Saturday To Shabbos

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Saturday to Shabbos presents real-life stories of people who’ve made their own journey to Jewish observance, the obstacles they overcame, and how the journey transformed them.

Jeff Cohen


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 167 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Saturday To Shabbos

    Rabbi Aryeh Siegel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025


    Rabbi Aryeh Siegal and his wife once worked full-time for the Transcendental Meditation movement. A meeting with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and a greater understanding of the Rebbe's views on meditation not only changed the Siegels' lives, it equipped Aryeh Siegel for a legal battle against a powerful foundation that was forcing TM into public schools. […]

    Ezra Zucker

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025


    Ezra Zucker has one of the more dramatic stories you'll ever hear. His near death experience led him to a major shift in perspective on his work as an entrepreneur, his family and, ultimately, on his spiritual life. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Na’amah Segal Karas

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025


    Na'amah Segal Karas experienced a powerful moment of clarity, which led her to completely rewrite the script of her life – including her marriage, her relationship with her kids and her thoughts on religion. Today she's the founder of Betterment Life Coaching. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn […]

    Alyssa Zupnick

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025


    Alyssa Zupnick is the Early Childhood Director at Phoenix Hebrew Academy. Judaism has always been central to her life. But it took a trip to Israel to super-charge her progression to Orthodox  Torah observance. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Grant Silverstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025


    We don't know many 11 year olds who go out of their way to wake their parents on Shabbos morning to make sure everyone goes to shul. But that's the passion for Judaism Grant Silverstein felt at a very young age. That same drive ultimately led Grant to continue his growth toward Orthodox Judaism and […]

    Sunny and Daniel Levi

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025


    Sunny Levi knew that she would marry Daniel Levi when they first met. Though they had diverse interests and talents, they'd find over the course of many years that the binding tie was their mutual love of Torah Judaism. How did a martial arts expert and a psychotherapist find a life together? This is their […]

    Kayla Kaplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025


    Kayla Kaplan is Director of Outreach at The Shabbos Project. She had exposure to Orthodox Judaism in her younger years, but she wasn't yet ready to take the leap. Through a series of experiences, she came full circle later in life, truly progressing from Saturday to Shabbos. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is […]

    Moshe Gersht

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025


    Moshe Gersht may have been on the brink of musical success when he had to face a tough question… was what he was doing actually making him successful? Today Moshe has traded in rock and roll for his true mission in life; to share and unconditional love and the wisdom of Torah. This is his […]

    Yehuda Liebenson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025


    Yehuda Liebenson was a hip hop artist, graffiti artist and breakdancer. He's also a former IDF soldier, tour guide and fundraiser for a charitable organization. How do all these parts fit together? This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Elisheva Beiles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025


    Elisheva Beiles has remained faithful to Torah Judaism through almost unimaginable tragedy and loss. But she and her children have kept their faith and their Jewish observance strong. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Robin Meyerson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025


    Robin Meyerson is the Director of the Shabbat Project, North America. In order to become a leading advocate for Shabbat observance and Jewish education, she had to leave her secular roots behind. With stops in many exotic countries along the way, Robin found her calling and the message she wants to spread to Jews worldwide. […]

    Eve Levy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025


    Eve Levy has dedicated her life to showing people the beauty of Judaism, just like one Rabbi did for her at the beginning of her Jewish journey. Today, along with her husband, she runs the L'Chaim Center near Chicago, an organization that helps people grow spiritually and connect with their Judaism in meaningful ways.  This […]

    Jeremy Pressman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024


    Jeremy Pressman can jump pretty high. His experiences as a professional basketball player and as an Israeli venture capitalist intertwine with his journey to Torah Judaism. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Andrew Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024


    The decision to study Torah with a friend can change the trajectory of your life. Take it from Andrew Stern, a Leadership Coach whose decision to do that set in motion a series of events that would ultimately lead him to Torah Judaism. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. […]

    Dr. Michael Milgraum

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024


    Law, psychology, poetry…. all these have been part of the life of Dr. Michael Milgraum, a licensed psychologist who journeyed to Jewish observance through all three fields. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Paul and Elissa Kaplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024


    Elissa and Paul Kaplan grew individually and as a couple. Whether living in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina or learning about pottery in Japan, the Kaplans embraced Judaism in deeper and more meaningful ways. Now, their children are teaching them halacha. This is their story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more […]

    Aryeh Ho

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024


    When he was a child, Aryeh Ho had what he describes as perfectly reasonable career aspirations; to be a professional basketball player, astrophysicist and Jedi master. Those career plans changed a bit as he grew up, as did his perspective on religion and culture. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media […]

