In the Valley of Giants

Join us for a special Torah Q&A from Jerusalem’s Old City, near the walls of the Temple Mount. We explore the Jewish mission to bring meaning and morality into the world, the responsibility to live with intention, and the role of Noahide teachings.The conversation also examines what it means to be a light unto the nations, the significance of saying “next year in Jerusalem,” and the spiritual and practical case for connection to the land of Israel. Later, we discuss questions around Christianity and Paul, the story of Jonah, prayer, hardship, and how to live with deeper purpose.Timestamps00:00 — Q&A from Jerusalem’s Old City01:04 — The Jewish mission and moral responsibility03:11 — Living intentionally instead of “droning”03:44 — Being a light unto the nations06:31 — Teaching and supporting Noahides09:17 — “Next year in Jerusalem” and the land of Israel12:00 — Reasons for living outside Israel14:37 — Faith, Jewish unity, and security16:49 — Paul, Christianity, and difficult moral questions19:36 — Jonah and the changing fish21:46 — What God is waiting forSupport us here: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod#TorahQandA #Jerusalem #OldCityJerusalem #Torah #JewishWisdom #NoahideLaws #LightUntoTheNations #Israel #JewishMission #JewishIdentity #NextYearInJerusalem #BiblicalWisdom #Jonah #Prayer #Purpose

This conversation explores how Jewish parents, educators, and rabbanim should teach children and adults about intimacy with dignity, clarity, and emotional honesty. Rabbi Friedman and Rabbi Dorfman explain why these conversations must happen early, how to frame desire as something to channel rather than suppress, and why the Torah’s approach offers a healthier model than the outside world.

Key topics:

Why parents and teachers must be the first voices children hear on intimacy, before outside culture fills the vacuum.

Presenting sexuality within kedusha, safety, and dignity.

Why whatever comes in first shapes the child most strongly.

Why the yetzer hara is not inherently evil, but a powerful drive that must be guided by the yetzer tov.

Framing intimacy as a channel for creating devek, with pleasure serving the marital bond.

How the Torah does not reject pleasure, but demands control, purity, and purpose.

The difference between healthy Torah enjoyment and hedonism.

How modern culture sexualizes children and adults, making Torah-based education more urgent.

Why the right frame is not “we are deprived,” but “we were given something precious and protected.”

Full timeline:

00:00 — Introduction to Rabbi Friedman and the scope of the discussion

01:06 — Four-part roadmap: education, the nature of tashmish, enjoyment, and modern challenges

03:00 — Why intimate education must be taught by parents, teachers, and rabbanim

04:56 — Whatever enters first shapes the child’s foundation

07:52 — Teaching with dignity, boundaries, and a culture of safety

10:57 — The book’s development and why it took years to arrange

11:56 — Why Rabbi Nachman Bulman said the book could work in English

14:49 — Why the book was meant for parents, educators, and young people

16:41 — Why education should begin before the world’s imagery gets there first

18:43 — Introducing the yetzer hara and related concepts early

22:01 — Physical action, memory, and why embodied teaching matters

24:05 — Preparing emotionally before speaking to children about sexuality

27:07 — Turning shame into clarity by portraying false values as absurd

30:14 — Why the conversation must happen earlier in a hypersexualized culture

33:13 — Neil Postman’s The Disappearance of Childhood and the loss of innocence

38:03 — Clothing, socialization, and the false currency of beauty and money

42:18 — The harmful idea that “it’s fun out there but we’re not allowed”

44:21 — Why Torah life is not a loss, but a deeper happiness

46:42 — Media, movies, and the cost of exposing children to adult content

49:09 — Why a TV in the house was compared to an open sewage line

52:48 — Necessary evil versus drives that can be redirected toward holiness

54:42 — Uplifting food, sleep, and sexuality through Torah

56:43 — No antagonism between body and soul in Torah, only synergy

57:53 — How pleasure can create devek in marriage

60:24 — A lifetime of holy intimacy without guilt or shame

63:44 — A campus talk that moved an Irish Catholic professor to tears

67:07 — Training police officers to understand Jewish boundaries and mikvah life

70:00 — Why outsiders often sense the beauty of Torah marriage

73:12 — Limits, balance, and why Torah rules are about control and pleasure

75:58 — The Shulchan Aruch on minimizing movement, and how to read it correctly

81:23 — Using parallel sources to understand texts in context

83:16 — A ruling not to teach certain material to couples before marriage

84:43 — Shana Rishona as a state of mind, not just a calendar year

88:11 — Modern problems: later marriage, sexualization, and hedonism

90:37 — Food as a model: “filled but not fulfilled”

