The Kol Isha Podcast

Yocheved Davidowitz hosts "A Deeper Conversation" - a podcast that delves into the  topic of Tefillah (prayer) and connecting to Hashem (G-d). Yocheved is a teacher and therapist, and she joined me to talk about prayer as a means of connecting with  the month of Elul and the Yamim Noraim (high holidays), which ultimately brings us to a closer relationship to G-d. 

Avigail Hasson aka @themodestbohemian was born in the Phillipines and came to the US as a young child. Due to various life circumstances, she found herself questioning the meaning of her existence as a young adult, which set on the path to discovery of HaShem and Judaism. Today she is a proud Orthodox Jewish Woman, wife, and mom, who focuses on beautifying Judaism through the mitzvah of Tznius (modesty). 

What do the "days of awe" mean to you? As children we are taught a rudimentary version of these important Jewish concepts, and as we mature, so does the depth of our understanding of these ideas. Esti Marcus, LCSW and trauma therapist, joins me to discuss the Torah and psychological perspective on the teshuva process, and how it can be applied to all of the relationships on our lives. 

Dr. Aviva Goldstein is a Jerusalem based family and individual counselor who specializes in counseling gap-year yeshiva and seminary students - however her wisdom is applicable to kids of all ages, and her insight is so valuable to parents of kids at every stage. 

Jezliah grew up as the daughter of a pastor in a Sabbath-observing Christian church in Texas. When she was a teenager, her mom made some discoveries that literally turned their lives around. Jezliah's singing and dancing have always been a major part of her life, and her talents have helped her find her place in the Jewish community which she now calls her own. 

One year ago I spoke with Ilana Ybgi, Yaffy Newman, and Batyah Delmoor about their expriences being frum Women of Color. For this episode, Ilana and Yaffy joined me again (Batyah was unable to join due to other obligations), this time to talk about what the past year has been like with racism in the spotlight, along with their experiences with antisemitism on the rise. 

Noa Levy has been travelling the world since she was young, but over the years her journeys have become more adventurous - from walking African Safaris to the Taj Mahal and Malaysia, her incredible experiences and life lessons help form many of her unique life views. 

Dr. Alisa Minkin is a pediatrician who is passionate about advocating for health in the frum community and beyond. She covers a huge range of topics on the JOWMA Preventative Health podcast, and uses innovated methods to educated and inform. 

These past couple of years, following the news has felt like a roller coaster. Between COVID, the US presidential elections, and most recently the Israel-Gaza conflict, there has been a lot to follow, but the biased coverage and spin that most news outlets engage in can be confusing and frustrating.  Bracha Halperin saw the need for unbiased, non-inflammatory, factual reporting, and took it upon herself to fill this void. It's come with many challenges, but knowing that her work is having a strong impact on so many people keeps her going. 

Chanie Fingerer is a Labor and Delivery nurse and Legal Nurse consultant, who is on a mission to educate women about pregnancy, birth, and the post-partum phase, so that they can be their own best advocates as they go through these experiences. 

Rhonda Malkin grew up in Southern California and started training as a dancer at four years old, leading to her professional dance career, where she danced at the highest levels in the industry, including the Rockettes. Along the way, she discovered her Jewish roots and became religious. Today, she uses her talents to train professional dancers and bring dance to frum community. 

Gila Muskin Block, co-founder of Yesh Tikva, joins me to talk about the challenges and stigma of infertility, and how her organization is breaking down barriers around the topic of infertility, both for couples who are struggling with infertility, and for community members. 

Yael Braun is a Toeness and "Divorce Planner" who helps people in the frum community navigate through the complexities of Beis Din, court cases, and arbitration. She is the only known woman in this role, and she sees herself as a strong advocate for women in going through divorces, going so far as to argue in front of dayanim on behalf of her clients. 

Managing your finances as a frum family can be a challenge! Chanie Friedman joins me to talk about how she helps families of all financial means with budgeting and managing their money in smarter ways. 

