Join my close friend Gitty Layosh and I as we dive in (pun intended) to the second episode of a three-part mini-series on the women's mitzvot: mikvah. We talk about what a mikvah is, why men and particularly women use the mikvah, the spiritual depth of immersing the mikvah, as well as the connection of water to the current Hebrew month of Cheshvan. We also share stories of Jews throughout history who sacrificed to be able to use the mikvah, and much more! Episode Sponsor: NishmatAre you a pos...

Join my close friend Gitty Layosh and I in the first of a three-part mini-series on the women's mitzvot! First up: challah. We talk about the beauty of the mitzvah, the symbolism of each ingredient, how to do the mitzvah, ridding ourselves of guilt if we can't make challah right now, and much more! We also discuss the connection between challah and the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashana.More on the mitzvah of challah: https://www.modernjewishgirl.com/post/challah-what-we-knead-to-know Gitty's C...

In this amazing episode, I speak with Mrs. Devorah Kigel, a dating coach and mentor who has helped hundreds of women "marry a mensch." We speak about Mrs. Kigel's new book, "Marry a Mensch: Timeless Jewish Wisdom for Today's Single Woman." Mrs. Kigel tells us about her Jewish Journey and how she became a dating coach. She shares her relationship and dating wisdom, both from the Torah and her own life experiences, in hopes that Jewish women can find their mensch with more clarity and...

I am very excited to present my conversation with Chava Green, a women's studies scholar and a Chassidic Jew. Chava's dissertation, “the Hasidic face of feminism," explores how the idea of feminism expresses itself in the Chabad community, both through the Rebbe's teachings and in the lives of Chabad women. In our conversation, Chava and I define feminism and discuss this seemingly paradoxical idea of a "Chasidic Feminist." We hear about her journey to becoming a Chasidic feminist, and dive a...

I was surprised to learn that the Three Weeks, when we mourn the loss of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, is actually filled with the greatest light. Drawing on teachings from the Nesivos Shalom and Rav Shimshon Pincus, join me as I explore why our Sages tell us that TshB'Av, the darkest day on the Jewish calendar, is actually the "greatest festival" and what this means for us. Modern Jewish Girl WebsiteSources:https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5780-terumah/Rav Shimshon Dovid Pincus...

Join me as I speak again with my close friend, teacher, and mentor, Yael (Seruya) Zdanowitz, who co-founded Chamal Har Nof, an emergency relief organization that helps displaced families, army bases, and wives of soldiers in Israel. Yael gives us an update on how Chamal Har Nof has shifted its focus to match the changing needs in Israel. She highlights two crucial initiatives they are working on right now: 1. To raise money for displaced and special needs children to attend camp this su...

Join me as I chat with one of my Torah teachers, Faigy Blumstein. We talk about Faigy's Jewish background, how she started teaching Torah, how she began davening at the Ohel- the Lubavitcher Rebbe's resting place, how she began teaching Tanya (Chabad Chassidus), what we can learn from Tanya in our lives, her family's involvement in the Thank You Hashem movement, connecting to Chassidus, and more! This was a fun one filled with nuggets of wisdom, great stories, and lots of laughs. ...

In this Pesach minisode, I speak about the process of liberation we can experience on Pesach. Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, I discuss our obligation to feel as if we were freed from Egypt every day and how to view the marror, or bitterness, in our lives.  Click here for the new Modern Jewish Girl Website! References: The Kol Menachem Haggadah From Bondage to Freedom

Join me as I speak with life coach Erika Needleman. Erika shares her beautiful Jewish journey and talks about her coaching practice- Adulting with Erika. Why is adulting so hard for our generation? What can we do to make it easier? Erika is filled with Torah-based wisdom, which infuses her coaching practice and gives women the tools they need to stop resisting, reacting, and distracting, and start loving their (imperfect) lives.  About Erika Needleman : Erika is a Life Coach for Women who...

Purim is an especially auspicious time for destroying evil, as the Jews defeated Haman, a descendent of the evil nation Amalek, at that time. Based on the teachings of the Nesivos Shalom, Jenna shares a spiritual recipe for defeating evil in our times, both on a national and personal scale.  Click here for the new Modern Jewish Girl Website! References: Gems From the Nesivos Shalom: Purim by Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg 

Jenna speaks with her close friend, teacher, and mentor, Yael (Seruya) Zdanowitz, who co-founded Chamal Har Nof, an emergency relief organization that helps displaced families, army bases, and wives of soldiers in Israel. Yael gives us a glimpse into the reality on the ground in Israel since October 7th. She describes the incredible work her organization is doing and how we can get involved. Click here for the new Modern Jewish Girl Website! Click here to donate to Chamal Har Nof (Tax...