92:41 — Converting hunger and pleasure into sviya and devek

94:57 — Final warning: do not try to be smarter than the Torah

95:36 — Closing thanks and final remarks

Say thank you :) : ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

#podcast #Sex #intimacy #JewishMarriage #MaritalIntimacy #TorahViewOfIntimacy #Torah #sexuality #sex

Rabbi Yonatan Dorfman speaks with Rabbi Leo Dee about catastrophic loss, trauma recovery, community support, faith, family resilience, antisemitism, Israeli unity, and the future of the Jewish people. Rabbi Leo shares the story of losing his wife, Lucy, and two daughters in a terror attack while traveling in Israel for Passover. He explains how numbness, community support, structured routines, spiritual reflection, and purposeful action helped him and his children begin rebuilding their lives. The conversation also explores Rabbi Leo’s book, The Seven Facets of Healing, the importance of confronting triggers, the relationship between pain and personal growth, and the debates surrounding antisemitism, Haredi military service, Torah study, and national responsibility.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Opening hook: why hardship can become a path to greatness

01:55 — The terror attack on Passover and the family’s route through the Jordan Valley

03:05 — First reaction: numbness, silence, and adrenaline

04:01 — Burial, festival mourning, and the impossible rhythm of grief

05:46 — How joy and sadness can exist together

07:19 — Therapy, trauma, and why existing frameworks had no answer

08:10 — How the shiva became a model of community care

09:39 — Recurring visits instead of vague offers of support

11:10 — The power of simply showing up

12:30 — How teachers, friends, and school leaders supported the children

13:24 — New work and new routines as part of recovery

14:32 — Triggers, routines, and why everything initially felt painful

16:27 — Rewriting the life narrative without erasing grief18:20 — Bad instincts after trauma and choosing the opposite response

20:27 — Smiling as a practice rather than a result

21:50 — Returning to prayer, Daf Yomi, walking, and structured life

23:12 — How parental healing affects children’s healing

24:53 — Memorializing loved ones without freezing life

26:08 — Family trips, holidays, and protecting family time

27:05 — Can happiness and sadness coexist?

28:23 — Why anger may be the forbidden emotion

29:23 — Hugs at shiva, old conflicts, and releasing anger

31:13 — Reframing God as presence rather than a distant figure

33:00 — Why “what if” thinking can feed grief and anger

35:29 — Living according to what the deceased would want

38:18 — Repentance as a mental decision before it becomes an action

41:06 — Pain as a blessing and what triggers can reveal

42:02 — Recognizing loneliness as the deeper wound

44:11 — Why feeling pain more deeply helped the healing process

44:59 — Helping others, public speaking, and writing as healing

46:45 — Antisemitism, propaganda, and the social war

48:00 — Antisemitism as a distraction from purpose

50:25 — The difference between committed haters and people who are misled

51:31 — Israeli youth, service, and national responsibility

53:46 — America, Iran, and the stakes of international alignment

56:58 — Building instead of constantly reacting

58:57 — Israel as a model for values, education, and defense

61:16 — Whether people can be deprogrammed from hate

62:45 — Cutting off terror funding as a strategy

65:24 — Unity in Israel before and after October 7th

67:22 — The Haredi army-service debate and the need for mutual respect

69:58 — Torah scholars, pikuach nefesh, and military service

74:19 — Money, bias, and leadership incentives

77:20 — Why this may be a redemptive moment in Jewish history

78:06 — Jewish demographics in Israel and the historical implications

Say thank you :) : ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

#RabbiLeoDee #RabbiYonatanDorfman #TraumaHealing #HealingAfterLoss #GriefAndHealing #FaithAndResilience #JewishThought #JewishUnity #Israel #IsraelHistory #October7 #Antisemitism #JewishIdentity #MentalHealthAndHealing #CommunitySupport #FamilyResilience #SpiritualGrowth #TheSevenFacetsOfHealing #PikuachNefesh #TorahAndLife #podcast #ITVOG #hamas #hamasattack #healing #trauma #torah #judaism #family

Eliyokim Cohen shares his powerful life story of moving from a traditional Jewish upbringing into addiction, a cocaine-fueled spiral, and a dramatic rock-bottom moment that ultimately pushed him toward teshuvah and a more purposeful life.

The conversation centers on his journey from emptiness and escapism to meaning, Torah, and spiritual clarity.

