Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon

Karen’s thinking about what she wants to break free from as she prepares for Passover 2023. She also shares stories of some of her most memorable seder nights over the years - from childhood celebrations with family in Israel to the ultra-meaningful last seder she spent with her beloved mother, who opened up about her own story of freedom fleeing from Iraq to Israel due to persecution for being Jewish. As always, she’s here to help you figure out how to do your Passover, your way this year!

You’ll find out:

- The thing Karen’s most looking forward to about hosting her first seder in her new home

- What Karen’s childhood Passovers looked like 

- Why Karen recommends taking pictures of your seders

- What it’s like celebrating Passover in Israel with four generations of Karen’s big Iraqi-Israeli extended family 

- How Karen makes seder night fun for her kids - and how PJ Library has inspired her 

- Why Karen highly recommends spending a Passover in Israel

- What Karen wants to break free from this year

- Why Passover (and every day of the year) should be a judgment-free zone

LINKS:

My FREE Passover 2023 guide

http://yourjewishlife.co/passover

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

PJ Library

https://pjlibrary.org/home

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

Karen sits down with Dr. Sheila Nazarian, a top board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Beverly Hills and mother of three who’s also carved out a niche as one of Israel’s staunchest defenders on social media. She talks about how she finds time to do it all, dealing with the backlash she’s faced since stepping up her Israel activism, why she feels religion is key to raising children in the 21st century, and so much more. 

You’ll find out:

- How Sheila and her family escaped from Iran after the revolution - and what it was like moving to LA at age 7 

- What inspired Sheila to become an activist - and how she balances it with a busy career

- Why anti-Zionism is antisemitism

- How she stays strong in defending Israel despite the backlash 

- What success looks like to Sheila

- The importance of learning to delegate 

- Why the things that are hardest in life are often also the things that give the most meaning

- Sheila’s top time management tips 

- The importance of taking action

- Why it’s crucial to always be adapting

LINKS:

Dr Sheila on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/drsheilanazarian/?hl=en

The Closet podcast

https://anchor.fm/closetpodcast

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

Few people have done as much to expose the rising fashionability of antisemitism in the progressive world as comedian, author, screenwriter, and television presenter-turned-activist, David Baddiel. 

In this important episode, Karen sits down with David to unpack why antisemitism isn’t considered to be as unacceptable as other forms of discrimination (even among those who are vocal in their support of other minorities), and what we can do about it.

Along the way, they cover why antisemitism is the racism that sneaks past you, the secret of Jewish humor, raising proud Jewish children in an interfaith family, why Jews need a rebrand and so much more. 

You’ll find out:

- Why there’s a double standard when it comes to Jews in today’s progressive world

- How David got to be the expert on Jews not counting 

- Why the stereotypes about Jews and money are so harmful 

- What Judaism means to David as an atheist - and why his new book on atheism, The God Desire, is actually very Jewish

- Why antisemitism is racism, not religious intolerance

- Where the perception that Jews are uncool comes from 

- How his standup background helps him make difficult topics accessible

- Why Jews don’t fit neatly into the victimizer/victimized paradigm 

LINKS:

David Baddiel on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/therealbaddiel/ 

David Baddiel on Twitter 

https://twitter.com/Baddiel 

Jews Don’t Count

https://amzn.to/3mqxjjx 

The God Desire

https://amzn.to/3JcqqLX 

Three Lions ‘It’s Coming Home’

https://youtu.be/oyoy2_7FegI 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

Karen sits down with Smashing Life member Emily Cohen for an honest chat about contemporary Jewish life - from dealing with antisemitism in the workplace to what it’s like to be a single Jewish woman in 2023.

They cover everything from how Emily started wearing a Star of David in response to an antisemitic boss, to what it’s like engaging in Jewish life as a single thirty-something woman, to what exactly it is that makes the Smashing Life community so empowering.

You’ll find out:

- Emily’s advice for anyone dealing with antisemitism in the workplace

- How non-Jews can make workplaces inclusive for Jews

- Why so many people don’t think of Jews as a minority 

- What congregations can do to make themselves more welcoming to single Jews 

- Why Jewish singles events need to stop cutting off at age 36

- What it’s like being on Jewish dating apps in 2023

- Why Jewish community’s become more important to Emily over time

- Why Shemini Atzeret and Yom Kippur are Emily’s favorite Jewish holidays 

LINKS:

Join the new Smashing Life app - The No. 1 Jewish Girl Community at Your Fingertips

https://smashinglife.club/   

ModernTribe

https://moderntribe.com/?aff=83 

Emily’s Star of David

https://moderntribe.com/collections/all/products/butterfly-star-of-david-necklace/?aff=83 

Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel

https://bookshop.org/p/books/jews-don-t-count-david-baddiel/17777302 

“My Jewish Dating Journey” podcast episode

https://yourjewishlife.co/podcast/my-jewish-dating-journey-internet-dating-blind-dates-and-meeting-the-one/ 

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

Karen sits down with author and activist Ben M. Freeman for an emotional discussion about Jewish grief and mourning. Karen and Ben both lost a beloved parent too soon - Ben’s father in 2017, and Karen’s mother in 2021 - and in the aftermath, each felt incredibly lucky to be Jewish and to have a millennia-old framework to lean on for getting through life’s hardest moments. 

They talk about their experiences of Jewish mourning traditions like shiva and yahrzeit, give advice for talking to someone who’s grieving, and share the things that have been most helpful in learning to live with their grief.

