Dear Yoetzet

What happens when one spouse desperately wants another child—and the other feels just as strongly that their family is complete? Unlike so many marital disagreements, this one doesn't offer an obvious compromise. And when the stakes are this emotional, the question of whether to have another baby can become about much more than family size: trust, autonomy, resentment, fear, and whether each spouse feels heard and respected. In this episode of @dearyoetzet, Lisa Septimus and Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, LCSW, explore how couples can navigate one of the most consequential disagreements in a marriage: how to understand what lies beneath each partner's position, protect the trust between them, and move toward a decision neither spouse feels was forced upon them. They also discuss the Jewish values and halachic considerations that make questions of family planning even more complex.

In this two-part episode, Yoetzet Halacha and kallah teacher Lisa Septimus reflects with her guests on what it takes to be an effective and thoughtful kallah teacher. In Part 2, Lisa is joined by Eli Sharvit, a graduate of Nishmat's Miriam Glaubach Center Kallah Teacher Course, to reflect on her experience training to become a kallah teacher and her journey to now teaching kallot herself.

In this episode Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Dr. Joshua Klein discuss the benefits and challenges of fertility preservation, for both single and married women.   Note: If you are considering or planning fertility preservation and have any halachic questions, don't hesitate to reach out to a Nishmat Yoetzet Halacha Fertility Counselor either at https://www.yoatzot.org/about-yoatzot-halacha/fertility-counselors/ or on WhatsApp at +972-2-640-4330.

In this episode, @dearyoetzet Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Rabbi Yehuda Fogel explore shana rishona and the emotional adjustments of the first year of marriage. They discuss common challenges couples face when expectations around time together and emotional presence don't align, offering thoughtful insights and practical guidance for navigating these sensitive dynamics.

In this episode of Dear Yoetzet, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Rachel Tuchman, LMHC  discuss different styles of kallah classes as well as key things for couples to consider as they begin building their lives together.