A major theme is that people are seeking something real—not just pleasure, but deep purpose. Eliyokim argues that Torah provides structure, truth, and lasting joy, while modern culture often traps people in short-term highs through drugs, social media, and other distractions.

He speaks passionately about "spiritual self-esteem," the importance of authenticity, and the belief that every Jew has a unique mission and inherent value.

The episode also explores practical issues such as drug use, the dangers of smartphones and pornography, and why honest conversations and real education are more effective than sugarcoating difficult topics.

Throughout the discussion, Eliyokim emphasizes that lasting change is possible—but only when a person truly wants to change and is willing to rebuild their life around something higher.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to Eliyokim Cohen's inspiring story

00:10 – His childhood and early Jewish identity

01:06 – College years, love for business, and seeking meaning

05:06 – Descent into drug addiction and dealing cocaine

12:48 – The dramatic car chase and hitting rock bottom

21:10 – Turning point: meeting the right rabbi and beginning teshuvah

24:03 – Connecting to authentic Judaism through faith and purpose

30:10 – The influence of modern technology and spiritual potential

37:36 – How to inspire a deeper connection with God in a distracted world

44:58 – Addressing the challenges of addiction and spiritual emptiness

50:52 – The significance of responsibility and purpose in life

58:36 – The dangers of modern digital exposure and the importance of boundaries

1:03:36 – The unnatural allure of pleasure and its impact on the soul

1:10:20 – Embracing AI and technology for Torah and spiritual advancement

1:15:03 – Closing reflections: the beauty and purpose of life, and the power of every individual

Say thank you :) : https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

Help Eliyokim spread his Torah: Https://causematch.com/chaiontorah

#addictionrecovery #podcast #judaism #torah #jewishthought

A candid conversation on PTSD, combat, and the difficult transition back to civilian life. The guests explore how combat environments shape the nervous system, why returning home can be harder than deployment, and how family, community, structure, and education can support veterans and their loved ones. The discussion also covers trauma triggers, relationships, parenting, stigma, and the value of practical support before someone reaches a breaking point.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Why civilians struggle to understand combat

03:32 — What makes combat so psychologically difficult

06:20 — Trust, anger, and returning to everyday life

09:24 — Decompression and the transition home

11:06 — Can civilians bridge the experience gap?

17:03 — PTSD stigma and being dismissed

21:59 — Why social support matters after war

22:29 — A combat experience in Baghdad

26:29 — Casualty evacuation under fire

29:13 — Militia violence and civilian realities

31:21 — Public perceptions of veterans

35:38 — Moral injury and being demonized

38:14 — Identity, faith, and veteran community

40:21 — Rebuilding purpose and healthy structure

44:37 — Trauma, conflict, and moral questions

48:17 — What PTSD can feel like day to day

52:07 — Hypervigilance, crowds, driving, and triggers

55:22 — The effects on spouses, dating, and children

59:06 — Changing your relationship with traumatic memories

62:52 — Secondary trauma and exposure to difficult stories

65:30 — Therapy, education, and reintegration support

68:48 — How civilians can offer better support

71:28 — Preparing families and communities

77:38 — Support for spouses and families

78:45 — Including loved ones in treatment

81:29 — Resources and gaps in support systems

84:41 — The impact of deployment on children

86:54 — Final thoughts on PTSD and seeking help

89:44 — Prevention, education, and community support

91:23 — Closing reflections

Say thank you: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

#ptsd #Veterans #MentalHealth #Military #healing #podcast #fyp #army #youtube

This clip is a Q&A session filmed on a rooftop in Jerusalem, where the speaker answers a wide range of Jewish and philosophical questions. The discussion moves from creation and dinosaurs to prayer, free will, suffering, and what it means to repair the world.Time Stamps 00:00 — Opening from a rooftop in Jerusalem and a quick setup for the audience Q&A.00:31 — Whether dinosaurs fit within the six days of Creation.03:42 — Jewish artifacts in the Vatican: what may be there and how historical texts can be evaluated.09:08 — The purpose of washing after bread, and whether it applies to other foods.10:43 — Why evil exists, free will, and the value of struggle.15:01 — Does God “change His mind”? Prayer, choice, and different possible paths.19:26 — Why pray if everything is part of God’s will?22:07 — Why there is both a written and oral Torah.26:15 — Suffering, especially innocent suffering, and the limits of human explanation.30:41 — How to understand passages about treatment of non-Jews in the Gemara.39:23 — What tikkun olam means in practice: repairing the world through thoughtful, responsible action.Support us here:https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod #ITVOG #QandA #WesternWall #Jerusalem #JewishLife #israel #Israel #Jerusalem #jewishtok

Joseph Cohen joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about Israel advocacy, the online information war, antisemitism, the Israel–Palestine conflict, and the role of faith in shaping identity and public debate. They discuss how social platforms reward conflict, the case for engaging difficult audiences, the moral questions raised by war, and the future of Jewish life in Israel and the diaspora.

