Your Jewish Life Your Way with Karen Cinnamon

Karen sits down with Israeli writer and activist Hen Mazzig, the son of Mizrahi Jewish refugees from Iraq and North Africa who’s made it his mission to share his family's story with the world. They chat about finding your own path in life and choosing a Jewish identity that’s meaningful to you, using social media for good, how to deal when society doesn’t accept parts of your identity, and why Mizrahi culture is the secret sauce that makes Israel so awesome.     You’ll find out:   - How his observant Mizrahi Israeli upbringing shaped his identity     - and why he feels more Jewishly connected now than ever before, despite leading a more secular life     - Using social media to empower Jews and other marginalized groups     - How he came to embrace his Iraqi-Tunisian heritage despite facing discrimination growing up     - Embracing the diversity of the Jewish world     - What it was like growing up queer in a homphobic society     - Facing discrimination as an Israeli in progressive circles     - Tips on how to love being Jewish 10 times more than anyone hates you for it     - Why he believes in always finding the best in people     - Why being Jewish in the 21st century is a miracle     - The importance of making sure Jewish identity is shaped by joy more than by fear and hatred     - His favorite things about being Jewish     - Why he loves hosting Shabbat dinners     - and some of his favorite hosting hacks     - Why Mizrahi culture is the secret sauce that makes Israel awesome     - All about his upcoming book on Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, coming out in late 2022     LINKS:   Hen’s website https://www.henmazzig.com/   Hen on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/henmazzig/?hl=en   Hen on Twitter https://twitter.com/HenMazzig   I promise to love being Jewish 10x more than anyone hates me for it https://www.instagram.com/p/CYJyUt6tjVT/   Buttmitzvah https://www.facebook.com/buttmitzvah/   Kubbeh recipe https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/posts/2018/6/8/preserving-a-kurdish-recipe-one-kubbeh-at-a-time

 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community for women

https://smashinglife.club

Karen sits down with Emily from the Your Jewish Life content team to chat about one of the trickiest parts of adulthood: making friends - especially Jewish ones! They speak about their respective experiences - Karen’s in London and Emily’s in NYC - along with sharing some crowdsourced advice from members of the Smashing Life community. The bottom line is, it’s not easy - but if you’re dedicated and willing to put yourself out there, you CAN make it happen! And if you need a little help, join our Jewish Connection Challenge, happening right now!   Here are some of our top suggestions for making new Jewish friends: - Host or attend a Shabbat dinner      - Find a Jewish roommate     - Work at a Jewish organization or business     - Ask your friends (Jewish or not) to connect you with their other Jewish friends     - Join local Jewish Facebook groups     - Go on a Jewish group trip, or attend a Jewish retreat or conference     - Take a Hebrew class     - Reconnect with some old Jewish friends, if you’ve got them     - Volunteer for a Jewish charity     - Wear some Jewish jewelry, or something with Hebrew on it     - Join our Smashing Life Community     - Sign up for the Jewish Connection Challenge     LINKS:   Smashing Life, my community for Jewish women https://smashinglife.club/   Jewish Connection Challenge https://yourjewishlife.co/connection

 

OneTable https://onetable.org/

 

Hen Mazzig’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/henmazzig/?hl=en

 

Hazon Jewish Food Conference https://hazon.org/calendar/hazon-food-conference/

 

