A historical, halachic and cultural exploration of women's celebration of Simchas Torah. Through a poll of women's experiences, a deep dive into relevant halachic and historical sources, and an analysis of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe asking if the women of his community could dance with the Torah, we explore questions like:

Is Simchas Torah a “men’s holiday”? Is there an essential difference between men and women’s relationship to this day? How did the custom to dance with the Torah develop? Can women dance with the Torah? Should women dance at all?

Join us in exploring women's relationship to this joyful, celebratory holiday.

Sources:

The Diary of Samuel Pepys, entry for October 14, 1663

"Law as Love" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Shlomo Riskin, Listening to G-d (New Milford, CT: Maggid, 2010), pp.193-96

Lubavitcher Rebbe's letter to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, 13 Kislev 1976

Rambam Hilchot Shofar V'sukka V'lulav 8:14

Chemdat Yamim III Sukka 8

"Dancing With the Torah" by Laurie Novick

R. Moshe Meiselman, Jewish Woman in Jewish Law (New York, 1978)

Shulchan Aruch OC 88

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To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

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Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction: Why We're Exploring This Topic

02:49 What Simchas Torah Means to Me

05:24 Poll Results on Women's Experiences of Simchas Torah

7:00 Is There an Essential Difference Between Men and Women's Relationship to Dancing on Simchas Torah?

9:39 Participating Through Watching

10:32 Being a Bystander

11:18 The Pain of Alienation

13:39 Why Do Women Dance?

14:40 What Motivates Women's Desire to Dance With the Torah?

17:20 When Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Went to Ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Advice

21:18 The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Retraction

23:50 When Samuel Pepys Visited a Synagogue in 1663

25:30 The Evolution of the Tradition of Dancing

29:11 What is the Barrier to Women Dancing with the Torah?

31:10 Diversity of Rabbinic Perspectives on the Topic

32:40 Exploring the Custom Women Took Upon Themselves Not to Touch the Torah

39:15 Recognizing the Nuances of this Topic

41:30 Women Yearning to Dance with the Torah

43:55 Cultural Impact of Each Woman's Experience

45:00 Ensuring a Vibrant Women's Section

47:00 Simchas Torah Belongs to the Entire Jewish People

How do we access joy when the world feels heavy?

How do we lean into joy amidst collective anguish, grief, and global uncertainty?

As we enter the holiday of Sukkos, the time of our joy, we are asked to celebrate. But what does it look like to celebrate honestly, without ignoring the ache of our times?

In this episode, we explore how Sukkos offers a model of Jewish joy that honors the emotional complexity of life.

A joy that is not about denying our pain, but about making a courageous, spiritual choice: to recognize the divine presence and be moved by it, to root more deeply into our communal spaces and our responsibility for one another, and to bring our sorrow to the dance floor, trusting in its ultimate healing.

Sources:

Chapter 33, Tanya by the Alter Rebbe

"I Praised Happiness" by Rabbi Shagar

"Catharsis" by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik

Likutei Moharan, Part II 23:1:2

Rabbi Isaac Luria, Pri Etz Hayim, Sukkot

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

A meditation to open us up to the profound spiritual potential of Yom Kippur — the day of G-d's ultimate love. Together, we explore what it means for the day to atone, and how we might be softened and expanded by our encounter with Hashem.

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In this raw conversation with Sara Mayberg, we explore Sara's personal process of Teshuvah and the path back to her divine soul, as someone who was already committed to her Jewish practice. We discuss how the inherent nature of the divine soul is to want G-d, how Sara began to develop a visceral experience of trust, and how grief can crack us open in transformative ways.

Other topics explored: how financial struggles can be invitations to lean on G-d, the significance of community in the path back to ourselves, learning to see the divine in others, the ongoing process of return, and the journey to reclaiming a sense of choice in our Judaism and relationships.

Sara can be contacted at [email protected].

