Human & Holy

Where do I look for direction? Is G-d just speaking the world into existence, or is G-d speaking to me through all that exists in my life? The Sfas Emes teaches that the plagues transformed the ten divine utterances of creation into the ten commandments, reflecting a clear unveiling of God's hidden creative forces. What is the difference between background speech and directed speech? How can we re...

Shoshana Manssouri stumbled into the role of being a mikveh attendant as a young woman. Over the years, she has developed a deep reverence for the experience of accompanying women to immerse in the mikvah's holy waters. Today, she shares the deeper meaning behind mikvah immersion, what makes these ritual waters holy, and the experiences that made her fall in love with her role. * * * * * * * T...

How do the past versions of ourselves prevent us from experiencing who we are? How can we become more present to what exists in our lives, to the people, callings, and divine encounters that reveal themselves to us every day? The Zohar says "The righteous live every day as if it is their last." What does this teaching illuminate about living life with more presence, living with less atta...

A conversation with Raizy Fried about discovering the Godly purpose of her natural personality, the way resurrection of the dead (Techiyas Hameisim) can be a practical, emotional experience, the realization that Hashem wants our full hearts, how Raizy's personal questions led her to deeper Torah study, how gossip and judgment can be a reflection of our own unfulfilled purpose, what compels her...

What happens when we are called to a mission, but we don't have what it takes? Why is the world we live in one of specificity, where every person experiences a very individual life and purpose? Can we be channels for divine light in this world, as our imperfect selves? When God tells Moshe to speak to Pharoh, he says: "I am not a man of speech." His inability to communicate is not ju...

How do we trust God when we face unfathomable challenges in our lives? How do we believe that God is good when He says no to the things we most want? How can we expand our vessels to receive more blessing in our lives, to make space for better even when it's already good? A live Human & Holy podcast recorded in Woodmere, NY with Miriam Rubenstein on the subject of Bitachon (trust in God). Incl...

There are so many bittersweet flavors to our emotional landscape: our grief intermingled with relief, the tears of compassion when those who have hurt us express their regrets, the push and pull between our inner and outer worlds, the existential ache of not finding full expression in any world, the relief at expressing who we are aloud only to discover that we still only belong to ourselves, the...

Is the life of a Jew an individual journey with God or a communal one? What is being asked of the Jewish people right now? When your faith fractures, how do you find wholeness again in your relationship with God? A conversation with Dr. Mijal Bitton exploring faith in God, the current Jewish experience, Judaism not just as a religion but as a family, the significance of our ancestral bonds and the...

What is the Jewish response to existential threat? Is political activism, investment in physical security and self protection the Jewish response? Is increased prayer and good deeds enough, to the exclusion of all else? Using the biblical record of Yaakov's response to Esav in his moment of danger, the Purim story, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe's response to the 1954 massacre in Kfar Chabad, w...

A conversation with Miriam Pineles, a practitioner of Chinese medicine, Chassidus teacher and founder of Ayin Healing, exploring the intersection of Chinese medicine and Chassidic ideas. Miriam shares how an understanding of the elements within a person can lead to personal healing and balance, the role that the inner dimension of Torah plays in finding wholeness, and practical tools for releasing...

In this Chanukah episode, we gather the light of eight Torah teachers, offering one luminous idea for each night. Exploring the depth behind halachic questions, modern lessons from our ancient victory, and chassidic insight into this festival of light. * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.com To support our work, visit hum...

We celebrated Season Six of the podcast with an evening in LA, celebrating the innermost teachings of Torah with a spiritual gathering of art, poetry, and deep connection. Link to watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/bUQrJUFWpmY Link to the conversation cards created for this evening: humanandholy.com/download SPONSOR: Today’s episode is sponsored by SHARE, a global initiative connecting individuals...

