say angry words, we control them. After angry words are said, they control you.Your husband left the dirty dishes in the sink...again. Your son forgot to call to let you know that he will be home late. Your daughter said something insulting to you. Your mother was "less than helpful" when it came to shopping for dresses. Family members have that knack for saying or doing things that make us angry, and drive us crazy.So what should we do? In this beautiful conversation with Rebbetzin Natalie Ciner, rebbetzin of Beth Jacob Congregation of Irvine, California, we learn how to navigate challenging relationships with wisdom and kindness.The first things we learn are that anger is a natural emotion, and marriage is a vehicle for growth. The way we manage our emotions in relationships is a pathway for our own personal growth and elevation. So how do we do that?1. See marriage as a growth opportunity. Your spouse is a mirror for the areas in which we need to grow. (It can be uncomfortable to look inside ourselves and see that there are things we need to change. It can be painful. However, it's important to know that the things our spouse says and does can be important messages for our own inner work and self growth---if we are brave enough to look inside and interpret them that way.)2. Instead of being frustrated, try to see what this particular person (your spouse, child, family member, etc.) is trying to teach you.3. Judge your spouse favorably. Assume the best of the situation, instead of assuming the worst.4. Express your needs. Don't look to blame the other person.5. Strengthen your connection and bond with your husband. Spend quality time with him. You can go out on dates, walks, spend time together in the house, or do anything else that brings you close together and builds connection.When you build a good quality, healthy relationship, it will become easier for you to solve life's inevitable challenges and issues together, without a significant build up of anger. However, anger does come up--we are human, after all. So what do we do when we get angry? How can we express our feelings constructively?1. Pause before reacting. Make space between yourself and your reaction. Go for a walk. Go out of the room. Take deep breaths. Take a break. Give yourself time and space to calm down before responding2. Talk to yourself with soothing, positive self-talk. Show yourself compassion for the feelings you are experiencing, and provide yourself with soothing words and strength. Once you have gotten yourself under control, you will better be able to handle the situation with grace, and not blame.3. Use this challenge, disagreement, or situation with this person as an opportunity for self-reflection.4. Use "I" statements. Say things like "I felt hurt when you didn't call me when you were running late," instead of "You drive me crazy when you don't call me when you are late! It's so inconsiderate of you!" Using I statements allows you to express your feelings, instead of blaming someone. Look for solution, not for blame.To be connected to Rebbetzin Nathalie, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Every Hebrew month has its own unique and powerful energy. Those challenges and issues that seem insurmountable to us at one point of the year "seem" to resolve themselves quickly and easily at other times of the year. It's not just a coincidence. There is a reason and a season for everything:) In this deep conversation with Devorah Bloom Kur, we learn about the hidden meaning and energy of the Hebrew month of Adar. Specifically, the month of Adar offers profound opportunities for personal growth and spiritual connection to Hashem (G-d), through INCREASED joy, happiness, and laughter. Devorah speaks about how our thoughts play a tremendous role in our happiness. mindset, and outlook on life. She explains to us that what we think about comes about. Devorah speaks a lot about self-compassion, using our challenges as stepping stones to personal growth, rising above our limitations, and using our own unique strengths to help us overcome our current predicaments.Each Hebrew month has its own Hebrew letter, organ that it represents, sense, and astrological sign.Specific to Adar:Hebrew Letter: KoofOrgan: SpleenSense: LaughterAstrological Sign: PiscesDevorah speaks about the Jewish holiday of Purim, and how Queen Ester (Esther) saved the Jewish people by stepping into her royalty. She started off as scared, insecure and unsure of herself, but then rose into her power and dignity as a queen. Her actions created a miracle and revealed the hidden. Through Ester coming into her own power, the Jews were saved. It's because of Ester's heroism that we call the scroll that we read, Megilat Ester, which means "reveal the hidden." We can all come into our own personal power, just like queen Ester. If we all did that, imagine all the good and all the miracles that could occur! Devorah Bloom Kur is a professional Logotherapist, SEP--Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (trauma therapy), IFS level 3 practitioner, reflexologist, and bereavement counselor. She is passionate about supporting people through their illnesses, challenges, grief, and losses in life. Devorah has a practice in Raanana, Israel, and sees online clients internationally as well. She combines her expertise to empower people to achieve wellbeing of their mind, body, and soul. Her strength is helping people find meaning in their lives by asking, "What now?" which is meaning focused, instead of "Why me?" Devorah is the author of "Man's Search for Healing--A Logotherapy approach to healing through meaning," which explores the mind-body connection, the difference between being healed and being cured, how she overcame her own broken neck, forgiveness, post traumatic growth, and more.Devorah's information is below:Amazon link to my book, 'Man's Search for Healing': https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJQ6WNG5Website - www.dkwellness.co.ilEmail - devorah@dkwellness.co.ilFacebook page - https://www.facebook.com/dkwellbeing/Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5YDsijkbETm1T70Lc2B2AgLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/devorah-kur-b692a725/Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

