Are you a single mother, widow or divorcee who dreads shabbos (shabbat)? Do you cry at the thought of having to spend shabbat alone, without your kids or anyone else to keep you company? Yehudis Sherman felt the exact same way. After her divorce, she discovered, first hand, the loneliness that many women experience when they spend shabbat isolated from their families. In response to this situation, she created an organization called Mishpachtainu, to help other women, like herself, celebrate...

Talking to your kids about sex might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but it's an important topic, and we have to talk about it. The truth is that if we don't talk to our kids about sex, they are going to find out about it from other kids or other sources (possibly the internet.) We want our kids to know our values about sex, and learn the correct information, preferably from us. Rebbetzin Dr. Hadassah Fromson, a sought after kallah teacher, sex therapist and counselling psychologist, helps...

Have you tried every diet? Keto? Paleo? Weight Watchers? Have you spent hours at the gym, even hired a personal trainer? Are you not able to lose weight, no matter what you do? Tanya Rosen, founder of Nutrition by Tanya, is a nutritionist, life coach, and personal trainer who has helped hundreds of men and women lose weight and keep it off! She believes in balanced eating, and shows her clients exactly how to do it, according to their food preferences and how much weight they need to lose....

How do your survive domestic abuse? Maybe you are married to an abusive or neglectful person. Maybe you had parents who would yell, scream and/or hit you. Most people who are in abusive or neglectful relationships develop physical symptoms as a sign of their emotional trauma--thyroid issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune illnesses. Dr. Miriam Adahan, a psychologist, therapist, popular author, and founder of EMETT (Emotional Maturity Established Through Torah), has over 60 years...

Have you ever wondered how Chabad emissaries are chosen? Have you ever thought about why some Chabad emissaries go to places like Zambia, Nigeria or Peru? What are the challenges of opening a Chabad house, and what are the enormous benefits of being the person who kindles and rekindles Jewish souls? Rebbetzin Rivky Herzel, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Zambia (Africa), speaks about her experience growing up as the daughter of Chabad emissaries to Anchorage, Alaska. She also talks about...

The teenage years can be a challenging time, both for kids and for parents...but there is a way to make things easier, and to actually create a great relationship with your teenager. Rebbetzin Shifra Fried, Empowerment Coach and the rebbetzin of Young Israel of Bedford Bay, in Brooklyn, New York, shares with us that the real work begins by us parents working on ourselves. We need to love and value OURSELVES, BEFORE we love and value our teenagers. The way that we think and feel about...

What is it like to be a Jew in Peru? Do they have kosher food? A mikveh? A minyan? What do they do for Hanukkah? Purim? Pesach? Shabbat? Rebbetzin Sara Blumenfeld, co-director of Chabad of Peru, talks about Jewish life in Lima, Peru. When Rebbetzin Sara, and her husband, Rabbi Zalman Blumenfeld, first came to Lima, there was no kosher food, no Hanukkah candles, no menorahs. In fact, there were terrorists instead. She describes living without electricity! From there, she helped to create and...

Words have power! Words create worlds! Change your words, change your life! Words create our reality! Prolific author and journalist, Rosally Saltsman speaks to us about the power of positive speech. She explains how we can use words to build and also to destroy. We talk about the power of speech when it comes to parenting children. Children build their identity based on what we say to them and how we speak to them. When we speak, we need to be less critical and less judgemental. Instead,...

As Jewish parents, we want to instill a love of Judaism in our children that will last them throughout their lives, into adulthood. Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea Raichman, co-director of Chabad Manaus, in the Amazon region of Brazil, speaks to us about how to cultivate in our children a love of mitzvot (commandments) and a love of serving G-d (Hashem.) Rebbetzin Dvorah Lea believes in parenting with calmness and a personal love for and connection to Hashem. She educates her children in the mitzvot...

Survivor of the Nova Music Festival, Liel Shitrit, shares her story of how she survived the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack in Israel. Liel was with her friends at the festival when Hamas invaded and started shooting at people around 6:30a.m. She describes leaving the festival and how different groups of terrorists shot at her and her friends. One of her friends was shot in the head. (He survived.) Another friend was kidnapped and is currently being held hostage--BRING THEM HOME NOW! Liel...

Honor your father and mother is a strong Torah commandment (mitzvah). Your parents are your main teachers in life, imparting to you many valuable lessons. Rebbetzin Dassi Bigio, co-director of the Chabad House in San Andres, Colombia, talks about the life lessons that her father exemplified for her while she was growing up. One important lesson that Rebbetzin Dassi's father shared with her is to always think about other people. Life is not all about you, so don't be selfish. Think about...

When the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change--that's when authentic growth happens. We break free from "playing small" and step into our greatness. We break free from our fears and start taking action and doing the things that we are meant to do in our lifetime. Rachel Leah Ismaili, the founder of MAYYIM Myofascial Release, creates a safe space for authentic healing to occurs. She offers women a fully integrative mind/body/emotions and soul healing journey. In this...