Ariel Tidhar https://www.arieltidhar.com/

Karen sits down with Lisa Lisser, Executive Vice President at JewBelong.com. Long known for their slightly risque NYC bus shelter ads, lately JewBelong’s been pushing the envelope in expanding the conversation around antisemitism with their attention-getting Times Square billboards. Lisa chats with Karen about JewBelong’s core mission of making Judaism accessible to disengaged Jews, how she deals with Jewbarrassment, and why you don’t have to be an expert to experience the joy of Judaism.      You’ll find out:   - Why there’s no such thing as a bad Jew     - How we as Jews can keep rules from dividing us     - Why Passover is Lisa’s favorite Jewish holiday - and how she makes her seders her own     - Small, easy steps you can take to lean into your Judaism - and the awesome resources JewBelong offers to help you do exactly this      - What sparks Jewish joy for Lisa     - The story behind those billboards bringing antisemitism to the forefront in Times Square     - What JewBelong is doing to get people talking about antisemitism - and how their work is bringing Jews together     LINKS:     Join our free Jewish Connection Challenge https://yourjewishlife.co/connection     JewBelong https://www.jewbelong.com   JewBelong on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jewbelong   JewBelong in Times Square https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtbo7ctu2R/

 

Smashing Life, my Jewish community for women

https://smashinglife.club

Karen sits down with Jewish advocate and educator Amy Albertson to chat all about Amy’s experiences as a Chinese American Jewish woman, and her work to empower ALL Jews to own their Jewish identities with no apologies. A passionate voice for ending gatekeeping within the Jewish community, Amy’s celebration of the diversity of the Jewish world and passion for making space for all of us to live our own best Jewish lives, our way, is sure to fill you with hope for the Jewish future.       You’ll find out:     - All about her upbringing with a Chinese American mom and Ashkenazi American dad     - How attending Catholic high school strengthened her Jewish identity     - What it was like diving into a Jewish community in college for the first time     - Her journey from viewing herself as Jew-ish to Jewish     - Why diversity is the secret sauce to the richness of the Jewish people     - How she deals with other people trying to define her Jewishness     - Non-intimidating ways to start being louder about your Judaism     - The importance of making sure your Jewish identity isn’t defined by antisemitism     - What it’s like advocating for Israel online in 2022     - How Jewish communities can do better welcoming Jews of Color     LINKS:  

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

 

@theamyalbertson on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theamyalbertson Amy Albertson’s website https://www.amyalbertson.com/

This week, Karen puts on her Jewish wedding expert hat and chats all about one of the most beautiful Jewish traditions of all. You may know her best as the host of this podcast and founder of Smashing Life, but Karen also runs Smashing The Glass - the world’s largest Jewish platform - which she founded while planning her own wedding in 2013.   She knows everything that’s worth knowing about Jewish weddings, and then some - and she’s got some valuable pointers for anyone currently in the midst of planning a Jewish or Jew-ish wedding (or hoping to be soon!).       You’ll find out:   - What’s special about Jewish weddings     - Why Karen’s obsessed with the wedding scene in Fiddler on the Roof - and what we can all learn from it      - How Karen got the inspiration to found Smashing The Glass in 2013     - All about Jewish traditions and ways to make them your own     - Ways to make your Jewish wedding egalitarian while keeping to traditions     - Tips on how to manage family relationships while planning a wedding     - Why dancing is Karen’s favorite thing about Jewish weddings     - The first thing you and your partner should do after getting engaged     - The importance of setting boundaries during wedding planning     LINKS:  

Join our Brides Club

https://brides.smashingtheglass.com/

 

Smashing The Glass 

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/

 

Chuppah inspo

https://smashingtheglass.com/chuppah

 

All the Jewish wedding traditions (and how to make them your own!)

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/traditions

 

Fiddler on the Roof on Smashing The Glass

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/fiddler-on-the-roof-tzeitel-motels-rustic-jewish-wedding-in-anatevka/

 

Real Jewish weddings

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/category/weddings/

 

Real interfaith Jewish weddings

https://www.smashingtheglass.com/category/weddings/jewish-interfaith-weddings/

 

Gena and Tony's incredibly colorful Jewish wedding

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

 

Buy one of our SMASHED IT smash glass pouched

https://smashing.glass/smash-bag

 

Karen’s wedding on Smashing The Glass

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

  Jewish wedding music played by The Endymion String Quartet (as played at Karen's wedding) https://www.endymionstringquartet.com/jewish-wedding-music