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Reconnecting with Joy

01:26 The Journey of Trust and Divine Connection

03:45 Awakening Through Relationships

07:49 The Catalyst of Darkness

11:04 Surrendering to the Void

14:56 Finding G-d in Material Insecurity

20:15 Navigating Financial Strain and Trust

22:41 Grieving and Embracing New Perspectives

29:31The Ongoing Conversation with Hashem

32:28 Experiencing Hashem Within and Around Us

34:18 Integrating Knowledge into the Body

36:34 The Role of Prayer and Learning in Personal Growth

38:59 Understanding the Animal and Divine Souls

42:26 Compassion and Connection in Healing

45:12 Seeing the Divine in Others

48:37 Building Community and Support

50:27 Reconnecting with Judaism and Mitzvot

52:59 The Process of Teshuvah and Reclaiming Choice

55:53 Acceptance and Compassion in Relationships

59:04 Trusting the Power of Our Souls

01:00:58 Letting Go to Make Space for What's Next

01:02:12 "I Love You"

Elul and the high holidays are a period of introspection and self accounting. In this conversation with Matti Banon, we discuss the Chassidic perspective on gentle growth, what it looks like to live our lives with agency while remaining humble enough to recognize our recurring flaws, the balance between intellect and emotion, the transformative power of compassion and curiosity, and the parenting truths that can guide us in becoming more whole ourselves.

Matti Banon is a campus shlucha in Montreal who enjoys learning and delving into topics like marriage and parenting through the lens of Chassidus. Her children are her biggest helpers when it comes to her shlichus and self growth. She can be reached at [email protected]

References:

Story of the Baal Shem Tov & the shofar: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3080/jewish/The-Master-Key.htm

Chapter 27 of the Tanya (the sweet & spicy paths): https://www.chabad.org/library/tanya/tanya_cdo/aid/7906/jewish/Chapter-27.htm

More about Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1007604/jewish/A-Brief-Biography.htm

The 4 Body System: https://a.co/d/djfpzDu

Parenting reference: Blimieheller.com

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

01:53 The Essence of Parenting and Nurturing

05:13 Leading Ourselves: The Journey of Self-Discovery

10:03 Awareness and Compassion: The First Steps

14:42 The Role of Emotions in Personal Growth

19:52 The Chassidic Balance of Intellect and Emotion

24:48 Transforming the Inner Critic

29:43 Discipline and Connection in Parenting

34:33 Embracing Imperfection and Growth

39:27 The Importance of Compassion in Relationships

44:34 Curiosity and Self-Exploration

49:06 Final Thoughts

The Shofar is a call to face your own desire. Its explosive call on Rosh Hashanah is an invitation to be awoken to the depths within us, to witness the divine desire with which G-d created the world, and to have the courage to face the gaps between where we are and what we truly want.

Source: Likkutei Torah Tiku Bachodesh, Parshas Netzavim, pg. 106

SPONSOR:

Sponsored in honor of Malka Mayasha bat Esther, for a year of blessings and joy.

To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 The Call of the Shofar: Awakening the Soul's Desire

02:48 Rosh Hashanah: Renewal and Connection

06:08 Understanding G-d's Desire: The Essence of Creation

08:47 Two Levels of Divine Will

11:55 The Gift of Rupture: Awakening Your Depths

14:47 The Courage to Face Our True Desires

18:07 Meeting G-d: The Divine Invitation on Rosh Hashanah

In this conversation, Gitty Hecht shares her transformative journey from a well-known makeup artist to a spiritual leader, exploring her relationship with G-d and the evolution of her self-worth. She explores moving from a fear-based connection with G-d to one of secure attachment and intimacy, the importance of embracing one's gifts, overcoming fear, dismantling self-imposed pedestals of spiritual leadership, and embracing her current role with humility and authenticity. Gitty emphasizes that everyone has something to offer to the world as they are and that the impact of our actions can resonate deeply, even if we don't always see it.

Gitty Hecht is a Rebbetzin, speaker, and educator based in Queens, NY.

Find more of her work here: https://linktr.ee/gittyhecht

Explore her online courses here: https://stan.store/GittyHecht

Contact her at [email protected].

