Human & Holy

A conversation about embracing the many ways of seeing the Torah while remaining rooted in our values, the difference between judgment and discernment, impacting people without preaching, and how to approach the decision to have another baby. Dena Schusterman is a founder of Chabad Intown in Atlanta, a Jewish educator and a founding director of both the Intown Jewish Preschool and Hebrew School. D...

Orthodox Jewish singer Shaindy Plotzker discusses her journey within the music industry, using our talents and voices for the sake of a higher purpose, performing for women’s only crowds and the blessings she’s seen come of it, seeing G-d as the source of both our successes and hardships, learning how to rest, elevating other women in her industry, advice for aspiring artists, and the deep intenti...

A thorough conversation about women’s roles, the beauty and significance of Jewish law, and the lived experience of women’s Judaism. This episode is dedicated by Schwartzie’s daughters in honor of the 8th yartzeit of their father, Shlomo Yitzchak Ben Moshe, aka Schwartzie. Do a mitzvah in his honor. Today’s episode explores questions like: What is the ideal definition of a Jewish woman’s role with...

A conversation about the chassidic work of V'atah Tetzaveh. This conversation explores the generational shift from serving G-d through self sacrifice to a generation that is asked to serve G-d through abundance and an integration of our individual selves, as well as the role of a Tzaddik in helping us reveal the light of our souls. Contact Sara Blau and learn more about her work at www.sarabla...

A conversation with Chaya Lester , a psychotherapist, author, speaker, and poet, about the significance of internal, spiritual work during a time of collective upheaval, how we can become more attuned to divine messages through our daily interactions and dreams, and how we are all being invited to practice spiritual chutzpah in order to reveal the divine reality of the world. Video episode is avai...

Episode is sponsored in honor of Uziel ben Moshe Yakov, whose yartzeit is Yud Tes Teves. May his neshama have an aliyah. A conversation with Shternie Rosenfeld -- who is a shlucha, Torah teacher, and single mother -- about her transformative journey through divorce within the Orthodox community. Shternie talks about her darkest moments and how she found light through an unwavering relationship wit...

Recording of a Human & Holy Open Mic night hosted in LA, with the theme " I Am a Jew". Women shared their writings, original music, poetry and more. Video episode available on Youtube. This evening was sponsored by SOLIKA, a modest women's clothing brand based in LA. Find their clothing at solika.com This evening was sponsored anonymously in honor of the refuah sheleima of Penina...

A conversation with Nechama Schusterman about how to live with an internal Moshiach consciousness, based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. This episode is our second episode with Nechama, where we took listener questions, and dove deeper into the practical experience of integrating G-d into our daily lives. Video episode with Nechama is available on Youtube. Listen to our first episode wi...

Nechama Dina Hendel from Baka, Jerusalem speaks about her community work in Israel during the war, the interconnectedness of the Jewish people from all over the world, her relationship with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and how to process the crushing losses of people we spent months praying for. Video episode available on Youtube. Contact Nechama Dina here: chabadofbaka18@gmail.com Link to donate to Chab...

A conversation with Gitty Rappoport about finding a personal sense of identity within her Judaism, how she navigated her religious questions growing up in Boro Park, and how Chassidic wisdom helped her develop a deep sense of connection to her Judaism. Episode sponsored in honor of the yartzeit of Chana Bracha bas Isser. May her neshama have the highest aliyah. Episode Partners:TOVEEDO: An online...

When we are crushed, what do we do the broken pieces? And when our faith wavers, can we lean on the tiny flickers of faith? This episode chronicles the inner process that followed the crushing losses of Malki's babies and the way she opened up her heart to transform her pain into a source of light. TW: Malki speaks about pregnancy loss and death in this episode. Human & Holy is currently on a...

A conversation about moving away from our obsession with productivity to embrace the value of simply being. Through a teaching about the diminishment of the moon, Rivky challenges us to consider that sometimes, our mere presence is enough. We are human beings, not doings. Some days, G-d asks us, simply, to be. Human & Holy is currently on a season break. Season 5 airs on Sunday, Dec. 15. This...

An exploration of Jewish sacrifice with Chana Silberstein, through the lens of the Akedah. How can we mature in our faith, so that we make choices rooted in a deep safety with G-d? What is the ideal motivator of our lives, a sense of sacrifice or desire? And how do we process the inevitable pitfalls of our carefully chosen paths? Chana Silberstein came to Ithaca in 1984 with her husband to establi...

