Human & Holy

Wrapping up Season 5 of Human & Holy! We will be going on a season break and re-airing some favorite episodes until Season 6 airs on Sunday, Sep. 7 ✨To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, share your feedback or guest recommendations, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation about singlehood, self-worth, and the spiritual journey of opening yourself up to receive G-d's blessings. Jackie, a former psychologist turned global dating mentor, shares powerful insights about faith and personal identity, her story of finding her soulmate at 44, having a baby at 50, and the profound inner work she experienced during that time.To contact Jackie or learn more about her courses, you can find her at jackieglaser.com or find Jackie on Instagram: datingbyjackieg EPISODE SPONSOR:This episode is sponsored by Tov Bookkeeping, founded by Tova Munitz. Message @TovBookkeeping on instagram or Whatsapp 323-770-9356 to book a free 20 minute consultation. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Introduction & The Power of Inner Shifts01:25 - Meet Jackie Glaser: Psychologist Turned Dating Coach04:00 - Helping Others Dissolve Inner Blockages06:00 - Single by Design, Not by Punishment08:15 - Jackie's Journey11:00 - 14 Years of Waiting: Wrestling with Hashem13:30 - The Myth of "Not Being Whole Enough" for Marriage16:00 - Soulmates, Timing & Hashem’s Bigger Plan18:10 - Crushed to Create: The Olive Oil Analogy20:00 - Spiritual Bypassing vs. Real Inner Work23:00 - Mirror Moments: Patterns That Reveal Our Growth Areas26:15 - How Self-Worth Impacts Dating & Relationships28:30 - Building Self-Trust through Somatic & Emotional Work32:00 - Dissolving Fear & Receiving Blessings35:00 - How We Project Internal Beliefs onto Others38:00 - Rejection, Self-Worth & Emotional Resilience41:00 - Our Flaws Are Filters, Not Failures44:00 - Shadchanim, Boundaries & Trusting Hashem47:00 - True Bitachon: Trusting Hashem in Action49:30 - Real Life Example: Surgery, Fear & Hashem’s Protection53:00 - The Role of Anxiety as a Spiritual Opportunity56:00 - Loneliness, Desperation & How to Nurture Ourselves59:00 - Healthy Yearning vs. Desperation in Dating01:02:00 - Who You Marry Reflects Where You’re At01:04:00 - Manifesting, Misconceptions & Hashem’s Role01:06:30 - How to Support Single Friends with Sensitivity

A conversation with Devori Nussbaum, a psychotherapist and Tanya teacher, about emotional honesty in our spiritual growth and living with open-hearted presence. Devori shares her unique approach to integrating Chassidus and psychotherapy, offering powerful insights into shedding old identities, processing the grief of life, and tapping into the opportunity for connection with G-d at every moment. Devori is an integrative psychotherapist who has trained in many different healing modalities including body psychotherapy, imago therapy, logotherapy, the energetics of food, quantum touch, breathwork, CBT, NLP, EMDR, IFS, inner child work and somatic modalities. She is also passionate about teaching Chassidus in a way that is accessible, relevant and embodied, showing people that these teachings are not just nice ideas, but a description of our reality. Get in touch with Devori and find out more about her work on www.devorinussbaum.com. * * * * * * *EPISODE SPONSOR: "Miss Rose is Worried" by Estee Cohen is a heartwarming story that shows that every child's individuality is a gift. Their quirks and character traits, if nurtured rather than suppressed, become the foundation of who they are meant to be. Link to purchase the book here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-rose-is-worried-estee-cohen/1146818067To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Sneak Peek & Sponsorship02:25 – Meet Devori Nussbaum04:45 – The Power of Real Human Presence07:12 – What Is Chassidus Meant to Do for the Human Psyche?12:00 – Finding the Balance Between Presence & Spiritual Aspiration18:04 – Embracing the Void: Turning Emotional Numbness into a Portal for Growth21:15 – Seeing Beneath the Surface of Reality26:00 – How Unprocessed Grief Blocks Our Hearts—and How to Reopen Them30:11 - The Role of Grief in Spiritual Growth36:01 - Holy Honesty38:00 – Bringing G-d into Daily Life44:53 - Navigating the Fear of Change47:00 – Regulating Your Nervous System 54:30 – One Minute a Day: Building Presence in Busy Lives1:02:15 – Kavanah and Mitzvot: How One Moment Can Fill a Lifetime1:07:30 – Animal Soul vs. Divine Soul: A Compassionate Integration1:12:00 – Redefining Iskafya: Presence, Breath, and Spiritual Discipline1:16:30 – Choosing Growth vs. Chasing Perfection1:29:10 - Crumbling into Grief1:41:00 – How to Navigate Religious Trauma1:44:15 – Parents, Fear, and Compassion: Reframing the Narrative1:47:00 – The Magic of Retreats1:53:30 – Personal Journey: From Control to Joy1:57:05 – Presence, Honesty, and Shedding the Snake Skin1:59:00 – Host’s Outro

