Podcasts about orthodox jewish

Mindy Schaper is a unique personality. Not only did she volunteer a kidney to save the life of a young man whom she did not know, but she also volunteered as a surrogate mother, carrying the child of an Orthodox couple full-term … and she did this twice! So now you understand the title of this podcast. Mindy Schaper grew up Chassidic in Boro Park, Brooklyn and now identifies as Modern Orthodox. She is a writer and marketing project manager, with degrees in psychology, English and Judaic Studies She helped to found and run Project Makom, an organization that supports people transitioning out of or re‑orienting from the Haredi world and often seeking a place in the Modern Orthodox world. Her video about being an Orthodox Jewish surrogate ("Being an Orthodox Jewish (and Married!) Surrogate" explores the intersection of modern family-building and traditional Halacha. It highlights the profound cultural and religious considerations required, including navigating Kosher dietary laws during embryo transfers and receiving specific Rabbinic guidance on fertility treatments. Here is a LINK to the video. In our post-interview segment, we share results from our recent survey on the issue of how and why Modern / Centrist Orthodox and Haredi identify and define themselves. The findings are in our new study "Issues of the Day: Orthodox Jewish Community Views on Key Current Issues," which also covers: Our strengths and top challenges; Top issues that we need to better understand; Dialogue and relationships with non-orthodox Jews and with non-Jews; and an Update on modern / centrist orthodox attitudes toward women in shul leadership. Click HERE to access the full report; and click HERE to access all of the Orthodox community research.

In this episode, Dr. Baron sits down with Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, a clinical therapist often known as "the orthodox therapist," to unpack the complex realities of how Jewish couples navigate intimacy, marriage, and fertility through a traditional lens while protecting the privacy of their relationships. Dr. Hofstatter shares her insights from her popular, anonymous social media platform where community members submit questions from marital discord to sexual health concerns that they feel unable to ask anywhere else. She discusses the unique intersection between clinical training and strict Torah values. She emphasizes the necessity of bridging patients to trusted rabbis for Halachic queries, and the emotional weight that comes with being a support to others . The conversation explores the heavy emotional toll of fertility struggles on partnerships. From the hazards of over-sharing your marriage with casual friends to the pain of public pregnancy announcements, this episode offers an honest look at how to protect your relationship when community expectations become overwhelming. About Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD : Dr Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD, is a licensed mental health counselor based in Boca Raton, Florida, specializing in work with adult women and couples within the Orthodox Jewish community. She integrates clinical expertise in sex therapy with a deep understanding of Torah values, offering culturally sensitive support around intimacy, relationships, anxiety, trauma, and sexual health. Lauren is the founder of The Orthodox Therapist and is passionate about providing clear, modest, and shame-reducing education that promotes emotional connection and marital well-being. Connect with Dr. Lauren Hofstatter, LMHC, PhD : Instagram‍ Email‍ ‍Website Connect with us: Website‍ ‍Instagram - send us a message YouTube‍ ‍Facebook‍ ‍TikTok‍ ‍LinkedIn‍ ‍

Link to video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/aeVekOqP7-YThe tables have turned! The wonderful, renowned Orthodox Jewish podcaster Dovid Bashevkin, host of 18forty, who interviewed me for his podcast, returned the favor and joined me for a candid conversation about the inside-outside perspectives. He inside, I outside, together we have an interest in the same thing from different angles.Bashevkin is one of the most thoughtful voices in the Orthodox Jewish world, for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, doubt, Shabbos, Jewish identity, community, America, Israel, assimilation, spirituality, and what it means to build a meaningful Jewish life in 2026.What makes this conversation especially interesting to me is that Dovid and I approach many of the same questions from different locations. He speaks from deep inside Orthodox communal life; I often speak from the margins, or from outside looking in. And yet we share a fascination with how people search for meaning, belonging, transcendence, and authenticity.Links:• Dovid Bashevkin on Twitter/X: [@DBashIdeas](https://x.com/DBashIdeas?utm_source=chatgpt.com)• 18Forty podcast: [18Forty](https://18forty.org/podcasts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)• My appearance on his podcast: [My conversation with Dovid Bashevkin on 18Forty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEaI-Paltfc&t=1s&utm_source=chatgpt.com)We talked about:• why he created the 18Forty podcast• the “institutional scaffolding” of modern Jewish life• why younger Jews are restless even inside successful communities• Shabbos as both beautiful and difficult• assimilation, identity, and the pressure to “earn” love• celebrity culture and existential longing• the future of American Orthodoxy• why so many young Orthodox Jews are drawn to Israel• cultural translation between Jewish worlds• gum as contraband in Hasidic childhoods

Adina Sash, known online to over 100,000 followers as Flatbush Girl, is an American Jewish social media influencer and activist based out of Brooklyn. Originally, her content focused on the comedic aspects of Orthodox female life, but in recent years, her activism has shifted to advocating for agunot, women who cannot get halachically divorced from their husbands for various reasons. For all intents and purposes, they are trapped in their marriages under Jewish law. Sash's most recent focus is a couple originally from Montreal, Raphi Stein and Adeena Kohn. For five years, Stein has refused to grant Kohn a gett, a Jewish divorce. Sash has taken up the cause and waged a social media campaign urgently calling on Montreal's Orthodox Jewish community to increase pressure on Stein. As part of that campaign, Sash launched an online initiative called “Gett Naked”, where Orthodox women have sent unusually revealing photos of themselves with the hashtag #freeadeena. In the pictures, they show parts of their bodies that are usually covered: hair, elbows, shoulders, knees. Others go further, snapping shots of cleavage and bikinis. In some ways, it's a successor to Sash's successful 2024 campaign, in which she organized a sex strike in support of Malky Berkowitz, a 29-year-old agunah. Hasidic women in Brooklyn withheld sex from their husbands on Friday nights, and after they went to the mikvah, to recruit men and women alike to the cause. After six months of the campaign, Berkowitz received a gett. Will Sash's efforts work for Adeena Kohn? And what are the broader effects of these massive digital campaigns in Orthodox circles? Our rabbinic podcasts discuss on this week's episode of Not in Heaven. Credits Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director) Music: Socalled Support The CJN Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here )

Bennett Yellin and Peter Farrelly talk about meeting each other in school and immediately connecting over their shared sense of humor. Bennett talks about substance abuse in college, while Peter discusses being a very hard driver at work. You talk about getting very lucky working with Eddie Murphy and David Zucker, and about bringing Bobby Farrelly into the group when they were writing movies together. Peter talks about being extremely loyal, living in Ojai, and never feeling like Los Angeles was really his town. Bennett talks about growing up in Beverly Hills in an Orthodox Jewish family. Peter tells a story about using the wrong knives while staying at Bennett's house because meat is not supposed to touch milk. Peter says he doesn't think Rotten Tomatoes is fair, and he also doesn't think criticism is very helpful. Bennett recently wrote a horror movie, Día de Muertos. Peter is a good audience member and wants everyone to contribute. Bennett knew everything about movies, while Peter knew almost nothing about them. Peter also has a very happy crew. Bio:  -Peter John Farrelly (born December 17, 1956) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and novelist. Along with his brother Bobby, the Farrelly brothers are best known for directing and producing quirky and romantic comedy films such as Dumb and Dumber, Shallow Hal, Me, Myself and Irene, There's Something About Mary, and the 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid. Farrelly solo-directed and co-wrote the comedy-drama Green Book (2018), which won the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, the Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay, and the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. He has been married to Melinda Farrelly since December 31, 1996. They have two children. -Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bennett received his B.A. in Fiction from U.C.L.A.  Still not ready to enter the real world, he enrolled at UMass in Amherst for an M.F.A. in fiction.  It was there — on the first day of school — that he met and befriended Peter Farrelly.  On a lark, they tried writing a comedy together and this spec script ultimately got into the hands of Eddie Murphy and the Zucker Brothers, creators of Airplane and The Naked Gun.  Both Murphy and the Zuckers asked the duo to write movies for them, and their career was off and running. Yellin wrote exclusively with Peter for years until they asked his brother Bobby to join them.  The three went on to write a number of unproduced features together until they created Dumb and Dumber in 1994 and reunited in 2014 to co-write the official sequel chronicling the further idiotic adventures of Harry and Lloyd, Dumb and Dumber To. In 2007, the Farrelly Brothers branched out on their own and Yellin partnered with James Robert Johnson to create a professional writing duo that has endured for sixteen years.  Among the plethora of projects they've tackled during their career — some produced, others not — the two have co-written Let's Scare Jessica to Death for Paramount Pictures, the Fox situation comedy Unhitched, the direct-to-DVD thriller Joy Ride 2: Dead Ahead, Paramount Pictures' Hotel For Dogs 2, the Anchor Bay action-thriller In the Blood with Gina Carano, the 20th Century Fox family film, Santa's Little Helper, and the Warner Brothers re-boot of the Police Academy series, Police Academy: Takin' it to the Streets.  More recently, Yellin and Johnston have co-written a live action family stage show adaptation of the hugely popular Angry Birds IP, and their original supernatural thriller Dia de Muertos has recently completed filming and is set to be released in 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayer Weiss grew up completely Mexican — and today he's a Hasidic Jew living in the Orthodox Jewish world. In this emotional and wild Jewish and Joyful podcast interview, Mayer shares the unbelievable true story of how a Mexican teen searching for meaning found himself drawn to Orthodox Judaism, Shabbos, and a completely different way of life.From his mother being arrested by ICE… to secretly keeping Shabbos at home… This isn't just a story of religion. It's a raw conversation about identity, family, pain, truth, purpose, and searching for meaning.Reach Mayer at mayernweiss@gmail.comThank you to our sponsors:__________________________________►Twillory: The Best Shirts and Polos - Get ready for the summer.Visit:https://Twillory.com⁠__________________________________►Ohr Olam: The Hebrew-English Mishnah BerurahGet a copy at your local Jewish bookstore. Online:⁠https://zbermanbooks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=ohr+olam⁠For more info and a free download:⁠https://www.ohr-olam.org⁠__________________________________►Sofer.ai: The AI platform to unlock your Torah! Transcribe shurim or classes in an incredible way.Visithttps://go.sofer.ai/Azzakvt__________________________________►Colel Chabad: Pushka AppDownload Colel Chabad's Pushka app and help support over 47,000 needy families in Israel! ⁠Download:https://pushkapp.cc/joyful⁠__________________________________►Parsha InspirationGet powerful inspiration and an amazing story for your Shabbos table every week.Email:info@parshaknowlege.com⁠ Visit:https://parshaknowledge.com__________________________________Join our WhatsApp group:https://chat.whatsapp.com/BbfFPZDu1ldBlANISpy0Oj?mode=gi_tor message us at 646-397-2320 Subscribe to our podcast on all platforms:Youtube: Youtube.com/@JewishnjoyfulSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Tyl3avgGLiK4f6wFR7GohApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jewish-and-joyful/id1586344571Torah Anytime: https://www.torahanytime.com/organizations/151Listen to the podcast by phone:USA: 605-562-3522Israel: 972-79-579-5099-Reach out:WhatsApp: 646-397-2320Email: jewishnjoyful@gmail.comHosted by Aryeh FingererThank you for listening and remember to stay Jewish n' Joyful :

