Hand in Hand

In the season finale, host Amanda Spiro speaks with Rabbi Yisrael Deren, who together with his wife Vivy has faced the unimaginable — the loss of four of their eight children. Instead of retreating into grief, they chose to transform their pain into purpose, becoming a source of strength and comfort for others walking through darkness. Rabbi Deren shares deeply personal stories, from turning a hos...

In this episode of Hand in Hand, host Amanda Spiro sits down with Marylyn Scheuer, a woman whose profound Jewish journey and unshakable faith illuminate what it means to turn hardship into growth. Marylyn embraced Shabbat observance and found a home within the Chabad community. But her faith was put to the ultimate test when her husband Eliot suffered a devastating 50-foot fall while hiking. Inste...

In this episode of Hand in Hand, we sit down with Morgan Buchsbaum, a woman who radiates joy despite having navigated immense loss and challenges. Morgan shares her deeply personal journey as the primary caregiver for her mother, who was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 glioblastoma and given only six months to live. Her world, already deeply intertwined with her mother's as an only child of a...

This episode features Allegra, a mother of five whose life has been a testament to spiritual and physical resilience. Allegra’s journey began at just eight years old when a virus resulted in paralysis, sparking her first profound understanding of the connection between body and soul. This early experience set her on a spiritual path which led to her conversion to Judaism. Decades later, she faced...

In this deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Randi, a woman who survived a devastating car crash only to face the unimaginable loss of her newborn son, Spencer, a couple years later. She shares how she and her husband navigate the raw reality of grief, and how Jewish wisdom and acts of kindness have become a path to healing and hope. Randi’s story is a powerful testament to the enduring bo...

At just 17, Amanda’s world shattered with the tragic loss of her best friend. The years that followed were marked by grief, depression, and a search for deeper meaning. Something shifted finally during a conversation with a Rabbi on a trip to Israel - a step toward something that began to fill that inner void and offer her new purpose. Then, another trial: a cancer diagnosis. Through it all, her n...

Welcome to Hand in Hand, a podcast about navigating life’s toughest moments and the resilience that helps us through. Inspired by the Lubavitcher Rebbe's teaching that physical and spiritual health are deeply connected, we explore stories of healing and hope. Each episode blends timeless Jewish wisdom, personal journeys, and universal truths to offer comfort and strength. Whether you're seeking co...