If I take Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or any other GLP-1 weight loss drug, will I need to take it forever? What are the side effects of Ozempic? Do we know the long term effects of these weight loss drugs?Can Ozempic be prescribed for women in perimenopause or menopause? What can women do to create sustainable weight loss? How can we lose the weight and keep it off?Diana Isaacs, an endocrinology clinical pharmacy specialist answers the questions above and many others, as they pertain to the safety, sustainability and effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs. Diana serves as the Co-Director of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy and the Director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology at the Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute.From this educational conversation, I learned that certain GLP-1 medications can be used to lower blood pressure, help with cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and sleep apnea!To be connected with Diana Isaacs, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Why do Jews eat kosher food? Why do Jews keep shabbat? Why do Jewish women dress modestly? Yes, the Torah says to keep the above mitzvot (commandments), but WHY? The answers to those questions on Jewish Law (Halakha), and many more can be found in the Talmud.What is the Talmud? What is Halakha? And why is it relevant for women (and girls) to learn these holy teachings? Most importantly, how does learning Talmud help us on a practical, daily basis? Rabbanit Chamutal Shoval, Director of the Susi Bradfield Women's Institute of Halakhic Leadership, sheds light of the importance of Talmud and Halakha study for women.The Talmud is:--a record of rabbinic debates about the Torah that took place between the 2nd and 5th centuries --includes a codification of laws called the Mishnah, and a commentary on the Mishnah called the Gemara --contains rules for social and family life, such as marriage, taxes, and criminal law --helps to explain how the Torah applies to modern situations --an essential source of halakha, or Jewish religious law Simply put, the Talmud contains rabbinic commentaries, and explanation of traditions and laws that were given to us through the Torah's infinite wisdom.Halakha, also known as Jewish law, is a set of rules and practices that guide Jewish life. It covers religious observances, daily life, and personal/professional conduct.In this eye opening conversation, Rabbanit Chamutal explains to us how women can elevate themselves and grow spiritually and personally though learning the Talmud. We see, through the rabbi's discussions, how they struggled with the same types of issues and challenges with which we struggle. And the struggle is real! Learning the Talmud helps us understand how to respectfully listen to other people's points of view and opinions that might be different through ours. It teaches us how to interact with and communicate with people who are different from ourselves. The Talmud also gives us insights and perspectives into why Jews do what we do--shabbat, kashrut, laws of how to conduct business, interactions between men and women, and explains, in depth, a multitude of other Jewish commandments. It really helps us understand WHY we do what we do on a daily basis. As women (and girls) learn the Talmud, it begins to affect our self-conduct on a daily basis, as we connect with and understand more deeply, the teachings of the Torah.Torah is not a subject like biology, math, history, or language arts. The point in learning Torah, including Talmud and Halakha, is for the teachings to enter your heart, change you as a person, on a spiritual level, and help you to become more elevated. Rabbanit Chamutal is available to answer women's questions on Torah and Jewish law. To be connected to her, please email Vera Kessler, host of the America's Top Rebbetzins podcast at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match! We wish it was that simple! Singles of all ages have are having a challenging time meeting their soulmate. They are all looking for "the one," but are having a tough time finding him or her. Rebbetzin Sarah Rabin from the Caulfield Shule in Melbourne, Australia, speaks about why people are having challenges in shiduchim (the Jewish system of matchmaking.) According to Rebbetzin Sarah, the top 5 challenges contributing to today's shidduch crisis are: 1. The fast pace of life--in our society, we race from one thing to the next--the next person, the next appointment, the next job, the next social event. People don't make the time to connect deeply. 2. Technology and distractions. In today's world, people have easy access to technology and dating apps. They are too busy swiping left and right, checking emails, texting, and scrolling social media to get to know someone in person. 3. People have high expectations and fear of commitment--people want their prospective wife/husband to fit all of their ideals. They have many expectations, which are not always realistic. Also, people are afraid of committing because they think that they could potential meet someone better...and better...and better...and... 4. Social circles and geography--Jews who live in smaller Jewish communities are hesitant to date "that guy they went to school with," or "their best friend's brother." It can be challenging to date when you have known the same people since nursery school. Likewise, in larger Jewish communities, it's harder to date because people are always looking around for someone potentially better. One suggestion is to branch off and visit other Jewish communities in different geographic locations. 5. Emotional readiness and past experience. Not everyone is mature and ready to enter into a committed relationship. Also, people might have had negative experiences with previous relationships, which makes them fearful of entering into another relationship. Fortunately, Rebbetzin Sarah offered possible SOLUTIONS to the shidduch crisis, including: 1. Singles need to have clarity on their values and their priorities. When a person knows what they believe in, what they value, and what they find most important in life, it makes it easier to identify those same beliefs in another person. 2. Seek guidance. Singles need to resolve past issues of trauma or bad relationships with a therapist, and they need to seek guidance for dating from a rabbi/rebbetzin, mentor, or happily married friends. Singles need guidance in order to develop a healthy perspective on relationships and the work that they entail. 3. Hishtadlus (effort) and Emunah (belief in G-d). Singles need to understand that if they are going out on a date or to a singles event, they need to put effort into getting ready for the evening. They need to look attractive and presentable, and they need to be open to meeting people. Once they have done their part, the rest is in G-d's hands. He will orchestrate two people meeting, and He will guide singles to their soulmate. 4. Fostering connection. Jewish singles really need to give people a chance when they meet them. They need to establish a connection and put in the time and effort to get to know someone in order to see if they are a compatible match. Singles, stay strong! Your soulmate is out there waiting for you. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

What happens to women's bodies during perimenopause and menopause? In this fun and educational conversation with Functional Nutritionist Nili Grutman, we learn, in depth, about how estrogen and progesterone are produced, as well as the role that these hormones play in a women's body. We also learn what happens when, as women age, the production of these hormones decreases, and the effect that decreased estrogen and progesterone has on our bodies. Estrogen is produced in the follicles of our ovaries. It is responsible for a variety of functions in our body, including (but not limited to): --development of our feminine figure --production of the collagen in our face that keeps us looking young --support of production of serotonin and dopamine in the brain --enabling us to feel safe, secure and happy Progesterone is produced after ovulation. It is also plays a key role in women's bodies, and performs many functions, including (but not limited to): --thickening the uterine lining --regulating our menstrual cycle --helping regulate our sexual libido --controlling our moods Women usually experience perimenopause when the are between 35-37 years old. At that time, the number of follicles in their ovaries significantly decreases, and their menstrual cycle becomes less frequent. Nili advises women to take care of their thyroid health and do a liver detox during this time. Nili strongly suggests that women find a thorough and competent endocrinologist who is able to administer a series of tests to determine their thyroid health. She also advises women to take Kelp as a natural supplement to boost thyroid health. It is very important to detox your liver because the liver is key in flushing out waste, including hormone waste, from your body. If the liver isn't healthy, toxins stay in your body longer, as may potentially cause damage. Nili talks about a variety of supplements that people can take to help detox their liver, including milk thistle, amino acids, and magnesium glycinate. As a side note, Nili also reveals the reason behind weight gain (fat gain) specifically in our midsection. She explains why abdominal weight gain happens during perimenopause. As for menopause, it begins in women between the ages of 45-55. We say that a woman is in menopause one year after her last period. At that time, she is no longer ovulating. In this phase of her life, she may appear cranky and more irritable. She is also more sensitive to stress. She needs to properly care for herself so that she reduces as much stress as possible from her life. She can also take supplements to support her during this time, such as ashwaganda, relora, vitamin D, fish oil, and omega-3 fatty acids. At the very end, Nili speaks about hormone replacement therapy, which might be helpful to many women. Nili believes in using nature as a vital resource for health and wellness. To be connected with Nili, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