In this week's episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Keshet Starr, CEO of Shalom Task Force and a leading advocate in the fight against domestic abuse in the Jewish community, joins Nachi Gordon for a powerful and eye-opening conversation about one of the most difficult issues facing the Jewish world today. Keshet shares what domestic abuse actually looks like behind closed doors, why it is often missed by friends and family, and how emotional, financial, spiritual, technological, and physical abuse can manifest in relationships. She also discusses the realities of working with survivors, the warning signs people should recognize, and why abuse is far more prevalent than many realize.   The conversation explores why victims often struggle to leave abusive relationships, the unique challenges that exist within Orthodox Jewish communities, and the role that stigma and silence continue to play. Keshet also offers practical guidance for those dating, newly married, or concerned about someone they love, sharing red flags to watch for and the importance of healthy communication, boundaries, and conflict resolution. This is an important discussion about awareness, prevention, and ensuring that those who need help know they are not alone. This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:   ► PZ Deals   Download the app and never pay full price again!   https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp   _________________   ► Colel Chabad Pushka App   The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _________________   ► EL AL   From the Hebrew announcements to the Israeli atmosphere onboard, flying EL AL feels like Israel before you even land. With nonstop flights to Israel and Jewish comfort from takeoff to landing, there's nothing like hearing: "ברוכים הבאים לישראל."   Book your next flight with EL AL: https://www.elal.com/eng/usa?utm_source=meaningful&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=gcny_incoming_usa&cid=s:el%7Cm:what%7Ccp:gcny%7Cct:incoming%7Cau:usa   _________________   ► Ness Vacation Homes   EDEN GARDENS' LARGEST LUXURY HOME COLLECTION   Handpicked, high-end homes available exclusively through Ness.   OPTIONAL PROGRAM-LEVEL PESACH EXPERIENCE   Upgrade your stay with a complete A–Z Pesach setup, including kitchen preparation, catered meals, and fully arranged details by Glatt Gourmet.   https://nessvacationhomes.com/   _________________   ► UJA   UJA is at the center of Long Island's Jewish community with the shared purpose of strengthening our Jewish future.   https://ujafedny.org/five-towns   _________________   ► Naava Kodesh   For the first time, Aliyah is starting to feel truly doable for mainstream, frum working families.   Hear directly from families already living it at a Naava Kodesh event near you.   https://events.naavakodesh.org/mm   _________________   ► Town Appliance   Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp   https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Will Orthodox middle-class life in America remain sustainable for future generations? Stub opens by discussing how and why Orthodox Jewish communities are financially drained. He explains how -- through a combination of private education, elite housing locations and larger households -- the cost of living is increasingly more than families can afford. He drives home that the challenge is not only how to remain financially afloat today and mentions how one possible solution to the growing issue in the US is immigration to Israel. We discuss Stub's recent reporting on a related matter: With growing numbers of Diaspora Jews seeking a foothold in Israel, market players are rewriting the rules of real estate, reimagining community around rabbinic leadership, municipal planning and group purchasing models designed to meet their needs. Stub also elucidates how, despite the attractions of moving to Israel, many American Jews harbor deep fears about exposing themselves to the challenges of life in Israeli society. Differences in language and cultural norms — from navigating bureaucracy to casual conversations— are frequent sources of anxiety that leave newcomers overwhelmed. He explains why this leads many American Jews to group together within Anglo-centric communities. We close the episode with a brief teaser of what to expect from the upcoming Maccabiah Games in Israel. Despite concerns and cancellations from delegations from several countries following continued tensions with Iran, about 5,000 participants from more than 40 countries are still expected to compete in the two-week international competition that starts on June 30.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Menschwarmers received an anonymous tip last year that a rising star in the NBA has Jewish heritage. We dug into it, and are the first to report that it is true: basketball star Chet Holmgren is ethnically Jewish. Holmgren, the seven-foot centre for the reigning league champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, comes from a long line of deeply involved Jewish community members in Minneapolis, by way of his mother, Sarah Harris. Her father is Ray Harris, a prominent and respected developer who passed away in 2025; his celebration of life was held at Temple Israel Minneapolis, a Reform synagogue. (Ray's father—Holmgren's great-grandfather—was Leo Harris, a Polish Jewish immigrant who arrived in 1870 and wound up founding a company that dredged the Mississippi River locks.) Ray Harris's delightfully quirky obituary mentions his daughter Sarah and grandson Chet. Ray Harris's late wife, Alta Harris—Chet's maternal grandmother—passed in 2019, and her obituary also directs donations to Temple Israel. In case there was any doubt that the whole Harris clan is Jewish, Chet's maternal uncle Dan Harris (brother of Sarah, son of Ray and Alta) also explicitly calls himself Jewish in a travel blog from 2016. So there is no doubt that Chet Holmgren is ethnically, halachically Jewish. Whether or not he considers himself a member of the tribe is another question. Currently playing in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, the 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season, in which he was named an All Star, Third Team All-NBA and First Team All-Defense—all for the first time in his young career. Having helped the Thunder win the championship title last year, Holmgren has found himself under an enormous spotlight fairly quickly. Being openly Jewish, or even discussing his Jewish heritage, could invite hateful backlash. Holmgren got a taste of this last summer when a video emerged online of him working out at the gym of Shalhevet High School, an Orthodox Jewish school in Los Angeles, where many NBA stars like to practice, due to its high security and premium hardwood courts. (Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and James Harden have all worked out there.) In the video, Holmgren is seen shooting hoops with some Israeli flags in the background, leading to an onslaught of online insults, assumptions about his political leanings, and the epithet "Chetanyahu". The CJN reached out to the Oklahoma City Thunder multiple times, but never received a response. Given's Holmgren's immense success, the Menschwarmers felt it appropriate to celebrate Holmgren's heritage, and bring some Jewish joy to fellow Jewish NBA fans watching OKC's possible road to a repeat championship. In this episode, they break down what they learned about his family tree, discuss why it's understandable that he prefers to avoid the subject—and express hope that he will embrace it publicly. Credits Hosts: James Hirsh and Gabe Pulver Producer: Michael Fraiman Music: Coby Lipovitch (intro), chēēZ π (main theme, " Organ Grinder Swing ") Support The CJN Follow the podcast on Twitter @menschwarmers Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Menschwarmers (Not sure how? Click here )

A lot of good people are struggling to find work right now.Some because of AI. Some because companies are cutting back. Some because the industry they spent 20 or 30 years in just doesn't work the same way anymore.And in many cases, people are dealing with it alone.Keevy Fried works closely with people going through exactly this. People trying to rebuild careers while supporting families, paying tuition, covering mortgages, and figuring out what comes next after a layoff, a shutdown, or a career that suddenly stalled.Give a listen. Let's help those in need.Info: https://aim-hire.org/Not familiar with Claude? Check this out: https://anthropic.skilljar.com/claude-101Receive a certificate of completion.

In this episode of The Future is Human, I'm joined by Conor McGlynn — a writer and PhD researcher at Harvard's Program on Science, Technology, and Society — to discuss his Compact essay "AI and the Myth of the Machine." Drawing on the 20th-century technology critic Lewis Mumford, we talk about techno-optimism as a kind of secular faith, what the Amish and Orthodox Jewish communities understand about adopting technology on their own terms, why the data-center boom feels so undemocratic, and why technological "doom" is not a future event but something already unfolding around us. Links and references: Conor McGlynn's Compact essay, "AI and the Myth of the Machine": https://www.compactmag.com/article/ai-and-the-myth-of-the-machine/ More of Conor's writing at Compact Magazine: https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-emerging-ai-policy-consensus/ https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-ai-backlash-turns-violent/ https://www.compactmag.com/article/big-techs-war-on-democracy/ The China Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcukTqc1cJJ4K3c4uzxTzjA Got feedback? Email Zac at zac@creedalpodcast.com

