Waking Up To Life -- 18 Minutes With Rabbi Josh

Ben Chutz joins the show with a professional history as an entrepreneur in social impact technology.  He is the founder of Birdhouse, a web and mobile app designed for caregivers to track, organize, and analyze behaviors, health, medication, and therapies for individuals with autism.  It helps identify behavioral patterns, triggers, and the effectiveness of interventions, reducing stress and improving care management.

As with so many of us, there are multiple moments in life that shape our lives.  With each of these events, the more we try to control the experience, the more difficult it is to do so.  Our conversation today is about his attempt to let these moments write themselves.

He continues to wake up to life every day.

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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

Marla and Murray Feldman join the show today to talk about the power of their words.  They each share a story about moments that taught them how much we can influence other people.  This conversation is a chance to learn from their wisdom as professionals, parents, and friends.

Marla Feldman is a former educator who never stops learning.

Murray Feldman is a career broadcaster in television and radio.

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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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]

Ralph Shayne is an entrepreneur and finance professional, and the son of a mother who was a Danish citizen until she married an American and immigrated to the United States in the 1960s. Born and raised in Chicago, his mere existence is predicated on being the offspring of a mother who was part of the one in ten European Jewish children to survive the War because of the rare bravery, compassion and exploits of her fellow Danish citizens.

On the show today he shares about the moral clarity of the Danish government during the Holocaust.  It is a reminder of the good that exists in the world.  

Teaching Trunk: https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/students-educators/teaching-trunks/teaching-trunks-grades-7-12/

Graphics: https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/students-educators/virtual-student-educator-resources/hour-of-need-toolkit-graphics/

In collaboration with: https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/

Hour of Need is a graphic novel telling the true story of the resistance to Nazi rule in Denmark during World War II and the heroes that saved the Danish Jews by helping them evacuate to Sweden.

Hour Of Need -- FROM THE BOOK WEBSITE: In the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, legend had it that should danger ever come to Denmark, the mighty warrior Holger Danske promised to wake from his centuries-long slumber to protect its citizens.

When the Nazis move to round up young Mette and her fellow Danish Jews in a surprise raid in 1943 after years of letting Denmark rule its people, her father must make life and death decisions to save his family. Overnight, they have become refugees at the mercy of the complete strangers they meet during their escape. The mythical Holger Danske’s promise to the Danish people manifests in the compassion and bravery of a school teacher turned resistance leader and other ordinary citizens who bravely defy the Nazi regime to come to her rescue in her hour of need.

Told from the point of view of Mette returning to Denmark years later with her grandchildren, Hour of Need tells the story of how the people of an occupied nation–from king to fisherman–risked their lives to evacuate their Jewish countrymen to Sweden in small fishing boats. Hour of Need is a tribute to the heroes that saved the Danish Jews and how humanity triumphs in the darkest hours.

Edited by: Alex Wolf

Original Music Composed by: Dan Hacker

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

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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]

Ella Fried is a Sophomore at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  After growing up in a "bubble" in suburban Detroit, she was introduced to people with a variety of world views at college.  One such meeting with a new friend led to a moment of enlightenment.

Relationships are strengthened when we truly listen to others.  By hearing world views that are not our own, we become more engaged.  This secret formula is, perhaps, the antidote to the social alienation that plagues our world today. 

Join me to hear Ella's wisdom...and Wake 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]

Tyler Smith is an EOS Implementer helping companies reach goals and drive for the future.  Today he joins the show to talk about AI and the revolutionary changes that are taking place at a breakneck pace.  Our conversation sheds light on the new uses of Artificial Intelligence in all aspects of life.

For those of you who are frightened by AI, this podcast will both inspire and scare you.  But if you listen closely to Tyler's message, you will find that we are at an exciting crossroad.  And Jewish life is ready for the moment.

Have a listen...and Wake 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 podcast is slightly longer than usual...but totally worth the listen!  In one of my favorite episodes ever, I welcome Howard Krugel...two years into a diagnosis with ALS.  Despite his illness, he is committed to being the best person he can be every single day. Refusing to back down from this devastating disease, Howard shares the five principles that define his stated goal of living an Honest Happy Life.

Take a moment to listen to this wisdom...as it will definitely help us all to Wake Up To Life.

HOWARD'S Five Principles

Irrational Confidence

No Fear

Giving Is Living

Guilt Free Living

Why Not?

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]

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

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]

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]