Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon

Karen chats with illustrator, textile designer, and writer Micaela Ezra, founder of contemporary Judaica collection AHYIN, about growing your spirituality, overcoming Jewish impostor syndrome, and what it really means to build a Jewish home - and how to do it, whatever stage of life you’re at. Micaela is an incredible role model when it comes to Jewish spirituality, and the way she constantly strives to find her own meaning in Judaism - for herself, and now for her family too - is guaranteed to inspire.

You’ll find out:

- All about Micaela's Jewish upbringing in Australia

- How she found meaning in Jewish tradition and deepened her spirituality after moving to NYC in her 20s

- The dangers of mechanical Judaism

- What kept her Jewishly grounded during her hectic days in the fashion industry

- Building your own Jewish community

- How an unconventional approach to Shabbat dinner became the cornerstone of her Jewish life

- Overcoming Jewish impostor syndrome and finding your own place in Judaism

- The importance of finding your own connection to Jewish traditions

- Balancing tradition and individuality in Judaism

- Nourishing her children’s Jewish spirituality

- Tapping into Torah wisdom to create a meaningful Jewish home

- Becoming a spiritual anchor in your own life

- The importance of “spiritual home decor”

- Why you should seek out Judaica that sparks joy

LINKS:

Micaela’s website

http://www.micaelaezra.com  

Micaela’s Instagram

http://instagram.com/micaela_ezra   

AHYIN, Micaela’s Judaica brand

https://ahyinjudaica.com   

Rabbi Simon Jacobson

https://www.meaningfullife.com 

Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women

https://smashinglife.club 

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

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Karen sits down with Lauren Hamburger, the UK director of PJ Library, an organization that sends free Jewish children's books to families across the world each month - all in the name of helping families learn about Judaism in a gentle way, sparking Jewish conversation in the home, and, ultimately, inspiring connection to the broader Jewish community (in whatever way feels right for each family). They chat about making Judaism accessible, building Jewish community, and raising proud Jewish children - and share info about how to sign up, of course!

You’ll find out:

- What PJ Library is all about, how it works, and why it’s for ALL families raising Jewish children

- How Lauren was inspired to become more religious as teenager

- The importance of normalizing Judaism in everyday life 

- How Lauren got involved with PJ Library - and brought it to the UK

- Why PJ Library empowers parents to be Jewish educators in their homes 

- Some of the most inspiring stories Lauren’s heard from PJ Library families 

- How PJ Library builds in-person Jewish community

- What PJ Library’s doing to make sure their books reflect the diversity of the Jewish community  

- How PJ Library helped Karen’s daughter find a Jewish hero 

- The importance of parents learning with their kids 

- How Dolly Parton inspired PJ Library

- What Lauren would say to a family that doesn’t feel Jewish enough to sign up for PJ Library (hint: sign up anyway!)

LINKS:

PJ Library

https://pjlibrary.org/ 

Limmud 

https://limmud.org/ 

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

https://pjlibrary.org/books/i-dissent/if00758 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

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

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/

As Karen looks ahead to the new year, she’s taken some time to think about how she’s going to live her best Jewish life in 2023. To focus her reflections, she’s come up with a list of 10 journaling prompts that helped her drill down to her one-word intention for the new year. Whether you’d like to learn a little more about Karen’s experience over the past year as she’s worked through her grief following her beloved mother’s death, moved into a new home, and launched the Jewish Joy Journal - as well as her hopes for 2023 - or you’re looking for some guidance on how to set yourself up for your best year ever, this episode is a must-listen!

10 Journal Prompts for New Year Reflection:

1. What is something I need to give myself permission to do in 2023?

2. What's one area in my life where I made real, tangible progress this year?

3. What are three accomplishments I made this year that I'm most proud of?

4. Who were the three people whose friendships I appreciated most this year?

5. What were the biggest struggles I faced this year? What were the biggest lessons they taught me?

6. If all goes well, what would I want my life to look like one year from now?

7. Based on that vision, what do I want my one-word intention to be this upcoming year?

8. What are the three things I want to achieve the most this coming year and how can I build myself systems that will allow me to accomplish them? (Pssst my Jewish Joy Journal is the perfect system to achieve this!)

9. What's one thought I'm currently holding on to that's not serving my wellbeing? Why am I holding onto it and how can I let it go?

10. What are three things I would love to do more of next year? How will I make more time for them?

LINKS:

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 Erin and Maggie, two beloved members of the Smashing Life community, to chat about their respective Jewish conversion stories. They give honest accounts of the ups and downs of  conversion, share their tips for those considering converting or already in the process, and delve into how the Smashing Life community (especially the Convert Club, a private space for those who have converted or are currently converting) has helped them grow and connect Jewishly. This episode is a must-listen if you have converted, are converting, have ever considered converting - or if you just want to better understand what it’s like being a convert in the Jewish world, and how communities can work to be more inclusive and welcoming.

