Meaningful People

In this powerful episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit down with Rabin Rahmanfar, a courageous individual who escaped Iran as a young Jew after the revolution.     Thriving through adversity, Rabin shares his incredible journey of posing as a Muslim boy to survive and keep a low profile. His life story is nothing short of miraculous, filled with inspiring resilience and remarkable exper...

R' David Kalmus reflects on his personal journey navigating mental health struggles, including experiences with depression and anxiety.     Growing up in a secular environment, David encountered challenges such as bullying and a significant bout of depression during his time in sixth grade, which ultimately fueled his immersion in atheism.     David experienced a spiritual awakening that led him t...

Get ready for a transformative episode of the Meaningful People podcast featuring the inspiring co-founders of Guard Your Eyes, Yakov Nadel and Yechezkel Steltzer.     Join us as we delve into their revolutionary website dedicated to supporting individuals in overcoming unhealthy online behaviors / addictions and steering clear of harmful online content.   With their innovative approach, Yakov and...

In this episode, we sit down with Chaim Cohen, who shares his powerful journey from a secular upbringing to embracing Orthodox Judaism. Chaim recounts his early life in a non-Jewish neighborhood in Sharon, Massachusetts, where football became an outlet for his anger and a shield against bullying. Despite his bar mitzvah, he felt disconnected from his Jewish identity, viewing it as a burden rather...

Dr. Ari Bergmann is the founder and Managing Principal of Penso Advisors, LLC, a New York-based global macro and risk management boutique specializing in derivatives structuring/trading and systemic risk mitigation. Prior to founding the firm in 1997, Dr. Bergmann was a Senior Managing Director at Bankers Trust.     Ari received a BTL from Ner Israel Rabbinical College in 1981 and furthered his gr...

Maury Litwack is the CEO of Teach Coalition, a project of the Orthodox Union, the nation's largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, dedicated to advocating for government funding and resources for non-public schools. Litwack previous served as a staffer for members of the US House of Representatives and as a lobbyist for Miami Dade County. In this episdoe, Litwack talks about the importance...

This episode features a compelling interview with Eli Goldbaum, a mediator specializing in divorces within the orthodox Jewish world.     Eli's approach emphasizes the importance of preventing divorces when possible and facilitating peaceful resolutions when dissolution of marriage becomes inevitable.     Learn about Eli's efforts through the Yashar Initiative, an organization dedicated to promoti...

Orly Gilboa is a prominent Israeli artist whose personal life has recently been marked by profound tragedy. Her daughter, Daniella, has been taken hostage in Gaza, bringing an intense and personal dimension to Gilboa's public and artistic life.     As the situation unfolds, Gilboa's strength and resilience are being tested, drawing widespread empathy and support for her and her family during this...

Rabbi Sholom Duchman is the director of Colel Chabad. The organization was founded in 1788 and is the oldest continuously operating charity in Israel. The institution runs a network of soup kitchens and food banks, dental and medical clinics, daycare centers, widow and orphan support, and immigrant assistance programs. It also provides interest-free loans, camp scholarships, career training and jo...

  Natan Gamedze (born 1963, Swaziland) is today a Rabbi and lecturer but that is certainly not where he started. Born to the royal lineage of the Gamedze clan of the Kingdom of Eswatini, he converted to Judaism, received rabbinic ordination, and now lectures to Jewish audiences all over the world with his personal story as to how an African prince became a Black Haredi Jewish rabbi.   🔴Sponsors🔴...

World renowned scholar and teacher, Rabbi YY Jacobson, speaks out on the mental health crisis in our community, and offers solution to combat anxiety and stress.      Sponsors     _________     ►Ayeka Night out at the Cutting Room with 8th Day!   Buy Tickets Here   https://www.ayekaproject.com   _________       ►Town Appliance        Visit  https://www.townappliance.com   Message Town Appliance on...

We sat down with R' Yussie Zakutinsky, Rav Judah Mischel and R' YY Jacobson to discuss how the Lubavitcher Rebbe changed their lives and the world around them.   🔷 Did you know the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Chiddushim and Divrei Torah fill over 200 published volumes?   Marking the Lubavitcher Rebbe's 30th yahrzeit, many prominent Rabbonim are joining a campaign to encourage the study of the Rebbe's Div...

Rabbi Yoseph Vigler was born in Cape Town, South Africa and raised in Springs, a small shtetl an hour from Johannesburg. After studying in yeshiva at Ateres Yisroel in Bayit Vegan, Kfar Chabad, Kollel in New York and in Melbourne Australia. Rabbi Vigler received Smicha from the Chief Rabbinate in Eretz Yisroel and Shimush L'Rabbonus in various areas of Halacha. Rabbi Vigler is a proud father of te...

