How do you find your purpose when tragedy strikes?
In this episode, my guest co-host Ester Rosenberg and I sit down with Chana Irom, CEO of Sisters, an organization born in the aftermath of October 7th. Just days after Israel found itself in a terrifying new reality, Chana and several friends from the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community called a meeting to see how they could help.
What they created was simple yet astounding: a volunteer system where Haredi women support families with loved ones serving in the army. In only three days, they recruited 1,500 volunteers. Today, over 4,000 women help with cooking, cleaning, childcare—and sometimes most importantly, according to Chana, lending a listening and empathetic ear.
While these two groups of women come from different worlds, Chana's team shows no signs of slowing down, with plans extending far beyond the war's end.
Through initiatives like Sisters, Israel may slowly begin to mend its deepest divides—one helping hand at a time.
*To get in touch with Chana directly you can email her at barzelsisters.co.il
*Social media presence coming soon!
Do You Really Care About Israel?For most Jews today, the answer is a resounding yes. But beyond war and security, do we truly understand the challenges Israel faces and what’s at stake for its future? This isn’t about one group pushing a solution that serves its own interests—this is about addressing issues that impact every Jew, including those in the diaspora.This interview was different from any I’ve done before. What Eugene and Daniela Kandel are proposing may seem radical, unrealistic, or even off the mark given Israel’s current reality. But the truth is, securing Israel’s future isn’t just about defeating our enemies—it requires an honest look at the country’s social, economic, and political foundations.As a father-daughter team, the Kandels have dedicated themselves to assessing the core weaknesses in Israel’s government structure. Their response? The Israel Strategic Futures Institute, an organization offering concrete, actionable solutions to shift Israel’s trajectory toward long-term stability, prosperity, and resilience.Learn about why this cause is so important for Israeli and Diaspora Jewry alike and about how you can get involved with their efforts today at: https://www.israelstrategicfutures.org/en and https://www.linkedin.com/company/israelsfi/
The My Israel Narrative Achdut Series endeavors to sit down with individuals in the Jewish community who are tackling "practical achdut" - creating unity through real, tangible means.
Judaism is predicated on the idea of oneness—within ourselves, with G-d, and with each other. Achdut (unity) does not mean sameness. It does not mean abandoning my beliefs for yours. It means holding onto our individual and collective truths while striving to fulfill our shared mission of bringing light to the world.
Achdut is the only foolproof antidote. In our 5,000+ year history, every time we were divided, our enemies prevailed. But the moment we stood together, there was no room for their darkness.
It’s time to choose unity. It’s time to do different.
After a long hiatus and a bit of a delay on posting this epic episode, I am SO excited to share this conversation with Tonia Chazanow from @Humanandholy , a podcast focused on Jewish women talking about Torah and the lived experience of our Judaism. In this episode we unpack: -How to stop waiting for Moshiach AND your personal aspirations -Stepping into the darkness to attain your unique light -How to try less and let H’ fill in the blanks -The power of achdut -How to find an anchor in these challenging times -Leading from an authentic place -How and why it's really NOT about you... Check out Human and Holy here: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mo2kXBh03DA218ZmfBqRb?si=d7a3ca7350d84ff3 *Be sure to check out her episode I reference at the beginning of the podcast called “Why I Am No Longer Waiting for Moshiach” - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QypEGhzRZd6EyfrZJuq14?si=E6CaTRHsS5m_AhgQoq2mSg Website: https://humanandholy.com/ Instagram: @humanandholy Email: tonia@humanandholy.com
"I think our role is to be connected to our identity. Our identity is Israel. We are Israel. We are Am Yisrael... I think when you get more connected to your identity, you'll find the answers on your own." - Ysabella Elisheva Hazan Now the question is, are you seeking out those answers? Listen to this deep and heartfelt conversation I had with Ysabella, where we unpack the different ways she has found that authentic connection and drive to fight for (and ultimately live in) our Homeland. Follow Ysabella on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ysabellahazan/?hl=en And check out her initiative " Decolonized Judea" https://decolonizedjudean.com/ ******************** About Decolonized Judea: This is a movement beyond Judean wear. It’s about Jewish pride and empowerment. Decolonized Judean is about telling the Jewish story from a Jewish lense and shifting culture. Decolonizing Jewish identity means learning about the Jewish story from a Jewish lense - and that means not forming your opinion on the Jewish ancestral homeland from those who seek to destroy it. Thousand of years in the diaspora has added many layers and elements of colonization to our identity and culture. Decolonizing Jewish identity means connecting with our roots but not by going backwards, it means moving forward in advancing the next stage of our collective peoplehood. It simply means taking charge of our Jewish story and not forming or acquiescing elements of our peoplehood to our oppressors. There is no one way to be a decolonized Judean because there is no one way to feel connected to your identity and culture.