We spend weeks leading up to Shavuot refining our characters. And then we receive G-d's Torah, which asks us to faithfully reflect the light of the Divine in this world. Does the Torah mark a path to self development or self transcendence? What might it look like to be both surrendered and distinctly who we are? * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - The Gift of the Torah02:50 - Understanding Bitul: Reflecting the Divine 05:57 - The Interplay of Self-Development and Self-Transcendence08:51 - The Role of Rosh Chodesh in Preparing for Receiving the Torah12:04 - Naaseh v'Nishmah: Redefining Our Sense of Self 15:07 - Expanding, Not Shrinking

In honor of Shavuos, three women — Lauren Nagel, Devora Pinson, and Chana Arnold — sit down for a raw and honest conversation about receiving the Torah anew in our adult lives. What are some of the things that have disconnected us from the Torah over the years? What are some of the things that have softened those blockages? And in what ways has the Torah become the greatest gift of our lives?If you connected to something that was shared in this episode, let our generous guests know:Devora Pinson: DevoraRpinson@gmail.comLauren Nagel: LaurenRNagel@gmail.comChana Arnold: Chanaarnold1@gmail.comEPISODE SPONSORS:This episode is sponsored by Finds By Rivka. Think of Rivka’s finds as a personal shopper who sifts through the sale pages to find the best Tznius clothing deals! Join 3,000+ other women who are loving the group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LBOxmcsZin66u7brbOvx4l* * * * * * *Babyccino is a Mommy & Me class curriculum designed to facilitate meaningful, Jewish experiences for mothers and babies. We can only receive the Torah that is given to us, and the Torah is given to children, first, by their mothers. Find out more here: www.babyccinoclass.com* * * * * * *This episode is co-sponsored and dedicated with love by Riki to a special "Human & Holy" person, mother and friend, Miriam Frimet Bas Tzivia, upon her birthday. May it be a Zchus. * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek00:17 - Host's Intro01:45 - Sponsorship Message: Finds by Rivka03:03 - Meet the Guests: Devora, Chana, Lauren05:18 - Spiritual Backgrounds08:52 - I Needed More 12:10 - The Torah Feeds My Soul16:34 - Choosing the Torah Again17:50 - The Torah as a Tree of Life 19:58 - I Was Just Repeating What I Learned 22:55 - Real Learning Creates Space for Real Struggles24:21 - Letting Go of Perfectionism 30:06 - I Lost Everything 32:28 - When I Began to Access Hashem33:27 - Holding Pain & Faith Simultaneously35:33 - I Am Not Alone 37:37 - A Real Relationship Welcomes Your Full Self 40:54 - What Do We Do With Our Freedom?42:05 - The Torah Can't Be Done in Isolation44:30 - I Skip to My Torah Classes46:05 - From "I Have to" to "I Get To"49:51 - Torah is an Overflowing Ocean51:08 - Raising Kids with G-d Consciousness54:01 - When You See the Light Shining in Other Women 54:37 - The Torah Shifted Me 56:22 - Investing in Our Relationship with G-d58:24 - Shavuos as a Relationship Renewal01:01:07 - Sharing Torah at the Table01:01:44 - Beautifying Our Experience of the Torah 01:04:38 - Host's Outro

