The Small Town Rabbi

The completion of the interview of the Minsters! We explore the question about what it was like living as observant Jews in Traverse City for their family visits — both maintaining kosher while visiting with their supportive, non-Jewish relatives and living without Jewish community. We then explore the impact of the arrival of the Chabad Jewish Community Center.

As we approach the grand finale, discover the culmination of John’s conversion journey, leading to his engagement and marriage to Netta in Israel. Inspired both by John’s conversion experience and by their tradition of spending a month each year living observantly Jewish in Traverse City, Netta launched what she calls her “COVID project”: guiding others on their own Jewish journeys. Through conver...

Join us as we explore a major turning point in John and Netta’s early friendship as Netta wrestles with how to navigate her emotions versus her commitments to Judaism. How does John take the news?

From growing up in Traverse City to discovering Judaism in Israel…the amazing start of John Minster’s Jewish journey from his earliest awareness of Judaism in Traverse City to meeting his future wife.

Welcome back for season two! In this first episode we highlight recent developments over the last few months including the arrival of a new associate rabbi for the next year and getting closer to breaking ground on a mikvah. In this season we will be continuing to interview people affected by the presence and the growth of Chabad in Traverse City, MI.

Creating a vessel — the ten siddurim and the arrival of Chabad of Traverse City with a focus on how life has changed since Chabad arrived.

A personal exodus from Egypt, Pesach's journey from atheism back to belief in Hashem, meeting his wife, and Orthodox life in Traverse City before Chabad.

Pesach's self discovery and the start of his journey into judaism.

One year to the [English] date, the closing on the Chabad Jewish Community Center of Traverse City followed by our inaugural event and the start of renovations.

Arriving at nearly $500,000 in less than four months with g-ds help - how our fundraising project and creative solutions brought us to the closing table.

Offer accepted! How we decided on our new building and the generous and crazy terms of purchase the seller accepted—-raising half a million dollars in four months.

Starting our search for a new home for Chabad of Traverse City, fall of 2023, with a very unexpected outcome.

The founding Rosh HaShannah experience of Chabad of Traverse City

Meeting Derek, part two, as we learn about his involvement in rennovating the event and shul space of the Chabad Jewish Community of Traverse City and what it means to him.

Meeting Derek, a founder and a pillar of our community, as we learn his story in Traverse City including his role in establishing weekly Shabbos services.

Hitting the pavement to find all of northern Michigan’s local Jews - summer 2023

Another life-changing first on shluchus in Traverse City: birth and a bris

Join us in Rabbi Laibel’s first Passover as a small town rabbi in Northern Michigan

Rabbi Laibel Shemtov’s first day in Traverse city!!

Rabbi Shemtov and Pesach Sander set up the Small Town Rabbi podcast by starting with the story of how Rabbi Shemtov landed in Northern Michigan.