    Rabbi Mitchell Jadidi

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024


    Rabbi Mitchel Jadidi, or Rabbi Mitch, as he's affectionately known, studied cognitive neuroscience and law before he took on the mission of  inspiring others. He now leads Olami Together, one of the largest Jewish outreach programs in the world. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Nate Berman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024


    Nate Berman went all-in on Conservative Judaism, only to figure out it wasn't for him. Nate was destined to teach. He just needed the right environment in which to flourish. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Alex Oppenheimer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024


    Alex Oppenheimer is a self-described “Excel junkie” by training who enjoys telling stories with numbers to create useful end-user tools. At the middle of his story is the age old question of work/life/study balance, which played out in corporate boardrooms in the U.S., yeshivas in Israel and at Shabbos tables in between. This is his […]

    Rabbi Ephraim Simon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024


    Rabbi Ephraim Simon is Director of Chabad of Teaneck New Jersey, a father of nine children and one of a relatively small group of people ever to have donated two organs. Simon says that his donations were an integral part of his religious growth. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media […]

    Hadassah Kovacs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024


    Hadassah Kovacs is a Professor of Communication, a PR professional, a theater reviewer and frequent writer on all things Jewish. She epitomizes what it means to work and live immersed in the secular world while holding firm to religious beliefs. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at […]

    Devorah Kigel, Professional Dating Coach

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024


    Devorah Kigel has helped more than 300 women find their soulmate. But she's not a shadchan. Before she became a Dating Coach, she had to go on her own search to figure out what she believed about Judaism. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Rabbi MZ Dubov

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024


    Rabbi MZ Dubov is an educator and lecturer at Aish in Jerusalem. But his journey to Jewish observance actually began thousands of miles away in Belarus. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Ilan Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024


    Ilan Smith is an illusionist and mentalist. He's toured the world and delighted crowds with his magic. Along the way, Ilan desired to make something very important “appear” in his life; Torah Judaism. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com

    Gary Morgenstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024


    Gary Morgenstein’s plays and novels have garnered the attention of the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Parade Magazine, the New York Post, Sports Illustrated and NPR. But there's another story; Gary's Jewish journey is as compelling as his award-winning writing. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at […]

    Rabbi Zev Kahn

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024


    Rabbi Zev Kahn is a kiruv specialist who's known as the “Rugby Rabbi.” Khan's story begins during South African Apartheid, which shaped his early outlook on life. But neither South African politics nor a successful rugby career would limit Kahn in who he'd ultimately become. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis […]

    The Best of Saturday to Shabbos 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024


    Saturday to Shabbos celebrates its third birthday! Host Jeff Cohen and producer Gary Waleik revisit some of their favorite episodes from the past year and explore the unique story twists and common themes shared in all the stories we've presented of Baalei Teshuvah as they make their way to Jewish observance.   Saturday to Shabbos is […]

    Rabbi Jonny Hughes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024


    Rabbi Jonny Hughes is the founder and CEO of The Abraham Effect, a non-profit providing support for Jewish students in non-Jewish schools in the United Kingdom. To get to where he is today, his path wound through English public schools, football pitches and the Rabbinate. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis […]

    Nadav Slovin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024


    Nadav Slovin is a passionate seeker and educator. His love of the intersection between wilderness exploration and Jewish practice ultimately led him to found Lech Lecha, an organization that provides transformative outdoor adventures. But, before he could inspire others through his organization, Nadav had to find his own meaning and purpose in Judaism. This is […]

    Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024


    Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen teaches at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. Before he found his spiritual home, Rabbi Cohen scoured the Far East. After six years immersed in Eastern philosophy and tradition, he returned to his Jewish roots. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Juliana Addi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024


    Juliana Addi is a public school principal in New Jersey. She also sends her four kids to Yeshiva day schools. Addi’s ability to straddle the secular and observant worlds comes after she adopted a frum lifestyle. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Rabbi Yoni Ganger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024


    Rabbi Yoni Ganger is Campus Director of MEOR at Harvard University. His path to observant Jewish life wound through medical school, but it ultimately led him to the campus of Harvard University. Ganger has a unique perspective on the recent campus protests there and how Harvard Jews have coped. This is his story.  Saturday to […]

    Jeff Astrof

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024


    Jeff Astrof is a Hollywood writer and producer. Perhaps the most significant story he's written is about his journey to Jewish observance. Jeff recently shared some tales from the writer's room and what it's like to work in Hollywood as an Orthodox Jew. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. […]

    Serge Zenin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024


    Serge Zenin's parents chose to send him to Yeshiva day school, which almost derailed his interest in Judaism for good. But Serge rediscovered it on his own terms as an adult and found his way to Jewish observance. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Aja Cohen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024