Answering listener questions on maturing in our Judaism, maintaining a spiritual sense of self when mothering small children, friendship, Torah study, and spiritual ruts. ______To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A personal journey of discovering Jewish meditation, taking the cerebral act of study and grounding it in the body through focus and breath. Explore the balance between body and soul, the power of intention in prayer, the difference between Jewish and Eastern meditation, and the spiritual practice of finding balance in our characters through the Sefirot.A mom of seven, Zeesy furthers development on the Board of the Jewish International School. She is the spiritual feminine leader of Blouberg Jewish Community Centre. Zeesy gives ongoing psycho-spiritual ‘soultalks’ in the community, sharing her passion of bringing people closer to their soul source. She coaches women around the world with ‘Echad coaching’ bringing body and soul together.Find out more about Zeesy's work here: echadcoach.comGet in touch with Zeesy at zeesyderen@gmail.com * * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:17 - Host's Intro 01:17 - Support Human & Holy01:39 - Welcome Zeesy03:34 - The Birth of Echad: Mindfulness & Meditation 05:31 - Integrating Body and Soul in Spiritual Practice09:01 - Learning & Practicing Meditation10:47 - Chassidic Meditation Practice14:05 - Jewish Meditation vs. Eastern Meditation18:22 - An Example of Jewish Meditation22:24 - How Torah Learning Becomes Embodied24:57 - Da’at: Intimacy with G-d Through Torah and Body32:10 - Practical Tools for Spiritual Integration34:00 - The Power of Single Tasking34:52 - Morning Rituals and Connection to Nature36:13 - Building a Meaningful Prayer Practice38:45 - Integrating Gratitude into Daily Life41:00 - Heartfelt Prayer: Emotional Presence in Judaism42:42 - Understanding the Sefirot and Personal Growth48:19 - Balancing Character Traits49:46 - Breathing the Sefirot Into Your Day51:57 - Hashem in the Slow Lane: Trusting Divine Timing54:18 - Peak Judaism: When Body and Soul Are One55:34 - Experiencing G-d On Slower Days57:30 - Vulnerability in Prayer59:58 - Grounding Ourselves in Our Bodies1:03:43 - Host's Outro

Does each generation get less spiritually sensitive? What is the original source for the idea of "Yeridos Hadoros" -- the decline of the generations -- and in what ways are we experiencing a reversal of that idea? Explore the deeper meaning of Lag Ba'Omer, a teaching from R' Tzadok about the ascent of the generations and why there is an unprecedented spiritual attunement to the deepest parts of Torah. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation about discovering a loving relationship with G-d through grief. Bianca shares her personal journey of loss and how it led her to a deeper understanding of G-d's love and connection. We discuss expressing raw emotions in prayer, the Torah as a love letter from G-d, and the significance of gratitude and daily conversation in building a relationship with the Divine.Bianca Benisti Kaffash is a motivational speaker and spiritual coach who has walked through her own challenges to discover a deeper connection with Hashem and the beauty of Torah. She believes in the power of reconnecting with the sacred language of prayer and Torah—something that’s often been cheapened or lost. Now, Bianca is passionate about bringing others back to that language, helping them experience the profound beauty and strength it offers. Through spiritual coaching, personalized prayers, and leading meaningful events, Bianca empowers others to find healing, clarity, and a true connection with Hashem. Follow her on Instagram @ritainspired for raw, heartfelt inspiration and a journey back to the light of Torah. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:16 - Host’s Intro01:10 - Introduction of Bianca Benisti 02:43 - Welcome Bianca02:51 - Bianca’s Background + Starting Rita Inspired 04:31 - Grief and Torah as a Healing Language 06:05 - Being Reintroduced to the Torah as Hashem’s Love Language06:46 - Shifting from Obedience to Connection 08:15 - Mourning Laws as Divine Comfort 09:59 - Inviting G-d In 11:07 - The Only Way Out is Through11:50 - Experiencing Hashem’s Love Through Loss 13:35 - Surrendering to G-d 15:37 - Having a Conversation with G-d 18:33 - How to Pray When It Feels Imaginative 23:49 - Personal Gratitude and Emotional Honesty 28:46 - How Grief & Singlehood Shaped My Prayer 29:57 - Hashem Wants to Spend Time with Me30:34 - The Exodus: Crying Out to G-d Sparks Redemption 32:05 - Simple, Raw Prayers Can Bring Miracles 34:13 - Studying Torah to Understand G-d36:15 - Mitzvot Are Love Maps, Not Restrictions 38:32 - The Message Behind Jealousy 39:46 - Hashem Just Wants You to Be You40:39 - When G-d Doesn’t Reveal Everything 42:01 - Being Motivated by Love43:32 - Crisis Can Reveal G-d’s Emotional Presence 46:14 - Finding Clarity in Torah 47:49 - G-d will Find a Way to Get Into Your Painful Moments48:22 - My Joy Under The Chuppah 51:35 - Host’s Outro

