Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon

Karen sits down with Carrie Nachmani, a 63 year old 'Grandfluencer' and proud Jewish woman par excellence. The mother of three wonderful daughters, including influencer Arielle Charnas, Carrie is an absolute font of Jewish parenting wisdom, and in this episode she shares some of her secrets to raising successful, confident children who proudly own their Jewish identities. 

You’ll find out:

 

- Why Carrie is so passionate about owning her identity as a proud Jewish woman

- The importance of instilling Jewish values in her daughters

- What Americans can learn from Israeli parenting

- How to keep the lines of communication open with teenagers

- All about raising proud Jewish children

- Her difficult upbringing as a child of Holocaust survivors

- How her first trip to Israel changed her life

- All about learning to cook from her Moroccan Israeli mother-in-law

LINKS:

 

Carrie on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/carriestable/

 

 

Carrie’s daughter Arielle Charnas

https://www.instagram.com/ariellecharnas/

 

 

Arielle's podcast episode with Carrie 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7HJBFViuo4lhg2AH

 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

 

 

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

http://jmeetups.com/

 

Karen sits down with Aly Silverberg, the queen of Jewish relatability. As the founder of @jewishgirlprobs, Aly shares all about her journey as one of the founding figures of Jewish Instagram, chatting about the connection between Jewish humor and Jewish survival, the art of the meme, the importance of owning your Jewish identity - and so much more!

 

You’ll find out:

 

- How Aly got the idea to start @jewishgirlprobs in 2018

- Balancing her personal Jewish activism with her audience’s expectations

- What Jewish humor means to Aly 

- How she handles people who treat her as an authority on Judaism

- Why it’s important to accept that you can’t please everyone 

- Finding the right balance between self-deprecation and positivity 

- Why we need Jewish humor even more during hard times

- How @jewishgirlprobs helped Aly land her day job at Snapchat 

- The importance of surrounding yourself with people who accept your full self

- What Aly finds most meaningful in Judaism

- All about her Beatles-themed bat mitzvah

LINKS:

 

@jewishgirlprobs on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jewishgirlprobs/

jewishgirlprobs’ website

https://www.jewishgirlprobs.com/

Aly’s baked brie and matzah meme

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcoT-P3jhmL/?hl=en

Aly’s Jewish music playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22khDRVbM7XVfT4liKeVQV?si=eKuTmfHyQAO1iXj6EBke6A

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

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

http://jmeetups.com/

Hanukkah Decor outdoor inflatables Kickstarter

https://hanukkahdecor.com/kickstarter

Karen sits down with actress, filmmaker, and podcaster Daniella Rabbani to chat all about Daniella’s “deliciously Jewish” life, the importance of finding your own place in Judaism, the joy of Jewish music, and so much more. Daniella truly embodies Your Jewish Life’s philosophy of “your Jewish life, your way,” and she positively radiates Jewish joy - making this episode an absolute must-listen if you could use a little reminder that you are Jewish enough, just the way you are.

You’ll find out:

 

- What being Jewish means to Daniella

- How she learned to tap into her own Jewish joy

- Daniella’s favorite thing about being Jewish 

- Why we as Jews need to rid ourselves of internalized antisemitism and shame

- How she stopped feeling ashamed that she met her husband at a Jewish charity event 

- The importance of not judging other Jews

- How studying Yiddish changed Daniella’s life 

- All about Daniella’s own podcast, Mom Curious, about finding your own path through motherhood

LINKS:

 

Daniella’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/daniellarabbani/ 

 

Daniella’s website

https://www.daniellarabbani.com/ 

 

Mom Curious

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-curious/id1602585064 

 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/ 

 

Hanukkah Decor outdoor inflatables Kickstarter

https://hanukkahdecor.com/kickstarter 

 

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

http://jmeetups.com/ 

 

Karen sits down with none other than the Challah Prince himself! Idan Chabasov is truly a challah baker like no other, and his artistic, meditative approach to challah has taken Instagram by storm. A native Tel Avivian, Idan always loved eating challah but never tried baking it until he moved to Berlin as an adult. He shares all the details of his journey to challah royalty, why he identifies as an artist rather than a baker, the benefits of niching down, and so much more!