Karen sits down with Rabbi Rena Singer, co-founder of Modern Ritual along with Rabbi Samantha Frank, to chat about teaching deep Judaism on social media. Since its founding in 2017, @modern_rituall has been responsible for some of the most engaging and accessible Jewish content on Instagram, committed to lowering the barriers to Judaism without watering down the content. Rabbi Rena speaks about shedding the shoulds; her commitment to framing Judaism in a fresh, non-intimidating way; and the age-old question of why we, as Jews, so often feel like we’re doing it all wrong (and why we shouldn’t!).       You’ll find out:     - What it was like for Rabbi Rena growing up as the daughter of two rabbis in one of the US’s most secular cities     - Why your Jewish identity shouldn’t be determined by your level of Jewish knowledge     - What it means to be a glitter rabbi     - How Modern Ritual challenges people’s assumptions about religion      - Why Judaism is all about balance     - Translating success outside the bounds of social media     - The importance of self-talk in building up Jewish identity      - What’s next for Modern Ritual       LINKS:   Modern Ritual on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/modern_ritual/ Modern Ritual’s website https://www.modernritual.org/     Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/

Karen sits down with Shiran and Alex of Unkosher Market, the Jewish apparel and lifestyle brand known for irreverent products from Oy Vey face masks to Everything Bagel nail polish, all about their approach to making Judaism fun, relatable, and even cool - and their attitude of approaching business and life with 100% chutzpah

You’ll find out:

- How Unkosher Market came to be

 

- The super cute story of Shiran and Alex got to be friends and business partners

 

- All about their mission of making Judaism cool

 

- How they manage all their ideas - and how they cope when things don’t go to plan

 

- The importance of reaching out and taking risks

 

- Why this is such an exciting time for Jewish brands

 

- The secret to a good Jewish pun

 

- What their response to the rise in antisemitism looks like

 

- Shiran and Alex’s favorite #PDJ (public display of Judaism)

 

- How they’re planning to bring back chutzpah in 2022

 

- All about Shiran’s yacht mitzvah (yep, you read that right!)

LINKS:

 

Unkosher Market https://www.unkoshermarket.com/

 

Unkosher Market Instagram https://www.instagram.com/unkoshermarket

 

Shiran’s COVID microwedding https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-3E5LJPfA/

 

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

Karen sits down with Ariel Stein, a Brooklyn-based Jewish mom on a mission to share the beauty of Judaism with the world - on social media and off. Best known for her popular Instagram accounts @ariel.loves and @jewishfamilymagic, Ariel chats with Karen about carving out moments of Jewish joy in our everyday lives - whatever they may look like - and igniting Jewish pride, in ourselves and others.     You’ll find out:     - Ariel’s journey to becoming a Jewish influencer     - The connections she’s created all over the world via social media      - How she uses Hanukkah to teach non-Jewish friends about Judaism     - The advice she’d give to someone who’s nervous about being publicly Jewish on social media      - How she expresses her Jewish pride through accessories and clothing     - The importance of finding the things that spark Jewish joy for you      - What makes a home Jewish      - How her family observes Shabbat      - The way the pandemic has forced her to expand the way she engages with Judaism     - Why it’s important to use social media in a way that brings you joy      - How she teaches her daughters about Jewish values     - The importance of Jewish inclusivity       LINKS:     Ariel.Loves Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ariel.loves/   Jewish Family Magic Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jewishfamilymagic/   Jewish Family Magic website https://www.jewishfamilymagic.com/   PJ Library https://pjlibrary.org/home   Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/

This episode is devoted to our favorite things about being Jewish! Karen brings together ten of her very favorite Jewish Instagrammers, from challah bakers to rabbis, to share their own very favorite thing about being part of this wonderful, ancient religion/people/culture. Karen also talks about some of the things she finds most meaningful about Judaism in her own life - and shares some favorites from members of the Smashing Life community!