In this lively conversation with Rebbetzin Tehilla Birnbaum, we talk about the Torah approach to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. We learn to understand WHY it is so important for us to care for ourselves in these realms, since they all affect each other. The age old question is..."Am I a body, or am I a soul?" The answer is both. The body is a vessel that contains our soul. Since our body is a vessel that contains our soul, we need to take the best care of it possible. We need to incorporate physical activity into our lives. We need to sleep properly, make sure that we have good physical hygiene (like bathing daily and brushing our teeth at least twice a day), we need to take the time to get dressed properly so that we are put together. We use our physical being to elevate ourselves spiritually. Our thoughts and emotions also play a large role in the way we perceive the world and elevate ourselves. When we are able to look at a situation in a positive light and show gratitude for the blessings, and also the challenges, in our lives, we elevate ourselves emotionally and mentally. Focusing on the positive in people, situations, and circumstances promotes clarity of the mind. When our mind is clear, we can make good decisions. We can keep ourselves spiritually healthy through prayer. It could be through traditional written prayer like you find in a siddur (prayer book) or Tehillim (psalms), or it could be through having a conversation with G-d in your own words (hitbodedut.) By speaking with G-d in your own language throughout the day, our soul is in constant connection with Him. We begin to feel calm and protected. To be connected to Rebbetzin Tehilla Birnbaum, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Are you looking to lose weight--5 pounds, 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 50 pounds or more? Are you wondering if Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound, the big names in weight loss drugs at the moment, might be right for you? Who qualifies for these medications and what are the side effects? In this comprehensive conversation with Dr. Adrienne Youdim, board certified physician specializing in clinical nutrition and obesity medicine, we get the inside scoop. We learn that these drugs were formulated specifically with health outcomes, not aesthetic outcomes, in mind. In other words, people do lose weight on these drugs, but they were specifically designed for people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes. Dr. Youdim talks about GLP-1 semaglutides and their effects on the body. She explains that they slow down the digestion of food in your gut, keeping you feeling full for longer periods of time, thereby curbing your appetite. This helps fight obesity. Dr. Youdim also explains that since these drugs are directed to function in the gut, the side effects are also felt in the gut. Side effects include, but are not limited to diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and, in some cases, pancreatitis. You will hear Dr. Youdim speak beautifully about a mind, body and soul approach to medicine, including weight loss. She emphasizes that nothing is without a cost; there is a cost to taking action, and there is a cost to not taking action, when it comes to your health. Dr. Youdim's TED Talk can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=AFpeEOeEZVg Dr. Youdim's book, Hungry for More can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Hungry-More-Stories-Science-Inspire/dp/0578875632/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2G7ZWPMWL46FR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.78U2LlbpNiwLNjROfhnPj6JWABK7hu10MktR8CPD4JMuKLf6DA3Dqbex8sq1VWhH.e2tjG3HwVxDg2juoMVzbkPcZn96yEs2_78KktZiNmgU&dib_tag=se&keywords=hungry+for+more+youdim&qid=1738091582&sprefix=hungry+for+more+youdim%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1 To be connected to Dr. Youdim, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Did you grow up with an iPhone? Were you able to message on Instagram with your best friend in middle school? Was Facebook your primary source of interaction in high school? Many of us grew up at a time where if we wanted to socialize with our friends, we walked over the their house, sat next to them in the cafeteria at school, or called them on their landline phone from our landline phone (or maybe even from a payphone!) Times have changed so much, and the new generation of children are growing up with iPhones, iPads, cell phones, and access to an entire array of social media sites and apps. It's not just our children who have access to these platforms, it is adults, as well. We are role models for our children in the way we use social media. In this honest and sincere conversation with Rebbetzin Lisa Babich, the rebbetzin of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue in New York City, we talk about both adult and child usage of social media. As adults, we need to be mindful about the content we are posting. We also want to be balanced so that we don't overpost or overshare. Before posting anything, we need to ask ourselves, "What is the intention of my post?" or "What is my goal in posting?" We need to check in with ourselves to make sure that we are not bragging and showing off, keeping in mind that other people might get hurt or offended by what we post. Rebbetzin Lisa shared a passage from the Torah that speaks about how when the Israelites were camping in the dessert, the openings of their tents were turned away from each other in order to give each person and family their privacy. Not everything is for public consumption. We also have to make sure that we are not obsessed with the number of "likes" we receive for our posts. We need to have inner confidence, regardless of how many "likes" or "views" we receive. Inner confidence leads to true happiness. Rebbetzin Lisa also spoke about having open communication and conversations with your children and spouse about social media, and setting social media limits and boundaries for kids and teens. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Do you suffer from back pain? Headaches? ADD/ADHD? COVID? Do you need to lose weight? Do you really want heal from anxiety and depression? Homeopathy may be the solution! And it's not new...homeopathy is actually mentioned in the Torah! In this engaging interview with homeopath and yoga instructor, Davira Reichman Bareli, we discover what homeopathy is, and how it works to heal ourselves. Homeopathy takes into account the entire person. It is is holistic--treating the person, not the symptoms or the diagnosis. Two people can have the same illness, but require different remedies. Before prescribing a remedy, Davira takes into account a person's symptoms, how a person thinks, how they feel, their family environment, their stressors, their physical features, their medical history, and many other things that gives the full picture of the person, so that the right homeopathic remedy can be prescribed. In terms of the right remedy, Davira explains that LIKE CURES LIKE. For example, intermittent heat treat burns. Davira explains how! We learn from this conversation that homeopathy uses the dormant energy in natural substances to heal a person so that they can bring out the best in themselves and perform their unique role in healing the world. To be connected with Davira, please email atrebbetzins@gmail.com (I'm sorry that the conversation cut off at the end due to technical difficulties.)

There is a deep connection between our body, our mind, and our soul. The cells in our body hold our consciousness; our traumas, our negativity. Our body always tells the truth. Quite often we are so busy in our heads with our to-do lists, places we need to go, people we need to call/email/text. Malka Sima Pais helps us to get out of our heads and into our bodies. She helps us stop surviving and start thriving. Malka Sima offers a compassionate, safe space for women, both one-on-one and in community, to tune into the wisdom of their body and soul. She is a somatic and movement therapist, certified Shake Your Soul dance instructor, and Director of the Moonlit Circle. She is also the outreach coordinator of the Purim High Council. You can reach her through her website at https://www.malkasima.com/ We start off our conversation with an empowering somatic healing technique to relax our nervous system and gets us out of our head and into our body. She speaks to us about tuning into our soul and shedding Divine light onto our consciousness. When we connect to the true light of our soul, we are able to change our reality and thereby improve our quality of life. When we listen to ourselves and to what we are feeling, we tune into the wisdom of the soul. We shine light onto our pain, and we see ourselves, really see ourselves. Healing is achieved when we shine love, light and compassion on ourselves. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Have you ever wondered why you keep getting migraines? Why your back is constantly in pain? Why your stomach always hurts or why your body aches? Your body is "speaking" to you through the pain...and it has a lot to say! Miriam Racquel Feldman is a somatic healer, trauma and anxiety specialist, relationship coach, and the author of the book, Somatic Healing for the Modest Goddess. In our conversation, Miriam explains how our thoughts and emotions affect our body, and the different messages that our bodies are trying to tell us. In fact, the cells of our body can hold emotions from traumas that happened 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years ago! Those emotions manifest themselves as pain in our body! In Miriam Racquel's book, Somatic Healing for the Modest Goddess, she starts off with a strategy for for releasing stress, anger, sadness, fear, or any other negative emotion BEFORE it has the opportunity to cause pain in the body. The strategy is called the ROAR! method. ROAR! is an acronym--R for Rip, O for Open, A for Action, and R for Release. She speaks about each of these steps in detail. Miriam Racquel's book is divided into different sections, and is categorized according to topics such as self-care, dating, marriage, parenting, and parnassah (making money/career). In our conversation, Miriam Racquel and I talk about issues that arise in these different areas of our lives, and what we can do to prevent the stress, angst, and confusion from penetrating into our bodies and causing us harm. Remember, we are souls in bodies. We need to figure out what messages our bodies are giving to us, and then we need to pay attention to those messages-don't ignore them! You need to dive into your feelings in order to heal them. If you would like to purchase Miriam Racquel's book, Somatic Healing for the Modest Goddess, please click here: https://www.amazon.com/Somatic-Healing-Modest-Goddess-Anthology/dp/1737745429/ref=sr_1_6?crid=O8ZDQO1448MG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.M-pyaZn8t6CgTtbpbgQCtjxaHbnnlSBlaY2FWVcx251r6hoTZCRsx566o5gYYOycxe8PB5uXAtvIg6uYjLRE-VLZf937nbLPWsa0HFLgpWymi0YeF9QHEUE-OBIbvASSmZ2Pt-K_Tcf3Xvt-9iNI51DXfOwbIi1j6VJo2n6O_RyOb25YbW_W9g5p0V3BivfQ4btBesP3xKYo53RiRortK3R1xlvSj7S3FE9rU4kiBM0.8xsFwwmxD5WCZU2Ql9qGhFFYCwRUdejaS292b2TyQUI&dib_tag=se&keywords=somatic+healing+for+the&qid=1733278967&sprefix=somatic+healing+for+the%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-6 If you would like to reach Miriam Racquel for one-on-one coaching or to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website at: https://www.miriamracquel.com/ Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

