Today's episode is being released just after the miraculous ceasefire that has ended the October 7th War in Israel and Gaza.  We celebrate the return of living hostages and many of our beloved dead.  While there is still more to be done, this is a moment to celebrate with music.

Aaron Markovitz is currently the Cantorial Soloist at Temple Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield, Michigan.  When this episode was recorded Aaron was the Zipser Family Musician in Residence at Temple Israel.

He will share his incredible spirit and musical talent with a song written for moments like this.  The recording features Cantor Neil Michaels on backup vocals.

To hear more of Aaron's music, check out this page: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/aaron-markovitz/1111744849

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

Today's episode is being released on the heels of the two year anniversary of October 7th.  We come to you as we wait hopefully for the release of ALL of the hostages from Gaza.  It was recorded earlier in 2025.

Lindsay Spolen Pinchuk is the owner of her own marketing firm and the creator of Dear FoundHer (a podcast and community for female entrepreneurs).  According to her website, she is an Entrepreneur, Marketer, Consultant, Educator, Speaker, Connector, Community Builder, Podcaster, Former Corporate Executive, Small Business Advocate who makes marketing simple.

On today's episode, she shares her formula for "showing up" for her community and the Jewish People.  Her bold and unabashed attitude pushes the limits to defend against antisemitism and anti-Zionism in our modern world.  She is a powerful messenger in a challenging time for the Jewish people and women around the world.

https://www.lindsaypinchuk.com/

https://www.dearfoundher.com/

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

This week, join us for a conversation with Mindy Roberts—a Spanish teacher, mother, grandmother, and proud Jew. In this episode, we explore her lifelong dedication to her Jewish identity and how it has profoundly shaped her worldview. Through her personal stories, we delve into her upbringing, her experiences with dating and marriage, and the way her faith influenced her approach to parenting. This conversation illuminates how Judaism has been a guiding force in every aspect of her life, revealing a beautiful example of how one's heritage can provide strength, meaning, and a sense of belonging.

Mindy's journey offers a vibrant look at how a Jewish upbringing can be woven into the very fabric of our being from birth. She shares how this cultural and spiritual imprint, often subconscious, creates what can be described as a "Jewish soul." This episode is a deep and moving discussion about identity, heritage, and the indelible mark of faith. Mindy's reflections will resonate with anyone who has explored the intricate relationship between their past and who they are today, showing how the traditions and values of our childhood continue to shape our lives in meaningful and unexpected ways.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

*Recorded in the Fall of 2024

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

Join us for this week's conversation with Ethan Marcus, a 4th-year student at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. With a clear path toward a career in real estate and a deep connection to the Jewish community, Ethan brings a unique perspective to the table. In this episode, he shares a moment of unexpected serendipity that profoundly changed his understanding of his family's heritage.

Our discussion goes beyond his personal story to explore a universal theme: the responsibility we all carry to live up to our name. We dive into the idea that our lives are a result of our ancestors' journeys and the opportunities they created. It's a powerful reminder that we are here because of the luck of our circumstances, and the true measure of our lives is what we choose to do with that chance. Ethan’s story is a beautiful example of how we can honor our past by building a meaningful future.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

*Recorded in the Fall of 2024

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

Joanie Applefield is a Senior in high school planning to continue her education at Duke University in the Fall of 2025.  She is also a graduate of the Temple Israel High School and a prayer leader in our Teen Tefillah Team.  

In this episode, Joanie and I discuss the origins of her commitment to Judaism.  Through a series of life changing moments, she returned to her roots and found a home in Jewish life and peoplehood.  Her self-discovery is a fascinating and inspiring story of growth.  Her passion for being happy is something that can teach us all how to better live our lives.  I am excited to share her story with all of you.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

After a short delay, the first formal episode of Season 4 is dropping!

Every summer, I spend two weeks at the URJ 6 Points Sports Academy in Asheville, North Carolina.  It has changed my life!!!  This is why I am so excited to welcome the 6 Points Sports Director, Jackie Gordon to the show.

In this episode, Jackie and I talk about her path from public school gym teacher to coach to Jewish Life (JLIFE) Coordinator to 6 Points Sports Director.  It is a journey that has brought her an incredible sense of accomplishment...and gives Jackie the chance to lead Jewish Athletes to be their best.  JEWISH SPORTS CAMP all at the same time!  This conversation about camp translates into every aspect of our lives.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

In this special BONUS episode, we are checking out some new technology giving us the chance to record studio sessions for the podcast.  

I am so excited to share this time with Cantor Neil Michaels who is featuring his new prayer/song Bring On The Night.  The performance includes the added guitar riffs of Aaron Markovitz who is the  Zipser Foundation Artist In Residence at Temple Israel.

Join me for a soulful conversation about the Jewish prayer Ma'ariv Aravim and Cantor Neil's approach to "The Golden Hour" when the angels mingle with people on earth.  It is the perfect opportunity to Wake Up To Life!

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

This week was the opening of the 2025 World Zionist Congress Elections.  On the show, I welcome Rabbi Josh Weinberg to talk about the meaning of this momentous opportunity to support Israel.  Rabbi Weinberg is the URJ Vice President for Israel and Reform Zionism and the Executive Director of ARZA.  Please listen to have your voice heard and direct more than $1 Billion of funding for Israel.

The World Zionist Organization (WZO) and the World Zionist Congress (WZC) are central nongovernmental institutions in Israel.  While not a part of the Israeli government, “The Parliament of the Jewish People” represents a variety of Israeli political parties, their platforms and visions for Israeli society.    

The WZO was founded by Theodor Herzl in Basel, Switzerland in 1897 at the first World Zionist Congress. Even though they predate the State of Israel, the country’s founders knew that to succeed it had to be a project of the entire global Jewish People. They baked the WZO and WZC into the Democratic process of Israel as the one way for Diaspora Jews to have a say in the important Issues facing the Jewish People and Jewish State. 

Often called “The Parliament of the Jewish People,” the WZC convenes every five years to bring together representatives from Jewish communities around the world to decide on key issues affecting the Jewish people in Israel and globally. 

The Congress elects the leadership of the WZO, sets policies, and influences the allocation of significant funding of about $1 billion annually. 

VOTE HERE:  www.azm.org

LEARN ABOUT THE REFORM MOVEMENT SLATE HERE: https://www.vote4reform.org/

Check out this video to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGWRp7_vZH8&t=10s

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

In honor of Thanksgiving last weekend, we are talking about food in on the show this week.  Today's episode of Waking Up To Life brings Marcia Nodel who is "in a pickle".  Her company Marcia's Pickled Munchies has won awards and has been featured in several national media sites. www.marciaspickles.com I am excited to share the story of how her entry into a food competition changed the trajectory of her life.  Not only are the pickles tasty...her story is scrumptious.  Join me as we hear her story of "waking up to life"!!!

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod 

You can get this podcast anywhere you get your media.  Join over 10,000 listeners who have been inspired by the show.

And if you have someone with a story to tell, please contact me at [email protected]

Jason Plotkin has served as the Executive Director at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield since 2022.  In this role, he has helped to manage the business operations of the congregation with a focus on engagement.  Outside of his professional work, Jason is a husband and father.  In today's episode, we welcome Jason to share the story of his son's adoption and the enlightenment that has brought to the family.  Join me as we hear his story of "waking up to life"!

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe and follow Temple Israel on social media to stay up to date on Waking Up To Life. 

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

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn9spWvsCBvcQ-o5XLeFLHKcLoj2nBAfM 

Web: https://www.temple-israel.org/wakinguptolifepod