Find her on instagram @gittyhecht

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Guest Intro & Life Journey

00:05:10 - Post-Divorce Transformation

10:35:00 - Shame, Vulnerability, and G-d

14:05:00 - Evolving Faith: From Fear to Connection

21:58:00 - G-d's Unconditional Love

27:12:00 - Finding Love & Safety

00:30:39 - Dismantling the Pedestal of Spiritual Leadership

34:35:00 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

41:00:00 - Torah Study & Leadership

Season Six is live! In today's episode, I share my vision for this new season of the podcast, some Torah about the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov and Alter Rebbe, and the ways our diversity is a reflection of the inherent oneness woven through G-d, Torah, and the Jewish people.

Source: a talk on Chai Elul given by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, recorded in Likutei Sichos, Vol. 24

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If you believe in Human & Holy's work, consider partnering with us! To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]. To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

In the first episode of Season 6, we sit down with three women, Sophia Rivka Rossi, Shaina Liberow-Schmukler, and Adira Shiff-Kest, to explore the impact of Chassidic wisdom on their individual experiences of Teshuvah and their process of returning to their divine souls. We explore the power of emotional honesty, humor, and even anger in our relationship with G-d, the importance of maintaining our own individual voices and what it looks like to truly choose G-d throughout life.

EPISODE SPONSOR:

Today’s episode is sponsored by Share, a global initiative connecting individuals to the timeless teachings of the inner dimension of Jewish wisdom, known as Pnimiyut Hatorah. Their mission is to inspire soulful living and learning by translating ancient insights for the contemporary moment. You can learn more on Share.Fund.

Explore their new book, an English translation of Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag’s Introduction to the Zohar: The Wisdom of Truth here: https://korenpub.com/products/introduction-to-the-zohar?srsltid=AfmBOooH7_qO1p7rBV6KCczFMDV3aeErxeHI67zRImb1g0hh2e3tUBqL

To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction & Share Sponsorship

02:49 Celebrating Chai Elul and the Impact of Chassidus

05:43 When Judaism Entered My Inner World

09:02 Understanding Teshuvah: A Return to Self

11:58 How the Tanya Impacted Me

14:47 G-d is Underneath the Pain

17:40 Emotional Honesty in a Relationship with G-d

27:16 The Power of Holy Anger

29:37 Being a Voice of Moral Courage

32:19 The Zigzags of Life

34:45 Finding Stillness in a Busy World

38:35 There's More to You

41:45 A Jewish Experience of Joy

45:48 Owning My Jewish Identity in Public

49:00 The Ideas That Changed Me

49:53 From One Soul to Another

What if your relationship with G-d wasn't just in your head and heart, but lived in your entire body?

Shimona Tzukernik, a somatic therapist and Torah teacher, describes the bridge between intellectual faith and visceral spiritual experience.

How can we transform the visceral resistance we feel towards certain mitzvos?

How can we lean into the body’s experience of a joyful, jewish life?

Human & Holy is currently on a season break. Season Six airs on Sunday, September 7!

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To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected]

To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.

Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨

Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Visceral Experience of God

0:36 - Meet Shimona Tzukernik

2:24 - Shimona's Pivot to Somatic Therapy

5:38 - What is Somatic Therapy? Understanding Body-Stored Memories

10:29 - Visceral Yiddishkeit: Feeling Judaism in Your Body

19:21 - "Your Head is Heaven" - Integrating Mind & Body Faith

23:27 - Hair Covering Example: Physical Mitzvah Resistance

30:03 - Hiddur Mitzvah: Engaging All Five Senses

34:34 - Mitzvahs vs. Metaverse: Staying Grounded in Physical Reality

37:54 - The Magic of Jewish Living & Repetitive Spiritual Experiences

45:29 - Fight or Flight: Watching Emotions Flow Through You

48:58 - Dealing with Dissociation During Spiritual Moments

50:44 - Kavanah & Presence: Being Fully There with Hashem

53:54 - Integration & Synthesis of Body-Soul Connection

54:42 - Final Thoughts