Chatting live with Rabbi Judah Mischel about educating special needs children.     Donate to JEMS Academy:   https://thechesedfund.com/jems/dreams South Florida's premier Jewish educational institution for children with disabilities. Help support their mission to provide Jewish education in a therapeutic environment, ensuring children with special needs can achieve the highest degree of knowledge,...

Four of Yerucham Rivlin's sons went to the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im on October 7. Only two made it out alive after the terror attack that sparked Israel's war in Gaza.   🔴Sponsors🔴   ___________   ►Ceremian (Alpert and Associates)   Achieve financial liberty   Email Alpertmoshe@gmail.com   Or call 718-644-1594     What's App Message Here- https://wa.link/w9hdyt ___________   ►...

Zeldy Broyde is a dedicated individual who prioritizes her roles as a mother of four and as an active member of the Haverstraw, NY community.     She possesses a deep-rooted desire to make a positive impact and provide assistance to others. Leveraging her personal life experiences, Zeldy has established a significant platform that empowers individuals whose lives have been impacted by sexual abuse...

Eli Beer is the founder of United Hatzalah of Israel.     Eli and his volunteers were first on the scene racing to save as many lives as possible on October 7, coming face to face with Hamas terrorists and their victims.     In this episode, Eli reflects on his experiences as a first responder, incredible stories of heroism in the face of terror, the amazing work of United Hatzalah and their incre...

Harley Finkelstein is an entrepreneur, lawyer, and the President of Shopify. He founded his first company at age 17 while a student at McGill. Harley completed his law degree as well as his MBA at the University of Ottawa.     Harley was one of the "Dragons" on CBC's Next Gen Den and starred on Discovery Channel's I Quit. He received the Canadian Angel Investor of the Year Award, Canada's Top 40 U...

After performing for nearly a decade as a popular Los Angeles–based musician, Moshe moved to Jerusalem, where he has spent the last fifteen years immersed in the wellsprings of Talmud, Chassidus, Kabbalah, and Spirituality.     He has devoted his life to seamlessly bridging the worlds of the Torah tradition, mystical wisdom, the true nature of the human mind, and our collective struggles. For year...

Shulem Lemmer (born November 6, 1989), known professionally simply as " Shulem ," is an American Belz Hasidic singer from Borough Park, Brooklyn, in New York City. He is the first born-and-raised Charedi Jew to sign a major record contract with a leading label, Universal Music Group, under its classical music Decca Gold imprint.   🔴Sponsors🔴 ►Toveedo   The Jewish videos your kids will love all i...

Hudi Arieh was born with TAR syndrome, also known as, Thrombocytopenia. But she is not letting that stop her. In this episode, Hudi shares her incredible life story, the mindset that has enabled her to overcome incredible odds, and her amazing faith and Emunah.   🔴Sponsors🔴   ►Toveedo   The Jewish videos your kids will love all in one happy place: https://toveedo.com Use promo code MM10 for 10%...

Miriam Peretz  is an Israeli educator and public speaker.  After the deaths of two of her sons during their service in the Israel Defense Forces, Peretz became a lecturer on Zionism and living with loss. She was the recipient of the Israel Prize in 2018, for lifetime achievement. In May 2021, Peretz announced that she would run for President of Israel in the 2021 election as an Independent candida...

David Schottenstein is the founder and former CEO of Privé Revaux sunglasses and has started and sold multiple companies and has ownership interests in a number of successful ventures including OneWheel, Mizzen & Main and his latest venture, 7th Heaven Chocolate Co. In this episode David opens up about his recent stint in prison, what he has learned from it and what he's doing now for the Jewish c...

Mordechai Shapiro was born in 1989 in Monsey, New York. Born into a musical family, his father is a chazzan and his mother has a background as a trained opera singer. He learned in yeshiva in Ashar, Netiv Aryeh, and Yeshivas Bais Yisroel. Shapiro made his musical debut as the star soloist of the Miami Boys Choir. After leaving the choir, Shapiro took a break from music until his voice transitioned...

This week we talked to Meira Cowland, a news curator, political consultant and Israel activist. Meira shares the fascinating story of her religious journey, education, and how she become the source for real global news for tens of thousands of people after the October 7th terrorist attack in Israel via her Instagram channel. Meira's story, as well as her professional insights into the world of pol...