A reading of the poem "How a Place Becomes Holy" by Yehoshua November, reflections on the power of calling out to G-d with the few, ambiguous words we have, and the delicate invitations in both creativity and faith to trust what stirs inside us. Episode sponsored in honor of the safety and protection of the Jewish people in the Holy Land. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS00:00 - "How a Place Becomes Holy"02:00 - Self-Trust in Creativity03:45 - Holiness as the Subtext of Reality04:22 - Story of Yeshaya Bar-Daki: A Cry for Life06:50 - An Experience at the Mikvah 08:58 - The Holiness in Everyday Life11:45 - Trusting the Heart's Longings

A conversation with Rivky Kaplan exploring what it means to lean into the feminine spirit in both the private and public sphere, the Lubavitcher Rebbe's vision for Jewish womanhood, the wisdom available to us in our cycles and the seasons of our life, how to stay connected to the woman beneath the role of mother, and the power of sisterhood in helping us find our voices. Rivky Kaplan is a Chabad Shlucha in Tzfat, Israel with her husband Chaim and family. Rivky teaches Torah and Chassidut in various seminaries as well as many adult education classes both in Israel and abroad. She is passionate about engaging her students in the text and making Torah concepts personal and relevant. Rivky is a Yoetzet Halacha and has recently opened a one of a kind Educational Visitors center in their newly renovated Mikva. She is also a trained Fertility Fellow providing guidance to couples navigating the challenges of infertility. Rivky is also a very proud Bubby. You can contact Rivky at rivkaplan@gmail.comTo inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:27 - Host's Intro 02:13 - Welcome Rivky05:51 - Rosh Chodesh: A Gift to Women07:35 -The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Vision for Jewish Womanhood10:26 - Why Chana Decided to Stay Home15:00 - Giving Your Child That Little Bit More16:26 - Why Dena Went Out to Lead17:35 - Personifying Internality: The Feminine Spirit19:03 - Beyond Biological Motherhood: A Spiritual Role21:00 - Expanding the Walls of the Home 23:46 - Capitalizing on What is Unique About Us 25:40 - If the Workplace Was Designed for Women's Needs28:55 - The World is Waking Up to Feminine Values29:55 - Listening to Our Bodies32:50 - I Expected Myself to Be a Full Moon Every Day33:25 - Understanding the Hormonal Phases 35:15 - Attuning Ourselves to Our Bodies 37:58 - The Phases of Our Menstrual Cycles38:44 - Wishing My Mother Could Hold My Babies42:55 - Our Bodies Hold Paradox 44:28 - Carrying Life and Grief in Israel 46:40 - A Disconnect From Our Bodies47:50 - Navigating Life's Seasons: We Are Both Chana and Dina50:33 - Being Present Where You Are52:50 - Staying Connected to What Fuels Me56:33 - What is a Feminine Way of Giving?57:56 - Story of the Rebbe: What is the Identifier of a Jewish Girl? 1:01:30 - Shifting the Way the World Sees Jewish Women1:04:30 - Have We Internalized That Vision? 01:07:05 - Menopause and Its Impact on a Woman’s Identity1:09:24 - Expanding the Why's That Carried You1:11:30 - How to Nurture Yourself When You're a Mother 1:13:37 - G-d Trusts Us1:17:35 - Having a Firsthand Experience of the Torah1:20:48 - Teaching From a Place of Trust 1:24:25 - Textual Learning Makes Space for Critical Thinking 1:30:58 - There Are Many Ways of Serving G-d 1:33:18 - I Felt Escorted to the Mikvah by the Chain of Jewish Women 1:37:33 - The Contemporary Sisterhood 1:40:00 - Female Soldiers Immersing in the Mikvah 1:41:42 - How to Create Your Own Sisterhood 1:43:28 - You Need One Person to Truly See You 1:49:00 - The World is Waiting for Every Woman's Voice01:50:05 - Host’s Outro