Send us Fan MailRachel Goldberg-Polin on Faith, Grief, and Meaning After Hersh's Captivity | From the Inside OutHosts Rivkah Krinsky and Eda Schottenstein interview educator and author Rachel Goldberg-Polin about her book When We See You Again, her family's life in Jerusalem, and the loss of her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage from the Nova Music Festival on October 7 and later murdered after 328 days in captivity. Rachel recounts her path into Orthodox Jewish life starting in eighth grade at an Orthodox day school, describes how tefillah and Torah have sustained her, and shares how Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning—relayed to her through released hostage Or Levy—became a tool for enduring suffering by finding purpose. She discusses Modeh Ani, trust in Hashem amid uncertainty, grief as an expression of love, “toxic positivity” versus “tragic optimism,” and verses and teachings that frame this world as a hallway to the next.EPISODE SPONSORSColel Chabad Colel Chabad is one of Israel's oldest continuously operating charities, supporting families with food security, widows & orphans, and emergency relief.  Their Pushka (Charity Box) App makes it easy to turn inspiration into action with simple daily giving—small “micro-donations” that add up to real impact over time. To join thousands of daily givers, download the Pushka App on iOS or Android and start giving today: https://pushkapp.cc/Inside Discover and donate to Colel Chabad here: https://colelchabad.org/ OKclarity.comFinding the right therapist or coach can be one of the most challenging parts of seeking help — even with a great referral, the person isn't always the right fit. That's where OKclarity.com comes in. OKclarity.com is an online platform featuring hundreds of Jewish therapists, psychiatrists, coaches, nutritionists, and support groups, where you actually get to meet the person through videos and introductions before deciding whether to move forward with a first session. More than 10,000 people have already benefited from OKclarity.com, and it's not just a directory for those seeking help — if you're a mental health practitioner, therapist, or coach, you can list yourself on the platform too, so the people who need you can find you. Visit OKclarity.com today: https://go.jcn.io/OtfUxlShefa Living & Yeshiva of Glade Valley:Shefa Living is a warm, growing Jewish community nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina — offering families the rare combination of natural beauty, affordable living, and authentic Torah life, all in one place. At the heart of the community is Yeshiva of Glade Valley, a school built on the understanding that every child is created with a unique soul, unique strengths, and unique needs. With small classrooms, close rebbe and morah relationships, strong Torah values, and a deep focus on emotional balance, confidence, and creativity, it's a place where children can truly feel seen — and where families can breathe a little deeper. Learn more here: https://yeshivagv.com/GUEST BIORachel Goldberg-PolinRachel Goldberg-Polin is an educator, mother, and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller When We See You Again. Born in Chicago and now based in Jerusalem with her husband Jon and their daughters, Rachel became a voice that moved millions during the 328 days her son Hersh was held hostage in Gaza after being taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7th. Hersh was murdered in captivity alongside five other hostages. Through her writing and speaking, Rachel continues to share the rare wisdom, faith, and tragic optimism she has carried through unimaginable loss — opening up something in the souls of everyone she touches.You can find Rachel's new book here: https://a.co/d/0hhTa1wK CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Rachel Goldberg-Polin01:59 Tzedakah and Opening Blessing02:59 Choosing Torah and Mitzvot06:01 First Day at Orthodox School09:13 Learning Shabbat and Davening11:51 Always Learning Jewish Wisdom13:17 Hersh and Frankl in Captivity20:16 Sponsor Break OkClarity21:37 Trusting Hashem Without Answers26:38 Modeh Ani After October 734:56 Broken Heart and Kintsugi39:57 Living With Loss and Telling Truth42:58 Book Not a Memoir43:37 Hallway to Next World46:11 Living Without Answers46:57 Nova Festival Chesed48:43 One Act of Kindness52:26 Love Stronger Than Death54:58 Finding Joy After Loss59:13 Broken but Still Me01:02:33 Toxic Positivity Antidote01:04:55 Hashem Gives and Takes01:07:14 Thank God I Believe01:07:59 God Doesnt Ask Us01:12:13 Closing Quotes and BlessingsCOMMUNITYJoin the Community! Connect with us on socials to discuss Episode 101, share insights, and continue the conversations you want to have:

Anat Ishai, who was born in Israel but grew up in Canada, started baking braided Challah loaves in her Thornhill kitchen during the COVID pandemic to help her break out of the isolation of lockdown. She started posting social media videos of herself baking and dancing. Her moves, with snippets of Jewish pride and shots of her Orthodox Jewish lifestyle caught on. Today Ishai has a devoted following worldwide as “The Challah Mom”, with over 300,000 followers including on her Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook accounts. Ishai is now based in Israel. She and her Canadian husband and their four children immigrated in 2023 just four weeks before Oct. 7. She's chosen to stay in the land of her birth, and rides out the conflict by keeping the war off her public platforms. Instead she channels faith and joy and ritual to help empower Jewish women. The CJN's North Star podcast host Ellin Bessner attended The Challah Mom's stop at Shaarei Tefillah synagogue in Toronto to learn the fascinating story of Ishai's personal journey: from a secular daughter of Russian Israeli immigrants to reconnecting with Orthodox Judaism and ultimately, teaching all kinds of women about the mitzvah of hafrashat challah. Related links Follow Anat Ishai at her website to get her challah recipe or on Instagram Anat Ishai appears in the new documentary “Sheitel” about why married Orthodox women choose to cover their hair with wigs, scarves, hats or a combination, on The CJN's North Star podcast. Anat Ishai sometimes wrote for the Times of Israel during the pandemic. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Izzie Helenchilde (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here ) Watch our podcasts on YouTube. Help others find this podcast by leaving us a review for “North Star” on Apple Podcasts via your iPhone or iPad device, or with your Android. (Spotify allows only starred ratings but you can do that, too!)

For centuries, many Christians believed that the Church had replaced Israel in God's covenantal plan. But what happens when the Jewish people return to their ancestral homeland after nearly two thousand years? And what does the Catholic Church actually teach about the Jewish people, the land of Israel, and Zionism? In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki speak with Catholic theologian Dr. Andre Villeneuve of Catholics for Israel about one of the most important and controversial questions in Jewish-Christian relations today: Can a faithful Catholic also be a Zionist? Drawing on Scripture, Church history, Vatican documents, and modern Catholic theology, Dr. Villeneuve explains why he believes support for Israel is deeply rooted in the Bible and fully compatible with Catholic faith. The conversation explores supersessionism, the legacy of Vatican II, the tension between Catholic tradition and modern politics, and why many Christians struggle to reconcile theology with the reality of Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel. The episode also reflects on a remarkable moment in Washington, DC, where major Orthodox Jewish organizations publicly partnered with evangelical Christian groups in support of Israel, signaling a historic shift in Jewish-Christian relations. This is a thoughtful and candid conversation about covenant, Scripture, theology, history, and the future of Christian support for Israel.

Marc Weingarten joined me to discuss putting color strips on a black and white TV, trying to watch TV with Orthodox Jewish parents; moving from NY to Miami to Israel to California; his first time on stage; learning how to be a standup; producing Count Basie's final album; getting a job at the Laff Stop; investing 1% in that club; hearing the Ice House was for sale and buying it with three partners for $67,000; history of the Ice House; Pat Paulsen; seeing green George Lopez; Gallagher; David Letterman; producing Rick Dees comedy shows and writing an opening for Rick to be funny; sold out 6000 seats in 10 days; doing sports with Sweet Dick Whittington; getting Rudy Tellez as his manager; being a writer on Into the Night when Brad Garrett hosted; producing the Super Bowl of Comedy; creating the Uproar comedy label; becoming a Grammy voter; memories of Richard Jeni, Jay Leno, Harry Anderson, Jay Johnson, Marcia Warfield, Robin Williams, Ben Powers, Howie Mandel; what makes the best comedians; Woody Allen; George Carlin's friendship and advice; Bill Cosby; being bumped by Rodney Dangerfield.

Our guest is Shoshanna Keats Jaskoll, a well-known Orthodox Jewish writer and activist whose work focuses on women's rights in Orthodox Judaism and the visibility of women in religious life. Born and raised in Lakewood, New Jersey, she moved to Israel with her family, where she has become a prominent voice challenging religious extremism, the erasure of women from public and communal spaces, and broadly advocating for Orthodox Jewish women. In this episode we discuss a number of issues including the increasing erasure of images of women in Orthodox venues. the agunah problem (women who are unable to obtain a get – a Jewish legal divorce – and are chained to former spouses and unable to remarry), women's health issues, their growing roles in Jewish learning, and more. She is a co‑founder of Chochmat Nashim, an organization that creates change in the global Jewish society by challenging dangerous trends in Jewish communities around the world. Using new and traditional media the organization sheds light on societal norms that exclude women and feed extremism. She is also a founder of Rate My Deit Din, a resource and website that evaluates and improves Jewish divorce in the rabbinic court (beit din) system. Courts are rated via user and professional reviews and are offered ways to improve users' experiences. Finally, she is a founder of the Laura Ben David Jewish Life Photo Bank, a dedicated resource for authentic images of Jewish women, families, and communities, aiming to counter erasure.