You’ll find out:

- What got Erin and Maggie interested in Judaism

- How and when they knew Judaism was right for them

- The importance of taking it slowly

- Whether or not it’s a myth that rabbis will reject a prospective convert three times

- The biggest challenges Maggie and Erin faced in their conversion journeys

- How long the conversion timeline was for each of them

- Erin’s book recs for prospective converts 

- Their biggest tips for those currently in the conversion process

- What it was like for Erin, who grew up Christian, to share her journey with her family

- Why you should never ask anyone if they’re converting for marriage 

- The importance of Jewish community 

- How the wider Jewish community can be more accepting to converts

- The parallels Maggie’s found between her experiences as a convert to Judaism and as an immigrant to Australia 

- A reminder that learning about Judaism is a lifelong process - whether you converted or were born Jewish  

LINKS:

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Brides Club

https://brides.smashingtheglass.com/ 

Choosing A Jewish Life by Anita Diamant 

https://amzn.to/3OZN7Ef 

To Life! by Harold Kushner

https://amzn.to/3OQopGi 

The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

https://amzn.to/3ugQ7T6 

It’s Hanukkah season, and Karen’s rounded up her very favorite gift options for 2022. In this episode, she shares her picks for the season’s best Hanukkah swag, blue-and-white Judaica, tasty treats, and more, with options to suit all styles and budgets - plus one non-tangible mindset gift Karen hopes we can all give ourselves this Festival of Lights!

LINKS:

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

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Your Jewish Life Hanukkah Party 

http://yourjewishlife.co/hanukkah 

Blue Glitter Dreidel Stud Earrings by Ariel Tidhar

https://moderntribe.com/collections/hanukkah/products/dreidel-stud-earrings-blue-glitter-or-blue-mirror?aff=83 

Challah Tray by Yaeli Vogel 

https://yaelivogel.com/collections/all-arts/products/challah-board 

Hanukkah Embossing Rolling Pin

https://www.etsy.com/listing/748155475/happy-hanukkah-embossing-rolling-pin?utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=uk_location_buyer&utm_content=180973&awc=6091_1667956486_a2cf912a5a021a715ccb6b0545495146 

Jewish Joy Journal - Use Code JEWISHJOYPODCAST for 10% Discount

https://jewishjoyjournal.com/ 

Mensch Baseball Cap

https://shop.thejewishmuseum.org/black-on-black-mensch-baseball-cap-102919.html 

Sugarfina Hanukkah Tasting Collection

https://moderntribe.com/collections/hanukkah/products/eight-nights-of-delight?aff=83 

Blue Dreidel Glass Tray by Arielle Zorger

https://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=6091&awinaffid=180973&ued=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.etsy.com%2Flisting%2F1318037510%2Fblue-dreidels-glass-tray-hanukkah-tray 

Salt and Pepper Shakers by Jonathan Adler

https://contemporaryjudaica.co.uk/collections/chanukah/products/newport-salt-pepper-set-by-jonathan-adler 

Hanukkah Headband by Lele Sadoughi

https://www.lelesadoughi.com/collections/hr22-capsule-collection/products/https-www-lelesadoughi-com-fa-22-164 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Sarah Haskell, the TikTok star behind @thatrelatablejew, where she shares her own relatable Jewish life with over 100,000 followers. They chat about life as an accidental influencer, Sarah’s personal religious journey, Jewish dating in NYC, and the importance of always knowing who you are.

You’ll find out:

- What inspired Sarah to start sharing her life on TikTok

- What it’s like getting recognized in public 

- How she finds the right balance in deciding what to share on social media 

- What it’s like being a Jewish TikTok creator - and how Sarah handles all the antisemitism

- Instagram vs. TokTok

- Sarah’s Jewish upbringing, and how her religious identity has evolved

- What it’s been like moving from a very Jewish community on Long Island to a diverse neighborhood in NYC

- The New York Jewish dating scene 

- What Sarah hopes non-Jews will take away from her content

LINKS:

Sarah on TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thatrelatablejew?lang=en 

Sarah on Instagram

https://instagram.com/thatrelatablejew 

Sarah on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjEnWZkWKorf2w3fyptYwow 

Sarah’s art

https://www.instagram.com/art1ofakind/?hl=en 

Sarah’s ring light

https://amzn.to/3hqWujI 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community 

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Karen talks about what it’s like raising her two young daughters as proud Jews, and shares her top tips for Jewish parenting that will instill a love of Judaism in the little ones in your life. Karen gives some great ideas for making Judaism truly joyful for kids of all ages, and also shares some guidance on how to talk about antisemitism. Spoiler alert: raising kids who love being Jewish is a whole lot easier when you’re genuinely proud of your own identity!