Personal reflections on some of the central themes in Reclaiming Dignity. Exploring the sanctity of our inner worlds, what it truly means to walk before G-d, how tznius shows up in the way we speak, share of ourselves and spend money, why legislating every detail of tznius robs us of the ability to cultivate own own internal sensitivities, and what it might look like to infuse our clothing with the depth of tznius, instead of having them define it.Link to purchase the book at 15% off: https://mosaicapress.com/product/recl.... Human & Holy discount code is humanandholy15. Find out more on the website www.reclaimingdignity.com. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comFind us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A conversation with Bracha Poliakoff, co-author of the groundbreaking book Reclaiming Dignity, exploring the deep, spiritual meaning of Tzniut in Judaism. Far from being just a dress code, this episode explores Tzniut as a powerful expression of dignity, internality, and self-respect for both men and women. We discuss halachic sources, misconceptions around modesty, and why more is not always better in this sensitive and central Jewish value.Bracha Poliakoff, LCSW-C, is a licensed clinical social worker, speaker, and writer. She currently serves as the founder and director of continuing education at Bright Ideas Continuing Education, providing high-quality programs for mental health professionals in the United States and Canada. Bracha has a strong commitment to Jewish education, having taught Torah to high schoolers and adults in various settings, founded a number of Jewish learning initiatives, and co-authoring Reclaiming Dignity: A Guide to Tzniut for Men and Women. As a passionate member of the Orthodox community, she actively gives back and makes a difference, including serving on the boards of Keneseth Beth Israel (Richmond, VA) and the Women’s Institute of Torah/Mesorah Baltimore (Baltimore, MD). Bracha is also committed to personal and professional development, having participated in The Associated’s Young Leadership Council, Orthodox Union’s Women’s Initiative Leadership Summit, and the Orthodox Leadership Project. She lives in Baltimore, MD, with her husband and three children. Bracha can be contacted at brachapoliakoff@gmail.com.Link to purchase the book at 15% off: https://mosaicapress.com/product/recl.... Find out more on the website www.reclaimingdignity.com. To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Sneak Peek 00:34 Host’s Intro02:35 Welcome Bracha03:33 Why Write a Book on Tznius? 08:10 The Importance of Women’s Voices in the Conversation About Tzniut11:00 Is Tzniut for Men?13:07 A Torah Source for Men's Tzniut: Dignity in War16:07 The Parts of Tzniut That No One Will Ever See18:10 Shifting My Own Experience of Tzniut21:36 Removing the Judgment and Pressure 24:08 Are Introverts More Tzniut?28:37 The Difference Between Erva and Tzniut30:11 Do Women Dress Tzniut for Men?35:03 The Negative Impacts of Overemphasizing External Modesty36:21 Mutual Respect Between Men and Women 38:23 Excessive Modesty Can Sexualize Women39:26 More is Not Always Better41:21 Women's Pictures in Magazines46:00 The Cost of Exclusion50:32 When I Didn't Want My Own Picture Published 52:00 Determining Your Own Boundaries53:51 Materialism & Other Areas of Tzniut Beyond Clothing57:37 How Does Bracha Aim to Show Up? 01:00:57 Host’s Outro