How does an Iranian refugee take her experience and use it for the greater good? Dr. Nazarian's story is nothing short of a miracle. Her perseverance is reflected not only in her succesfull medical practice, but as an Emmy nominated Netflix star, AND fierce advocate for the Jewish people and Israel. I ask Dr. Nazarian what her experience was like coming to America, what it has been like experiencing “the same smells as Iran” in the once refuge of the US, and why she is investing so much energy in making sure this country doesn’t meet its demise. Follow Dr. Nazarian on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsheilanaz... Check out Dr. Nazarian's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Join me as I sit down with Ester, a good friend and one of the most knowledgeable (and passionate) people I know on all things Israel and Jewish history, as we dig deep on some of the “big” questions. The context of this interview is based on comments from an earlier interview with @RabbiYYJacobson Listen in to hear about making Aliyah, our purpose in the diaspora and Israel, how to create a desire to be in Israel, moshiach, and much more. Leave your comments below to tell us your thoughts.
A little bit of a different kind of interview. I finally sat down with my dad to hear about his story as an Iranian immigrant to America during the time of the Iranian Revolution. We break down what it was like leaving a country you love and starting anew in somewhere totally foreign. I also ask him his take on the current happenings in the US and whether he sees any parallels with what he experienced being pushed out of Iran.... Should we do a round 2? Leave your questions and comments below!
Aby Volcovich has spent the past 4 months on the front lines in Israel. Before Octoer 7th, he had just started a job with DiploAct, an organization that works strengthen Israsel's voice on the global stage. While serving in active duty, Aby hasn't taken off his "hasbara hat," sharing content from the field to help fight this tumultuous media war. When speaking, Aby shared how painful it was that he couldn't use his phone for the entire first month in battle; and not because he wanted to be scrolling on social media or calling friends and family. It was painful because he knew how the world was likely reacting to Israel's response and he wanted to be able to shed light on the situation. Aby is originally from Mexico, moving to Canada when he was a child, and later moving to Israel to serve as a lone soldier. Join me as I sit down with Aby to hear about his experience moving to Israel as a lone soldier, what he's seen during this war, the narrative he is trying to tell, and what he thinks we all need to be focusing on in these times. Be sure to follow Aby on insta https://www.instagram.com/abyvolco?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Check out DiploAct's work: https://www.diploact.com/en
"Here’s some ancient prophecies. Some ancient writings. This is what is said would happen. Here’s a bunch of history, and then here’s some then and now photography based around those prophecies, and then you can decide whether you think this is that. But I’m just telling you nothing like this has ever happened before in history; specifically on this piece of land. And the prophets said this would happen. BUT, you can decide what you think is what.” @doughersheyauthor7771 Whether writing or speaking, Doug Hershey shares from a perspective of historian and storyteller. His accounts of Israel, the Middle East and the awakening of bible prophecy are as intriguing as they are rare. The "Ancient Prophecy Modern Lens" series continues to document these Ancient Prophecies and their tangible fulfillments with a Modern Lens with a brand new online course, soon followed by the much anticipated upcoming photo book "Jerusalem Rising" available in summer of 2021! Doug is the founder of Ezra Adventures (EzraAdventures.com), a boutique travel and education company, specializing in exclusive customized small group travel throughout Israel and the Middle East. To keep up with the latest research or adventure, follow him at Doug Hershey Author on FB and IG: https://doughershey.co/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/doughersheyauthor/?hl=en
“I do believe that we should have our sights set on Eretz Yisrael. 100%. At the same time, I also believe that there are sparks that are still scattered around the world. And I think that some people have a mission to go and elevate those sparks.” Akiva and Chava, aka @houseoflev were an incredible duo to connect with. They just announced - spoiler alert - that they're making Aliyah in the coming months with their whole family, only a few months after completing their conversion process. Oh, and get this, no one in the family has been to Israel before, besides Akiva! Talk about trusting your gut and diving right in. This is a conversation you don't want to miss. Mazal tov @houseoflev and thank you for constantly sharing your authentic journey with all of us.
“I can’t find this connection anywhere else... I’d rather live somewhere connected, that I care about, rather than somewhere where I don’t know who my next door neighbor is.” - Joanna Landau Joanna is a Cambridge-educated lawyer and entrepreneur who is deeply dedicated to positively disrupting the way the world feels about Israel. For over 15 years, she has used place branding techniques, social media, and the sciences of influence and persuasion to highlight Israel’s competitive advantages to strategic global audiences. In 2011, she founded Vibe Israel, a Tel-Aviv based NGO that generated over a billion positive mentions about Israel online. Since October 7, 2023, she has been consulting government offices, Jewish organizations abroad, and Israeli war rooms on how to effectively counter the anti-Israel narrative on social media and offline. Learn more about Joanna's work: https://www.joannalandau.com/ / joannalandau
"No one was going after these people. No one was going to go to Mount Everest to bring him back. People dropped everything, They didn't have to be told or be asked. My home is on fire. My family is in trouble. "Hineni" - I'm here." - @JWRP2010 Lori Palatnik is the Founding Director of Momentum (formerly JWRP). She is a world-renowned Jewish educator, speaker, writer, and media personality, who has lectured all over the world. Lori has authored four books: Friday Night and Beyond, Gossip, Remember My Soul, and Turn Your Husband Into Your Soul Mate. In 2014, Lori was named one of the ten “Women to Watch” by Jewish Women International in recognition of her contribution to Jewish women throughout the world. Hadassah named Lori one of the “Most Outstanding Jewish American Women of Our Time” and Izzy included Lori in its “Global Jewish 100” list for moving Jewish culture forward. In 2020, Lori was selected to light the “Diaspora” torch at the national ceremony for Israel’s 72nd Independence Day.
