In this week’s podcast, Jenna explores why G-d brought the flood and wiped out most of life so soon after He created it.  In answering this question, she shares a bit about her background as an environmentalist and how her thinking about our relationship to the environment changed when she became an observant Jew. Although sometimes it may feel like we are just watching the world fall apart and there’s not much we can do about it, Noah's flood teaches us that we have so much power to elevate and sustain the world.

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REFERENCES:

Synagogue Edition Lubavitch Chumash

Rabbi Yonatan Neril, Countering Destruction: Lessons from Noach, Canfei Nesharim

We are back to "In the beginning..." as we begin another cycle of Torah reading. Now is a great time to take a step back and ask, What is the Torah? And why should we study it? After attempting to answer these lofty questions, Jenna delves into the story of Adam and Eve, one of the deepest and most misunderstood in the Torah. In doing so, she sheds some light on their eating from the tree and how it is relevant to our own lives.

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REFERENCES:

Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz  

Synagogue Edition Lubavitch Chumash

A great book that goes deeper into the Adam and Eve episode: The Beast That Crouches At the Door, by Rabbi David Fohrman

This episode is dedicated to the yahrtzeit of my grandpa Henry. 

One Sukkot, Jenna found herself lost in an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem holding a lulav...Join her as she tells this story of Divine Protection and how it relates to Sukkot, one of the lesser understood holidays on the Jewish calendar. Sukkot is called "the time of our joy." Why? What is Sukkot really about? There are many answers to these questions, but Jenna provides some insight to help us connect to this special time. Chag Sameach!

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Note: The Clouds of Glory represented the Divine Presence, which protected us and kept us comfortable in the desert. 

For a beautiful, timely article on how Sukkot represents the courage of the Jewish people in times of uncertainty, and how this relates to joy, please see: https://rabbisacks.org/festival-insecurity-message-sukkot/ 

Jenna considers herself a bad faster, so it's no wonder she would dread Yom Kippur each year. Thankfully, she has learned several tips that have improved her fasting experience immensely. She shares those here so that we can get the most out of the day. Once the physical is taken care of, we can focus on the spiritual. :) Jenna tells the story of her first Yom Kippur at Aish Kodesh and how she realized this day is actually one of the most joyful on the Jewish calendar. Join Jenna as she unpacks Yom Kippur and discusses how we can get the most out of it! 

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REFERENCES:

Fasting Pills

Post-Yom Kippur Celebration at Aish Kodesh

Yearning to Return: Reflections on Yom Kippur by Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi

The Power of Tranquility by Rabbi Meyer Yedid

Netivot Shalom by Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein

Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky 

*Correction: My great-great-grandfather was a Torah scribe 

This week we are talking all things Rosh Hashanah. How do we prepare for the high holidays and the year ahead? What is the focus of Rosh Hasnahah? Should we ask for personal requests? If everything is determined on Rosh Hashanah, what part do we play in writing the story of our lives? (Spoiler alert: We play a big role!)  Perhaps, if we each do our part, we can merit a brighter year for all of us. 

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REFERENCE: Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks 

In this very special episode, Jenna speaks with longtime family friend Wendy about her amazing Divine encounter with Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a"h, first through the Rebbetzin's book Life is a Test and then in person, and how it changed her life forever. This episode is in memory of the Rebbetzin, whose fourth yahrtzeit was this week.

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REFERENCES:

Life Is A Test by Rebbetzin Jungreis

The Rebbetzin: The Story of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis Her Life, Vision, Legacy by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer 

The Rebbetzin's classes on Torah Anytime 

Jenna speaks about fear and uncertainty in today's world and a remedy for our own lives.

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REFERENCES:
Rav Avigdor Miller on Emunah and Bitachon (Trust and Faith)

The Call of the Torah by Rabbi Eli Munk

The Jews are currently in exile because of a lack of unity. During this time of mourning our current state, Jenna discusses how we can bridge the divide between religious and secular Jews. As someone who grew up secular in the Five Towns and became religious, she feels uniquely poised to speak on this topic. Jenna also speaks about how we can feel more connected to those closest to us, which sometimes can be the most challenging. 

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Unfortunately, we are seeing another wave of anti-Semitism around the world. Anti-Semitism takes many forms, but its spiritual root is the same. Join Jenna as she explains the real reason behind anti-Semitism and what we can do about it.

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REFERENCES:
The Spiritual Roots of Anti-Semitism by Sara Yoheved Rigler 

Jenna continues to share Torah teachings that will hopefully empower and inspire us during these three weeks of mourning the loss of the Temple in Jerusalem. Specifically, she explains how we can begin to make our homes into dwelling places for Hashem, which is a key step in rebuilding the Temple. In doing so, she answers some important questions, like where is the center of Jewish life? Whose role is more important in Judaism, that of the man or the woman? And what is a mitzvah, really? Enjoy!

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REFERENCES:

Ascending Jacob's Ladder by Rav Yaakov Hillel

Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh: Building A Sanctuary In The Heart