If you have ever considered (or are now considering) adopting a child (or multiple children), this is the conversation for you! Rebbetzin Chavie Bruk, and her husband, Rabbi Chaim Bruk, founded Chabad Lubavitch of Montana in Bozeman, in 2007. Soon afterward, Rebbetzin Chavie was diagnosed with infertility. She was 23 years old. During our discussion, Rebbetzin Chavie shares her story about what it was like for her to adopt five children; how she felt when she adopted her first child, and why she and her husband decided to adopt more children. She tells us not to limit Hashem (G-d.) He is capable of giving to us in abundance. We should never decide for Hashem what He will give us or how much He will give us. Rebbetzin Chavie also opens up about the ups and downs of motherhood, and how raising adopted children is different that raising biological children. She tells us that every parent has a unique situation, so we shouldn't compare and despair. Instead, we should find a support group of people who are going through something similar to us so that we can be strengthened by each other's support. Rebbetzin Chavie has a fun blog called, Clear As Mud, which can be found by clicking this link: https://www.totallyunexpected.blog/ She also has a podcast called Totally Unexpected, which you can listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else that podcasts are found. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

The struggle is real! We are all going through some type of turmoil--financial crisis, health issue, dealing with difficult people, losing a loved one, or any other challenge that we are facing. Devorie Kreiman, an inspirational lecturer and writer on the power of faith, humor and joy, lost 5 of her 8 children. Four of the children passed away as babies from a generic disorder, and her son, Yossi, passed away at the age of 23 in a SCUBA diving accident. Devorie shares her personal story of loss and grief, and what she has learned through her own struggles. It was so refreshing to hear her humanity as she was telling her story; the ups and downs of how she was feeling. She shared the moments of laughter that she experienced among the pain. When you heal, you need to be real with yourself; the good, the bad and the ugly. You need to take time, privately, to be with yourself without distractions like food, television, music, or cell phones. It is so important to tell the story of what you went through, even if you are just telling it to yourself. You need to be real and raw. Whatever emotion you are feeling is ok. Devorie emphasizes that our circumstances are not a mistake; it's all on purpose. There is no such thing as an accident. Hashem provides us with everything we need at all times. She notes that it is important to remember that we are souls in human bodies, and we have the struggle of two kings inside of us--the struggle of human desires vs. the struggle of the soul who constantly wants to be spiritually uplifted. We have to remember that both are important, and both are real. Devorie emphasizes the we are all souls who came into this world to fulfill a mission. What we say and what we do matters. It's the same with our davening. Sometimes when we are grieving, and we need to feel the closest to Hashem, that is when we find ourselves pushing Him away the most. In this situation it is important to realize that the words of davening that you say right now WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. This is true even if you are not a davener; even if you have never prayed before in your life. The words of prayer that you say RIGHT NOW WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. You need to feel it to heal it! If you would like to read Devorie Kreiman's book, Even If I'm Not, you can purchase it through this link: https://www.amazon.com/Even-if-Not-Devorie-Kreiman/dp/B0BFJSZY7Q Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

I have a secret. It's the secret to staying happy in challenging times. Whether it's raising children with special needs, going through a financial crisis, difficulty with marriage or relationships, the secret to staying happy applies to all of the above and more. Rebbetzin Feige Slavaticki is the co-director of the Chabad Israeli Center in Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In addition to running a Chabad house, Rebbetzin Feige is the mother of 11 children, two of whom have special needs. Rebbetzin Feige shares with us some powerful and poignant stories that contain precious pearls of Torah wisdom. It's the wisdom that is gleaned from these stories that shapes the way we stay happy in challenging times. Here is a sneak peak into one of the stories that Rebbetzin Feige shares: There is a Mosad agent (secret service agent) who gets into a taxi. Once he is inside, he sees two men in the backseat with guns pointed at his head. They take him and lock him in a prison cell. They torture him to try to get him to tell all his national secrets. He doesn't tell them anything. Then, by accident, he overhears his captors talking amongst themselves. They were speaking Hebrew. All of a sudden, he understood. Those men weren't his enemies; they were fellow Mosad agents testing him to make sure that he is strong enough to do the job to which he was assigned. The above story is a parable. When "bad" things happen to us, we get mad or upset. We think the person who put us in this situation is bad. We think that these circumstances are awful. In reality, it is Hashem who caused that person to do whatever they did, and it was Hashem who caused you to be in those difficult circumstances. Hashem often test us in order to bring out our strength. When we recognize that these challenges and difficulties are really tests from Hashem, that He gives to us, from a place of love, in order for us to bring out our own strengths, then we understand that we are not dealing with a captor or an enemy. Rather, it's our Father in Heaven who is strengthening us and preparing us for upcoming challenges we may face in life. Rebbetzin Feige also shares another parable about a taxi driver that has two steering wheels in his car. One is for his toddler son who likes to "drive," and one is the actual steering wheel that he drives. This story shows us that no matter how much we think we are in the driver's seat, it's really Hashem who is driving the taxi. Emunah (faith.) Divine Providence. Letting go and letting G-d. It's not up to you to run the world. The responsibility of controlling everyone and everything is not on your shoulders. You need to do your best, focusing on what you can do, as opposed to what you can't do, and Hashem will handle the rest.