 

You’ll find out:

 

- The story of Idan’s path to becoming the Challah Prince

- How the pandemic got so many more people into challah baking

- Why you won’t find any other types of bread or baked goods on Idan’s account

- How he brings his background in art and dance to challah baking

- Which challah design is his all-time favorite

- Idan’s stance on fancy challah toppings and stuffings

- The importance of blocking out all the external noise and staying authentic

- How his time living in Berlin changed his relationship with Judaism

- The joys of edible, impermanent art

-  All about Idan’s challah tour of America

LINKS:

 

Challah Prince on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/challahprince/

 

Challah Prince’s website

https://www.challahprince.com/land

 

Karen and Idan in Tel Aviv (middle of the Reel)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbSmMjzAKkI/

 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

“Why be a second-rate version of someone else when you can be a first-rate version of yourself?” That’s just one of the brilliant soundbites from Karen’s conversation with Tony Westbrook, aka @frumjewishblackboy. Tony is so full of enthusiasm for joyful, non-judgmental Judaism, and his discussion with Karen about what it’s like being an Orthodox queer Black Jewish person, how he lives his most authentic Jewish life, and why the only constant in Judaism is change is one you won’t want to miss.

 

You’ll find out:

 

- How Tony became an accidental TikTok star

- What the next generation of Jews are looking for in communal life

- Why the butts-in-seats model of Jewish communal engagement is out of date 

- How he uses social media as a way to channel his lighthearted side despite spending most of his time dealing with serious Jewish communal issues on the job

- Why it’s important to bring out the fun side of Judaism

- How to deal when your Jewish identity don’t fit into a box

- Tony’s tips on finding the courage to live your most authentic life

- What it means to be a Jew and a person of color in today’s world

- How Jewish communities can make themselves more welcoming

LINKS:

 

Tony’s Instagram

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

Tony’s TikTok

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

Karen and Tony in Tel Aviv on the Jews Talk Justice trip

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbSmMjzAKkI/

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community

https://smashinglife.club/

 

Karen sits down with Israeli actress, producer, writer, and activist Noa Tishby to talk about advocating for Israel - everything from why you should (hint: Jews deserve self-determination just like any other group), to how to determine who might be receptive to the conversation, and how to find the right words to discuss the world’s most misunderstood country.     Plus, Noa shares about how she’s working to solve Israel’s PR problem in her new role as the first-ever Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and Delegitimization of Israel.   You’ll find out:   - How you can start advocating for Israel in your own life       - How to deal with antisemitism fatigue       - Why the Jewish people’s right to self-determination shouldn’t be up for debate       - Why not being triggered is a superpower       - What inspired Noa to become an Israel advocate        - How she breaks down complex issues into simple, accessible tidbits       - Why antisemitism isn’t going to be solved in any of our lifetimes - and why it’s important to keep fighting it anyway       - What Zionism actually is - and what it isn’t       - Why Israel actually isn’t as complicated as people think        - The power of small changes       - Why Israel is held to a standard that doesn’t apply to any other country         - Why Israel has such a massive PR problem        - What she wishes people understood about Israel       LINKS:     Noa’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/noatishby/   Noa’s website https://www.noatishby.com/   Noa’s book https://www.noatishby.com/book   Smashing Life, my private community for Jewish women https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Felicity Spector - news producer by day, London foodie influencer after hours - to talk about one of the most joyous of Jewish topics: food! Felicity spills all the details on her life as an accidental food influencer, how Jewish food helped her reconnect with her Jewish identity, why food is an amazing way to make friends and forge new connections, and why it’s never too late to start baking your own challah!

 

You’ll find out:

 

- How food fuels Jewish joy

 

- What makes Israeli food so exciting

 

- How she balances her demanding career in international news with her side gig as a food influencer

 

- Felicity’s favorite Jewish and Israeli eateries

 

- How she went from a totally secular upbringing in Birmingham, UK, to becoming one of London’s top Jewish foodies

 

- Why food is a great way to share Jewish culture

 

- The rise of Israeli food in London over the past decade

 

- Why food is a great way to start reconnecting with your Jewish identity

 

- How she makes friends through food

 

- Felicity’s go-to sources for great Jewish recipes

 

- Why you might want to practice new challah techniques by braiding tights!

