Anything But Traditional

Shmuel Katz, Beit Shemesh's beloved car mechanic, shares his story on this episode of Anything But Traditional.

From the loss of his mother at the young age of eight to his rebellious teenage years, relocation to Israel, navigating his wife's cancer battle, and ultimately taking the reins as the general manager and owner of AutoKing, Shmuel opens up about the defining moments that shaped his identity.

Throughout our discussion, Shmuel shares how he faces life's challenges with a unique blend of humor and an unwavering optimism for tomorrow.

He provides insights into his views on religion, the importance of adaptability in life and career, and his significant role as a teacher in his community.

Join us as we uncover the layers of Shmuel's life beyond the grease and gears, revealing a story of resilience, faith, and community impact.

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

You can also reach out at [email protected] with any other questions, comments, or inquiries.

Thank you for listening!

In this episode, my neighbor, Avi Dzik, unfolds the chapters of his life – a journey from an awkward little boy to an outgoing adult, culminating in marriage at the age of 38.

Along this transformative path, he grappled with career choices, deciding where to live, maintaining religious observance, and the challenge of creating a home for himself.

Today, Avi resides in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife and four children, thriving in his role as a physical trainer and masseuse.

You can hear more of his story in a documentary made about single men in their thirties and forties here.

To reach out to Avi, email him at [email protected]

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

You can also reach out at [email protected] with any other questions, comments, or inquiries.

Thank you for listening!

This week's episode features my good friend, Kayla Haber Goldstein.

Kayla and her husband Rabbi Shmuel Goldstein, currently serve as the Associate Rabbi and Rebbetzin in Congregation Beth Tefillah in Paramus NJ. Together with their two children, they run an open home at which anyone who needs a Shabbat, a dinner, or a listening ear is welcome. Besides for speaking engagements and events that Questioning The Answers put on, Kayla has recently become involved in the Agunah crisis. Always open for conversation, to offer a helping hand, or to answer any questions.

Hear as we delve into her story in this episode of Anything But Traditional.

To reach out to Kayla you can email her at [email protected] or reach out on Instagram @questioningtheanswers.

You can also check out her website here.

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

You can also reach out at [email protected] with any other questions, comments, or inquiries.

Thank you for listening!

Aliza Abrams Konig is the Director of Student Leadership, at Yeshiva University. Throughout Aliza’s career she has worked within areas of student life, team building, creating curricula, and enriching the experiences of thousands of students through Experiential Education. Aliza also serves as a Surrogacy Consultant to families and individuals pursuing surrogacy.

Earlier in Aliza's career she served as the YU Director of Alumni Engagement, Assistant Principal at Central, Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Director of Student Life at Stern College and as the Director of Jewish Service Learning for the University, where she built the service-learning curriculum and established chessed missions around the world.

Aliza is a member of the inaugural Wexner Field Fellows program through the Wexner Foundation. She has spoken worldwide in synagogues, community centers, and schools about leadership, education, faith, prayer, and issues related to the contemporary Jewish family, dating, infertility, surrogacy, and family.

Aliza holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College, a master's in social work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler. Aliza, her husband Samuel, and their children live in Riverdale, New York, where they are very involved with their community, synagogue, and other local organizations.

In this episode, we sit down to discuss all of this and more.

Some important mentions:

Surrogate Solutions

I Was Supposed To Have A Baby

Keep The Vision Alive Campaign In Memory of Jeffrey Berger

Aliza and My Instagram Live

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

To commemorate my father's yahrzeit, observed last Thursday night and Friday, I've decided to feature my mother on this week's podcast.

Here, she shares her story, encompassing my father's life, his premature passing, her experiences as a single parent raising three children, her subsequent remarriage, the blending of our family with her new husband's family, her spiritual journey, parenting tips, and her perspectives on the current situation in Israel.

This podcast not only provides insight into my mother's life but also sheds light on my upbringing and our family dynamics. Thank you for tuning in!

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

Mindy Levine had a pretty conventional beginning to life, she went to Yeshiva day schools, began a rewarding career as a chemistry professor, got married, and life was smooth sailing.

Then, the unthinkable happened when she was pregnant with her youngest and his twin and unfortunately delivered the twin as a stillborn.

With determination and perseverance, Mindy continued with life, and eventually came to Israel and made aliyah, which came with its unique struggles as she got divorced from her husband and quickly after her 3.5-year-old daughter came out as trans.

While Mindy, her son, and the municipality tried to issue a 'don't ask don't tell' policy, this policy broke as some parents found out and exposed Mindy's son.

This caused intense legal battles and a PR war.

Mindy was put on the air by YNet, Kan, The Pink News, The Times of Israel, World Israel News, and more.

Today, Mindy shares her story with us. What an honor it is to have her on.

As shared in the podcast, Mindy gives special thanks to Havruta, an organization for LGBTQ+ people who are on the religious spectrum.

Thank you for listening!

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

Originally from South Africa, Ronel has been living with her family in the scenic Judean Mountains for the past twelve years.

This transformative journey of self-discovery, leading to the recognition of her family's spiritual and physical home in Israel, was anything but brief.