In a wooded campground cabin in the early 2000s, 19 year old Ben Unger stood in the doorway and watched 20 naked men form a circle around a crying teenager. A counselor held up two tangerines and shouted, “These are your balls.” The exercise claimed to cure same sex attraction by forcing young men to “reclaim” their masculinity from overbearing mothers. Phones had been confiscated. Parents had paid thousands of dollars. Religion supplied the script. Pseudoscience supplied the props.Ben had grown up in an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn and later studied in Israel to become a rabbi. When he admitted he felt attracted to men, rabbis told him to eat 7 figs a day, immerse in a ritual bath 5 times daily, or marry a woman and trust that “if there's friction, it works.” At 19, he entered conversion therapy through an organization called Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality, known as JONAH. He left with depression, religious trauma, and 6 months of silence toward the mother he had been taught to blame.Years later, represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Ben helped sue JONAH for consumer fraud in a landmark New Jersey case. The argument centered on evidence, not theology. Sexual orientation cannot be changed. The jury deliberated for 3 hours and ruled against the organization. The verdict helped reshape how states regulate conversion therapy and protect minors from psychological harm disguised as treatment.Today, Ben runs Buff Personal Training in New York City, a gym built on autonomy, mental health, and self respect. His story traces the arc from institutional control to self authorship. The conversation examines religion, LGBTQ rights, conversion therapy, consumer protection law, and the lasting cost of being told your identity is a disorder.RELATED LINKSBen Unger on LinkedInBen Unger on InstagramBUF Personal TrainingSouthern Poverty Law CenterJONAHFEEDBACKLike this episode? Rate and review Out of Patients on your favorite podcast platform. For guest suggestions or sponsorship email podcasts@matthewzachary.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How does a Christian missionary, fully devoted to spreading his faith across the world, end up becoming an Orthodox Jewish rabbi?Meet Rabbi Gershom Baraza, who grew up in Spain and went all in on his mission, even learning Chinese to teach Christianity. But along the way, something didn't sit right. What began as small questions turned into a relentless search for truth, forcing him to reevaluate everything he believed. His journey is a powerful reminder of what it means to truly seek the emes, no matter where it leads.More from Rabbi GershomPhone: https://keyphone.tech/Hechsher: https://www.koshercertification.cn/en/pages/our-rabbisShul: https://www.brightonshule.org.au/about-us✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► Hiring4Less: The Smart Way To Grow Your BusinessHire a full-time remote employee for only $7 an hour. Get huge talent at a low cost with overseas employees and no lock in contracts.→ Call, Text or WhatsApp: 845-682-0990→ Visit: https://hiring4less.com/](https://hiring4less.com/► Bitbean: Software Built RightAI can move fast, but without the right people behind it, it can break your business just as quickly. Bitbean builds powerful, reliable systems designed by real engineers who understand your business first, then use AI to accelerate the process.→ https://bitbean.com/► Hodu Lashem: Don't Forget The GoodStart noticing the moments of hashgacha in your life by writing them down. Build your own HoduLashem file and strengthen your emunah one moment at a time.→ https://bit.ly/LivingLchaim► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car CompanyFor over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬This episode is in memory of:• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima#iftnLchaim.#jewishpodcast #judaism #conversion #faith #truth #torah #emunah #christian #spain #china #israel #australia

To this lost world, there is little to no distinction made between biblically born again Christians and members of cult and fringe groups like the Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah's Witness and Seventh Day Adventists. To them, it's all the same, it's all Christianity. So for the sake of our discussion today, we will label all of it as “professing Christianity”. That said, there is a verifiable rise on Christians in Israel at the hands of radical Orthodox Jews, and it grows worse by the day. In our story today, we see a Roman Catholic nun kicked to the ground by Orthodox Jews, and this is just the tip of the end times iceberg.“As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.” Romans 11:28 (KJB)On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, the attacker was not some nameless shadow from a vague “troubled region.” Israeli police arrested a 36-year-old Jewish suspect, and AP reported that the assailant seen in the video was wearing tzitzit, the fringes worn by observant Jewish men. AP also noted that Christian leaders and organizations have been warning of a growing trend of violence and harassment against Christian clergy and pilgrims, often by ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth. There it is. Not rumor, not propaganda, not replacement theology hysteria. A documented pattern. The Rossing Center's reporting on attacks against Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem says that in known 2024 cases, the perpetrators were Jewish individuals, “primarily young men from ultra-Orthodox and national-religious circles,” driven by a mix of nationalist fervor and religious extremism, especially among ultra-Orthodox nationalist groups. The 2024 report documented 111 incidents, including physical attacks, attacks on church properties, harassment, and defacement, while coverage of the report noted that most victims were clergy or people wearing visible Christian symbols. The Rossing Center's 2025 report says the harassment and violence are continuing to escalate across Israel and East Jerusalem. Your King James Bible clearly says that this lost world is preparing itself to receive Antichrist in the coming “strong delusion”. Today we bring you everything you need to know about the Jews, Christians, cults and the scripture of truth.

A new documentary is challenging assumptions about one of the most visible—and most misunderstood—traditions in Orthodox Jewish life. Sheitel: Beauty in the Hidden, by Halifax-native director Lynda Medjuck Suissa, explores why many Orthodox Jewish women cover their hair after marriage—and why many say it reflects not oppression, but identity, faith and choice. (And, yes, also a more genuine relationship with their husbands in the bedroom.) Medjuck Suissa is Modern Orthodox herself. She snagged interviews with 30 well-known Orthodox women from Canada, the U.S. and Israel, including “The Challah Mom” Anat Ishai; rebbetizins Nechama Dubrawsky of Toronto's Yorkville Jewish Centre, Faygie Kaplan of Chabad of Flamingo, and Rivky Gansburg of Chabad on Bayview; Mindy Pollak, a former Montreal city councillor; and Toronto educator Adrienne Gold Davis of the organization Momentum. On today's episode of The CJN's North Star podcast, director Lynda Medjuck Suissa joins to explain why her late sister inspired the new film, and how she hopes it will lead to understanding and tolerance. Related stories Learn more about “Sheitel” the documentary and find upcoming screenings in Vancouver May 6, Manhattan May 11, Winnipeg May 15, and Toronto June 15 and 22. Read about Orthodox Jewish female singers performing “For Women Only” concerts, in The CJN. https://thecjn.ca/arts-culture/jessica-roda/ The CJN's Phoebe Maltz Body on Jewish Orthodox fashion dilemmas, in The CJN . Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here ) Watch our podcasts on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@TheCJN Help others find this podcast by leaving us a review for “North Star” on Apple Podcasts via your iPhone or iPad device, or with your Android. (Spotify allows only starred ratings but you can do that, too!)

Send Wilk a text with your feedback! (incoming msgs only - I can't reply) Corey Nathan, host of "Talkin' Politics and Religion Without Killin' Each Other" joins Wilk for a conversation about what it actually takes to bridge divides, starting with one of the hardest conversations a person can have: telling your Orthodox Jewish father you've become a Christian.They dig into the real mechanics of tribalism — how confirmation bias works, why the reticular activating system locks us into one-sided views of the world, and how outrage entrepreneurs profit from keeping people angry at each other.But this isn't just a diagnosis. Corey and Wilk talk about practical ways to shift your frame of reference, why one degree of movement matters more than a 180-degree conversion, and what it looks like to stay in relationship with people you profoundly disagree with.If you've ever lost someone — not to death, but to a divide — this one is worth your time.Learn more about and connect with Corey Nathan by checking out the full show notes for this episode at www.DerateTheHate.com.The world is a better place if we are better people. That begins with each of us as individuals. Be kind to one another. Be grateful for all you've got. Make every day the day that you want it to be!Please follow The Derate The Hate podcast on:Facebook, Instagram, Twitter(X) ,  YouTube Subscribe to us wherever you enjoy your audio or from our site. Please leave us a rating and feedback on Apple podcasts or other platforms. You can share your thoughts or request Wilk for a speaking engagement on our contact page: DerateTheHate.com/ContactThe Derate The Hate podcast is proudly produced in collaboration with Braver Angels — America's largest grassroots, cross-partisan organization working toward civic renewal and bridging partisan divides. Learn more: BraverAngels.orgWelcome to the Derate The Hate Podcast!*The views expressed by Wilk, his guest hosts &/or guests on the Derate The Hate podcast are their own and should not be attributed to any organization they may otherwise be affiliated with.

Welcome back! Started with The Update, me recapping my week, now in 30 min or less! I then go to Manny's A Reel Boy, where we go over the many reels sent to me, including, how its illegal to talk about a small nation the size of NJ that's built on my grandmothers homeland....(I think that's the legal way to say it) Eric Weinsteins warning, the missing scientists, the WH shooting, Joe Rogan being compromised, Andrew from Channel 5 not being compromised, updates on Lebanon and Iran conflicts, and some Orthodox Jewish people/community that protests Zionism. I then Poke My Jokes from Thursday at Rhino, and then I tried to make food and edit this, but I fell asleep as it uploaded, the oven stayed on, then I eventually went to bed, got up for water and shut the oven off and went back to bed....God is absolutely protecting me and I'm forever grateful for that. I will see you next week God Willing! IA!

Rabbi Pesach Wolicki - Shared Destiny: The Interwoven Narratives of Jewish and Christian Support for Israel Rabbi Pesach Wolicki joins us to discuss his background growing up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Canada and his move to Israel, where he advocated for families of missing soldiers. He describes his first encounters with Christian Zionists, the development of his work building relations between Jewish and Christian communities, and the biblical understanding of the modern State of Israel as the fulfillment of long-standing prophecies. We also address differences between religious and secular Jewish communities in Israel and the diaspora, and examines replacement theology. Rabbi Pesach Wolicki is an Orthodox rabbi, author, and Executive Director of Israel 365 Action. Born in the United States and raised in Canada as the son of a rabbi, he moved to Israel in the early 1990s. He began his public work advocating for families of Israeli soldiers missing in action from conflicts in Lebanon and has since become a leading voice in Jewish-Christian relations. A former synagogue rabbi and dean of a yeshiva, he now lectures widely at Christian institutions and co-hosts the Shoulder to Shoulder podcast with Pastor Doug Reed. Connect with Pesach...