What is your story? Were your parents abusive to you? Did someone abandon you? Were you bullied? Did you suffer financially? Did you grow up in a dysfunctional family? Did your husband cheat on you? What was your trauma? DO YOU WANT TO HEAL YOURSELF NOW? In this authentic conversation, Chaya Sara Gurewicz and I speak about the healing that is happening all around us. We are living in an age of healing. We are becoming more aware of the different healing modalities that are being used to heal hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. Chaya Sara talks about some of these modalities, as well as her unique healing retreat, called, Awakening Within. The staff at the retreat are committed to meeting each participant as they are. They give whatever type of healing is required, including a technique called rebirthing. (Chaya Sara describes it in detail toward the end of our conversation.) The goal of the retreat is to be present for the participants and to provide them with the personalized healing they need in order to create permanent shifts in their healing. After the retreat, participants meet at regular check ins to maintain the progress they made. As old patterns are broken and new patterns are put in place, healing continues on a deep level, in a supportive environment. These retreats are available to men and women, separately (they are not co-ed retreats.) For further information on the Awakening Within Retreats, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Oregon State University and Corvallis, Oregon are home to a brand new Chabad house run by Rebbetzin Zahava Angster and her husband, Rabbi Menachem Angster. In this eye-opening conversation, Rebbetzin Zahava tells her own personal story of growing up in the Bais Yaakov school system and then going to a Chabad seminary that changed her life. Rebbetzin Zahava talks about WHY Hashem (G-d) recreates us every moment of the day; He recreates us because each and every one of us has a specific mission and purpose that ONLY we can fulfill. Rebbetzin Zahava shares examples with us from her own life about how we can all be a light in the world for others. Chabad was looking for emissaries specifically for Corvallis, Oregon for 10 years, and it was Rebbetzin Zahava and her husband who were chosen for this very important mission. By their openly Jewish presence, they elevate Corvallis. By elevating the physical, we bring Hashem down into the world. Who we are and what we do has a tremendous impact on our environment and also the whole world. We matter. Our actions matter. What we say and do matters. Each one of us is here for a reason. Rebbetzin Zahava's story is proof of that. For further information, please email atrebbetzins@gmail.com

You're feeling stressed, tired, angry, or sad...so, of course you go into the kitchen and start eating that box of cookies, bag of chips, and the chocolate bar before starting on the peanut butter, the leftover chicken, and anything else that looks good in your fridge or pantry. This happens again and again. It's called emotional eating. You are feeling some type of painful emotion from an outside stimulus--the argument with your husband, your child that didn't behave, your friend that didn't show up, the situation that didn't go as planned--and instead of feeling the pain of the emotion, you stuff yourself instead (sometimes with food you don't even want.) In this raw and authentic conversation, yoga instructor and Certified Health Coach (with an additional certification in the Psychology of Emotional Eating), Aviva Aberman, talks about the psychology of emotional eating...and how to stop. She brings in Torah concepts to help connect our mind, body and soul--true somatic healing. Aviva runs programs for women, on Zoom, in order to help them overcome emotional eating by feeling their emotions, and then healing them. You need to feel in order to heal. Aviva takes women through her 8 step guidelines that help women go from unconscious eating (emotional eating) to conscious eating. But most importantly, Aviva shows, explains, and teaches people how to love themselves, which is REALLY what it's all about. She teaches women how to take care of themselves properly. Although manicures and pedicures are nice, the best self-care options include things like: --thinking kind thoughts about yourself --truly listening to your body and communicating with it about what you really want to eat (and it's not always chocolate cake) --taking a short (or long) walk in fresh air --davening (praying) --meditating (it could be for just 15 minutes) For more information on Aviva and her programs, please visit: https://www.healwithaviva.net/ You can also email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Amazing Speaker!!! Rebbetzin Sarah Deitsch beautifully explains the meaning of Chassidism (Chassidut), and Chabad Chassidut in particular. Chabad is an acronym for Chochma, Bina, Da'at, which means Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge. Chabad Chassidut encourages Jews to use an intellectual approach to connect with G-d (Hashem.) The intellectual connection to our Creator will then go into our heart, and we will love Him completely with both our mind and our soul, and our body too. Rebbetzin Sarah emphasized that another major component of Chabad Chassidus is love of our fellow Jew. We are all equal as Jews, and we all know something about Judaism (even if it's very little.) It's our responsibility as Jews to teach another Jew something that we know about Judaism so that their lives can be enriched. Chassidus really intertwines love of our fellow Jew, with love of Torah, and love of G-d. Another meaningful aspect that Rebbetzin Sarah shared is the concept of hashgaha pratis, Divine intervention. G-d is involved in every aspect of our lives; not just the major events in our lives, but the little day-to-day moments too. He is always with us and watching over us. We need to make a dwelling place for G-d in this world. When we surrender to G-d, He enters our lives--this is why humility is important. Also, Moshiach (messiah)! Chassidism emphasizes the coming of Moshiach. We can bring Moshiach by doing mitzvot to the best of our ability. Once Moshiach is here, there will be revealed G-dliness in the world. Hashem's presence will be revealed, not hidden. We are encouraged to develop a deep connection to the Lubavticher Rebbe. When we visit the Rebbe's Ohel (burial spot) in Queens, NY, his presence is very much felt there, and it's easier to connect to him. When we pray at the Ohel, we are praying directly to G-d in the merit of the Rebbe. (We don't pray to the Rebbe, we pray to G-d.) If you would like to learn more information about visiting the Ohel, please email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com Some ways that you can bring Chassidus into your life today are: 1. Realize how important you are to G-d. 2. Educate yourself. Leah the book of Tanya (there are many English translations that are available in bookstore and online.) Learn the Rebbe's sichos too. The sichos are the talks that the Rebbe gave to his followers when he was alive. (Check out www.chabad.org) Rebbetzin Sarah Deitsch is the co-director of the Schottenstein Chabad House on the campus of Ohio State University. She offers meaningful educational and social programming for the students to engage and deepen their connection to Judaism.