 

You’ll hear from:

 

Karen on why she’s never felt luckier to be Jewish than right now, as she faces the tragic death of her beloved mother

 

@myjewishmommylife on being lifted up by Jewish community during good and bad times

 

@rabbisandra on Jewish values and communal prayer 

 

@rebekahlowin on why she loves the fact that Judaism not only tolerates but encourages asking hard questions

 

@mandylicioushallah on how baking challah helped her find her own place in Judaism

 

@unkoshermarket on how the renaissance in Jewish food has strengthened her Jewish identity

 

@challahdolly on the instant feeling of connection she gets when she meets other Jews

 

@barianna on how Judaism gives her faith in a chaotic world

 

@whitneyfisch on the way you can form an instant community wherever you are in the world, just by connecting with other Jews

 

@theamyalbertson on how amazing it is that Jewish communities throughout the diapsora are so varied, yet also one

 

@modernritual on the beauty of, well, Jewish rituals (what else?)       LINKS:   Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/

 

My Jewish Mommy Life https://www.instagram.com/myjewishmommylife/

 

Rabbi Sandra https://www.instagram.com/rabbisandra/

 

Rebekah Lowin https://www.instagram.com/rebekahlowin/

 

Mandylicious Challah https://www.instagram.com/mandyliciouschallah/

 

Unkosher Market https://www.instagram.com/unkoshermarket/

 

Challah Dolly https://www.instagram.com/challahdolly/

 

Barianna https://www.instagram.com/barianna/

 

Whitney Fisch https://www.instagram.com/whitneyfisch/

 

Amy Albertson https://www.instagram.com/theamyalbertson/

 

Modern Ritual https://www.instagram.com/modern_ritual/   Save your space at our FREE 2021 Zoom Hanukkah party https://yourjewishlife.co/hanukkah

Karen is joined by Emily and Sam from the Smashing Life team to talk all things Hanukkah! The Festival of Lights starts early this year, so we’re making sure to get in the holiday spirit, covering everything from our favorite Hanukkah eats to our thoughts about ugly Hanukkah sweaters to our pick for best Hanukkah movie of all time to how we’re finding the light  in the darkness in our own lives this year. If you’re not ready to pull your menorah out yet, you will be after having a listen to this episode!

 

You’ll find out:

 

- When Hanukkah falls in 2021 (hint: it’s early!)     - Why Sam’s family’s been celebrating Thanksgivukkah since before it was cool     - The story of why we celebrate for eight days     - Sam’s no-fail 3-2-1 latke recipe - and the time she whipped it up for a crowd of 20!     - Emily’s lazy latke hack     - Why the UK needs more Hanukkah swag      - DIY Hanukkah inspo (whiskey miniature menorah, anyone?!)     - What we all think about ugly Hanukkah sweaters     - Hanukkah treats from around the world      - Decorating for Hanukkah      - All about our epic First Night of Hanukkah Zoom party      - Our pick for best Hanukkah movie of all time     - How we’re finding light in the darkness this Hanukkah      LINKS:

 

My must-have guide to everything you need to know about Hanukkah in 2021 https://yourjewishlife.co/hanukkahguide

 

Save your space at our FREE 2021 Zoom Hanukkah party https://yourjewishlife.co/hanukkah

 

Smashing Life, my community membership club for Jewish + Jew(ish) women https://smashinglife.club/

 

The ultimate Hanukkah Spotify playlist https://yourjewishlife.co/hanukkahplaylist

 

Emily’s guide to lazy latkes https://www.poppyandprune.com/2018/11/26/lazy-latkes-the-poppy-and-prune-guide/

 

Ugly Hanukkah sweaters https://moderntribe.com/collections/hanukkah-wear/?aff=83&_=pf&pf_pt_section=Sweaters

 

The Rugrats Hanukkah Special https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1159155/

 

Debbie Friedman’s Latke Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhFiszfdt18

 

Just in Time for Chanukah! https://open.spotify.com/album/23ZRYlMdeDUrXcxW4rI0KO

 

The Hanukkah Anthology https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780827613188

 

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780823431946