    Aja Cohen is a fashion designer who has worked for Converse, Aeropostale and Elle Magazine, among others, before starting her own clothing brand. She's also an Orthodox Jewish mom from New Jersey. She recently wove together for us the narrative threads of her religious and career journeys. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is […]

    Rabbi Gavin Mordechai Teller

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024


    Gavin Teller faced major life decisions in career and in love. The choices he almost made and the alternatives he  found led him on his path to Jewish observance, and to his true name, Rabbi Gavin Mordechai Teller. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Chaya Parkoff

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024


    Chaya Parkoff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Parkoff endured a family tragedy and personal health challenge, both of which could easily have made her lose her faith. Instead, Chaya grew from her experiences and found a unique path to Judaism. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more […]

    Yaakov Schy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024


    The journey to Jewish observance can be spiritual, physical … or both. Yaakov Schy’s journey took him all the way around the world to China and back. You might not think of China as the perfect place to light a Jewish flame. But, for Yaakov, that's exactly what happened. This is his story.  Saturday to […]

    Dr. Alan Perlman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024


    Dr. Alan Perlman spent a number of years in the U.S. Air Force. You might not think that's the ideal setting to grow religiously, but that's exactly what happened to Perlman. He credits the supportive people, Jewish and non-Jewish, that he met at every stage of his journey for helping him get to where he is […]

    Dr. Jonathan Field

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024


    Dr. Jonathan Field is a Manhattan-based Allergist-Immunologist. His journey to Jewish observance included some timely geographic moves and positive influence from his sister. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

    Aron Sandler

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024


    Aron Sandler grew up religious, then made a career choice that strained his ability to lead an observant life. Aron managed to stay on the path despite his challenging environment. It's an important lesson about what it takes to maintain commitment to Judaism. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. […]

    Michael Schwartz

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024


    Michael Schwartz is an attorney who specializes in defending police officers and other public servants accused of wrongdoing. And he does it while proudly wearing a kippah. His story from minimal Jewish observance to Orthodoxy winds into and out of courtrooms, where some fascinating dramas have played out. This is his story. Saturday to Shabbos […]

    Dr. Stuart Chesner (with Dr. Sara Markowitz)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024


    Dr. Stuart (Simcha) Chesner is a clinical psychologist who specializes treating ADHD patients. Chesner felt like an underdog as a child, which fueled his desire to find his spiritual and professional paths. Chesner's new book, Kosher ADHD (which he cowrote with Dr. Sara Markowitz), recommends practical approaches to helping people in the frum community with […]

    Yaakov Wasilewicz

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024


    Yaakov Wasilewicz inspires others through his personal story, and through his music. He had to find his own path to Jewish observance, which required tremendous sacrifice by a loved one … in this case, his mother. Through tremendous perseverance and some timely encounters with caring Rabbis to facilitate his journey, Yaakov ultimately found his way. […]

    Rona Wall

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024


    In April 2022, Saturday to Shabbos featured a conversation with Rabbi Greg Wall, known as “The Jazz Rabbi.” Wall spoke about harmonizing his musical career with Orthodox Judaism and life as a rabbi. Greg's wife, Rona, has her own unique story to share, from early conversations with Hashem to a traumatic accident that changed everything […]

    Joe Zimmerman

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024


    Joe Zimmerman pondered the existence of Hashem at a relatively young age, which led him to a quick transition to an observant life. But it wasn't always easy for Joe. In fact, a devastating fire had a big impact on his journey. But with the help of mentors and teachers, he found his way. This […]

    Mitio Rothstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024


    We know from the story of Avraham Avinu that the circumstances of one's birth don't automatically dictate the trajectory of adulthood. That's certainly the case for Mitio Rothstein, who experienced extremely difficult challenges as a kid. His story is one of the most inspiring we've had the privilege to tell.   Saturday to Shabbos is a […]

    Rivkah Kaplan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024


    Rivkah Kaplan experienced a tumultuous childhood. The challenges of her early years drove her to seek meaning and fulfillment … which she ultimately found through Orthodox Judaism, in no small part because of a blessing given to her son by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. This is her story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. […]

    Rabbi Reuven Boshnack

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024


    Jeff Cohen recently met Rabbi Reuven Boshnack at a Shabbaton he organized in Fair Lawn, NJ for more than 50 Yeshiva University students. Watching how he navigated Shabbos with so many students, Jeff was surprised to find out that Boshnack didn't grow up religious. This is his full circle story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a […]

    David Notowitz

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024


    Would you turn down an amazing career opportunity, simply because it conflicted with Shabbos? David Notowitz faced that decision as he adopted a Torah lifestyle. This is his story.  Saturday to Shabbos is a Tachlis Media podcast. Learn more at tachlismedia.com  

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