You have the ability to create the reality that you have always wanted! You can do this by creating awareness of your thoughts and the emotions and feelings those thoughts bring. If your thoughts don't reflect your true desires, and who you really are deep inside, you have the power to change those thoughts. Chana Mason gives you step by step instructions about how to create awareness of your thoughts and how to actually change your thinking pattern. This new thought pattern will evoke new, positive emotions and behavior to go along with those positive emotions. Those positive emotions will help to attract and manifest the things/people/situations that you want in your life. In this eye-opening interview, Chana teaches us about the power of breathwork to release past trauma and stored emotions. She also speaks in-depth about conscious meditation and how this practice can help us move forward in our lives, clearing trauma and helping us to become more focused as we grow into the person who we want to become. Chana Mason has dedicated the past two years of her life to all things personal growth oriented. She is a breathwork coach. Chana helps people use the quiet of their breath to attune to the rise and fall of their emotions, hold their emotions with compassion, and rekindle a love for themselves, for life, and for others. For more information, contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Our kids have all types of feelings and emotions, and they may not yet know how to process those feelings and regulate their emotions. This can result in temper tantrums, yelling, crying, stealing, and expressing a wide array of behaviors that tend to drive us crazy as parents. So what is our children's bad behavior REALLY trying to tell us? When kids act out, they are telling us that they have deep and strong emotions. They need to be heard; they need to have their feelings acknowledged and validated. They need us, as parents, to remain calm and in control, because when we are calm and in control, we make them feel safe. We need to be present for our children in a loving way, even when we set boundaries for them. We can let them know that they are not able to do something, while at the same time showing then compassion and empathy. Emunah Steier, a psychiatrist, therapist, and mother of 3, who is passionate about family communication, shares the following tips for parents: 1. We need to cultivate our consciousness that our kids are innately good; they are precious, holy souls that were hand picked specifically for us to parent. We don't always know what is going on inside of them that causes them to behave a certain way, and we need to connect with them to open a dialogue so that they can share their thoughts and feelings with us. 2. We need to let our children know that ALL feelings are ok. Certain behaviors are not ok, but all feelings are acceptable. 3. When our children do something to trigger us, we need to realize that it's not really them who is triggering us; it's something that already exists within us that is being triggered. We then need to take some time to sit with ourselves and explore what it is inside of us that we need to address and heal. Throughout our conversation, Emunah shares many examples and relatable personal stories that show how we can address "bad" behavior with our good kids, while judging them favorably. For further information, please email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

How do we guide our older teens as they transition into adulthood? What is our job as parents? What role do we play in the lives of our teens? Parenting coach and parenting workshop facilitator, Miriam Leibowtiz, answers these questions as she guides us in our parenting journey. The job of a parent is to help our children develop into the person that he or she was created to be, even if who they are is different from the way we would have wanted them to be. As children grow into teenagers and young adults, parents shift from the role of caretaker to the role of guide. When parents treat their teens with warmth, give them unconditional love, and set boundaries for them, without imposing their will on their child, they are giving that child the space to figure out who they really are. Often, when we try to impose our will on our teens, they will have a counter will to resist what we tell them to do. We need to actively listen to them, allow them to express their feelings, validate their feels, and accept them for who they are--even if they are different from us. As parents, we need to mourn and let go of the preconceived notions we had that our children were going to be a certain way. We need to feel our pain, and then to let go of it. We also need to have compassion on ourselves for the pain that we have gone through in our childhood. When we have empathy for ourselves, we will be able to be open to how our teens are feeling, and have empathy for them. This will help us have a soft heart and relate to our teens with love, which will foster connection. Miriam explains the above concepts in beautiful detail. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Whether you are a Jew living in Israel, Los Angeles, New York, or Mexico City, we are all part of one national collective soul. We are one family; one nation; one people. We are connected on an intrinsic, cellular level. Miriam Tawil, founder and director of Midreshet Eshel, a Sephardic seminary in Eretz Israel, shares with us about the connection between Israeli Jews and Jews who live outside of Israel (diaspora Jews.) She reminds us that Jews are actually supposed to live in Israel. We were exiled from the Holy Land as a punishment, but the ultimate goal is for all Jews, from everywhere in the world, to come together to live in Israel. For those Jews who are thinking about making aliyah, Miriam encourages them to know their Why. Why do you want to come to Israel? Knowing your why gets you through the How. Miriam says that there is something very special that binds together each and every Jew, no matter where they live. She also shares stories of Jews from various backgrounds (Ashkenazi, Sephardic, liberal, conservative, etc.) who come together to help each other. Jews give to other Jews, even if they don't know each other. There is something in the DNA of the Jewish people that enables them to be one big family. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

The cruelest yetzer hara of our generation is that voice of "being hard on ourselves." Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT our own internal voice speaking negatively to us. Rather, it's our yetzer hara trying to get the best of us by putting us down. It's actually the voice of the yetzer hara (not our own internal voice) that is wreaking havoc on us by telling us that we are not good enough, in a variety of ways....we are too fat, lazy, our house is a mess, etc. Nili Salem, a Torah teacher and a certified narrative therapist, shares with us some strategies to overcome this barrage of negativity. One tip she taught us was to: #1. Identify a person who you love, admire, or care for. #2. Imagine that the person your identified is going through exactly what you are going through and feeling exactly the way that you do. Think about what you would say to that person, and how you would say it (wording/tone of voice.) #3. Most likely, you would speak in a compassionate way to that person. If so, speak to yourself in that same compassionate way. If you don't imagine yourself speaking to that person in a compassionate way, then do NOT speak to yourself in the demeaning way that you imagined yourself speaking to that other person. Also, Nili reminded us that G-d is kind; everything about G-d is kind. So, if you hear a voice speaking to you in your head, and it's not kind, then it is NOT G-d. If it's not G-d, don't listen to it. For further info, please email atrebetzins@gmail.com

