613 Books Podcast

In this episode of “613 Books” podcast, producer and host Heather Dean welcomes back a few esteemed authors who were Heather’s featured guests over the course of Season 1 to tell us about the books that are on their reading table. Subscribe to “613 Books Podcast” and discover new books every week! Featured authors: (1) Bracha Goetz, author of “Nourish the Soul” and 41 Jewish children's books Brach...

On this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, Producer-Host Heather Dean’s guest is Rabbi Alexander Seinfeld, Executive Director if Jewish Spiritual Literacy, Inc (JSLI). He is the co-author of Body & Soul: The Torah Path to Health, Fitness, and a Holy Life. This book is a collection of over one-hundred-eighty major Torah teachings, some of which appear in translation for the first time. Heather asks Ra...

In this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, producer-host Heather Dean speaks with Sarah Shapiro about her book, “Audience of One,” a collection of short stories. Sarah’s eclectic topics and ponderings are boldly honest yet written in a breezy yet contemplative manner that makes writing about ourselves seem easy. But it’s not! Sarah’s choices in phrasing, structure and tone keep us readers riveted, go...

In this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, producer-host Heather Dean speaks with journalist and Mishpacha Magazine contributor Barbara Bensoussan about her novel, “Pride & Preference,” a frum homage to the Jane Austen classic, “Pride and Prejudice.” The episode begins with an exploration of an essay Barbara published in Mishpacha magazine as a call to achdus in light of the massacre on October 7 and...

In this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, producer-host Heather Dean speaks with bestselling author of over 40 children’s books Bracha Goetz about her memoir (for grown-up readers), “Nourish the Soul” as well as quite a bit of her other written work. In “Nourish the Soul,” Bracha openly reveals her quest for the Truth, her struggles with food and how she overcame them with joy, as well as other well...

Rebbetzin Rochel Miller is Heather Dean’s featured guest on this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, discussing her new book, The Simchah of Marriage. Rebbetzin Miller spent her first eleven years in Israel learning the secrets of the eternal Jewish home with Rebbetzin Talya Helfer in a course based on the Hebrew-language sefer Ohel Rochel. Realizing that this precious learning was missing in the Engl...

Slovie Jungreis-Wolff returns to “613 Books” Podcast to tell us about the making of Rabbi Nachman Seltzer’s bestselling book, The Rebbetzin: The Story of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis Her Life, Her Vision, Her Legacy. Slovie shares remembrances of her mother with us as well as the staggering and humbling impact this biography has had on readers everywhere. PLUS Author and lecturer Sara Blau tells us a...

Rabbi Gershon Schusterman, author of "Why God Why," joins host Heather Dean for this episode of “613 Books” podcast to discuss such timely topics as coping with tragedy, upheaval, and loss on a personal level as well as on a National level as the Jewish Nation is challenged with historic levels of anti-Semitism and the State of Israel at war. Rabbi Schusterman’s depth of understanding of Jewish Ph...

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz returns to “613 Books” Podcast to discuss his book “Shabbat and the Festivals,” and our focus is on deeper meanings to Shabbat and how to maximize the unique and holy powers of the Day. You will also be surprised with the advice Rabbi Tatz gives to new baalei teshuva (Jews who are exploring or returning to mitzvah observance) about what Shabbat laws to keep when it feels like...

London-based Rabbi Ilan Halberstadt joins host Heather Dean for this episode of “613 Books” podcast, describing the mood of his Jewish community. Just as in any of the world’s great metropolises, Jewish people everywhere feel vulnerable and uncertain while Israel is at war with Hamas. The teen years are perpetual times of uncertainty and insecurity: the centuries-old battle with the yetzer ha-ra a...

Lecturer and author Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein is the featured guest on this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, discussing some of the key concepts he writes about in his new book, “Sukkos: A Symphony of Joy.” Rabbi Bernstein clarifies what exactly we are celebrating in this zeman simchaseinu. And if you are puzzled by the Hoshanos service or Simchas Beis Hasho’eva, Rabbi Bernstein clarifies these elem...

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz has returned to “613 Books” Podcast as host Heather Dean’s featured guest, this time to get into the festivities of Sukkot. That includes explaining exactly why Sukkot is considered the happiest time on the Jewish calendar, and how this fits in with the Jewish definition of Happiness. And if the weather is too inclement in your part of the world to dwell in a sukka, Rabbi Tatz...