Rabbi Jason Sobel, Messianic Jewish rabbi, spiritual advisor to The Chosen, and founder of Fusion Global, tells the full story of the supernatural encounter that transformed him from an Orthodox Jewish kid into one of the most respected teachers connecting the Old and New Testaments today.In this episode of The Resilient Show, host Chad Robichaux and Rabbi Sobel go deep on what it means to be a Messianic Jew, why most Jews have rejected Jesus as the Messiah, what the Bible actually says about Israel being God's chosen people, the truth behind the Talmud (and what it's NOT), the "Christ is King" controversy between Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson, and the real spiritual war behind antisemitism throughout history.Rabbi Sobel also shares behind-the-scenes stories from working with Dallas Jenkins and Jonathan Roumie on The Chosen, why Jesus had to die on a tree (the Eden reversal), how the Jewish context of Scripture unlocks the Bible in "high definition," and the gospel message of salvation that changed his life.RABBI JASON SOBEL'S LATEST BOOK:- Transformed by the Messiah (forward by Dallas Jenkins) — https://www.fusionglobal.org/shop/transformed-by-the-messiah/FOLLOW RABBI JASON SOBEL & FUSION GLOBAL:- Website: https://www.fusionglobal.org- Rock Road Rabbi Tours to Israel: https://www.rockroadrabbi.com- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/rabbijasonsobelCHAD ROBICHAUX'S NEW BOOK — "RIPTIDE" (pre-order for May 12):- https://www.tyndale.com/p/riptide/9781496488756——Stay up-to-date with all things Resilient by subscribing to our Resilient Times Newsletter: https://resilienttimes.substack.comRESILIENT:Follow Us On Patreon: ⁠https://patreon.com/theresilientshowFollow Us On Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/resilientshowFollow Us On Twitter:⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/resilientshowFollow Us On TikTok:⁠ ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@resilientshowLIVE RESILIENT STORE:https://shop.theresilientshow.comFollow Chad: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/chadrobo_officialhttps://x.com/ChadRoboSPONSORS:GoldCo https://chadlikesgold.comSmith & Wesson: ⁠⁠https://www.smith-wesson.com⁠⁠Vortex Optics: ⁠https://vortexoptics.com⁠Gatorz Eyewear: ⁠⁠https://www.gatorz.com⁠⁠Allied Wealth: ⁠https://alliedwealth.com⁠BioPro+: ⁠⁠https://www.bioproteintech.com/CHAD30⁠⁠BioXCellerator: ⁠https://www.bioxcellerator.com⁠SLNT: https://slnt.com------The Resilient Show is a proud supporter of military and first responder communities in partnership with ⁠Mighty Oaks Foundation⁠.

What happens when your deepest religious convictions collide with a patient suffering from metastatic cancer and no miracle in sight? Medical student Jonah Rocheeld shares the raw tension between his Orthodox Jewish upbringing and the medical ethics he is learning in clinical training, based on his KevinMD article, "End-of-life care and religion: Reconciling Jewish law and medicine." He unpacks the distinction Jewish law draws between withholding and withdrawing care, why that boundary feels certain in a classroom but fractures at the bedside, and how a heated debate with a fellow Jewish medical student forced him to confront where faith ends and patient suffering begins. You will hear why he believes any mature faith must evolve from rules-based absolutism toward nuanced moral reasoning, and what advice he offers religious medical students struggling to separate personal identity from clinical duty in end-of-life care. If you have ever wrestled with where your own ethics stop and your obligations as a health care professional start, this conversation will stay with you. Partner with me on the KevinMD platform. With over three million monthly readers and half a million social media followers, I give you direct access to the doctors and patients who matter most. Whether you need a sponsored article, email campaign, video interview, or a spot right here on the podcast, I offer the trusted space your brand deserves to be heard. Let's work together to tell your story. PARTNER WITH KEVINMD → https://kevinmd.com/influencer SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

In Monday's part 1 episode of Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager, Dennis shares his personal story, taking listeners on a journey through his childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood. From growing up in a modern Orthodox Jewish home in Brooklyn to developing a passion for conducting orchestras and learning Russian, Dennis's life is a testament to the power of following one's interests and passions. He recounts his experiences at Brooklyn College, his time in England, and his early days as a lecturer, setting the stage for his future career as a renowned speaker and radio host. Follow on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/timeless-wisdom-with-dennis-prager/id1517302239 Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4SZEYeH4tuLr2FvG4ok1rl Learn more about Dennis Prager: https://pragertopia.com/ Follow Dennis on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DennisPrager Follow Dennis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedennisprager/ Follow Dennis on X: https://x.com/DennisPrager Learn more about the Salem Podcast Network: https://salempodcastnetwork.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, we explore religion, trauma, and how we can heal—not by fixing ourselves, but by learning to be with what is.Born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Montreal, Rachel Krentzman's early life was shaped by both devotion and deep disruption. The trauma of her rabbi father's arrest led her to question her beliefs, to shed old layers, and ultimately to rediscover herself through the body.Living with scoliosis and spinal injuries herself, Rachel developed a powerful, integrative approach that blends HAKOMI, a somatic psychotherapy, physical therapy, and yoga, supporting hundreds of people around the world in reconnecting with their bodies and rewriting their stories.She is also the author of several books, including Scoliosis, Yoga Therapy and the Art of Letting Go, and in her latest memoir, As Is, she shares her personal path of healing the past through yoga.New Book: As Is: A Memoir on Healing the Past Through Yoga. CONNECT WITH RACHEL:WEBSITE: happybackyoga.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelkrentzman/Download my FREE eBook: A Weekend of Feeling WellSchedule a FREE Discovery call with AnnaSign up for my free weekly newsletter: HEREBuy my book Living Your Best Life in CollegeTake the 2-minute Wellness QuizIf you enjoyed this episode, please FOLLOW, RATE, REVIEW & SHARE!! Rates and reviews help the message get to more people! Thanks!Good is What Makes You Feel Well is Mamma Terra's PodcastCONNECT WITH MAMMA TERRA HEALTH COACHING:Instagram: @mammaterrahcFacebook: MammaTerra.HCLinkedIn: Anna ResendeIntro Music "Levitar" credits to Ricardo Ulpiano, Thiago Peixoto, Marcelo Luciano Menino, and Anderson Rodrigo de Oliveira.Podcast art credits to Caroline Kohls Thanks for tuning in!

ANNOUNCEMENT: a new perk is available on our $20 patreon tier! BOOTLEG BIBLE STUDY is a monthly physical media series where we send you handmade and custom-edited DVDs of faith-based films curated and assembled by BBS cohost Scott. Sign up by EOD Sunday April 5 to receive the first DVD "MURDER BIBLE"! Any signups after that date will be automatically enrolled for the May 2026 drop and beyond. Thank you for your generous support! https://www.patreon.com/c/boysbiblestudy Happy Easter! Three days before the resurrection miracle that defined Christianity, Jesus died on an Old Rugged Cross for the sins of podcasters everywhere. Therefore, it felt right to review OLD RUGGED CROSS, a drama about two pastors fighting for hearts and minds in a small town, by beloved auteur Donald James Parker. Parker, a frequently reviewed filmmaker on this podcast, had an insanely productive streak from 2014–2016, during which he wrote ten feature films, sometimes directing and starring in them. These include his famous GRAMPS series as well as the legendary THE UNEXPECTED BAR MITZVAH, some of our favorite movies we have ever watched in the faith-based genre. OLD RUGGED CROSS is a reskin of some of Donald's favorite topics, and although it lacks some of the explosive novelty of THE UNEXPECTED BAR MITZVAH (a film that prominently featured an Orthodox Jewish family arguing about Tim Tebow), OLD RUGGED CROSS keeps the viewer engaged with an entertaining story and dialogue so unmistakably Donald it boggles the mind. For example, OLD RUGGED CROSS's three main characters are groan-inducingly on-the-nose: Parker himself plays the pure-hearted Pastor "Evan Shepherd," his evil rival is the scheming Pastor Luke "Wolf," and his love interest torn between the two holy men is "Anita Rock." Seriously. Some other tropes from Parker's work are presented well here: Pastor Shepherd observes a Saturday Sabbath, as Jewish people do, because this is more biblically accurate. Also, Shepherd is portrayed as being so devout a Christian as to alienate his wife and daughters, a biographical aspect of nearly all of Parker's self-cast characters. Why this very specific creative choice? Parker's expressive performance as Shepherd and the jaw-dropping dialogue of his script combine in a pleasing way that makes OLD RUGGED CROSS one of the most solid and entertaining entries in Parker's filmography, a real compliment considering his catalog contains some of the most legendary contemporary Christian films of all time. If your name happens to be Anita Christianfilm, look no further. View our full episode list and subscribe to any of our public feeds: http://boysbiblestudy.com Unlock 2+ bonus episodes per month: http://patreon.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/boysbiblestudy Follow us on X: https://x.com/boysbiblestudy

As extended families gather this week for their Passover seders, discussions are bound to get tense. That tension is taken to a whole other level in a new feature-length film by Toronto filmmaker and lawyer Joel Etienne, called Sisters of Fate. In the film, an Orthodox family gathers together for Passover, when long-buried allegations of abuse at the hands of an old rabbi teacher surface, forcing everyone to break years of uncomfortable silence. Etienne and many of his actors are themselves Orthodox. They worried about staging this controversial topic on the big screen, because of how reluctant their community has been to discuss the problem and deal with the predators. Joel Etienne and first-time actor Ahava Spillman, who plays Rebbetzin Rosen, join today's episode of North Star, just ahead of Passover. If you are in need of help Jewish Family & Child Service in the Greater Toronto Area runs a 24-hour phone hotline 1-800 404-1393. During business hours contact 416-638-7800 Related links Learn more about the film “Sisters of Fate” and the cast, and how to book screenings. Read The CJN's coverage of the Rabbi Mund tria l in Montreal in 2025. The elderly teacher was acquitted of two sex crime charges, after being arrested on Passover 2022. Why do sexual abuse cases go unpunished in the Orthodox community, in The CJN from 2022. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner ) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director), Yael Sher (graphic designer) Music: Bret Higgins Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to North Star (Not sure how? Click here ) Watch our podcasts on YouTube. Help others find this podcast by leaving us a review for “North Star” on Apple Podcasts via your iPhone or iPad device, or with your Android. (Spotify allows only starred ratings but you can do that, too!)