In honor of Yud Tes Kislev, we're talking about farbrengens, everything I learned about gathering with intention, and how to create an environment for honest sharing at a spiritual gathering. Link to download free Human & Holy farbrengen conversation cards here: humanandholy.com/download Link to join our Human & Holy Women's Open Mic Night: eventbrite.com/e/1975623794953/?aff=oddtd...

A conversation about the difference between marital privacy being born of shame versus dignity, the importance of teaching children about sexuality with directness, the cost of being too strict in all things related to family purity, how to determine which community's path, traditions and stringencies to follow, and how to bring divine intention into our experience of this mitzvah. This conver...

When a former student reached out to Rabbi Yitzchok Hutner expressing his dejection at his own spiritual struggles, he received a deeply personal, timeless response giving insight into the inner worlds of our most righteous teachers and leaders, the struggles they silently face, and redemptive wisdom on what our own inner discord tells us about our relationships with G-d. Sources: Letter: Pachad Y...

A conversation exploring all things related to family purity and a holy, Jewish perspective on sexuality. We define what Taharat Hamishpacha (family purity) is, how to navigate the strains of niddah (the period of separation), religious differences within a couple, ways the specific teachings around Jewish sexuality is set in place to protect women, what to do when it feels limiting and more. SAVE...

Are the inward parts of life a step away from our external contributions? Is the only way to influence others through a concerted focus on our outer purpose? Does our personal development and divine service bear fruit in tangible ways? Lessons from our biblical patriarch Yitzchok, whose life of inwardness is titled "Toldos" (offspring) in this week's Torah portion, teaching us a deep...

A conversation delving into the complexities of the mitzvah of honoring one's parents, exploring the emotional struggles many face in fulfilling this commandment. By turning our focus of the mitzvah towards G-d, we create more pathways for acceptance of our parents and the ways they've shaped us into who we are, while opening up channels for healthier, deeper relationships with the people...

Is your body's experience a threat to your soul's expression? What impact does the body's wellbeing have on the soul? Does the body have any inherent wisdom worth listening to? Today's episode is an exploration of the value of the body's experience within Judaism, why the Zohar explains the deeper meaning of Avraham and Sarah's exchange as being an instruction to "list...

A conversation with Helana Herman about integrating the Baal Shem Tov's teachings of connecting to G-d within nature, finding stillness, a Jewish path to manifesting and voicing our desires, the three stages of close relationships and how to move through conflict, deepened community impact through a deeper connection to oneself and the journey to parenting children with religious differences w...

What does it mean to see yourself inside the story of Torah, not as a spectator of the past, but as a co-author of the Jewish future? In honor of the fifth anniversary of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' passing, we explore his writings and ideas on themes of leadership, purpose, love of Torah, love of others, lifelong learning and the call to moral imagination. Rabbi Sacks invites us to see Judaism as a...

Lessons from our biblical matriarchs on owning our Judaism, giving while maintaining personal boundaries, the personal process of rebuilding our Judaism after periods of disillusionment, growing into the choices we've made in our youth, and navigating our own spiritual evolution. Chana Herzog was born and raised in Australia and now lives in Encino, California, with her husband and four spirit...

G-d's call to Avraham is the call to a life of openness, attention, inner transformation, self awareness and trust. Lessons from Parshas Lech Lecha on finding the courage to answer the call of the open road, develop our inner worlds and step into the unknown. * * * * * * * To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.com To support our work...

A conversation with parenting coach Chani Heyman about imparting Jewish values to our children. We explore the importance of owning our own values fully, establishing routines for our children from a young age, and cultivating a strong emotional connection to each child through intentional quality time and physical touch. Chani emphasizes the need for parents to find their own love for Judaism and...

How can precise spiritual language bring G-d to life in our lives? What happens when deep ideas become hollow, when holy words become strangers to the meaning they hold? References: "People of the Word" by Mendel Kalmenson, Zalman Abraham "Chassidus Through the Eyes of a Psychotherapist" by Devori Nussbaum Story of the Lubavitcher Rebbe re "House of Healing": https://...