A conversation about the rich, Jewish tradition of women's voices expressed through informal prayer, how to unlock that ability within ourselves, and personal reflections from her new book, “ Az Nashir - We Will Sing Again: Women’s Prayers for Our Time of Need, ” which is an anthology of personal prayers written by Jewish women in Israel. Purchase Az Nashir here: bit.ly/48L0zFT Shira Lankin Sheps...

A conversation with Chana Traxler about experiencing flow within our Judaism, leaning into abstract spiritual experiences, and choosing simplicity as the deepest experience of G-d. This episode is sponsored in honor of Lauren Nagel. Human & Holy Partners: TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription featuring exclusive Jewish content created and sourced by Toveedo. Use code HH10 for 10...

A conversation with Esther Piekarski about a new woman to woman helpline created by Mikvah.org, the differentiation between a Rav and a woman's scholarship, Yoatzot Halacha, women's roles in shul, and the power of receiving support from another woman for sensitive mitzvos. Interview begins at 8:53. You can reach the helpline by calling 833-4MIKVAH | 833-464-5824 and find more information at mikvah...

A conversation about the unity of G-d that we experience over Sukkos, and how can we can draw that all-encompassing embrace into the fragmented pieces of our lives. Source mentioned in this episode: Chassidic discourse of the Lubavitcher Rebbe from Motzei Simchas Torah, 5738. This episode is sponsored in honor of Lauren Nagel. Episode Partners: TOVEEDO: An online children's streaming subscription...

A recording of a live, follow up conversation with Tzivie Greenberg, where we discussed podcast listeners' questions, as well as questions that came in from the audience as we spoke. Some questions that were asked: Is therapeutic language authentic to the Tanya? What are some practical ways to live in a way that emanates from the light of our souls? How can we find a healthy balance between being...

A conversation about the connection between Rosh Hashana and centrality of the home within Judaism, the role that Jewish women's candle-lighting plays in welcoming a new year, the rising of a feminine energy within Judaism, the challenges of being wrapped up in domestic tasks or the role of motherhood when you want to be absorbed in the deeper meaning of the day, and more. Based on a talk from the...

Is Teshuvah a return to an untouched state of purity, or an acceptance of the past mistakes and experiences that have led us to where we are today? A deeply moving teaching from Rav Tzadok of Lublin about the conversation between growth and self-acceptance in the journey of Teshuvah, and on how the darker parts of our journey are the most generative parts, too. This episode is sponsored by Zelda H...

What would it look like to have a spiritual relationship with financial abundance? How can we move out of control and into an open trust in G-d's ability to provide everything that we need? This episode is a conversation with Sarah Barash about experiencing the spiritual depth of money and dissolving some of the blockages we have to receiving the resources we so desire and need. Sarah can be r...

Is inner healing truly a Jewish value? How do you know when to stop? What is the relationship between emotional wellness and spiritual growth? How do we dissolve the blockages to our soul’s innate voice? Explore these questions and more in this conversation about Teshuvah, personal healing, spiritual growth, and returning to our divine soul’s voice. Tzivie Greenberg is a facilitator of emotional h...

The unlikely story of a woman who found Judaism as a teenager, married young, and became a Chabad Rebbetzin in her own hometown. What propelled her to choose her Judaism at such a young age? And what it is it like, fifteen years later, to be living a life so different than the one she was raised with? To get in touch with Ariella, you can email her at gawronsky.a@gmail.com. This episode is sponsor...

A conversation about learning how to love other people, the medicine for judgment, and knowing when to reflect the flaws we see in others as a catalyst for our own introspection and growth. Based on Chapter 30 of Tanya. This episode is sponsored by Zelda Hair, a wig company that champions the holistic process of hair covering for Jewish women. Shop Zelda Hair at zeldahairshop.com and discover the...

A solo episode about Moshiach and why I can't stop thinking about Nachshon stepping into the sea. ______________ We love hearing your feedback! Email us at info@humanandholy.com to get in touch. To sponsor an episode, reach out to us via email or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.humanandholy.com/sponsor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ . Become a monthly supporter of the podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/humanandholy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...