Reflections on my birthday, why I think about my mortality, and a Modeh Ani meditation. Episode sponsored by an anonymous sponsor in honor of our LA Tanya class. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comFind us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Birthday Reflections1:27 - Why I Think About My Mortality 4:30 - The Gift of Another Day 5:45 - Forgetting Who We Are 7:33 - Saying Modeh Ani With Intention 9:22 - The Memory of Prayer12:16 - A Modeh Ani Meditation

A conversation exploring the Jewish view of death, grief, and the afterlife. Drawing from her personal losses and decades of spiritual exploration, Elissa shares her journey, reflections from her work preparing bodies for Jewish burial, and powerful insights on mourning rituals and what they can teach us about what it means to truly live. Elissa Felder is the Coordinator for Core’s Communities of Practice. Elissa started and actively manages Core’s community of practice for women engaged with traditional chevrah kadisha. She is responsible for providing on-going professional development for the community. The knowledge she acquired through her work motivated her to write her book, From One Life to the Next Life: The Sacred Passage of Life After Death. Additionally, she is very active in her local chevrah kadisha and speaks widely on this topic. Elissa is the Founding Director of Core Connects RI, a non-profit organization that aims to deepen women’s connections to one another, to Jewish wisdom, and to Jewish values, as well as to empower each other to find greater meaning, purpose, and possibility in life and to cultivate unity without uniformity. As director she is passionate about providing others with opportunities to grow and become. She runs programming both online and in person. Elissa is passionate about bringing Jews together and celebrating their commonalities rather than their differences. Through all of these experiences, Elissa mentors and encourages others on their journeys.You can purchase Elissa's book here: https://mosaicapress.com/product/from-one-life-to-the-next-life/?srsltid=AfmBOorymKsRPl9qZlNH91dglhkMuoqSkLUd1EdThXJfSxY72ARG1UeJElissa can be reached at elissafelder613@gmail.com To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Sneak Peek 00:54 - Host’s Intro03:30 - Welcome Elissa05:50 - Where Did My Son Go?07:33 - What Happens After Death? 09:28 - The Soul Separates From Its Body in Stages10:41 - Purification of the Soul 11:37 - Resurrection of the Dead: A Soul Reunited with Its Body 12:51 - The Deeper Meaning Behind Chevra Kadisha Practices15:09 - Talking to a Soul: Preparing for Life, Not Death 16:15 - Analogies for Resurrection18:18 - Why Return to the Body If the Soul Experiences Divine Bliss? 21:11 - Why Are We Here? 23:05 - Elevating Each Part of the Body 24:50 - Living with an Awareness of Life's Fragility26:27 - The Significance of Morning Prayers27:22 - Grief is Love28:36 - Communal Presence During Shiva29:34 - Witnessing Grief 32:12 - The Power of Small Acts of Love33:18 - Why We Let Mourners Lead37:00 - The Soul’s Journey After Death38:50 - Grief as a Companion39:47 - The Chevra Kedisha’s Love for the Deceased40:41 - The Rabbi Who Cared for My Father 42:44 - Caring For My Granddaughter45:04 - Welcoming the Soul 46:13 - Do We Access the Soul at its Grave?48:38 - It Is About Life49:16 - Navigating Grief 52:00 - Letting Our Emotions Flow 57:05 - Choosing Love Over Anger After Loss 01:00:12 - Host’s Outro