Jenna speaks with Jackie Glaser- a life mentor, Torah teacher, and friend who guided Jenna on her Jewish journey for many years. Jackie, a former Today Show psychologist in Australia, combines her knowledge of Torah and psychology to help others gain a deep, real, and lasting clarity in dating and life. Jackie speaks about her personal dating journey, how she transitioned into coaching, the biggest obstacles in dating, client success stories, what to do if you are trying to find "the one,"...

Jenna shares a piece of Torah from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov on the battle of light and darkness within ourselves and how we can work to overcome it so that we can truly light up the world.  She shares a personal example of a powerful mind-shift. *CORRECTION- Amalek attacked the Jewish nation after we left Egypt, before we received the Torah.  Click here for the new Modern Jewish Girl Website! Sources: Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s TeachingsScrolls of...

The terror attack in Israel on October 7th, 2023 sent shock waves through the Jewish world and beyond. The immensity of the horror and evil is almost impossible to comprehend. How do we navigate through the most intense tragedy our people have faced since the Holocaust? What is our place in this conflict? What can we do if we are not in the IDF? How do we ensure that never again means NEVER AGAIN? Jenna speaks with Cynthia Hannah, an expert on the Middle East conflict. They discuss the...

Join Jenna as she speaks with Rabbi Moshe Gersht, author of the Wall Street Journal & USA Today  Bestseller, It's All The Same To Me. After performing for nearly a decade as a popular Los Angeles-based musician, Rabbi Gersht moved to Jerusalem, where he has spent the last fifteen years immersed in the wellsprings of Talmud, Chassidus, and Kabbalah. Jenna and Rabbi Gersht speak about his Jewish journey, his spiritual struggles and breakthroughs, achieving true inner peace and...

Jenna speaks with Emory Chabad Rebbetzin Miriam Lipskier in honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's 29th yahrtzeit. They speak about the Rebbe's greatness, what it is like to run a Chabad house on a college campus, how we can live out the Rebbe's legacy, and much more.  Click here for the new Modern Jewish Girl Website!

The Modern Jewish Girl Podcast has had a facelift! We hope you like it! In This Episode: Jenna discusses the theme of Jewish unity as it relates to Shavuos and our own lives. Key Takeaway: The Jewish people stood at Mt. Sinai like "one man with one heart." This is because we united in our ratzon (will) to receive the Torah for the greater good. (The heart is the place of free will, where our true inner will lies). This unity enabled us to receive the greatest blessing: the Torah. It is...

Why do we count the days between Pesach and Shavuos? Jenna explores what this process teaches us about our own growth. Dedicated to Rebbetzin Sharon Shenker a"h, Shayna Lia bas Yehuda Zerach Dedicated to Lucy, Maia, and Rena Dee a"h   Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Gems from the Nesivos Shalom on Sefirat HaOmer by Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg Sparks From the Fire by Rav Moshe Weinberger 

Join Jenna as she discusses why Pesach is the Rosh Hashanah of Emunah (Faith). Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Sources: Gems from the Nesivos Shalom on Pesach by Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg, Hadar Iokheles, Living on Purpose Women's Chabura, Nissan  Emunah Resources: Rabbi Efrem Goldberg, Living with Emunah Classes Rabbi David Ashear, Living Emunah Podcast

Mordechai refused to bow down to Haman, putting the Jews in grave danger. How could he do this? We explore this question and more to make this Purim meaningful and personal! Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl Source: Gems from the Nesivos Shalom on Purim by Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg 

Jenna shares a life-changing tool for reflecting on the past year and planning for the next. In doing so, she sheds light on some fundamental ideas going into Rosh Hashanah.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl

Jenna shares a personal story about a painting she discovered from her grandma, along with some ideas about the Hebrew month of Elul and the process of teshuva  (repentance).  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: ·      Lamed Vav, a collection of favorite stories of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach ztz”l, p. 123 ·      The Psychology of Teshuvah by Rabbi Tzvi Rubin and Yosef Venokur  To view the painting, visit @modernjewishgirl on Instagram 

On Shavuos, the holiday when we celebrate receiving the Torah, we read Megillas Ruth, the book of Ruth. What is the connection here?  Jenna offers an explanation and in doing so, speaks about the role of kindness in Judaism and how we can receive the gift of the Torah in our own lives.  Click here for all things Modern Jewish Girl References: Seed of Redemption by Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky 

This week Jenna features a friend on the Podcast, Sarah Pachter. Sarah is the author of the new book, Is it Ever Enough? A Journey Toward Joyful Living, published by Feldheim. Sarah and Jenna speak about Sarah's unique Jewish background, her career as a speaker and now writer while raising 5 kids (!) and of course, her newest book. In doing so, they uncover some insights into how we can live a bit more joyfully from a Jewish perspective. Click here for all things Modern Jewish...