LINKS:

How to raise proud Jewish children

https://yourjewishlife.co/children 

Jewish Joy checklist

http://yourjewishlife.co/joy 

Karen’s BBC article on celebrating the High Holidays with children

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/celebrating-rosh-hashanah-yom-kippur-kids/zqy8qyc 

Jewish recipes resource

https://yourjewishlife.co/recipes 

PJ Library 

https://pjlibrary.org/home 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Jewish educator and author Ben M. Freeman to discuss all things Jewish pride. The founder of the modern Jewish pride movement, Ben shares all about his own journey to owning his Jewish identity - and how it was set in motion by his experiences as a proud gay man. Ben wants to make sure we stop allowing the non-Jewish world to define our narratives - and his approach is truly changing the Jewish world!

You’ll find out:

- Unpacking internalized anti-Jewishness 

- Why there’s no such thing as good Jews or bad Jews

- The importance of reclaiming our story as Jews

- Why Jewish pride is a revolution

- The most important thing the non-Jewish world can do

- How Ben became one of the world’s top experts on Jewish pride - and how his identity as a gay man played a role in his journey  

- Why Ben wears a kippah every day

- Ben’s recommendations for talking about Israel - and the importance of making sure we know our stuff before weighing in publicly

- Why Ben doesn’t use the term 'antisemitism'

LINKS:

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Ben’s website

https://benmfreeman.com/ 

Ben’s new book

https://www.bookdepository.com/Reclaiming-Our-Story-Ben-M.-Freeman/9781915036322 

Jewish Pride

https://benmfreeman.com/writing/ 

Ben on Instagram

https://instagram.com/benmfreeman/ 

Ben on Twitter

https://twitter.com/benmfreeman/ 

Ben on Eve Barlow’s Substack https://evebarlow.substack.com/archive?sort=new#:~:text=Jewish%20Pride%3A%20One%20year%20on 

Karen leads a tour of her new home, and all the things that make it Jewish - tangible and not. She and her family moved into their dream home this past summer, and as they continue to get settled in they’re making sure to fill it with all the things that spark Jewish joy for them. Along the way, Karen addresses the question of what makes a Jewish home Jewish - and provides an important reminder that the Jewish items in your home don’t need to be expensive to be meaningful!

LINKS:

Ultimate checklist for everything you need in a Jewish home

https://yourjewishlife.co/jewishhome 

Karen on celebrating the High Holidays with children

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/celebrating-rosh-hashanah-yom-kippur-kids/zqy8qyc 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

Micaela Ezra’s Judaica brand AHYIN

https://ahyinjudaica.com/ 

PJ Library

https://pjlibrary.org/home 

Ariel Tidhar

https://arieltidhar.com/ 

Smashing The Glass

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/ 

Karen sits down with Nikki Schreiber, founder of Humans of Judaism, where she’s been bringing Jewish stories to life since 2014. They chat about how Nikki channeled her grief over her beloved father’s sudden death into Humans of Judaism, the account’s meteoric rise to fame in the early days of Instagram, and how Nikki’s managed to keep her focus on Jewish unity and positivity in a time of rising antisemitism. 

You’ll find out:

- How Nikki got the idea to start Humans of Judaism

- The importance of making space for what we love about our tradition

- Nikki’s favorite Humans of Judaism stories 

- How Nikki’s focus has shifted with the rise of antisemitism

- Why it’s vital that we continue to share our Jewish pride without fear

- How Jewish Instagram has evolved since Nikki founded Humans of Judaism in 2014

- Nikki’s tips on how to feel secure in your Jewish identity 

- How Nikki keeps her focus on Jewish unity 

- What’s next for Humans of Judaism

- How to cope with antisemitism in 2022

LINKS:

Humans of Judaism on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/humansofjudaism/ 

Humans of Judaism website

https://humansofjudaism.com/ 

Starbucks post on Humans of Judaism

https://humansofjudaism.com/humansofjudaism/%E2%9C%A8-favorite-this-is-one-of-my-favorite-humans-of-judaism-posts-from-one-year-ago-july-2016 

Jessica Seinfeld on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jessseinfeld/ 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

JMeetups.com, where you can find love across our global Jewish community

https://jmeetups.com/