A Soul Grows in Israel

What would you do if you suddenly discovered that you were Jewish? Jodeci Joseph grew up in London without knowing that he was Jewish. Then, as a child, he found out that Judaism was not simply something he was learning about. It was part of who he was. That discovery set him on an unexpected journey of identity, faith, Torah, spirituality and ultimately a deeper relationship with Judaism and Isra...

What does Judaism actually teach about happiness, joy, and being happy ? Do we have to feel happy all the time? What is simcha in Jewish tradition, and is happiness really a feeling, or something deeper? In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel , I explore the Jewish understanding of happiness and joy , and what Jewish spirituality, Torah, Chassidut, and Jewish tradition have to say about living...

What makes a software engineer walk away from a career in tech to study Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism? Michael Macks did exactly that, trading the certainty of code for the depths of Torah and a new life in Israel. In this conversation, Michael traces the road from a tech career to teaching Jewish spirituality, and what he found when he started asking the questions that software could not answer....

Marrying off a child cracks something open. In the middle of the joy there's a quieter truth: you are being asked to let go. This episode is about that, and about what ancient Jewish wisdom teaches all of us about moving through the transitions we never feel ready for. The wedding is the doorway, but the subject is bigger than any one simcha. Every life is a series of thresholds we have to cr...

What does teshuva really mean? Not punishment, not self reproach, but return, coming home to who you actually are. Rabbi David Aaron reframes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the whole arc of the High Holidays as an invitation rather than a verdict. We tend to translate teshuva as "repentance," a word heavy with judgment. Rabbi David Aaron opens it back up to its literal meaning, return. I...

New studio, same old questions. My husband and I sat down with our friend Robert Blum, a man who actually thinks and never gives us the easy answer, for a wide-ranging conversation on Jewish values, making Aliyah to Israel, the Torah, Navi, and the Temple Mount. No script, no easy conclusions, just an honest talk between people who've known each other long enough to agree, push back, and dig...

What is it really like to make aliyah? Is moving to Israel everything people imagine—or are there challenges no one talks about? In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel , Esther Farkovits sits down with Marc Rosenberg , Vice President of Diaspora Partnerships at Nefesh B'Nefesh , for an honest conversation about making aliyah, building a life in Israel, and discovering what it truly means t...

What was it like to escape Nazi Europe as a child? How did one life, shaped by the Kindertransport and the horrors of World War II, lead to a future in the State of Israel? In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel , Esther Farkovits sits down with Paul Alexander to hear his remarkable firsthand story of survival, resilience, and hope. Paul shares his memories of leaving Europe through the Kindert...

What is humility according to Judaism? Is humility thinking less of yourself, or is it seeing yourself more truthfully? In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel , Esther Farkovits explores one of the most misunderstood ideas in Jewish spirituality: anavah (humility) . Drawing on Torah, Chassidut, Kabbalah, and timeless Jewish wisdom, she explains why humility is not weakness, low self-esteem, or...

Founded by Faye, Pens for Swords is a grassroots advocacy movement dedicated to combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, and advancing public awareness through civic engagement. The organization mobilizes volunteers worldwide to participate in petitions, educational initiatives, letter writing campaigns, and advocacy efforts that promote solidarity with Israel, support hostages, and counter misi...

What does fitness have to do with spirituality? In this conversation, I sit down with Shuli Goldstein, founder of Studio Soul, to explore the connection between physical movement, emotional well-being, personal growth, and spiritual life. We discuss why exercise can be more than a tool for weight loss or appearance, how movement affects our mindset and sense of self, the relationship between body...

In times of war and uncertainty, how do we practice gratitude? In Israel right now, we’re all navigating fear, intrusive thoughts, and the question: where is faith when everything feels unstable? This episode explores a Torah based approach to gratitude that doesn’t require you to feel okay, it requires you to know what’s true. A teaching for anyone living through Iran tensions, conflict, or any m...

In this episode, Rabbi Akiva Gersh, " the Vegan Rabbi " explores veganism through the lens of Judaism, Genesis, Rav Kook, compassion toward animals, spirituality, holiness, and the future of food. We discuss the Garden of Eden, the ethics of eating meat, Jewish thought, modern industrial farming, and whether the Torah points humanity toward a more compassionate world. Support the show Fo...