You’ll find out:

- The things that have been most helpful for Ben and Karen in living with their grief 

- Why Jewish mourning traditions made Ben feel proud to be Jewish

- The thing Karen found most meaningful about shiva 

- Why Ben appreciates the rawness of Jewish funerals

- How Karen’s experience sitting shiva in Israel differed from Ben’s in Scotland

- Why the structure shiva provides is so grounding 

- A reminder that everyone grieves differently, even within the boundaries of Jewish tradition 

- Karen’s advice for keeping the memory of a late loved one alive for young children 

- The meaning Ben’s found in the tradition of yahrzeit as a yearly opportunity to step back into his grief 

- How Israeli music helps Karen feel connected to her mother 

- Tips on how to talk to someone who’s grieving 

LINKS:

Ben M. Freeman

https://benmfreeman.com/ 

Jewish Death and Mourning 101

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/death-mourning-101/ 

Shiva 

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shiva-what-you-need-to-know/ 

Yahrzeit

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yahrzeit-remembering-on-the-anniversary-of-a-death/ 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

If you’re currently planning a wedding, this episode is for you! As the founder of Smashing The Glass, the world’s largest Jewish wedding platform, Karen shares her dos and don’ts for planning a one-of-a-kind wedding that’s totally authentic to who the two of you are as a couple, gleaned from her ten years of experience working with Jewish couples all over the world. 

LINKS:

Smashing The Glass

https://www.smashingtheglass.com 

Brides Club

https://brides.smashingtheglass.com 

Reserve your spot for “The Secrets to an Unforgettable Jewish Wedding” on February 19

http://www.smashingtheglass.com/secrets 

Karen and Jeremy’s wedding

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/karen-jeremy-london-wedding-at-the-wallace-collection/ 

No More Shoulds

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/no-more-shoulds/ 

Gina and Tony’s wedding

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/gena-tony-extraordinarily-colourful-jewish-fiesta-wedding-sydney-polo-club-australia/ 

Stacey and Jono’s wedding

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/stacey-jono-nye-fancy-dress-jewish-wedding-in-a-cinema-west-sussex-uk/ 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Karen sits down with Sam and Emily from Team YJL to talk all things Shabbat! They talk about what Shabbat’s all about, how Judaism’s weekly day of rest looks like for each of them, and why they find it meaningful - and, most importantly, share plenty of tips for easy, accessible ways to bring Shabbat into your life, your way. 

You’ll find out:

- What Shabbat is all about, and why it’s so important 

- Why Shabbat is for you, wherever you are in your life

- Some traditional - and not so traditional - ways to mark Shabbat in your life 

- Why inviting friends for Friday night dinner is the best - whether they’re Jewish or not!

- The beauty of disconnecting from tech over Shabbat

- A reminder that your menu for Friday night dinner doesn’t have to be traditional (or homemade)

- How to have a simple, stress-free Shabbat

- Why chicken shawarma is a Shabbat dinner secret weapon 

- All about the wonderful tradition of the Shabbat nap

- Why tzedakah is a beautiful tradition to bring into your Shabbat

- How to do mark the end of Shabbat with Havdalah

LINKS:

Smashing Life, my Jewish community 

https://smashinglife.club/ 

What Jew Wanna Eat Chicken Shawarma

https://whatjewwannaeat.com/shawarma-lettuce-wraps/ 

Havdalah Kits and Candles https://moderntribe.com/collections/havdalah-sets/?aff=83 

Ultimate Shabbat plylist https://yourjewishlife.co/shabbatplaylist 

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com

Karen shares her secret for how to find joy during difficult times. Her secret sounds simple - it’s all about gratitude - but putting that into action can be easier said than done. In this episode, Karen shares some practical takeaways for practicing gratitude and savoring moments of joy, however small, even at those times when you feel least thankful for what’s going on in your life. She also delves into some of her other favorite strategies, from giving to others to making a joy list, and shares how she’s implemented these tools in her own life - especially since losing her beloved mother in 2021.

LINKS:

Jewish Joy Journal - get a 10% discount with the code “JEWISHJOYPODCAST”

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Jewish Joy Playlist

https://yourjewishlife.co/playlist 

Karen on Podcast Against Antisemitism

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s3-e6-gratitude-with-karen-cinnamon/id1598345651?i=1000588320772 

Karen sits down with Yoav Davis, the founder of Jews of NY, where he shines a light on the beautiful diversity of Jewish life in the Big Apple. Yoav’s commitment to Jewish joy and positivity is so refreshing, and his conversation with Karen about owning your Jewishness, uniting the Jewish world, and the importance of finding your own path in Judaism is sure to inspire.

You’ll find out:

- How Yoav’s platform balances showcasing the beauty of Judaism with calling out antisemitism 

- Yoav’s mission for Jews of NY in 2023

- What inspired Yoav to start Jews of NY 

- The things that bring Yoav Jewish joy

- How Jews of NY allows Yoav to connect with the full spectrum of the New York Jewish community 

- Yoav’s tips for feeling confident in your Jewish identity 

LINKS:

Jews of NY

https://www.instagram.com/jews_of_ny/ 

Smashing The Glass

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/ 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Buy the Jewish Joy Journal - use code JEWISHJOYPODCAST for 10% discount

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Congregation Beit Simchat Torah

https://cbst.org/ 

Karen sits down with a very special guest: her 9-year-old daughter, Sacha! Sacha is a proud Jewish girl who loves challah, cheder (that’s Hebrew school to you Americans), and sharing about Jewish traditions with the diverse group of friends she's made at her non-Jewish school. Sacha spills about her love for Israel, how she balances her Jewish identity with her cosmopolitan life in London, and why Ruth Bader Ginsburg is her inspiration.

LINKS:

How to Raise Proud Jewish Children

http://yourjewishlife.co/children 

PJ Library

https://pjlibrary.org/home 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Buy the Jewish Joy Journal - use Code JEWISHJOYPODCAST for 10% Discount

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/