Modern Jewish Girl

On Shavuos, the holiday when we celebrate receiving the Torah, we read Megillas Ruth, the book of Ruth. What is the connection here?  Jenna offers an explanation and in doing so, speaks about the role of kindness in Judaism and how we can receive the gift of the Torah in our own lives.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: Seed of Redemption by Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky 

This week Jenna features a friend on the Podcast, Sarah Pachter. Sarah is the author of the new book, Is it Ever Enough? A Journey Toward Joyful Living , published by Feldheim. Sarah and Jenna speak about Sarah's unique Jewish background, her career as a speaker and now writer while raising 5 kids (!) and of course, her newest book. In doing so, they uncover some insights into how we can live...

Bracha Goetz is a Harvard-educated author of 40 books that help children's souls shine and the author of a candid memoir about overcoming food addictions joyfully on her journey in Judaism. Bracha shares a bit about her work as a children's author and her Jewish journey. Jenna and Bracha discuss how we can access the true pleasures of this world and allow our souls to shine.  Click here...

Jenna & Miriam discuss the ideas of shalva (serenity), self-wholeness, emotional well-being, and holistic healing from a Jewish perspective. Miriam Gitlin is a certified life coach and creator of The Shalva Shift coaching program.  She is also an artist, a wife and mother of 7 fabulous children, k”ah, former kallah (bride) teacher and marriage educator, and a writer, with two published books a...

There is an incredible amount of light, understanding, and freedom available to us on Pesach, but we must prepare ourselves to be able to receive it. What is the freedom that we can access on Pesach? Based on Rav Moshe Weinberger's new Haggadah, In the Heart of the Fire, Jenna explores this question, focusing on the freedom of emunah (faith) and the freedom to be our true selves.  Click here...

Trouble ahead, trouble behind...Jenna further explores what it means to be a "grateful Jew" and how we can get there, not in spite of, but through our challenges. Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: Gedale Fenster, "Complainers Never Win."   Partners in Torah, Parsha Perspectives by Rabbi Ozer Alport 

What was it about the miracle of Purim that led to the Jews' re-acceptance of the Torah? Jenna delves into this question, revealing fundamental insights on the relationship between Hashem and the Jewish people.   Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: Purim: Removing the Mask by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein More on Purim

Jenna speaks with Aleeza Ben Shalom about achieving soulmate clarity. Aleeza explains the concept of a soulmate from a Jewish perspective and shares guidance on how to actually find your soulmate.  A bit more about Aleeza: Aleeza Ben Shalom is a professional dating coach, sought-after speaker, expert, author, and founder of the company Marriage Minded Mentor. Aleeza and her team guide singles thro...

Jenna and Yael speak about all things money from a Jewish perspective. Specifically, they discuss how to shift our stories around money, increase our trust in Hashem in this area, and move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. Yael also shares practical tips for managing money based on Jewish wisdom.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: https://jewishlatinprincess.c...

Jenna discusses what real spirituality is from a Jewish perspective.  She shares a personal example and offers practical tools for infusing more spirituality into our lives. Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References:   Living Emunah on the Parashah , Rabbi David Ashear   Yehudis Golshevsky, Zohar on the Parsha, Shiviti    Gateway to Happiness , Rabbi Zelig Pliskin   EMMETT , Miriam A...

We all go through challenges. I’ve been going through a several-year challenge and when I came upon a recent Torah teaching, it gave me a lot of comfort. Then it seemed like everywhere I turned, I was learning new insights into how to grow through pain and suffering. I share these lessons on the Podcast today, through the lens of my own challenges, in hopes that it will inspire you to grow through...

Jenna speaks with Dovi Halpern, a Jew on a journey, about what inspired him to create Jewish metal music under the name “Hashem’s Warrior.” As a disconnected child of baalei teshuva (people who chose a more observant lifestyle), Dovi shares how he made Judaism his own. Jenna and Dovi speak about the role of music in Judaism, suffering and the human condition, mental health through spiritual growth...