"Are we a religion? A nation? A people? A family? A culture? A race? An ethnicity? People usually shake their head and go 'we're all of them!' and I respond, 'we're all of them except one." - Rabbi Ken Spiro Rabbi Spiro is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher for Aish HaTorah, Jerusalem. In addition, he is a licensed tour guide from the Israel Ministry of Tourism. He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs such as B.B.C. Radio and TV., The National Geographic Channel, The Discovery Channel, The History Channel, Channel 4 England and Arutz Sheva-Israel National Radio. He is the author of WorldPerfect – The Jewish Impact on Civilization published by HCI books, Crash Course in Jewish History published by Targum Press and Destiny – Why a tiny nation plays such a huge role in history published by Geffen Publishing House. His writings and seminars can be accessed on www.kenspiro.com and www.aish.com.
"The miracle of the Jewish people is that our tree, wherever it lived around the world, from Russia to Poland, Galicia to Western Europe, South America, North America, Australia, New Zealand, wherever it was, we were in Japan or in Africa, in Europe and Asia. Our roots always remain in the holy land of Israel and the Jewish people fill it." @RabbiYYJacobson
Here more from Rabbi Jacobson at: https://www.theyeshiva.net/ =========================== Connect with us! YOUTUBE / myisraelnarrative
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"Aliyah - I feel like the only way to describe it is you feel unstoppable. Because you're so charged by such a huge mission that you're kind of like yea, I'm doing this." - Raquel Raquel and Frank made Aliyah, building a life and home in Israel. But now they find themselves being tasked with going back to America. The questions are endless. Why don't we stay? Why can't we stay? Are we doing the wrong thing? Isn't Israel HOME? "I fell in love with Israel before I fell in love with Torah or Judaism or anything else. There's just something special about this land." - Frank
When asked: what is home? Rabbi Manis Friedman @manisfriedman exclaims "we have forgotten what it feels like to be home."
Together we speak about our current reality as Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, and provides practical advice on what we can do, regardless of where we find ourselves amidst this war.
Follow Rabbi Manis Friedman @manisfriedman for incredible life and Torah insights.
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Laura E. Adkins is an award-winning writer, editor, and speaker based in New York. She is the Opinion Editor of the Forward.
Laura’s writing on antisemitism, Orthodox Judaism, data, and gender has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Glamour, and other outlets. She was previously the Opinion Editor of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the editor of Jewish Insider, and an assistant blogs editor at The Times of Israel.
Laura is a frequently requested speaker and leads hands-on writing workshops for a variety of organizations and nonprofit groups.
Get in touch with Laura: https://lauraeadkins.com/
Nissim Baruch Black is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Under the stage name D. Black, he released the albums The Cause & Effect (2006) and Ali'yah (2009) and was featured on producer Jake One's debut album White Van Music (2008). He retired in 2011 to focus on his conversion to Orthodox Judaism.
Black and his wife Adina, with whom he has seven children, were initially married in 2008; they participated in an Orthodox Jewish marriage ceremony in 2013 after both had converted. Black and his family continued to live in Seward Park, the Seattle neighborhood where he grew up, until making aliyah to Israel in 2016 and settling in Jerusalem. Black has returned to his musical career under his new legal name Nissim Black and now focuses on Jewish Hip Hop.
Rachie was born and raised in New York City. She has always been surrounded by jewels and watched how her mother ran her own successful jewelry company for twenty years. Rachie was inspired by the 'Warby Parker' approach and decided to create a line of fine jewelry (yes it is all real!) that is gorgeous, fun, timeless, rich, colorful, chic, relatable, sparkly and most of all accessible to everyone!
Aside from running a business, Rachie is a fierce Jewish and Israel activist. One of her famed Jewlery collections, the "Mazel Collection" was created in honor of her four grandparents, all Holocaust survivors, as well as her aunt who was murdered in Belzec at six years old. The collection is a testament that after the unimaginable loss of six million holy souls during the Holocaust and the rise of antisemitism in today’s world, we stand together strong and proud!
Check out all of Rachie's amazing collections here: https://rachieshnay.com/
Follow Rachie on instagram for incredible inspiration: @rachieshnay