In fact, it spanned eighteen years of intense exploration of Judaism before culminating in their ultimate conversion.

Despite the challenges, Ronel deems the lengthy journey worthwhile, as she is now living her dream of a more fulfilling life, culminating in the establishment of Cafe Ronel: a delectable Kosher Mehadrin cafe situated on her home's premises, inspired by local customs, cultures, flavors, tastes, and history.

This not only serves as a space for everyone to come together, celebrate, and unite but also as a place that continues to serve chayalim since the beginning of the current war.

You can donate to this initiative through Paypal internationally: [email protected]

Or if you're in Israel, through bank transfer:

שם: קפה רונאל

בנק: הבינלאומי

סניף: 013רחביה

חשבון: 309729

At the cafe, there is also an incredible and unique gift shop where one can browse quality tablecloths, challahs, serviettes, and more.

You truly have to see it to believe it, and I was fortunate to do so with my husband last year!

As this is a two-episode story, make sure to listen in to the first part as Ronel shares her journey away from Christianity.

Then, tune into this episode as she shares about her transition to Judaism, her unique experiences becoming Jewish, and where she is in life today.

Thank you Ronel for coming on and sharing your story.

Originally from South Africa, Ronel has been living with her family in the scenic Judean Mountains for the past twelve years.

This transformative journey of self-discovery, leading to the recognition of her family's spiritual and physical home in Israel, was anything but brief.

In fact, it spanned eighteen years of intense exploration of Judaism before culminating in their ultimate conversion.

Despite the challenges, Ronel deems the lengthy journey worthwhile, as she is now living her dream of a more fulfilling life, culminating in the establishment of Cafe Ronel: a delectable Kosher Mehadrin cafe situated on her home's premises, inspired by local customs, cultures, flavors, tastes, and history.

This not only serves as a space for everyone to come together, celebrate, and unite but also as a place that continues to serve chayalim since the beginning of the current war, which you will hear more about in the second part of this episode, airing next week.

At the cafe, there is also an incredible and unique gift shop where one can browse quality tablecloths, challahs, serviettes, and more.

You truly have to see it to believe it, and I was fortunate to do so with my husband last year!

As this is a two-episode story, this part focuses on the first part of Ronel's journey, including her questions and delving into the Biblical texts.

Next week, we will hear more about her transition to Judaism and learn what she is up to in life today.

Thank you Ronel for coming on and sharing your story.

Canadian author Gila Green is an Israel-based writer, editor, and EFL teacher with a unique perspective on the unfolding events of Israeli history. 

Growing up, her house was intensely Zionistic, as her father grew up in British-mandated Palestine and lived through three wars during his early years of life. 

Then while traveling in Israel, Gila met her husband, who grew up in South Africa under apartheid. Together, they decided that Israel was the best place for them to live. 

Today, Gila has been living in Israel for the past few decades in Ramat Beit Shemesh, and currently, her son-in-law is in reserves, and previously her son served as well. 

With this amount of personal experience and unique understanding of Israel, Gila has put her knowledge and experience to good use as she writes fervently about Israel and has written several fictional novels and shorts on the topic. 

Here are just some of her novels:

Passport Control (S&H Publishing, Virginia, 2018)

White Zion, a novel-in-stories (Cervena Barva Press, Massachusetts, 2019)

No Entry (Stormbird Press, Australia, 2019)

King of the Class (NON Publishing, Vancouver, 2013)

Gila is excited to publish her 5th book, a suspense thriller entitled: With A Good Eye, (AOS Publishing, Montreal this coming August). You can pre-order the Novel here. 

Lastly, Gila has been in several articles and podcasts, including her most recent interview with Distinctions, a piece brought up several times throughout our episode. 

To get in touch with Gila, feel free to check out her website, and make sure to check out her new TikTok and Instagram where she makes fun cooking videos with her kids!

As always, I would love to delve into it with you. So please feel free to visit @talesoftamar on Instagram to expand the conversation and hear updates about future episodes.

Thank you for listening!

On June 11, 2003, Sarri Singer was on Bus 14 in Jerusalem when an 18-year-old Palestinian terrorist dressed as a religious Jew boarded and blew himself up.

17 people were killed, including all those seated and standing around her, and over 100 people were injured. Sarri was hospitalized for two weeks and then returned to New Jersey to be with family.

Her story became high profile. She appeared on television stations such as CBS, FoxNews, CNN, and radio interviews. She spoke before Congressmen and Senators in Washington, D.C., and politicians in New York and New Jersey.

In September 2003 she returned to work and volunteering in Israel. In June 2004, she returned to the United States to take care of ongoing medical issues associated with her attack.

Sarri is the Founder and Director of Strength to Strength (www.stosglobal.org), which focuses on bringing together victims of terrorism together from around the world and assisting with long-term psychological needs.

Sarri has addressed audiences throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and Israel and continues to share her unique insight into the ongoing struggle for victims of terror in Israel and around the world.

Now, in this episode, she addresses the Anything But Traditional community.

**For updates and conversations about these episodes follow me at @talesoftamar

*** Please feel free to reach out regarding sponsorship, ad, and dedication opportunities.

Thank you for listening!