Trust the Process: Elisheva Chase on Risking It All and Building Her Own Legacy
Release Date: 04/16/2026
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info_outlineWhat does it take to walk away from a 3-generation family business with just $7,000, rebuild it under your own name, raise six kids, design jewelry for the red carpet, and become an elected voice in a global Zionist party β all at the same time?
In this episode, host Talia Mashiach sits down with Elisheva Chase, president and owner of Reiss Diamonds in Chicago. Elisheva is a third-generation jeweler who transformed a wholesale diamond house into a full-service custom jewelry studio β designing pieces by hand, sourcing ethically, and building a fiercely loyal clientele from scratch. After October 7th, Elisheva channeled her platform into action: coordinating gear for IDF soldiers, going viral with her hand-drawn Israel map jewelry, and earning a seat on the board of the World Zionist Organization (WZO).
This is a conversation about legacy, reinvention, the real cost of building something, and trusting the process even when the path isn't clear.
Guest: Elisheva Chase is the president and owner of Reiss Diamonds, a Chicago-based custom jewelry studio and diamond house. A third-generation jeweler Elisheva designs one-of-a-kind pieces and distributes diamonds to retailers nationwide. She is an educator at the JCK Jewelry Show, an activist for Israel, and an elected board member of the World Zionist Organization. She is a mother of six and a passionate advocate for women in business.
π Chicago, IL | πΈ Instagram: @reissdiamonds.co
ποΈ Episode Timestamps
0:58 β Welcome & Intro: Meet Ellie Chase, president of Reese Diamonds
3:45 β Growing up in a diamond house: 3rd generation jeweler origins
5:15 β How the diamond supply chain works: mines to retail, explained
18:20 β The first custom design: a green emerald and a pivotal client
26:45 β Balancing motherhood & career: 6 kids, long commutes, and the Sunday cook
30:43 β Practical tips for working moms: family systems that actually work
36:25 β Going independent: Starting Reese Diamonds with $7,000
52:25 β Opening the retail store: Growing fast without a loan 59:21 β October 7th changes everything: From jeweler to accidental activist
1:01:15 β Moving to Israel at 16: How early hardship built her resilience
1:04:22 β The viral Israel map jewelry & partnering with PK Heart
1:09:15 β Rapid fire Q&A: Biggest mistakes, unseen sacrifices & scariest risks
1:14:02 β What she knows now: "Trust the process. Keep going."
1:16:09 β Final message to women everywhere
π Support the JWE Conference Scholarship Fund The JWE Conference powered by Her is coming April 27th in Newark, NJ. Help us put more women in the room β donate to the scholarship fund: https://thejewishwomanentrepreneur.app.neoncrm.com/forms/jwescholarship
Buy your ticket to the JWE Conference thejwe.com/conference
This episode is sponsored by Roth & Co β Innovators in accounting and business advisory.
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