The Jewish Link Pitch Meeting

What happens when a woman’s journey toward Orthodox Judaism takes her into the professional boxing ring?

Brooklyn Barwick, known as “The Big Deal,” is a professional boxer pursuing Orthodox Jewish conversion and using her platform to empower young Jewish women.

On this episode of The Pitch Meeting, Barwick shares her journey from a secular Jewish background toward Orthodox observance and discusses what it means to embrace her femininity and faith while pursuing a career in a traditionally masculine field.

Barwick also shares why she launched Big Deal Self Defense courses for frum girls, encouraging young women to build confidence, learn to protect themselves and find the courage to stand up for themselves.

CHAPTERS

00:32 -- Meet Brooklyn Barwick

03:40 -- Journey Towards Conversion

05:37 -- Balancing Judaism and Boxing

08:52 -- Representing Israel Through Boxing

18:02 -- How Brooklyn Got Into Boxing

20:16 -- Life as a Professional Boxer

24:52 -- Antisemitic Attack

27:43 -- The Documentary About Her Life

33:03 -- Jewish Identity and Having Chutzpah

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Follow Brooklyn on Instgram @brooklynbarwick

What happens when a woman’s journey to Judaism takes her life in an unexpected direction?

Aja Cohen, founder of Transcendent Active, shares her journey from growing up in an Italian Catholic family to embracing Orthodox Judaism and building her own modest athleisure brand.

Cohen discusses how an Israeli boyfriend introduced her to Judaism, the Rosh Hashanah experience that changed her perspective and what drew her to Jewish traditions, Shabbat and family life. She also shares how leaving corporate fashion led her to pursue a new path.

After being laid off in 2019, Cohen launched Transcendent Active, creating comfortable, modest clothing for women whether or not they work out or are Jewish. From her signature mesh skirt to a growing lifestyle collection, her mission is to make modest athleisure accessible to anyone who wants more coverage without sacrificing comfort or style.

She also discusses the brand's growth and her upcoming five-day pop-up in Teaneck, featuring shopping, community events and a fashion show.

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Follow Transcendent Active on Instagram: @transcendentactive

What happens when years of feeling like an outsider become the foundation for building a community?

Isaac Mass, founder of Jews of Jiu-Jitsu, shares his journey through personal struggles, rejection and self-discovery, and how he turned those experiences into a growing community connecting Jewish identity with martial arts.

Mass opens up about struggling to find where he belonged, battling depression and anxiety and feeling like he was never good enough. He discusses his Hasidic background, the mentors who helped shape his path and how martial arts taught him to embrace discomfort, develop resilience and build confidence. He also shares how his work with dogs and his vision for mental health treatment reflect a deeper interest in understanding people and helping them grow.

Today, Jews of Jiu-Jitsu has grown to nearly 400 members, bringing Jewish grapplers together across the United States and internationally. For Mass, the mission goes beyond the mats. It’s about strengthening Jewish pride, recognizing physical strength as a complement to spiritual growth, building meaningful connections and creating a space where people feel they belong.

The Jewish body is a holy thing, and when you’re empowering it, you’re empowering the soul inside,” Mass says.

This episode was filmed on Oct. 7, and as a zikaron for those who perished, we are focusing on those who empower other Jews to stand up and be stronger together.

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Follow Jews of Jiu-Jitsu on Instagram: @jewsofjuijitsu

Website: https://www.jewsofjujitsu.com (currently under construction)

What if one of the most powerful ways to change the conversation about Israel is simply to get people on a plane?

On this episode, Moshe Kinderlehrer speaks with Chad Martin, Northeast regional director for Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, about the power of firsthand experience, the dramatic changes in Israel tourism since COVID-19 and Oct. 7 and why Martin sees tourism as a form of “popular diplomacy.”

Martin also discusses the return of flights to Israel, the ripple effect of travelers sharing their experiences and how bringing community leaders to Israel can turn a single trip into an ongoing partnership.

CHAPTERS

00:00 -- Meet Chad Martin

05:34 -- The Power of Tourism as Diplomacy

09:35 -- The Christian Tourism Market

13:38 -- The Challenge of Airline Capacity

16:09 -- Selling Israel Beyond the Jewish World

30:22 -- Tourism’s Impact on Israel’s Economy

37:53 -- What Summer 2026 Tourism Looks Like

44:36 -- Israel as a Startup Nation Destination

47:26 -- The “I Am Israel” Campaign

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Moshe Kinderlehrer welcomed Sarri Singer, founder of Strength to Strength, for a special episode ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Singer reflects on witnessing the attacks on the Twin Towers from New York and surviving a 2002 terrorist attack in Jerusalem. She discusses how those experiences shaped her mission to support victims and survivors of terrorism around the world and led to the founding of Strength to Strength. Singer also discusses the impact of Oct. 7 on terror survivors and why she refuses to let the attacks define her life.

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For more information, visit https://www.stosglobal.org

Moshe welcomed Ari Abramowitz, founder of Nevut and a former lone soldier, onto “Pitch Meeting” to discuss why the battle doesn’t always end when a soldier leaves the IDF.Abramowitz shared the story of Sgt. William “Will” Shakin and how his recent death highlighted the urgent need to recognize that someone who appears to be doing well may be struggling beneath the surface.He also discussed Nevut’s work helping lone soldiers navigate life after the army through mental health support, community, employment and more.

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For more information, visit: https://nevut.org

Moshe welcomed Susan Rosenbluth, longtime editor and publisher of the "Jewish Voice and Opinion," for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey in journalism and the mission that inspired her to create a voice for “classical Judaism.”

Now, Susan is taking on a new role as a novelist with her debut book, "Blurred Vision." She shares the true story that inspired the novel, her decades long interest in cults and why maintaining a strong connection to Judaism can be so important in times of vulnerability.

A fascinating conversation about journalism, Jewish identity, writing and the experiences that shaped Susan’s life and work. Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jewishlinknews

Moshe and Elizabeth welcomed Rabbi Zev Goldberg, rabbi of Beis Midrash of Bergenfield (BMOB), to share his remarkable journey of donating a kidney through Renewal. Rabbi Goldberg discusses what inspired him to become a kidney donor, the unexpected call that changed his life and becoming Renewal’s 1,500th donor. He shares the gratitude, emunah and sense of responsibility that guided his decision to give someone else the gift of life. This powerful conversation explores the meaning of chesed and how one person’s actions can inspire others to make a difference.

Moshe welcomed Rabbi Paul Bloom, author of "Coming Home: 101 Reasons to Make Aliyah," for a conversation about his decades-long connection to Israel and what ultimately led him to make Aliyah. From his career at Bell Labs and IBM to building a movement encouraging Jews to explore life in Israel, Rabbi Bloom shares the challenges of making Aliyah and how thoughtful preparation can help turn that dream into reality.

Moshe welcomed Gabe and Aiden Einhorn, founders of VryfID, who made headlines after a Cornell student refused to interview for an internship with their company after learning they were Jewish. The brothers discuss building their startup to address New York City’s rental crisis, their response to the incident and why they continue to proudly embrace their Jewish identity.