Project Proactive was founded in order to break down stigma surrounding mental health issues in the Jewish community.  Shoshana Mehler and Rebecca Shapiro are the two dedicated ladies behind this fantastic and forward-thinking organization, focused on proactive measures to improve mental health. 

Keshet Starr, CEO of Ora (Organization for the Resolution of Agunot) joins me to talk about the issues surrounding Jewish divorce, agunot, and the halachic prenup. Ora has been incredibly instrumental in helping both women and men navigate the difficulties of divorce.  

Is racism an issue in the frum community? I invited three guests to talk about this hot topic. Batyah Delmoor, Yaffy Newman, and Ilana Ygbi all share something in common - they are all frum women of color, but each also has a unique background and perspective. I am so honored that they agreed to join me to share their experiences and opinions. 

So many women struggle when it comes to holidays that seem to focus more on the men than the women (think Shavuos, Purim, and Simchas Torah). What is the role of the Jewish woman when it comes to Kabalas Hatorah? Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt joins me to talk about the role of modern-day Jewish woman on shavous -- and all year long. Avital is a writer living in NYC. She's the life editor at The Forward, and her work has appeared in Haaretz, Tablet, and the NY Times. Her husband is Rabbi of a large shul on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. I found her unique perspective as a frum mom, wife, and writer, as well as an advocate for promoting the voices and faces of Orthodox women refreshing, and I hope you will too!

Many questions have come up regarding scientific research during the COVID pandemic - Should we follow certain recommendations? Why or Why not? Lots of information is circulating on social media - how do we know who to trust? Temima Oratz, Evidence Based Practice RN joins me to talk about what goes into scientific research, what makes it useful and valuable, and how to critically evaluate what we read in these often confusing times, as we live through the COVID pandemic. 

Avital Levin, director of education for Shalom Task Force, joins me to talk about domestic abuse  - how to recognize abuse, and particularly what to look out for as potential red flags while dating. Shalom Task Force is an organization that provides education to prevent abuse, and resources for those dealing with abuse. 

Chavie Bruk is the incredible mom of five adopted children, each with a story as unique as they are. She shares her perspective on faith and family and strategies for dealing with life's many challenges, all while running Chabad of Bozeman, Montana. What an honor to have Chavie on the show!!

Eliana Fine, medical student and aspiring fertility specialist, joins me to talk about life as a frum wife, mom, medical student, and founder of JOWMA - a professional organization for frum female physicians. 

What is the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Where did it come from? What can I do to keep myself and my family safe? Dr. Maureen Nemetski, pediatric emergency physician, speaks with Dr. Ellie Cardmody, infectious disease specialist at NYU.  In collaboration with JOWMA Preventative Health Podcast:  https://open.spotify.com/show/1jYc7PIwjyFTU65DRUNjN3

Why is Ezras Nashim, the all-women's volunteer EMS, so controversial? What prompted the start of this organization? Are they as capable as Hatzala or 911 responders? Are people using their services? Hon. Ruchie Freier, director of Ezras Nashim, and Dr. Allen Cherson, medical director, join me to talk about all of this and more. 

Have you ever wondered why some people more easily have healthy relationships than others? Esti Marcus, LCSW joins me to talk about the vital need for healthy attachment. A fascinating topic for anyone who is a parent, or has ever been a child ;). 

Dr. Alisa Minkin, General Pediatrician, and Dr. Maureen Nemetski, Emergency Medicine Pediatrician, join me to talk about why there is an increase in distrust of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies, flu season, and of course - the flu vaccine.

Blimi Marcus is the founder of the Vaccine Task Force, a group of Orthodox Jewish healthcare providers whose goal is to provide vaccine education to the frum community and beyond. Blimi and I talk science, halacha, hashkafa, and some of the lesser known effects of the measles outbreak of 2019.

Social Media part 2, with Esther Lejbovits, administrator of "Jewish Women Talk About Anything", a Facebook group of over 34,000 Jewish women of a large variety of religious backgrounds.

Jenna McKenna joins me to talk about the benefits and challenges of social media. Jenna runs "Frum Girl Problems", a Facebook group of over 16,000 women.