Human & Holy

Based on a talk from the Lubavitcher Rebbe about Chai Elul, Sima and I discuss what it actually means to serve G-d in the deepest way possible, and how Chassidus invites us to bring our full selves to the table. Where do we struggle in bridging the gap between our desire for personal authenticity and our belief in our G-dly souls? How is that process an invitation to go deeper, and an opportunity to experience our Judaism in a more integrated, authentic way? || The sicha discussed in this episode is from Likkutei Sichos, Parshas Ki Savo/Chai Elul, Chelek Yud Tes, Sicha Yud Zayin. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

How can we approach the people we care most about with clear communication? What can the mitzvah of mikvah teach us about the deepest level of communication in our romantic relationships? And in general, when it comes to all our relationships, how can we work from the inside out, so that we show up with our words in the most wholesome, connected way possible? || To get in touch with Sara Esther, email [email protected]. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Cancer was Amanda’s catalyst to returning to her soul. How did the stillness of treatment force her to step off of the rat race of her life? How did it help her tune into the still, small voice inside that she’d had since she was a young girl, the voice that whispered that there was more to life than what could be seen on the surface? || Amanda can be reached via amandaspiro.com || This episode was sponsored by Devorah Bukiet, in honor of her special friend Amanda, who does incredible work, living her life like an emissary of the Rebbe and a soldier of G-d. To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

What blocks us from connecting deeply to the people around us? How do our futile attempts to circumvent our humanity, end up shutting us down from connecting to our loved ones and to G-d? Today, Tzippy Piekarski describes her struggle to connect with her loved ones, and how making space for her humanity ultimately allowed her to connect deeply with her soul and the world. || Tzippy can be reached via [email protected] || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Joyce Azria is an entrepreneur in the fashion industry, daughter of BCBG’s late CEO Max Azria, and a woman who found her Judaism through some of the darkest moments of her life. What internal processes led her to where she is now? How does she maintain her equilibrium through the ups and downs of life as a businesswoman and mother? How did becoming fully aligned with her values allow her to step into her power within her home and the world? || This episode is a live podcast recording from the National Jewish Retreat this past summer in Florida. To find out more about upcoming retreats, visit jretreat.com. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Why do we feel the instinct to skip to the happy ending of our story? What makes us so resistant to the long way home? Based on the long short way described in Tanya, Sandra talks about all the ways she wishes she could skip to the destination, and what she does to keep herself anchored in the present. || To get in touch with Sandra, find her on instagram @shluchamama. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Today, Chana Kornfeld speaks about her journey to owning the choices she made as a young person to have a large family, and get married at a young age. Based on a talk by the Lubavitcher Rebbe about our matriarch Rochel being buried on the side of the road – and the differences between giving wholeheartedly to others and a loaded martyrdom, Chana outlines her own journey of reclaiming the choices she made in the past and crafting a new way of giving to her family, her spouse, and to G-d. || The sicha discussed in this episode is from Likkutei Sichos, חלק ל ויחי א. Chana can be reached via [email protected]. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

What does it mean to be truly open and curious to the world around us so that we can make space to hear G-d’s gentle hellos? How has Olivia’s life been so clearly guided by G-d’s hand, from her days seeking spirituality in India, to finding it in the birthright of her Jewish soul and the daily experience of meeting G-d? || Today’s episode is sponsored leilui nishmas Yaakov Yosef ben Avraham Akiva Halevi. To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patron of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

Today, Esther Sitbon talks about the mitzvah of hair covering, how a medical scare led her to the wig salon and began her hair covering journey. Hear one woman’s precious story of how she began covering her hair, some teachings from Torah about hair covering that have guided her, and the advice she would give to other women on strengthening or beginning the journey. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patreon of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.

What revived the public conversation about Mikvah? How can we educate our children about it, so the concept is natural to them as they age? And how can we, in our own lives, navigate the practical struggles that come up when observing the details of this process, and support each other in honoring this sacred mitzvah? || Chassi Rivkin is the Director of Operations at mikvah.org, an organization dedicated to bringing awareness and a deeper understanding of the mitzvah of Mikvah through online courses, podcasts, and dozens of resources that help support people in their observance of and connection to this precious mitzvah. To find out more about their work, visit www.mikvah.org. || To sponsor an episode of Human & Holy, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. To join our online community, visit humanandholy.com/community. To become a patreon of the podcast, visit patreon.com/humanandholy.