In this very special episode, we hear the fascinating firsthand account of Benaya Cherlow, an IDF reservist who was working on Capital Hill on October 7th. He immediately travelled back to Israel, where he fought first on the Lebanon border and then in Gaza. His story is one of love, pain, heroism, and healing, and provides a perspective on the war through the lens of someone that experienced it firsthand. After returning from Gaza, Benaya organized a delegation to meet with members of congress to bridge the gap between American and Israeli politics. We discuss his work on this episode as well.

This is a special episode of the EJL podcast featuring a recording of a live event with Nova Survivor, Roi Assaraf. The event was held on Monday, 2/26/2024 at the iHeartRadio Soundstage in Rockville, Md.

The event was facilitated by Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and translated by Tamar Epstein. Roi's story begins about 7 minutes and 10 seconds into the episode.

The full video of the presentation including the musical segments (which are edited out here) can be found on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/iv68lbyINdE?feature=shared

Please follow Roi Assaraf and Shlomo Buxbaum on Instagram for powerful content. And please share this episode with others!

The special episode is an addition to the series Energy of the Jewish months that was posted on this podcast on the first of each month in 2021-2022.

Here is a link to the episode about the Jewish month of Adar:

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/RrbNSaYDkHb

Here are the links to the other months:

Cheshvan: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/WbbfCj4DkHb

Kislev: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/MHpAZV7DkHb

Tevet: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/hO4MIT7DkHb

Shevat: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/jG3UlS7DkHb

Nissan: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/23I7RalEkHb

Iyar-Sivan: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/5XHeUIqEkHb

Tamuz: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/JOov8FqEkHb

Av: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/PkOjMDqEkHb

Elul: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/uGZnqABEkHb

Tishrei: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/GMBC3xBEkHb

In honor of the Jewish month of Adar, the month of joy, here is a repost of a conversation about joy that was originally posted February 2022.

Meir Kay, is a filmmaker and Internet sensation whose viral videos have amassed over 350 million views and his social media presence has upwards of one million followers. He makes videos that focus on spreading positivity, emphasize the importance of being happy and showcase random acts of kindness. He is also a marathon runner, world traveler, motivational speaker, social activist and mental health advocate.  

If you enjoyed this episode, we highly recommend our "Three Happiness Practices" episode with Shlomo and Devorah where we discuss achieving happiness in your life.

This podcast is a project of The Lev Experience. To support the podcast please consider donating at Levx.org, picking up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's book "The Four Elements of an Empowered Life", and, most importantly, subscribing and sharing the podcast with others.

R' Moshe Zeldman is a world renowned lecturer who has been sharing teachings on Torah and Jewish philosophy to audiences in over 25 countries around the world. He is a former senior lecturer at Aish HaTorah and the former founder of Core18 Leaders Lab. Most recently, he founded "Meet the Israelis",

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Related Episodes:

Lori Palatnik: The Heroic and Spiritual Response to Crisis and Tragedy (with Devorah Buxbaum)

Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon or in your local Jewish bookstore.

Rabbi Raz Hartman is a teacher of chassidut and spirituality in many Torah institutions throughout Israel. He is also the founder and former spiritual leader of the world-famous "Va-ani Tefilah" Synagogue in Jerusalem. After meeting Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach while studying music in university, Raz began a journey to discover his Jewish roots and channel his musical gifts towards creating heartful, meditative, and spiritual music that would touch the souls of all who hear. He is a pianist, songwriter, and singer who has recorded three studio albums and has appeared as a guest on countless others.

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Related episodes:

Rabbi/Musician R' Yonah Bookstein: Creating communities and reaching distant Jews with innovation and love

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Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon, in your local Jewish bookstore, or right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levx.org/event/the-four-elements-of-freedom⁠⁠⁠

Jenna Zadaka is a celebrated teacher of Jewish Mysticism, Yoga, and Mindfulness, who has creatively infused Jewish mystic teachings from the cyclical Hebrew calendar into wellness practices for over 10 years. She is the Jewish Education Director of At The Well Project and is the creator of powerful courses and content which can be found at breathandsoul.net or on instagram at @breathandsoul_jenna. Her spiritual journey brought her closer to her Judaism and then to Israel. She now lives in Boulder, Colorado where she teaches and treks in the mountains with her psychotherapist and qigong-loving husband and two small boys.

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Related Episodes:

A Kabbalistic Tu B'Shvat Seder from Tzfat- Featuring Eliyahu Pereira (of Two Chassids in a Pod)

Energy of the Jewish Months (4): Month of Shevat, Aquarius, and the Source of Creativity

Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon, in your local Jewish bookstore, or right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levx.org/event/the-four-elements-of-freedom⁠⁠⁠

Dr. Tepfer received his doctoral degree from The Graduate Center, CUNY and advanced training at The Beck Institute, the Albert Ellis Institute, The William Allison White Institute, The Ackerman Institute for the Family, The Psychodrama Institute, and The Gottman Institute. He extensively trained with experts in the field of family therapy and couple infidelity and is a certified sex addiction and multiple addictions therapist (CSAT, CMAT). He is also a certified sex therapist (AASECT).

Currently, Dr. Tepfer maintains his full time private practice in Cedarhurst, Brooklyn, and is the founding director of Arbor Intensives. Dr. Tepfer serves as a supervisor for the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), and is professionally affiliated with The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH), and Nefesh International. He currently resides in Nassau County with his wife and children.

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R' Scott Kahn: Orthodox conundrums; marital intimacy, and other hard conversations we should be having!

Marriage, Mikvah, and Intimacy Secrets with Rochel Goldbaum and Devorah Buxbaum

Freedom, Femininity, and Family: Passover Insights with Rabbi Yonah Sklare

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Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon, in your local Jewish bookstore, or right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levx.org/event/the-four-elements-of-freedom⁠⁠

Rebbetzin Gila Ross is a life coach and educator for over 20 years.

Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon, in your local Jewish bookstore, or right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levx.org/event/the-four-elements-of-freedom⁠

Rabbi Rachamim Bitton’s Lev Emunah Therapy uniquely combines Kabbalah and Chassidut, creating a dynamic approach to personal growth and therapy. Through innovative meditations and Hypno processes deeply embedded in Jewish mysticism, Rabbi Bitton offers more than just insight; he provides transformative experiences for deep self-development and a profound connection with one’s soul and Hashem. His teachings bridge Torah’s ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices, creating a comprehensive journey of spiritual clarity and personal empowerment.
Rabbi Bitton's online community, the Lev Emunah Vitality Circle, is an evolving space of continuous learning and spiritual enrichment and support.

Other episodes of Empowered Jewish Living that speak about Rabbi Nachman of Breslov:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gedale-fenster-the-path-to-purity-recovery-and/id1537507236?i=1000583090195

Please rate and review the Empowered Jewish Living podcast on whatever platform you stream it. Please follow Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum and the Lev Experience on the following channels:

Facebook: @shlomobuxbaum

Instagram: @shlomobuxbaum

YouTube: TheLevExperience

Pick up a copy of Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum's second book, "The Four Elements of Inner Freedom: The Exodus Story as a Model for Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Personal Breakthroughs". You can order a copy on Amazon, in your local Jewish bookstore, or right here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levx.org/event/the-four-elements-of-freedom⁠