 

LINKS:

Felicity’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/felicityspector/

 

Jake Cohen https://www.instagram.com/jakecohen/

 

Jake Cohen’s cookbook https://www.wakeandjake.com/jewish-a-cookbook

 

Ottolenghi https://ottolenghi.co.uk/

 

Honey & Co https://honeyandco.co.uk/

 

Cook for Ukraine https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cookforukraine/

 

Smashing Life, my private Jewish community https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Molly Tolsky, the founder and editor of Jewish culture site (and awesome Instagram account) Hey Alma and editor of Jewish parenting site Kveller. They chat about making space for Jewish Millennials to feel seen, the importance of showcasing diverse Jewish voices, and the joys of helping Jews connect with each other.     You’ll find out:     - What it was like going from a very Jewish home community to a not-very-Jewish college     - All about Molly's music-themed Mollypalooza bat mitzvah - complete with a choreographed dance to “Welcome to Miami”     - How writing brought her back into the Jewish world as an adult     - How Molly got the idea to start Hey Alma     - Dealing with online backlash     - Why seeing Jews judge each other is the hardest thing about her job     - All about those awesome Alma Classifieds     - What sparks Jewish joy for Molly     LINKS:     Hey Alma https://www.heyalma.com   Hey Alma’s Instagram (where you can find the Alma Classifieds!) https://www.instagram.com/hey.alma   Kveller  https://www.kveller.com   Kveller’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kvellercom   Molly’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mollytolsky   Molly’s bat mitzvah https://www.instagram.com/p/CbQaVdyLuw4/ Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Rabbi Robyn Frisch and Nicole Wasilus of 18Doors, a wonderful organization that helps interfaith couples and families grow their Jewish - or Jew-ish - identities in an authentic way. Rabbi Robyn and Nicole have so much wisdom to share, and this episode is truly a must for anyone who’s part of an interfaith relationship or family.     You’ll find out:     - Why getting involved with Judaism can sometimes feel intimidating and how to overcome it     - How to get started engaging with Judaism if you’re out of practice     - The importance of open, honest communication with your non-Jewish partner or family members     - The importance of setting boundaries with family who may not agree with your choices     - Small, non-intimidating steps you can take to bring Judaism into your lives     - How to find elements of Judaism that spark Jewish (or Jew-ish) joy for you     - What to do when you feel judged     - Tips on raising Jewish children in an interfaith environment     - Why it’s so important to find a community where you can feel comfortable–even if it’s online!     LINKS:   18Doors https://18doors.org/   18Doors Passover resources https://18doors.org/tag/passover/   Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/   Your Jewish Life Passover guide https://yourjewishlife.co/passoverguide     Smashing The Glass, my Jewish wedding platform and community https://www.smashingtheglass.com/   PJ Library https://pjlibrary.org/home   Mazel Pups Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/423561119504616/

Karen is joined by Emily and Sam from the Smashing Life team to talk all things Passover! Join them as they dish on their most memorable childhood Passovers, debate the merits of the Maxwell House Haggadah, and, above all, share how they make this sometimes challenging holiday their own. Whether this holiday is your favorite or least favorite, whether you’re a newbie or have been celebrating your whole life, this conversation is guaranteed to get you in the mood for matzah!  

 

You’ll find out:

 

- When Passover falls in 2022 - Why Passover has always been Sam’s favorite holiday     - How a hardened chametz addict came to love Passover     - Some of our favorite Passover eats - What goes on a seder plate     - How it’s been weathering Passover during the pandemic     - Tips on how to make the most of Passover if you’re spending it alone     - Why we’re excited for Passover Bingo inside the Smashing Life Community     - What we’re doing to get in the mood as we prepare for the holiday     LINKS:

 

My must-have guide to everything you need to know about Passover in 2022 yourjewishlife.co/passoverguide       Passover Spotify Playlist yourjewishlife.co/passoverplaylist       Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish women https://smashinglife.club/     Matzah brei recipe https://www.instagram.com/reel/CM-D-O9ACgU/     Matzah crack recipe https://www.instagram.com/reel/CM4x9vSAI3E/     Almodrote recipe https://www.poppyandprune.com/2018/04/02/eggplant-and-cheese-casserole-almodrote-de-berengena/