Are you a single mother, widow or divorcee who dreads shabbos (shabbat)? Do you cry at the thought of having to spend shabbat alone, without your kids or anyone else to keep you company? Yehudis Sherman felt the exact same way. After her divorce, she discovered, first hand, the loneliness that many women experience when they spend shabbat isolated from their families. In response to this situation, she created an organization called Mishpachtainu, to help other women, like herself, celebrate shabbat with joy, unity and the warmth of community. Mishpactainu is located in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, but Jewish women from all over attend Yehudis' shabbat meals. She has a home that sleeps over 10 women, so out of town guests are welcome. Yehudis' shabbat table is beautifully decorated, and she cooks all different types of foods to accommodate everyone's diets (gluten free, etc.) In addition to the shabbos meals, Yehudis offers a food pantry to provide women with basic household items from ketchup and napkins to tablecloths and makeup. Mishpachtainu has helped many women make the turn around from lonely and depressed to supported and happy. They build a new network of friends from the women that they meet at Yehuds' shabbat table. There is a significant cost in running Mishpachtainu. Yehudis is in need of financial donations, as well as donations of goods and services. For more information about the organization, and how to donate, visit mightymoms.love You can also donate via Zelle: donate@mishpachtainu.org To learn more about Mishpachtainu, visit: https://www.mishpachtainu.org/You can also email me, and I will put you in touch with Yehudis: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Talking to your kids about sex might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but it's an important topic, and we have to talk about it. The truth is that if we don't talk to our kids about sex, they are going to find out about it from other kids or other sources (possibly the internet.) We want our kids to know our values about sex, and learn the correct information, preferably from us. Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah Fromson, a sought after kallah teacher, sex therapist and counselling psychologist, helps guide us in talking to our kids about a subject that many parents find taboo. She suggests that parents talk to children about sex in bits and pieces, starting off at a very young age. She also encourages us to use the proper clinical terminology for our body parts. We need to feel comfortable using words like "penis" and "vagina." Our kids need to see that we are being open and honest with them about the subject of sex. When parents are comfortable talking about a subject (any subject), it gives kids the confidence to feel that we know what we are talking about and that we are giving them factual information. Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah tells us that we should take cues from our children about what we should talk about. In other words, we need to be open to answering their questions, no matter how sexual and detailed they might be. We want to be the person that our kids come to about sex, and if we don't answer their questions, they will find out from somebody else. However, she cautions us to create boundaries. We are our children's parents, not their friends. Do not give them details about what happens in your bedroom. That information is private, just between the couple. We need to respect our children as individuals and give them the answers to difficult questions. This way, they will be more apt to turn to us when they have an issue or a challenge, especially if they are being peer pressured to have sex. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Have you tried every diet? Keto? Paleo? Weight Watchers? Have you spent hours at the gym, even hired a personal trainer? Are you not able to lose weight, no matter what you do? Tanya Rosen, founder of Nutrition by Tanya, is a nutritionist, life coach, and personal trainer who has helped hundreds of men and women lose weight and keep it off! She believes in balanced eating, and shows her clients exactly how to do it, according to their food preferences and how much weight they need to lose. Tanya shares her own personal story about how she lost 50 pounds after her first pregnancy, and has maintained the weight loss ever since...even after have 4 more kids via C-section! In my conversation with Tanya, she shares practical tips and tools for people to start losing and maintaining their weight today. Some tips that she offers include: 1. Weight maintenance is a lifetime commitment--it's not a one time diet, it's a healthy lifestyle change. 2. Get the right support group. You need to be around like-minded people who have the same goals as you, or are willing to support you as you move toward your goals. This could be friends, family, or even professional support. You need accountability. 3. Drink 8-10 cups of water per day. Or, if you prefer to know how many ounces you need to drink, take your body weight and divide by 2. This is how many ounces of water you need to drink per day. (For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, 150/2=75, so you need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.) 4. Drink 2 cups of water before every meal. This way, you eat fewer calories because you will be less hungry--water takes up space in your stomach. To reach out to Tanya, please contact her through her website: https://nutritionbytanya.com/ To contact the host of America's Top Rebbetzins, email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

How do your survive domestic abuse? Maybe you are married to an abusive or neglectful person. Maybe you had parents who would yell, scream and/or hit you. Most people who are in abusive or neglectful relationships develop physical symptoms as a sign of their emotional trauma--thyroid issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune illnesses. Dr. Miriam Adahan, a psychologist, therapist, popular author, and founder of EMETT (Emotional Maturity Established Through Torah), has over 60 years of experience in counseling, lecturing and writing. In this candid interview, Dr. Adahan shares tools and practical strategies for surviving if you are in an abusive relationship. She also has tips and techniques for parents to teach their children about how to be resilient and stay emotionally strong, operating from the pre-frontal cortex (the smart brain), and not from the amygdala (the baby brain.) The first thing that Dr. Adahan suggests to people who are (or have been) abused, is to recognize that you are a SURVIVOR. Understand that you were conditioned to believe that you were unworthy, but the OPPOSITE is true; YOUR ARE WORTHY. Next, stop feeling like you are a failure--YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE! Practice radical acceptance that you are in this situation/circumstance because Hashem wants you to be here right now (it doesn't mean forever, but for right now, this is where He wants you to be.) Say the DAYEINU prayer. (If you email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com I will send you the prayer.) Stay physically healthy--take multivitamins, Vitamin B with FOLATE (not folic acid), Vitamin D with K2. Stay away from sugar. You should exercise, meditate, and do breathing exercises. Disengage when you are around your abuser--be nice and polite, protective of yourself and shallow in your responses (don't engage in an argument; don't take things personally), and be compassionate to yourself. Dr. Adahan give us some tips from her book, Raising Spiritual Champs, Including Yourself! It can be purchased on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Spiritual-Champs-Hardcover-Miriam/dp/1614659370 This is the kids version of the book, called, Solution Champs: https://www.amazon.com/Solution-Champs-Miriam-Adahan/dp/1614658099 Dr. Adahan talks about all these things and more! This conversation has so much information that is necessary for you to survive and THRIVE. For further information, email me at atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Have you ever wondered how Chabad emissaries are chosen? Have you ever thought about why some Chabad emissaries go to places like Zambia, Nigeria or Peru? What are the challenges of opening a Chabad house, and what are the enormous benefits of being the person who kindles and rekindles Jewish souls? Rebbetzin Rivky Herzel, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Zambia (Africa), speaks about her experience growing up as the daughter of Chabad emissaries to Anchorage, Alaska. She also talks about why she and her husband decided to become emissaries themselves, and why they chose to serve the Jewish community in Zambia. Rebbetzin Rivky talks about what is involved in running a Chabad center, the new kosher store that they are opening, and her monthly flights to the mikveh in South Africa because Zambia doesn't have a mikvah just yet. Rebbetzin Rivky has a deep passion for touching the life of every single Jew, and it shows when she speaks about the events and programming that she does for the Jews in her community. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

The teenage years can be a challenging time, both for kids and for parents...but there is a way to make things easier, and to actually create a great relationship with your teenager. Rebbetzin Shifra Fried, Empowerment Coach and the rebbetzin of Young Israel of Bedford Bay, in Brooklyn, New York, shares with us that the real work begins by us parents working on ourselves. We need to love and value OURSELVES, BEFORE we love and value our teenagers. The way that we think and feel about ourselves reflects in the way we treat others, especially our children. We need to take care of ourselves and show ourselves compassion. Most importantly, we need to recognize who we are, which leads us to the question, "Who are WE?" We are a divine piece of Hashem (G-d). We have a spark of divinity within us. When we recognize this divinity, this piece of G-d within ourselves, we begin to see it in others, including our children. When we learn to love and respect ourselves, we learn to love and respect our children. This is the turning point in our relationship with our teenagers. Rebbetzin Shifra encourages us to approach our children with a loving energy. Teens can read our energy, even if our words don't match the energy we are giving off. We can be really angry and still have a smile on our face, but our teens know that something is off. We need to be ok with dealing with our emotions privately, without judging our emotions. We need to feel whatever it is that we need to feel so that we can process our emotions and not repress them. Once we are able to regulate our emotions, we are in a much better position to be able to smile at our teenager warmly, while also radiating that warmth. We also need to listen to our children and acknowledge and validate their feelings. We need to hold back from fixing their issues, offering advice, saying "I told you so," and JUST LISTEN TO YOUR TEENAGER so that they feel heard and validated. If you have a teen that doesn't want to talk, remind them constantly that you love them and that you are always here for them. Even if they never talk to you about their challenges, feeling your love and them knowing that you love them makes a huge difference in their inner world. If you would like to connect with Rebbetzin Shifra for her coaching or workshops, please visit: https://coachshifra.com/ Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

