Judaism with Altitude

Are We Living Our Lives or Just Getting Through Them? Danny and Sara of Judaism with Altitude explore how to stay present amid busy schedules, constant phone input, and competing responsibilities. Drawing on Jewish perspectives and everyday examples, they discuss making room for focused attention, meaningful relationships, and self-awareness.

• Danny and Sara reflect on voting as a balance between making an effort and accepting that outcomes are ultimately beyond our control.
• They question the idea that being busy is automatically valuable, distinguishing meaningful activity from busyness for its own sake.
• Danny describes switching from a basic “dumb phone” to the Wise Phone, and the difference between avoiding time-wasting and avoiding distraction.
• Sara and Danny share examples of how notifications and tempting links can derail everyday tasks, even something as simple as ordering groceries.
• They discuss protecting emotional intimacy by setting aside time to be curious about a partner, rather than assuming meaningful conversation will happen on its own.
• They consider whether every special moment needs to be photographed or posted, and how choosing what to keep private can help preserve attention.
• Danny describes recording a song at a Shabbos retreat as a compromise between capturing a moment and being present for it.
• They connect reflection and solitude with self-awareness, emotional connection, and the brain’s default mode network.

Timestamps00:00 - The question: are we living or just getting through life?01:01 - Election reactions, Jewish perspective, and trust in God03:23 - Making an effort while accepting what we cannot control07:09 - Turning from the news to the life in front of us08:08 - Why busyness is not a value in itself09:25 - Focus, phone distractions, and setting aside uninterrupted time12:48 - The Wise Phone and two kinds of digital distraction17:08 - Making room for emotional intimacy in relationships20:29 - Why couples need to make time to keep learning about each other21:26 - Photos, presence, and what we choose to share24:20 - Using reflection to deepen connection with others25:46 - Solitude, self-awareness, and the default mode network26:43 - Closing thoughts and plans to return weekly

Discover how Torah wisdom can guide us through life's challenges with resilience, purpose, and emotional awareness. In this episode, Katia Bolotin, pianist, composer, song-writer, lecturer, and most recently, author of Making It Relevant shares her inspiring journey from a traditional upbringing to embracing Torah Judaism, and how she leverages her background as a musician to connect deeply with spiritual and personal growth. Her insights offer practical tools to live intentionally in today's fast-paced world.Main Topics:

• The transformative power of Jewish inspiration and sustaining momentum
• Integrating Torah principles with personal and professional life as an artist
• Balancing the paradox of being a singer with the Torah concept of Kol Isha
• The concept of "becoming" versus "being" and ongoing growth through Torah
• Overcoming challenges with anti-Semitism and strengthening Jewish identity
• Applying emotional resonance and relevance to Torah study
• The significance of purpose over fleeting pleasure in life
• Insights into Jewish life and growth from her new book, Making It Relevant

• Making It Relevant: Timeless Torah Wisdom for an Ever-Changing World
• Buy on Amazon Here
• Mosaica Press

• Chabad.org
• Aish.com

Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Katia Bolotin and her multifaceted background
02:04 - The weekly Parsha and the importance of sustaining inspiration
03:34 - The story of her early Jewish education and pivotal moments
04:48 - Impact of Torah learning during her conservatory years
06:26 - The process of embracing Torah and overcoming difficulty
07:23 - Trusting oneself and the role of intuition in spiritual growth
08:41 - The analogy between piano practice limitations and Torah observance
09:15 - The significance of Naase Venishma and experiential learning
10:32 - Balancing a career in music with Shabbat and Torah observance
11:20 - Using her voice to empower Jewish women and her transition to Kolisha
13:00 - The shock of Kolisha and her commitment to Torah halacha
14:09 - Founding One Voice and the vibrant Jewish women's music scene in Israel
15:52 - Teaching the beauty and intimacy of singing in Torah context
17:03 - How she accepted her initial spiritual restrictions as a divine plan
18:21 - The metaphor of the Kohen with a disability serving others
19:02 - Recognizing oneself as created according to God's will
20:31 - The importance of transforming impulses through Torah and self-awareness
22:07 - The diversity of musical interpretation and internal spiritual uniqueness
23:44 - The meaning behind the detailed offerings of the 12 princes
24:33 - Her book Making It Relevant—timeless lessons for modern life
26:23 - The relevance of Torah character traits in today's tech-driven society
27:42 - The concept of human becomings and continuous growth
28:50 - How Torah promotes emotional resonance and life relevance
30:34 - From dreams to reality: writing her book through divine support
32:34 - The role of her husband in her journey and his encouragement
33:36 - The simplicity and authenticity of her writing process
35:02 - A deep dive into Yosef's story—transforming victimhood into purpose
36:36 - Changing life's story by shifting perspective and mindset
38:27 - Advice for young Jews facing anti-Semitism and strengthening identity
39:54 - The importance of connecting to Israel and spiritual reawakening
43:55 - Filling the gap in her Jewish education through consistent self-study
45:56 - The power of regular Torah learning and self-education
47:20 - Acknowledging life's struggles while pursuing purpose and happiness
48:15 - The message of moving forward, unstuck, and living with purpose
49:19 - How and where to purchase her book Making It Relevant Resources & Links :Connect with Katia Bolotin:

Join us for our first ever podcast of a live class on Parshas Behar Bechukosai! Like and subscribe for more, or come join us for class on Wednesday nights!

How should we think about money, financial planning, and charitable giving?

Financial advisor Sydney Levy joins Sara and Danny to discuss emergency funds, debt, retirement planning, and how Jewish values can guide smarter, more meaningful financial decisions.

In this episode, Danny Wolfe sits down with Sydney Levy, a financial advisor and Head of Wealth Planning, to explore how money, meaning, and Jewish wisdom intersect.

They discuss practical financial planning basics — including emergency funds, managing debt, retirement investing, and savings strategies — alongside the psychology of money and the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal and Jewish values.

The conversation dives deeply into charitable giving (tzedakah), including how to give consistently, the tax benefits of donating, and why small, regular contributions can create powerful ripple effects. Sara, Danny and Sydney also reflect on prioritizing values over financial efficiency, legacy planning, generational giving, and using Jewish education and community investment as tools for long-term impact.

This episode is ideal for anyone looking to build a healthier relationship with money while staying true to their values.

Check out her podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@syd_thefinancegal

On this episode, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath joins us for the second time-- not to speak about matchmaking, but about the release of his recent book, The Forgiveness Experiment. We discuss the concept of forgiveness, the victim mentality and how liberating it can be to grant forgiveness to people who have hurt us.

His book can be bought anywhere books are sold, including an Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638

The link for the book can be found here. https://forgivenessbook.org/

Please like and subscribe and share this episode!

The Rabbis discuss the Broncos game, Bo Nix's injury, the sad, sad state of the Buffalo Bills and their great fans, and so much more!

Join us as Sara has a fascinating discussion with renowned expert Jewish Educator Liora Wittlin in which she shares her background, and inspirational educational philosophy. You will experience the depth of Jewish learning, and feel like you are in a mind-blowing class as she helps us uncover one single verse from the Torah. Don't miss this episode!

On this short episode Rabbi Wolfe and Katz talk Broncos, Chiefs, and inspirational Chanukah Wisdom. Happy Chanukah to one and all!

What happens when you put a rabbi from Denver in a Zoom room with a Rabbi from Kansas City? The next episode of Judaism with Altitude.

Rabbi Wolfe and Rabbi Katz explore current events in the world of sports, and their connection to Judaism.

They are piloting this episode to see if they should dedicate an entire podcast to this topic. Please let us know your feedback by leaving a comment or emailing us!

Episode Summary

In this episode of Judaism With Altitude, Rabbi Danny Wolfe shares why he made the decision to ditch his smartphone and switch to a simple “dumb phone.” After years of constant notifications, endless scrolling, and always “being available,” he realized the device in his pocket was stealing his presence, his patience, and his peace of mind.

Rabbi Danny walks through the moment he knew he needed a digital detox, the fears he had about going low-tech, and the unexpected benefits that came from switching to a flip phone — including better focus, calmer mornings, and deeper relationships with real people in real life.

Important Links

• Read about Rabbi's Journey Here

• Order Unplug Here

• Get Your Wonder Phone Here

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