Our Intergenerational Divergence series is sponsored by our friends Sarala and Danny Turkel.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to a father and daughter who were estranged and then reunited. We also speak with Adam Pollock, the estrangement specialist who inspired them to reconcile. In this episode we discuss: Are there specific struggles that lead to estrangement in the Orthodox Jewish world?How do we handle the tension between the need to heal and the need to be right? How do we avoid regression once family members have been reunited? Tune in to hear a conversation about our essential and unchanging identities that transcend our circumstances.  Interview begins at 20:50. Adam N. Pollock is the founder of Aaron's Legacy, where he specializes in mediating family estrangement using a blend of ancient wisdom and modern conflict resolution techniques. Since 2015, he has helped individuals and families navigate some of their most painful relational fractures with compassion, rigor, and creativity. A former attorney and business executive, Adam brings decades of experience in negotiation, arbitration, and high-stakes decision-making to his work as an estrangement mediator. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from The George Washington University and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, and is the author of Secrets From the Legal Pad (2023).References:Genesis 37:31 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasPsalms 121Titles by C.B. WeinfeldRules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict by Joshua Coleman PhDThird-Party Peacemakers in Judaism: Text, Theory, and Practice by Daniel RothExodus 13:19For more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

“We can survive. Can we thrive? That's a different question.” — Corey NathanRobert Mueller died last week. Educated at Princeton, this Vietnam veteran won a Purple Heart and then enjoyed decades of public service under presidents of both parties. But the current president celebrated Mueller's death. Such are the vagaries of American history.In contrast, Corey Nathan — host of the Talking Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other podcast — isn't celebrating Robert Mueller's death. Nathan is from suburban northern Los Angeles County, very much at the heart of the (mythical?) American center. We discussed whether it's possible to have a civic conversation anymore. Like so many Americans, Nathan falls back on what he calls “data.” Apparently 85% of Americans are what a recent study calls the “exhausted majority.” They see themselves as anything but extreme. All they want to do is take the kids to soccer practice, enjoy their barbecue, and talk to the neighbour without the conversation degenerating into verbal war.Nathan's own story offers hope. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family whose roots go back eight hundred years to what is now Chernihiv in Ukraine. In his late twenties, he became a born-again Christian. His father seriously considered sitting Shiva for him — the mourning ritual for a dead family member. But he valued his relationship with his son more than his theological convictions. Twenty-five years later, the conversations are richer than ever. If an Orthodox Jewish father and his born-again Christian son can keep talking, maybe even the current American President could sit Shiva for Robert Mueller. Five Takeaways•       85% of Americans Are the Exhausted Majority: The Hidden Tribes study by More in Common found that only 6–7% on the right and 7–8% on the left are what we'd think of as extremes. The rest — 85% — are far more nuanced in their views. They want to go to the barbecue, take the kids to soccer practice, and have a conversation with the neighbour without it turning into a war. The conflict entrepreneurs on both sides have taken all the oxygen.•       Mueller Was Everything We Say We Want in Our Kids: Purple Heart. Ivy League education. Used his degrees for public service instead of money. Served under presidents of both parties. Stayed on at the FBI after 9/11 when the country needed him. And the current president said he was glad he died.•       ICE Came to the Neighbouring Church: Nathan's pastor had to have the conversation: if ICE comes, they're welcome to worship — but here are our legal obligations. A suburban mom was shot in her front seat two months ago. Is anything visibly wrong in the American suburbs? Today, at his house, no. But these things are happening all over the country.•       His Father Almost Sat Shiva for Him: Nathan grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family. In his late twenties, he became a born-again Christian. His father seriously considered performing the mourning ritual for a living son. But he valued the relationship with his child more than his theological convictions. Twenty-five years later, the conversations are richer than ever.•       We Can Survive. Can We Thrive? Nathan's family lived in what is now Chernihiv, Ukraine, for eight hundred years. One day to the next, nothing changed — until the Cossacks burned the houses and the Bolsheviks came. Democracy isn't perfect, but it's the system that lets us thrive, not just survive. About the GuestCorey Nathan is the host and producer of Talking Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other, a top 1% podcast. He lives in northern Los Angeles County.References:•       Talking Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other — Nathan's podcast.•       Episode 2849: How Stories Can Save Us — Colum McCann on Narrative Four, referenced in the conversation.•       Episode 2846: How to Be Agreeably Disagreeable — Julia Minson on disagreeing better. Nathan is the practitioner to Minson's science.About Keen On AmericaNobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotify Chapters:(00:31) - Introduction: Robert Mueller dies, Trump says he's glad (03:25) - Mueller as American tragedy: David Frum and the centrist view (05:48) - The exhausted majority: Hidden Tribes and the 85% (08:40) - Is the left as bad as the right? (10:15) - Braver Angels, shell-shock, and the people who just want a barbecue (13:53) - If a foreigner landed in your suburb, would they notice anything wrong? (15:33) - ICE at the neighbouring church. A mom shot in her front seat. (17:43) - The secret sauce of talking without killing (20:26) - Colum McCann, Narrative Four, and storytelling as civic repair (22:04) - Does democracy really matter if you've got soccer practice? (24:04) - Surviving vs. thriving: eight hundred years as strangers in a strange land (25:19) - The First Amendment's two halves: freedom of and freedom from (28:55) - An Orthodox Jew becomes a born-again Christian. His father almost sits Shiva. (32:04) - The revolutionary centre: Adrian Wooldridge and the lost genius of liberalism

Why does Orthodox Jewish life feel so expensive these days?In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Rabbi Chaim Zvi Senter shares his perspective on money, family pressure, entitlement, resilience, emunah, and the rising cost of Jewish life.From housing in Israel to tuition, kollel support, fundraising culture, and the pressure parents feel to keep up, Rabbi Senter offers clarity, warmth, and hard truth. Drawing on decades of life in Eretz Yisroel, he speaks candidly about what has changed, what hasn't, & where many families are quietly struggling.Why do so many parents feel overwhelmed by the financial expectations of frum life? Are children becoming entitled or are adults simply afraid to say no? Should every child be sent to learn in Israel, even when the cost is crushing? And what happens when tzedakah starts to feel more like gambling than giving?Along the way, Rabbi Senter speaks about visiting children learning in Israel, raising emotionally healthy and resilient families, and how to strengthen emunah when money feels tight and the future feels uncertain.He also addresses the cultural messages we are sending our children through the luxuries we normalize, the prizes we offer, and even the way we fundraise.Let's not lose sight of what really matters!Email: rabbisenter@adereshatorah.com

In this inspiring episode of The Brand Called You, host Lisa Lipkin sits down with Miryam Kabakov, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Eshel—the largest organization supporting LGBTQ+ Orthodox Jewish individuals and their families.Miryam shares her powerful journey of growing up in an Orthodox Jewish environment while keeping her sexuality a secret. She discusses the complexities and struggles faced by LGBTQ+ members within Orthodox communities, what it means to live authentically, and how Eshel is creating safe spaces and fostering acceptance.This honest conversation covers:Jewish texts and their interpretations regarding LGBTQ+ identitiesFamily reconciliation and the evolving process of coming outChallenges and successes in educating religious leaders and communitiesThe importance of integrating LGBTQ+ individuals into Orthodox life without losing connection to faith

In this episode, we discuss the life and legacy of Sholem Asch. Born in Poland to an Orthodox Jewish family, Asch was a novelist, playwright, and essayist acclaimed by both critics and readers alike. He was one of the first Yiddish writers to attract a wide readership in translation and was one of the best-known [...]

Inspiration for the Nation is the weekly Jewish podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Yaakov Langer.Bari Mitzmann (Barianna) grew up in typical frum setting but life took a giant turn. Hear her powerful journey through religious anxiety, panic attacks, and a crisis of faith while growing up in the Orthodox Jewish world. From the outside she looked inspiring - building a social media following, leading communities, and encouraging others in their Jewish faith and observance. But behind the scenes she was living in constant fear that God was punishing her. In this raw conversation, Bari opens up about scrupulosity, mental health in Judaism, fear-based religion, therapy, and rebuilding a healthy relationship with Hashem. This episode explores how faith, mental health, and personal growth intersect and how honest conversations can help people struggling silently.MORE FROM THE GUESTGet her book here: https://menuchapublishers.com/products/hakol-bsederHer IG: https://www.instagram.com/barianna✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► Kosher.Com: The Best Jewish Food in the WorldGet free access to the biggest collection of kosher recipes, anywhere.Get your free Pesach Cookbook today!→ https://kosher.com/inspire► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery. → CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715 → EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for YouYaakov here. Just make the call. They can help you.Reach Out Here→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY► Keeping It Kosher PodcastJoin the OU Kosher team as they explore the world of kosher like you've never seen before!Listen & Subscribe here:→ https://go.ou.org/RUlik7O_____________________________________✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬ This episode is in memory of: • Miram Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe • Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima #iftn Lchaim.

Mother Miriam Live - March 9th, 2026 Mother reads from a letter by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski. Mother responds to an email from a mother who wants to introduce an Orthodox Jewish friend to Catholicism.

Today, we're joined by Lauren Abraham, a leader helping guide the national Student to Student Program of the Newark Institute, as well as two student participants of the program: Yehudah Greenberg and Ayden Nelson. Through this program, Yehudah and Ayden are boldly stepping into conversations that many adults shy away from and sharing stories, traditions, and lived experiences in an effort to replace stereotypes with understanding. Together, they are proving that real change begins face to face. In our time together, Lauren, Yehudah, and Ayden share how courage grows when you choose visibility over fear and how education becomes transformational when it's personal.  Yehudah speaks about living out his Orthodox Jewish faith openly, even after experiencing antisemitism, and why he refuses to let fear define him.  Ayden reflects on growing up in a split-faith household and how her unique perspective allows her to connect with classmates across differences.  My friends, if you've been wondering whether empathy still stands a chance in today's world, this conversation is for you. You'll leave reminded that change rarely comes from shouting louder; it comes from listening better. And you'll be inspired by young leaders choosing courage over comfort…maybe even prompting you to start a meaningful conversation of your own.