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz is back on “613 Books” Podcast as host Heather Dean’s featured guest, this time to provide insights and ideas we often wonder about regarding Yom Kippur, but hadn’t thought to ask. Are we expected to intensely ponder each confession of the Viduiy prayer? Are our sins forever erased on Yom Kippur… not to reappear during our Life Review in the next world? How does that work? The...

Welcoming the New Year with Rabbi Akiva Tatz is already something to celebrate on this episode of “613 Books” Podcast. Producer and Host Heather Dean explores with Rabbi Tatz a variety of concepts about Rosh Hashanah based on his new sefer, “Shabbat and the Festivals,” and his classic “Living Inspired.” What should we focus on during Rosh Hashanah services and in general throughout this two-day fe...

Slovie Jungreis-Wolff is Heather Dean’s featured guest on this episode of “613 Books” Podcast, covering a wide range of parenting topics – with a lot of soul. Slovie’s legacy as daughter of esteemed Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h, as well as her own training, informs Slovie’s boundless passion for healthy, well-functioning families. Some of the topics Slovie addresses in this podcast include: overc...

Heather Dean’s featured guest in this episode of “613 Books” Podcast is Yoel Berman, who compiled a book called, “Living in the Land: First-hand Accounts of Bnei Torah and their Families.” Yoel is involved in a variety of initiatives to educate his fellow Jews about the centrality of Eretz Yisrael for all of the Jewish people, as well as about the growing opportunities for those from English-speak...

Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier is Heather Dean’s featured guest on this encore episode of “613 Books” Podcast, discussing many time-tested and halachically-sourced principles about Jewish marriage contained in his book, Ten Really Dumb Mistakes that Very Smart Couples Make. Rabbi Shafier provides a wealth of solid, achievable and at times surprising advice about how all married couples can strengthen the...

SPECIAL EDITION: ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS Heather Dean’s featured guest in this episode is Kimberley Strassel, The Wall Street Journal’s Editorial Board member and author of THE BIDEN MALAISE: How America Bounces Back from Joe Biden’s Dismal Repeat of the Jimmy Carter Years. Has the Joe Biden Presidency been good for Israel? … what about the U.S. and the world in general? Just as Israelis follow the...

We’re all deep thinkers, right? But who has time to actually meditate? And what is ‘Jewish’ meditation? Heather Dean’s guest on this encore episode of “613 Books” Podcast is educator, international speaker and author Sara Blau, and she has written two incredible books for us to better and more fully meditate on authentic Jewish wisdom that will improve our lives practically and spiritually. Sara’s...

What does your beach bag want between your giant towel and flip-flops? Sunscreen would be it. Baz Luhrmann reference aside, it’s not summer without great summer “reads.” And for listeners of 613 Books Podcast, reading is always in season! Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm or occasional book fancier, you’ll enjoy host Heather Dean’s conversation with acclaimed musician and host of “The Weekly Sque...

In this episode of 613 Book Podcast, we are focusing on some of the books that Jewish readers are perusing and recommending during this period of mourning on our calendar. Award-winning journalist and theatre director, Toby Klein Greenwald leads the way with reading suggestions that are varied and powerful. Author and community leader Miriam Liebermann tells us about a riveting, deeply evocative n...

THE BOOK FOR EVERYONE’S COFFEE TABLE This is where artist and Creative Director at Mishpacha Magazine @Menachem Weinreb would like to see his new book “Mystical Matters of the Bible and Beyond” as you’ll hear in his 613 Books Podcast interview with host Heather Dean. This is your very own preview of Heather’s pick for what she predicts will be the next big thing in Jewish books. If you are ready t...

Airing during The Three Weeks, Heather welcomes Toronto-based author, educator, and social worker Jonah Simcha Chaim Muskat-Brown to discuss the information and inspiration in his book, Expanding Potential on this episode 613 Books podcast. While this time period on the Jewish calendar elicits feelings of dread and darkness to so many, Jonah offers a hopeful take in a section he calls, “Spiritual...

This episode of 613 Books podcast features host Heather Dean’s interview with bestselling author Riva Pomerantz about her novel, "See You!" Riva talks about crafting the dramatic twists and turns that the newly-widowed protagonist must face despite her headstrong inclination to appear perfect in everyone’s eyes. *** SPECIAL OFFER ALERT! *** Exclusive to “613 Books” Podcast listeners, Menucha Publi...

Not making this up: developing characters and story arcs for a work of fiction is far from simple. On this episode of “613 Books” podcast, avid readers like us are treated to an inside peek of this craft with masterful author, columnist and writer of some of Mishpacha Magazine’s best-loved serials, Esther Kurtz. How does she create compelling characters whether they’re an introverted genius, a new...