Jewish women light shabbat (shabbos) candles every Friday night. This is a very special time when we take a deep breath, pause, and truly connect with Hashem (G-d), our Creator. This mitzvah is a connection point from us to G-d, to our fellow Jewish women, and to each other. Girls begin lighting shabbos candles at the age of 3 years old. From the age of 3 until they are married, girls light one shabbos candle. Once the girl is married, she lights two candles, and then adds additional candles...

Covering your hair as a married Jewish woman can sometimes be a challenging mitzvah. Why do Jewish women cover their hair? What is the right way to fulfill this mitzvah? Why are there so many types of hair coverings--wigs (sheitels), falls, hats, hair wraps, scarves, tichels, baseball caps? Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg answers all these questions and many more. She clearly explains, in detail, from where we get this beautiful mitzvah of hair covering, and she gives a wide range of opinions for...

Manifest your dreams and turn your deepest desires into reality. We all have things that we want--a big house, money, close relationships, a loving marriage, well-behaved children...the list goes on...and it should because we are worthy of receiving that which we desire. Through manifestation, we co-create our reality with Hashem (G-d.) We need to understand that Hashem WANTS to GIVE to US. In order to receive, we must know that we are worthy of receiving from Him. We need to daven (pray) to...

Michal Horowitz regularly teaches classes and presents guest lectures on various topics related to Torah, Judaism and Jewish thought. Her goal is to bring the beauty, inspiration, and depth of Torah to others, no matter their age, affiliation, or prior Torah background. Michal believes that life can be beautiful, turbulent, joyous, and painful. As complex as life is, it is the teachings and wisdom of the Torah that helps to guide us along the way. Michal helps us better understand the Torah...

Chavi Kestenbaum is a registered nurse and psychotherapist. She is also a certified mastery coach from the Dina Freedman Academy. Chavi specializes in facilitating communication and harmony in family relationships. She also guides mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law through conflict resolution. Chavi radiates positivity to those around her, which helps her clients tap into and access the inherent love within themselves. In our conversation, Chavi talks about the role of the mother-in-law,...

Devori is a psychotherapist. She is a trauma therapist who has a multidisciplinary approach to challenges by addressing them through mind, body and breath. Some of the modalities that she has trained in include IFS, Body Psychotherapy, EMDR, Comprehensive Resource Model, Logotherapy, and the Imago model of relationship therapy. Devori uses her knowledge of human psychology and relationships to help people face their fears and break free of all that they feel is holding them back from living...

Rebbetzin Nechama Dina Laber is the co-director of the Jewish Greenbush Retreat Campus, and also of the Chabad of Greenbush and Southern Rensselaer County. She is also the founder and director of the Jewish Girls Retreat and Jewish Girls Unite, as well as the GROW Connection Network global online community for girls and women. Rebbetzin Nechama Dina is a certified life coach and the author of several books, including GROW Through Prayer and 3 GROW planners. In this deep and profound...

Rivki Silver is the co-host of the popular Deep Meaningful Conversations podcast. She is a regular contributor to Family First magazine, and her writing can also be found on many popular Jewish websites. She is an engaging public speaker, and has spoken for high schools, seminaries, and Project Inspire. Rivki holds a degree in music performance, and has performed internationally with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and bands. In this fascinating interview, Rivki shares her personal story...

Chany Felberbaum is a certified life coach whose mission it is to help women eliminate trauma at the core so that they can stop surviving and finally start thriving! She created life-changing online programs where women can get powerful tools for mind and emotional healing and well-being. Chany is passionate about helping women release their trauma and move forward with their life, without the weight of "stuck" emotions. In this engaging interview, Chany gives us tools for helping us to...

Evonne Marzouk is the author of the Jewish novel The Prophetess. She was also the founder and former Executive Director of a Jewish environmental organization called Canfei Nesharim, and is currently a board member of its successor organization, GrowTorah. She worked with rabbis, scientists, educators and community leaders to create and distribute Torah teachings on the environment. Evonne has worked at the United States Environmental Protection Agency for over 20 years. Evonne also created...

Tzirel Liba Greenberg is a singer and composer who has written over 100 original songs! (She plays one of her songs on a guitar, and sings toward the end of the interview--kol isha alert!) Tzirel Liba also started The Shabbos Queen Project podcast, which can be heard on SoundCloud. Her friendly, easy approach, performing talent and inspirational messages make The Shabbos Queen Project lessons SO powerful! She consistently captivates her audiences as she shares Emunah tools, Torah wisdom,...

Rebbetzin Chaya Rivka Zwolinsky is the leading teacher of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's wisdom for women in North America. She brings compassion and deep understanding of psychospiritual trauma, transition and growth to her coaching, lectures and workshops in community centers, synagogues, schools, and other venues, as well as online to students on six continents. As the founding director of both BreslovWoman.org and previously, BRI Women, she has been teaching, leading trips for women to Jewish...