In this solo episode, I open up about one of the most vulnerable seasons of my life, when I was deep in PCOS flare-ups, facing months of negative pregnancy tests and irregular cycles, and quietly questioning if I would ever become a mom. I share a pivotal moment at a friend's wedding that completely blindsided me and brought up intense jealousy, shame, and the painful feeling that I was “so far behind,” especially within an Orthodox Jewish community where marriage and babies can feel closely tied to your sense of progress and belonging.Listen in to hear me share:What infertility and PCOS flare-ups felt like emotionally and socially in a tight-knit communityThe identity and worthiness struggles that surfaced when motherhood felt out of reachHow opening up to the right person helped break the isolation and normalize my triggersThe coping tools that helped me survive that season, including distraction, intentional joy, and feeling proactive through medical and lifestyle changesWhy expanding your identity beyond “trying to get pregnant” is so crucial for your mental health+So much moreConnect with Lauren:Get my FREE PCOS Guide hereJoin the Empowered Path to Pregnancy hereInstagramWork With MeThank you so much for listening to the About Health and Hormones Podcast! If you loved today's episode, I would love to know! Please leave a rating and review so I can make this podcast even better for you all. I would love to connect with you.I'm so glad you were here today, and I wish you all health and happiness!This episode was edited and produced by Intent Media.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Professor Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, one of today's leading scholars of rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity. Their conversation ranges from the ancient world to our own moment, exploring how religious traditions take shape through encounter, disagreement, and relationship.Rabbi Yoshi first encountered Michal's work in Israel during the World Zionist Congress, where her lecture left a lasting impression. In this episode, she shares her personal and intellectual journey—from growing up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish world, at a time when it was still rare for women to pursue advanced Talmudic study, to becoming a major voice in the academic study of Jewish–Christian interactions in Late Antiquity.Michal discusses her groundbreaking research comparing rabbinic texts and early Christian and monastic literature, including insights from her award-winning books Early Christian Monastic Literature and the Babylonian Talmud and Jewish–Christian Dialogues on Scripture in Late Antiquity. She explains how ancient texts reveal moments of dialogue and shared interpretation where we often assume only separation—and why those discoveries still matter today.The conversation also turns to the present: living and teaching in Israel during painful and uncertain years, what ancient texts can teach us about resilience and endurance, and how scholarship can help us hold complexity without losing hope.This episode is an invitation to think more deeply about boundaries and belonging, inter-religious dialogue, and the enduring power of learning to illuminate both the past and the present.https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/humsos/goldstein-goren/pages/staff/Michal-Bar-Asher-Siegal.aspx

Ohio leaders and experts react to the latest deaths by federal officers in Minneapolis Videos of the deaths of two American citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration officers in Minneapolis this month have caused outrage in communities across the country. The deaths occurred amid protests over President Donald Trump's deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, in Democratic-controlled cities. Critics have pointed out contradictions in the Trump administration's justification of the killing - painting the victims as safety threats, versus the bystander footage. Some lawmakers across the country, including a growing number of Republicans, such as Ohio U.S. Senator Jon Husted and Bay Village Congressman Max Miller have called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Democrats have called for the impeachment and removal of Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary. And citizens across the country, including a coalition of Cleveland religious leaders, students and activists have announced plans to join a general strike Jan. 30 that calls for the abolition of ICE. Thursday on the "Sound of Ideas," we're going to discuss the latest events in Minneapolis, and how communities in Ohio are responding. We'll also learn what rights people have when encountering ICE with an immigration lawyer. Guests: - Ayla Blumenthal, Immigration attorney, Margaret W. Wong & Associates - Jeff Wensing, President, Ohio Education Association - U.S. Rep. Max Miller, 7th District of Ohio "The Menu" looks at the best new dining options in 2026 Later in the hour, we'll get another installment of "The Menu", our food series that's produced in partnership with the folks at Cleveland Magazine. The menu debuted in 2025 - and we heard from chefs and small business owners, celebrated regional restaurants, and looked at the biggest food trends in Northeast Ohio. In this episode, we'll hear about the best eats for 2026. Guest: - Dillon Stewart, Editor, Cleveland Magazine "Shuffle" music podcast Finally this hour, Frida Mann always wanted to pursue music, but that was at odds with her Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. Eventually, she could no longer fight that urge to sing, and she is now on a journey toward independence and self-expression. On this week's Shuffle, Ideastream Public Media's Amanda Rabinowitz talks with Mann about how music helped her navigate that path. Guests: - Amanda Rabinowitz, Host, Ideastream Public Media - Frida Mann, Musician

In this powerful episode, host Lisa Pineda sits down with Rabbi Elan Segelman, Rabbanic Director at PUAH, to explore the unique intersection of Jewish law and fertility treatment. With one in six couples facing infertility challenges, Rabbi Segelman shares how PUAH has become the number one resource for the Jewish community navigating everything from IVF and IUI to egg freezing and male factor infertility. He opens up about the shame and guilt many couples experience, the complexities of observing Shabbat during treatment, and why modern reproductive technology is a gift from God, not a contradiction to faith. This conversation breaks down barriers and provides hope for anyone struggling with their fertility journey.Rabbi Segelman walks through PUAH's groundbreaking lab supervision program, explaining how the organization was founded nearly 40 years ago to ensure genetic lineage integrity during IVF procedures. He discusses the rise of male factor infertility, breakthrough AI technologies like sperm identification systems, and why egg freezing should be an empowered choice for women. From addressing halakhic considerations during treatment cycles to the emotional toll of recurrent miscarriages, this episode covers the full spectrum of fertility challenges within the Orthodox Jewish community. Rabbi Segelman's message is clear: no one should face this journey alone, and resources like PUAH exist to provide both practical guidance and emotional support every step of the way.Contact Rabbi Elan Segelman at Puah Fertility @puah_fertility

In this episode... - Pass shows us a special way to find Happy Ending massage places - P talks about a town run by Orthodox Jewish people - And then we review some new stuff Fiends Watch Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fiends-watch/id1459470576  

Batyah had everything in her life, a close family, a successful career, and a deep connection to Christianity. Then one day, her pastor stood before the congregation and admitted that everything he had been preaching was false. In that moment, her entire world collapsed. But even in the confusion, she felt certain that God was real. She just needed to find the truth.Her search led her to explore Judaism. It meant walking away from her career and leaving her family behind as she traveled from the Philippines to Israel. She took on a cleaning job, a role that was humbling and incredibly difficult, but she accepted it with a simple thought: if this is what Hashem wants from me right now, I'll do it.From there, her path only grew stronger. She converted to Orthodox Judaism, married an Israeli man who grew up in a very charedi neighborhood, and today she is a proud Jewish influencer living in the United States. Her journey is raw, brave, and full of faith.Follow Batyah here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishfilipine/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishfilipineFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HLzv774rd/✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► United Refua Healthshare: Spend Less, Save More, Get CareImagine healthcare that puts you first - and can save you thousands.Enroll here→ https://bit.ly/3MD9RN9→ 440-772-0700→ Eli's Kosher Money Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNaMEumWQg&t=4s► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for YouYaakov here. Just make the call. They can help you.Reach Out Here→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY► Zahler: The Go To Supplement PlaceWhat if there was ozempic, but not needles, safer, more tested, Better? Meet Berberine.If you want smart, science-backed support, Zahler is a strong choice. Take 15% OFF any Zahler product with code:INSPIRE→ https://bit.ly/3M3CtPI► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car CompanyFor over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.Call today!→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬This episode is in memory of:​ Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima​ Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov MosheHave a specific question? email us hi@livinglchaim.com#iftnLchaim.

Israel. Iran. Gaza. Global unrest. Biblical prophecy. Light vs Darkness. In this powerful and unfiltered episode, of the Land of Israel Guys podcast we dive deep into what's really happening right now in the Middle East and why the world's response is revealing far more than headlines admit. Broadcasting directly from the land of Israel, Christian Zionists and an Orthodox Jewish rabbi come together to expose the masks being removed across governments, media, global institutions, and influencers. From Iran's internal collapse and global silence, to the Gaza war, Hamas, Hezbollah, UN hypocrisy, and rising antisemitism, this episode connects real-time events with biblical truth and prophecy. We discuss: • Why global protests vanish when Iran's people are slaughtered • How Israel has become the dividing line between light and darkness • The spiritual roots of antisemitism and global hypocrisy • Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, NATO, and the Abraham Accords — what's really happening • Why Israel's survival defies logic — and what that means spiritually • Dead Sea Scroll prophecy, biblical cycles, and the end-times lens • Should Jews make Aliyah right now? • What happens if Iran falls — and Persia reunites with Israel? This is not political theater. This is history unfolding in real time. Whether you're Christian, Jewish, or simply searching for truth beyond mainstream narratives, this episode challenges you to see the world clearly and to decide where you stand.

This week we're bringing you a series of five episodes we always point to when people ask what Second Act Stories is all about. These "Unbelievable All-Stars" all have one thing in common: they exemplify what we're looking for in an incredible Second Act Story. Whether you're a longtime listener or brand new to the show, these episodes bring together the stories that best capture the heart of the podcast: bold choices, hard-earned wisdom, and journeys that continue to surprise and inspire. Fraidy Reiss' story is among the most inspiring tales we've ever profiled on the Second Act Stories podcast. Part of the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, Fraidy was married at the age of 19. It was an arranged marriage to a man she barely knew. He demonstrated a violent streak within a week of the wedding punching his fist through a wall and threatened to kill her. Over the next twelve years, she feared for her own life on a daily basis. But she eventually she found a way to get a college education, achieve financial independence, divorce her husband and escape with the custody of her two daughters. Today, she is the Founder and Executive Director of Unchained At Last, the only organization in the United States dedicated to ending forced and child marriage through direct services and advocacy. Want to learn more about Fraidy Reiss and Unchained At Last? Check out her TED Talk on YouTube and visit the Unchained At Last website. Fraidy is also featured in Bruce Feiler's book "Life Is In The Transitions" (which is how we first heard of her) and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton's "The Book of Gutsy Women." ******* If you enjoy Second Act Stories, please leave us a review here. We may read your review on a future episode! Subscribe to the Second Act stories Substack. Check out the Second Act Stories YouTube channel. Follow Second Act Stories on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Second Act Stories theme music: "Between 1 and 3 am" by Echoes.