An episode about the last day of Pesach, becoming receptive to divine revelation, eating the food of Redemption and the vulnerability of hope.Timestamps:00:00 - Host's Intro 00:52 - The Moshiach Seudah3:18 - Forty Two Journeys 4:59 - Becoming Receptive to Divine Light6:17 - Living in a Post Truth Era8:49 - Eating the Food of Moshiach 11:06 - Rising to Meet a New Reality 11:49 - Experiencing the Moshiach Seudah As a Child 13:31 - The Vulnerability of HopeTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comFind us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday and Wednesday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A teaching about the four sons as four identities within, the choice between cynicism and wonder when observing our lives from the outside, and the gifts hidden in our unexplored questions. Episode sponsored in honor of the speedy Refuah of Sholom Dovber ben Chava.To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.com. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.Timestamps:00:00 - Introducing Solo Sessions00:56 - The Four Sons as Four Identities Within 02:07 - Seeing Our Judaism From the Outside 02:56 - Juxtaposing the Wise & Wicked Sons' Questions03:25 - Defining Our Questions & Immersing Ourselves in the Search05:38 - Cynicism or Wonder?08:20 - When Our Judaism Feels Jaded 09:55 - Learning How to Ask 11:50 - Discussion Game Link to the episode from last year, where we played a conversation game based on this teaching about the four sons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd3LVLhvMQY

A personal conversation about creating a Seder that allows us to bring our full selves to the experience, finding an accessible entrance into the essence of Jewish holidays and rituals after becoming a mother, and some of the teachings about the steps of the Seder that have welcomed Chani in. Chani is a wife, mother, poet, writer, and aspiring florist. She's an all around creative, and loves bringing beauty and meaning into everyday life. She dabbles in freelance writing and content creation alongside her work at a preschool and a nonprofit organization. You can find her writing and content on Instagram @chani_lipovenko and Substack (Tulips & Tantrums). Chani can be contacted at chanasmoller@gmail.com. Link to download Chani's Haggadah companion here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13GrQ7e9rrxpC_5c9P2qq9y9j3XgXvvkV/viewTo inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:00:37 - Host's Introduction 0:02:03 - Welcome Chani0:02:43 - How it Started 0:04:34 - Reimagining the Seder Experience0:09:56 - Where Am I in This Ritual?0:14:21 - Leaning into the Physical Act of a Mitzvah0:17:35 - Experiencing the Essence of a Holiday0:21:55 - Staying Open to Unexpected Inspiration 0:23:20 - I Can't Recreate My Pre-Baby Life 0:27:10 - Experiencing the Seder as a Personal Journey0:29:02 - Being An Open Vessel to What the Seder Has to Offer 0:31:25 - Bring Your Heartbreak 0:32:28 - The Soul Can Never Be in Exile0:35:19 - Encouraging Questions in Our Judaism 0:38:45 - Encouraging Questions 0:41:25 - The Steps of the Seder Are Leading Us Somewhere0:42:27 - Postpartum: Holding Both Brokenness and Wholeness 0:45:45 - How G-d Sees Us0:48:13 - Opening the Door to Miracles0:51:38 - Allowing Ourselves to be Transformed in Small Ways 0:52:28 - The End of the Seder is the Beginning of Freedom 0:53:09 - Host’s Outro