Timestamps

00:00 — Joseph Cohen on taking the fight to hostile narratives

00:37 — Introduction: Israel advocacy, the conflict, and antisemitism

01:17 — Welcome to Joseph Cohen

01:51 — The “war on two fronts”: military conflict and online propaganda

03:00 — Joseph’s background and journey into interfaith work

03:39 — Founding a campaign against antisemitism

04:44 — Anti-Zionism and antisemitism

05:51 — Social media as both a blessing and a threat

09:27 — Why confrontation can work online

14:50 — Long-form vs. short-form content in the information war

18:39 — Going on the offensive against disinformation

19:09 — Can conversations change extremists’ minds?

25:52 — Are Israel advocates winning the online battle?

30:14 — Why antisemitic content spreads online

31:14 — Islam, Israel, and the possibility of coexistence

35:08 — Military service and religious Zionism

42:42 — What individuals can do to support Jewish advocacy

46:44 — Gaza, civilian casualties, and the genocide debate

53:23 — Moral responsibility in war

58:53 — Intent, proportionality, and the purpose of military action

64:59 — Israel’s strongest challenges and internal criticisms

69:15 — Palestinian mistreatment and settler violence

75:34 — Why antisemitism persists

81:49 — Jewish and Muslim misconceptions about one another

91:51 — Joseph’s personal evolution in faith and politics

94:30 — The future of Jewish life outside Israel

97:50 — Can someone be anti-Zionist without being antisemitic?

100:07 — Closing message: “Come home”

Say thank you: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

#Antisemitism #Israel #JewishIdentity #OnlineAdvocacy #podcast

Rabbi Shalom Hammer on suicide prevention, trauma, and how to respond with care.Rabbi Sholom Hammer shares how his family’s loss became a mission to educate communities about suicide prevention, mental health, and trauma-informed support. The conversation focuses on correcting language, understanding what suicidal distress really looks like, and learning how rabbis, parents, teachers, and friends can respond without overstepping their role.We discuss the difference between mental illness and deliberate self-harm, why direct questions can be lifesaving, and how to recognize warning signs in children, teens, and adults. Rabbi Hammer also explains why authenticity, consistency, and knowing your boundaries matter when someone is struggling.Timestamps00:00 - Why Rabbi Hammer’s mission is rooted in family loss00:49 - Turning grief into suicide prevention education03:41 - Why “commit suicide” is the wrong phrase06:46 - Suicide, mental illness, and what Chazal were actually addressing09:12 - Why suicide is best understood as invisible suffering11:09 - Most people who die by suicide want to live13:09 - A yeshiva head misreading a suicide case16:36 - Why rabbis must know their limits and refer out19:17 - A painful story about a father, a son, and a missed referral21:55 - What Rabbi Hammer knew before Gila’s death24:05 - Signs Gila was suffering and what the family missed26:09 - Why therapy is about expression and release27:59 - How to think about trauma as incorporation, not erasure32:49 - The biggest misconception: asking about suicide does not plant the idea35:35 - A better question for soldiers and helpers36:39 - Why disclosure does not ruin a future shidduch38:31 - Therapy plus medication, not medication instead of therapy40:29 - Medication side effects and trusting your instinct45:32 - Warning signs in little children, teens, and students47:02 - What to look for in schools, homes, and community settings50:00 - Why depression can look like exhaustion and withdrawal53:42 - What to do first when you notice warning signs55:42 - Why “leave me alone” often means “try again tomorrow”57:03 - Validation, empathy, and avoiding empty promises58:24 - Why authenticity matters after bereavement62:43 - Helping someone who refuses help64:14 - Isolation and lack of purpose as major risk factors66:28 - Why presence matters more than texts68:35 - When confidentiality must give way to protection72:22 - Jewish responsibility, chesed, and looking out for one anotherRabbi Hammers Soicals Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gilaswayInsta https://www.instagram.com/gilas_wayLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabbishalomhammerYouTube @RabbiHammerWebsite GilasWay.comSay thank you: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod#podcast #mentalhealth #deep #youtube #jewish

How does Jewish metal become a vehicle for faith, identity, and healing?In this episode, Dove Halpern—better known as Hashem’s Warrior—joins the conversation to share how he turned a lifelong love of metal into music rooted in Torah, struggle, and spiritual resilience. They talk about growing up feeling like an outsider, rediscovering Judaism, creating music with AI, meeting David Draiman, and why heavy music can carry an intensely meaningful message.