Interview Date: November 9th, 2025Episode Summary:In this episode, Menina sits down with Rhonda Kaufman Malkin to unpack how a competition kid from Irvine turned a packed schedule of AP classes, UCLA coursework, the UCLA Dance Team, and three seasons as an LA Laker Girl into a long-term professional career. Rhonda shares how she balanced college with high-level pro work, why she switched from a dance major to sociology, and how booking five jobs in a row her senior year convinced her to go “all in” on dance after graduation.She walks listeners through her journey to Radio City—getting cut from her first Rockette audition, training herself between Disney shows, then booking the tour just before 9/11 and spending 12 seasons with the Rockettes (nine in NYC), seven of those as a swing, memorizing 36 tracks.Now the founder of Fusion Exercise, Rhonda has coached 75 dancers into the Rockettes and trains performers for Broadway, NFL/NBA teams, and precision work worldwide. She breaks down what makes precision dance different (counting, spacing grids, eye-high kicks, stamina), how the current three-day Rockette audition works, and why cross-training, professionalism, and genuine love of dance are non-negotiable. Shownotes:(8:52) Menina's intro: Rhonda's journey from UCLA to Rockettes.(14:03) Early life: ballet beginnings, competition team roots.(17:07) Balancing UCLA Dance Team and Laker Girls.(21:55) First agent wins; persistence through audition setbacks.(26:18) Rejection lessons: casting “type” and mindset shifts.(32:07) LA highlights: commercials, Academy Awards with Robin Williams.(37:44) Booking Rockettes post-9/11; touring and NYC seasons.(47:12) Precision dance breakdown: spacing, counting, eye-high kicks.(53:36) Fusion Exercise coaching and modern Rockette audition processBiography:Rhonda Kaufman Malkin is a 1996 honors graduate of Woodbridge High School in Irvine, CA. Rhonda was the first student from WHS to "crack Disney" and win the Outstanding Dancer Award for the Disneyland Creativity Challenge, a competition open to Orange County performing arts students. Her 13 years of dance training lead to a 17-year professional dance career in Los Angeles and New York City. While attending UCLA as a Sociology major, Rhonda performed as a Los Angeles Laker Girl for 3 years and received a championship ring for the 2000 inaugural season at Staples Center. After graduating UCLA in 2000, she attended seminary at Neve Yerushalayim and started her journey into Orthodox Jewish life. She continued dancing professionally, teaching dance, and choreography on the side while being a Radio City Music Hall Rockette for 12 years performing in multiple cities across America as well as Radio City Music Hall in the “Christmas Spectacular.” Rhonda was a Rockette Swing (memorizing all 36 Rockette dance tracks) for 7 of those years. Rhonda developed her famous FUSION EXERCISE fitness method and has trained celebrities including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Karlie Kloss and others. Rhonda's choreography talents lead her to choreographing for numerous live stage and livestream productions in NYC for Jewish artists Bracha Jaffe and Devorah Schwartz. She was Head Choreographer for Camp Mayor for 8 years, recently taught at the prestigious FAME school—La Guardia High School of the Arts, and Manhattan High School in Manhattan as Head Choreographer and Physical Education Department instructor. She recently choreographed for the Rockette Alumnae Association in “Talent is Timeless” performing off-Broadway at the United Palace Theater in NYC.As a Professional Dance Coach, she is honored to mention that 75 of her students have become Radio City Rockettes and was recently featured on NY's PIX11 News. This is Rhonda's 32nd year as a dance educator. She is a wife and mom to 3 kids.Connect on Social Media:TikTok:@fusion_exercise Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fusion_exercise/

A Classic RISK! episode from our early years that first ran in December of 2013, when Alex Edelman, Jude Treder-Wolff and Danielle Kramer all shared Yuletide tales. 

00:02:11 — Australia's Terror Attack Exposes the Myth of Gun ControlKnight argues that the Sydney attack proves mass violence still occurs despite total disarmament, exposing the failure of gun bans and citizen helplessness. 00:07:50 — Immigration, War, and the Real Roots of TerrorismHe ties modern terror to endless Western wars and unvetted immigration, saying globalist foreign policy manufactures the hatred it claims to fight. 00:10:09 — Christian Zionism and the Betrayal of True FaithKnight contrasts Orthodox Jewish opposition to Israeli militarism with Christian Zionists who sanctify state violence, calling it moral corruption disguised as theology. 00:14:20 — Why Police Will Never Save YouThrough personal experience and public tragedies like Parkland, Knight shows that reliance on police breeds paralysis—citizens must take responsibility for self-defense. 00:35:45 — Immigration Panic as a Pretext for Digital ID ControlHe warns that governments will exploit border chaos to impose biometric IDs and universal tracking under the guise of security. 01:07:14 — Sanctions as a Prelude to World WarKnight draws parallels between today's sanctions on Russia, Iran, and China and the economic warfare that provoked Japan into Pearl Harbor, calling it history repeating. 01:12:21 — U.S. Backed ISIS as a Tool for Regime ChangeHe reviews leaked admissions showing Washington knowingly used ISIS to pressure Assad—proof terrorism became an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. 01:30:22 — Israel's Palantir-Assisted Pager BombingsKnight exposes Israel's use of AI to detonate pagers in Lebanon, killing civilians and revealing the next phase of algorithmic warfare. 02:01:40 — The Manufactured Measles “Outbreak” in South CarolinaKnight dismantles the media scare over a few cases, calling it psychological conditioning to revive vaccine hysteria and re-establish compliance. 02:10:13 — Vaccine Lies and the Inversion of Cause and EffectHe demonstrates that illness spikes followed vaccine rollouts, exposing the foundational deceit of “safe and effective” narratives. 02:17:14 — Vaccines vs. Cornflakes: The Nutrition DeceptionKnight argues that public health improvements came from food and sanitation, not pharmaceutical salvation—debunking the myth of vaccine triumph. 03:02:25 — The Rise of “Ramaslimey” and the Pharma RepublicansHe closes by exposing Vivek Ramaswamy and JD Vance as globalist technocrats masquerading as populists, pushing mRNA expansion and corporate control. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

00:02:11 — Australia's Terror Attack Exposes the Myth of Gun ControlKnight argues that the Sydney attack proves mass violence still occurs despite total disarmament, exposing the failure of gun bans and citizen helplessness. 00:07:50 — Immigration, War, and the Real Roots of TerrorismHe ties modern terror to endless Western wars and unvetted immigration, saying globalist foreign policy manufactures the hatred it claims to fight. 00:10:09 — Christian Zionism and the Betrayal of True FaithKnight contrasts Orthodox Jewish opposition to Israeli militarism with Christian Zionists who sanctify state violence, calling it moral corruption disguised as theology. 00:14:20 — Why Police Will Never Save YouThrough personal experience and public tragedies like Parkland, Knight shows that reliance on police breeds paralysis—citizens must take responsibility for self-defense. 00:35:45 — Immigration Panic as a Pretext for Digital ID ControlHe warns that governments will exploit border chaos to impose biometric IDs and universal tracking under the guise of security. 01:07:14 — Sanctions as a Prelude to World WarKnight draws parallels between today's sanctions on Russia, Iran, and China and the economic warfare that provoked Japan into Pearl Harbor, calling it history repeating. 01:12:21 — U.S. Backed ISIS as a Tool for Regime ChangeHe reviews leaked admissions showing Washington knowingly used ISIS to pressure Assad—proof terrorism became an instrument of U.S. foreign policy. 01:30:22 — Israel's Palantir-Assisted Pager BombingsKnight exposes Israel's use of AI to detonate pagers in Lebanon, killing civilians and revealing the next phase of algorithmic warfare. 02:01:40 — The Manufactured Measles “Outbreak” in South CarolinaKnight dismantles the media scare over a few cases, calling it psychological conditioning to revive vaccine hysteria and re-establish compliance. 02:10:13 — Vaccine Lies and the Inversion of Cause and EffectHe demonstrates that illness spikes followed vaccine rollouts, exposing the foundational deceit of “safe and effective” narratives. 02:17:14 — Vaccines vs. Cornflakes: The Nutrition DeceptionKnight argues that public health improvements came from food and sanitation, not pharmaceutical salvation—debunking the myth of vaccine triumph. 03:02:25 — The Rise of “Ramaslimey” and the Pharma RepublicansHe closes by exposing Vivek Ramaswamy and JD Vance as globalist technocrats masquerading as populists, pushing mRNA expansion and corporate control. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

When renowned teacher Malka Leifer joined the staff at Adass Israel School in the Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick, she was welcomed by the entire community. For the girls who attended the ultra-Orthodox Jewish school, Mrs Leifer's warm, outgoing and friendly personality made her a breath of fresh air. But all was not as it seemed. It would take three former students – sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper – to finally reveal the truth...---Narration – Anonymous HostResearch & writing – Erin MunroCreative direction – Milly RasoProduction & music – Mike MigasAudio editing – Anthony TelferSign up for Casefile Premium:Apple PremiumSpotify PremiumPatreonFor all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-334-nicole-meyer-dassi-erlich-elly-sapper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.