A conversation with Racheli Luftglass, a passionate Judaic educator and Tanach scholar, about finding our spiritual role models within the Torah. Racheli shares her journey from struggling with Tanach as a student to falling in love with its stories and teachings, how the characters in Tanach guide her in everyday life, and how engaging deeply with biblical characters can transform the way we live. This discussion includes lessons from biblical characters like Yirmiyahu, Nechemiah, the daughters of Tzelofchad, Devorah, Batya, and Esther. Mrs. Racheli Luftglass is the Principal of Judaic Studies at YULA Girls High School and a kallah teacher. Before moving to the West Coast, she taught at The Frisch School in Paramus, NJ, in the Nach Department and in the Learning Center. At the OU Women’s Initiative, Mrs. Luftglass has served as a Counting Toward Sinai Scholar-in-Residence, presented shiurim and taught “Yirmiyahu’s Canon for Calamity” – an interactive in-depth course at the ALIT Virtual Summer Learning Program. She also taught Sefer Nechemia to over 5,000 women worldwide for Torat Imecha Nach Yomi. Mrs. Luftglass began her career at The Moriah School in Englewood, NJ, where she taught both mainstream and enrichment Judaic Studies classes as well as secular studies in the school’s Gesher Yehuda Program. Mrs. Luftglass graduated from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women with a B.A. in music and psychology and holds an M.A. from Columbia University’s Teachers College with a concentration in Education of the Gifted and of the Learning Disabled. She has also completed coursework at Columbia University towards a doctorate degree in neuropsychology. Mrs. Luftglass lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and five children. Contact Racheli at rwluftglass@gmail.com.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:00:37 - Host's Introduction 0:02:10 - Welcome Racheli 0:04:06 - A Personal Passion for Tanach0:06:00 - The Lost Art of Letter Writing 0:06:54 - The Daughters of Tzelofchad0:09:15 - Which Characters Do You Currently Connect With? 0:10:25 - How It All Began: Racheli’s Early Experiences with Tanach0:11:03 - Intertextuality in Tanach0:13:31 - What We Can Learn From Hashem’s Vulnerable Moments 0:17:10 - Teaching as a Means of Mastery0:17:54 - Understanding the Prophets0:19:34 - Yirmiyahu: Survival and Identity in Exile0:27:22 - Roots and Branches: Continuity in Judaism0:28:01 - Inner Sense of Connection to Your Values0:30:19 - Finding Personal Guidance in Tanach0:32:11 - Devorah: An Unapologetic Voice0:40:29 - Recurring Themes in the Women in Tanach0:42:43 - I Am in a Dance With Hashem0:44:05 - When Hashem Says No 0:47:45 - Following Your Curiosity in Your Studies0:49:11 - Accessing Tanach 0:52:24 - Connecting Through Art and Personal Stories0:53:18 - Finding Personal Role Models Within Tanach0:53:59 - Lessons from Batya & Esther0:56:38 - Choosing Not to Become Bitter0:58:36 - Host's Outro

A conversation about the Lubavitcher Rebbe's perspective on fighting antisemitism, what it truly means to be a light unto the nations and how to find moral clarity in a G-dless society. Inbal Levin is a writer, former fashion model, and social media director for Chabad on Campus. You can connect with her via instagram @itsinbal.To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.comTo support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.TIMESTAMPS:0:00:00 - Sneak Peek 0:01:00 - Introduction of Inbal Levin0:02:25 - Welcome Inbal 0:03:08 - Inbal’s Background0:03:46 - Passion for Fashion0:05:57 - Creativity is Holy 0:06:28 - The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Reflections on the Depth of Art 0:09:11 - Girls on the Cover of the Moshiach Times Magazine0:10:48 - The Rebbe’s Conversation with the Israeli Beauty Queen0:14:54 - Being a Jew in Public0:18:12 - Helping Others Up the Volume on their Own Jewish Pride 0:21:05 - Embracing Jewish Identity in Modern Times0:21:31 - Inspiring Other's in Their Own Heritage0:24:25 - The Responsibility of Being the Chosen People 0:26:15 - Moral Clarity 0:27:30 - A Moment of Silence0:31:00 - A Universal Call to G-dly Awareness0:32:53 - Bringing Torah to the World0:37:55 - The Power of Shabbos Candles0:43:46 - Mitzvah Campaigns: A Response to Darkness0:50:40 - The Rebbe’s Approach to Antisemitism 0:52:28 - The Haggadah Focuses on Freedom, Not Suffering0:53:19 - A Judaism of Joy0:57:15 - Awakening Through Tragedy01:00:02 - Judaism Asks for Participation 01:03:03 - The Impact of Jewish Rituals on Future Generations01:05:55 - Follow Up Story on Inbal’s Flight 01:07:40 - Host's Outro