While working at her dream job at Seventeen Magazine, Alex found herself on a Jewish journey. Join Jenna and Alex as they schmooze about Alex's journey from New York to Israel to Moscow (!) Jenna and Alex discuss all facets of navigating life, both professionally and personally, while growing Jewishly. Alex also tells us about her new, beautiful online magazine for Jewish women,  Chai on Life...

Jenna speaks with her Torah teacher in Israel, Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky.  Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky has been a well-known Torah educator in Jerusalem and abroad for twenty-five years, with students all over the world. She is a published author, editor, and translator... but teaching Torah is her first love. Rebbetzin Yehudis is now the director of SHIVITI, a Torah school for women, which of...

Based on the Torah of the Nesivos Sholom, Jenna discusses the miracle of the Menorah lights that we celebrate on Chanukah and their deeper, eternal meaning.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Gems From the Nesivos Shalom The Sisters of Auschwitz  

Kayla tells the story behind her popular podcast, How To Glow   (formerly First Year Married ) and how she became a life and marriage coach. Kayla and Jenna chat about how Kayla helps anxious and insecure newly married (and not so newly married) women become confident and connected through her coaching work. In doing so, they uncover some universal truths about living a happy and fulfilling marrie...

Jenna discusses "shidduch dating," which is the process of dating for marriage in the observant Jewish world. She gives insights into dating for marriage as well as building a lasting marriage based on Jewish wisdom and her own experience.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: I Only Want To Get Married Once Devorah Kigel's Dating & Marriage Resources  

Jenna looks at the test of "lech lecha" that Avraham went through, where Hashem told him to "Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” She explains how this test applies to us today in the journey of our own lives. Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Creating a Life That Matters by Rabbi Manis Friedman...

Jenna and "The Manifestation Mentor" Ayelet Polonsky unpack the powerful idea of manifestation from a Jewish perspective. Join them for a deep and engaging conversation filled with incredible personal stories.  Ayelet  lived in India for a large chunk of six years and learned Visualization and Meditation under some of the greatest Enlightened Masters, until she arrived in Israel five yea...

This week Jenna speaks with her friend and filmmaker, Becky Tahel. Becky is the creator of the new and internationally acclaimed documentary, American Birthright . When Becky's sister becomes engaged to a non-Jew, something is sparked within her.  She decides to create a film exploring intermarriage, but along the way, she realizes that she needs to explore her own realtionship to Judaism. In...

Jenna explores the special mitzvah of joy, which we have every day and especially on Sukkot, the "time of our rejoicing." She explains why happiness is an obligation we owe to ourselves, others, and G-d.  Jenna shares the "happiness formula" given by our Torah sages and applies it to everyday life.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Gateway to Happiness by R...

Jenna gives a brief overview of the purpose of Yom Kippur in relation to Rosh Hashanah.  She delves into some foundational ideas of "teshuva" or returning to our best selves, through the prism of her own recent revelations.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Balanced Teshuva by Jenny  Serle  

We all want to live lives of vitality and meaning. Rosh Hashanah and the holidays that follow carve out time at the beginning of the year so we can reset our goals and re-route to get there. It's not about becoming someone new. It's about becoming the person we truly are inside. It's about coming home. Returning. Teshuva. In returning to ourselves, we return to Hashem, because He is...

Jenna discusses the Jewish perspective on physicality and materialism. She shares ideals to strive for and pitfalls to watch out for. In doing so, she unpacks the idea of the "yetzer hara," the evil inclination, within all of us. Jenna also tells stories from her own life and from Rebbe Nachman to illustrate her points. Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Parsha Eikev S...

In this casual episode, Jenna discusses her reflections after Tisha B'Av (the Jewish day of mourning), the potential of the current period on the Jewish calendar, and the Netflix show My Unorthodox Life.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Source: Charlie Harary