What is it like to be a Jew in Peru? Do they have kosher food? A mikveh? A minyan? What do they do for Hanukkah? Purim? Pesach? Shabbat? Rebbetzin Sara Blumenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Peru, talks about Jewish life in Lima, Peru. When Rebbetzin Sara, and her husband, Rabbi Zalman Blumenfeld, first came to Lima, there was no kosher food, no Hanukkah candles, no menorahs. In fact, there were terrorists instead. She describes living without electricity! From there, she helped to create and foster a Jewish environment that now has Torah classes for women and men, a large Pesach seder, parsha of the week sheets for both adults and kids, Hamantaschen for Purim, a mikvah, and other Jewish amenities that make being Jewish in Peru much easier than it has been in the past. Rebbetzin Sara speaks about the purpose of the Chabad emissaries all around the world (including Peru). Their purpose is to wake up the Yiddishkeit of each Jew; to wake up the soul of a Jew. Rebbetzin Sara also emphasizes that everything we do is to bring Moshiach! May he come today!! Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Words have power! Words create worlds! Change your words, change your life! Words create our reality! Prolific author and journalist, Rosally Saltsman speaks to us about the power of positive speech. She explains how we can use words to build and also to destroy. We talk about the power of speech when it comes to parenting children. Children build their identity based on what we say to them and how we speak to them. When we speak, we need to be less critical and less judgemental. Instead, we need to focus on the positive aspects of the child (or adult), and use our words to express that positivity. The positive words that we use in our home have the power to uplift and lighten up the atmosphere, making life more enjoyable for all. Conversely, we have the power to traumatize children (and adults too) with the words that we use. We need to be aware of the fact that our words have a very powerful affect on others. Rosally and I also spoke about the effect of positive and negative self-talk. The way we speak to ourselves is just as important as the way we speak to others. We will get more out of ourselves if we speak to ourselves in a loving way. Rosally shared a beautiful story about how she was able to transform a grumpy janitor into a happy, vibrant person, simply using her words--it's a great story! Rosally has a wonderful What's App group with daily inspiration in Shemirat Halashon (the laws of speech.) I personally am part of the group and enjoy it very much. If you would like to be part of our group, please click here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GyPSFXJCB0N3Nqz1SxGSHq --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

As Jewish parents, we want to instill a love of Judaism in our children that will last them throughout their lives, into adulthood. Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea Raichman, co-director of Chabad Manaus, in the Amazon region of Brazil, speaks to us about how to cultivate in our children a love of mitzvot (commandments) and a love of serving G-d (Hashem.) Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea believes in parenting with calmness and a personal love for and connection to Hashem. She educates her children in the mitzvot with a feeling of love. Once children know what the right thing is to do, and what they should be doing, she does not police them. Don't police your kids. You can gently remind then what they should be doing, but don't stand over them watching them until they obey. By arming your children with knowledge, given over in a loving way, and giving them gentle reminders now and then, you empower your children by allowing them to make the ultimate choice about their actions. Once kids feel like they have the power to choose right from wrong, their ultimate choice is between them and Hashem. We also have to teach children according to their way. Children are all different; they learn differently and they have different inclinations. Learn to see past a child (or adult's) exterior, and focus on their true essence; their soul. Just because a child (or adult) doesn't dress a certain way or keep all the mitzvot, doesn't mean that they are not a spiritual human being with a deep connection to Hashem. It is this connection that is most precious to Hashem, and we shouldn't put people down or judge them according to how they present externally, rather we need to focus on they type of person they are internally. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Survivor of the Nova Music Festival, Liel Shitrit, shares her story of how she survived the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Liel was with her friends at the festival when Hamas invaded and started shooting at people around 6:30a.m. She describes leaving the festival and how different groups of terrorists shot at her and her friends. One of her friends was shot in the head. (He survived.) Another friend was kidnapped and is currently being held hostage--BRING THEM HOME NOW! Liel spoke about how the terrorists murdered everyone in cold blood---she described them not as people, but as monsters. She talked about seeing her friends shot, body parts everywhere (legs, arms, and even heads that were displaced from bodies.) She felt horror and terror at seeing this. Liel went on to describe how she and her friends hid in a bathroom for 6 hours. The door had no lock, so one of her friends held it closed for the entire 6 hours until IDF troops arrived. Liel spoke about how she is processing her emotions, how her family is handling the situation, and what she would say to the hostages right now, if she had the opportunity to speak with them. This is a raw and truthful first-person account of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

Honor your father and mother is a strong Torah commandment (mitzvah). Your parents are your main teachers in life, imparting to you many valuable lessons. Rebbetzin Dassi Bigio, co-director of the Chabad House in San Andres, Colombia, talks about the life lessons that her father exemplified for her while she was growing up. One important lesson that Rebbetzin Dassi's father shared with her is to always think about other people. Life is not all about you, so don't be selfish. Think about others and what they need, and try to provide it for the, Rebbetzin Dassi's father also taught her to never give up. Her father was very goal-oriented and was always working on achieving his goals. He faced many great challenges along the way, but he never stopped believing in his goals and he never stopped working toward them. Another life lesson that Rebbetzin Dassi shared from her father was the idea of thinking big. When you have a dream, thought or goal, don't limit yourself. Think big. In addition, we spoke about the obligation of honoring your parents, even if they were abusive or neglectful, as well as if they tell you to do things that you don't agree with, or actions that go against the Torah. Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message

When the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change--that's when authentic growth happens. We break free from "playing small" and step into our greatness. We break free from our fears and start taking action and doing the things that we are meant to do in our lifetime. Rachel Leah Ismaili, the founder of MAYYIM Myofascial Release, creates a safe space for authentic healing to occurs. She offers women a fully integrative mind/body/emotions and soul healing journey. In this VERY DEEP DISCUSSION, Rachel Leah explains to us how we can begin to heal our traumas, physical, sexual and emotional, and tune into ourselves to rediscover who we are. Rachel Leah speaks about the deepest healing of ourselves through the 5 levels of our soul: Nefesh--the part of our soul that is most bound to our physical realm. It is here that healing of the nervous system through hands-on therapeutic body work liberates the body of the pain it is holding energetically. Ruah--the emotional sphere of our soul where we can use breathwork to release our subconscious fears. Music plays a key role here, in addition to breathwork. Neshama--this is the part of our soul that is our cognition center. It includes our self-perception; our thoughts; our pre-frontal cortex. This is where cognitive behavioral therapy comes in to help us change our thoughts and thought patterns. Chaya--this is the part of our soul that observes the ego; the mindfulness part of our soul. We are not our thoughts, we are the observers of our thoughts. This is our true ratzon (our true will). This is where we can align our will to Hashem's will. This is the transcendent part of our soul. Yehida--this is our pintele yid--the very essence of our soul as a Jew. This is our truest self. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/vera-kessler/message