Paula Kweskin is a documentary filmmaker, human rights attorney, and founder of The 49%, a nonprofit focused on women’s storytelling and global women’s rights. In this conversation, we discuss Judaism, feminism, Israel, documentary filmmaking, faith, identity, and the power of storytelling.”   #PaulaKweskin #Judaism #WomenInJudaism #DocumentaryFilm #JewishWomen #Feminism #Israel #WomenRights #Podc...

In this episode, Millie Schweky, lpelvic floor specialist, joins us for a conversation on women’s health, healing, and the topics many women quietly struggle with but rarely talk about openly. We discuss pelvic floor health, postpartum recovery, body awareness, physical symptoms women often dismiss, and the connection between emotional and physical well being. This conversation goes beyond quick f...

As Shavuot approaches, I found myself thinking deeply about femininity, spirituality, and what it truly means to receive Torah in the modern world. In this episode, we explore the role of women at Har Sinai, the spiritual power of receptivity, why softness in Judaism is often misunderstood, and the quiet exhaustion so many Jewish women carry today. From motherhood and identity to intuition, ambiti...

This episode started light. We went outside, tried to be funny, and it got real fast. We get into Lakewood, its culture, the nuance people miss, and how quickly conversations shift when you actually look a little deeper. We even break down a Lakewood influencer and what people see versus what is actually there. What starts as jokes turns into something more honest about identity, perception, and t...

In part two, Yakira Apfel returns for a deeper conversation on what it actually means to be fully yourself. We talk about health beyond trends, the nuance that often gets lost in simple advice, and the ongoing work of staying honest with yourself even when it is uncomfortable. This is not about perfection or performance, but about paying attention to what is real and what is not. We also touch on...

In this first part, Yakira Apfel from Fit Studio and The Yard joins us for a conversation about confidence, insecurity, and the unfolding of her life's journey. We explore how confidence is built, shaped, and sometimes questioned, what insecurity really looks like beneath the surface, and how personal history and lived experience influence the way someone shows up in the world. This is an hon...

In this soul-o episode, I share something very real. I was in the middle of a conflict and needed something to hold onto, so I went back to my favorite lines from the Tanya, a foundational text from Chabad on the inner life, the mind, and the soul. What I found wasn’t abstract. It was immediate. I gathered quotes that speak directly to sadness, joy, and the power of our thoughts, and tried to actu...

In this episode I sit down with Shira Melamed for an honest and thoughtful conversation about tzniut , Jewish modesty, and what it really means to walk humbly with Hashem in the modern world. I play devil’s advocate and bring the questions many women quietly think about but rarely say out loud. Why do the laws of modesty sometimes feel challenging. What are the common objections people have to tzn...

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Rabbi David Aaron to explore the deeper meanings of Pesach (Passover) and what true freedom really means. We dive into the profound spiritual significance of the holiday and how it connects to the power of prayer ( Tefillah ) in our lives. Rabbi Aaron also takes us on a journey into the roots of many key concepts found in Jewish tradition, shedding li...

In this bonus Soul-o episode of A Soul Grows in Israel, I explore a deeper way of understanding Pesach. Beyond the preparations, the Seder, and the traditions, Pesach carries a powerful idea that speaks to the inner life of the soul. We often think of the story of the Exodus as something that happened long ago. But the message of Pesach is also about personal renewal, letting go of what holds us b...

In this episode my speical guest is my husband.  We explore the Pesach Seder through the lens of personal reflection and shared experience. We discuss how we each engage with the Haggadah and with life so differently. We talk about the Four Sons, and the expectations of family and tradition. We dive into the deeper practice of letting go of control, of expectations, and of the ways we hold onto th...

In this Soul-o episode, I share my personal experience and reflections after two weeks at war in Israel during the conflict with Iran. I speak about what it feels like to live under uncertainty the emotional impact on our people and the ways faith in ourselves as a nation and in Hashem help us endure. This episode is a personal journey into fear, resilience ,and connection to the land and the peop...