**Sponsored by the band Seraphim Aflame: Teaching Torah, inspiring souls, vanquishing demons, and spitting truth - Seraphim Aflame has pioneered Frum Jewish Metalcore.From an unlikely team of philosophers, artists, and talmudists, Seraphim Aflame uses eternal wisdom with state-of-the-art tech to get truth surging through your veins.Join us; ascend, purify, Amein.**https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkqug7StsaaYF-1o6Yd05eghttps://open.spotify.com/artist/0VWovzjvbdn70KX3X7YK5S?si=Fo7k1kwsQGW6L4z-cXaa0g

Timestamps

00:00 A surprising encounter with David Draiman

00:32 Meet Dove Halpern / Hashem’s Warrior

01:02 Growing up outside the musical and religious mainstream

03:18 Finding emotional release in Linkin Park, rap, and metal

07:35 What Hashem’s Warrior is trying to bring into the world

09:12 Is it Jewish music—or something bigger?

13:31 Metal influences, technical musicianship, and finding a sound

16:17 A gap year in Israel and reconnecting with Judaism

20:34 Teaching himself to compose and discovering his musical voice

21:35 The spiritual spark behind Hashem’s Warrior

23:13 Building songs from riffs, lyrics, singers, and producers

30:19 AI music: creative shortcut or a new artistic tool?

31:51 “Portal Through the Prism” and bringing Kabbalistic ideas into metal

33:07 A listener’s emotional response to the music

35:28 Loss, grief, and finding the strength to create again

37:55 Rebuilding the project through daily spiritual content

40:16 How this conversation came together

42:20 Writing lyrics and turning ideas into songs

44:42 The story of meeting David Draiman

51:11 Pushback, faith, and the meaning behind the music

54:22 The debate over AI and authenticity in art

57:36 The dream of performing live and opening for Disturbed

59:13 Why metal can be deeply spiritual

Hashems Warriors's socials

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3SHfoXD2natnyh2x8XRJtm

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishmetal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jewishmetal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hashemswarrior

Website: https://hashemswarrior.com

Say thank you: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

Music Credits: Intro- Not in Heaven (Hashems Warrior, Seraphim Aflame)Outro- Portal through the prism (Hashems Warrior)all rights reserved and consent to use the above music was assured by the above artists.

#viral #fyp #music #rock #podcast

In this episode, Josh Berkowitz, owner of Edenwalk in New York, shares his unique experiences managing a kosher Jewish restaurant, the complexities of kosher certification, and the cultural nuances that shape his approach. Whether you're in the food industry or simply interested in cultural entrepreneurship, this conversation offers deep insights into maintaining integrity, handling challenges, and the importance of community and ethics.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to Josh Berkowitz and Edenwalk

02:26 - Josh’s background and entry into the restaurant industry

03:26 - Motivations: Challenge and passion for food

04:30 - The exit of Josh’s father from his restaurant and reasons behind it

06:27 - Common misconceptions about the restaurant business

07:48 - The importance of understanding the complexity of kosher food prep

08:54 - How long it takes to prepare a day’s food and the work behind the scenes

09:39 - Work-life balance and constant thinking about the business

11:43 - A story of a bizarre curse related to a restaurant mistake

13:02 - Insights into Jewish court disputes over kosher certification

15:18 - The significance of giving others the benefit of the doubt

16:47 - Addressing potential corruption and challenges in Jewish legal systems

22:34 - Why Josh discourages his children from going into the restaurant business

23:43 - Impact of modern options like Uber Eats on food industry competition

32:35 - Cultural and rabbinic perspectives on expanding kosher restaurants and community impact

35:08 - The importance of integrity and ethical standards in kosher certification

50:59 - Reflection on the fairness of the kosher industry and its regulatory environment

58:37 - Closing remarks and Josh’s unique approach as a Jewish restaurant owner

This episode delves into the practicalities and philosophy of combining faith, ethics, and business in a vibrant, competitive market, emphasizing the importance of community, integrity, and resilience.

Say thank you: https://buymeacoffee.com/itvogpod

#podcast #restaurant #fyp #viral #itvog #jewish #youtube