R' Yoni Fischer | "Stop Blaming This Generation"
Meaningful People
In this deeply emotional and honest conversation, Rabbi Yoni Fischer opens up about his journey, the vision behind his yeshiva, and the importance of meeting people with compassion, not judgment. From navigating generational pain to cultivating emotional health in the Torah world, Rabbi Fischer shares his thoughts on healing, marriage, parenting, community, and connection—with wisdom, warmth, and humility. ► Meaningful Minute Plus Meaningful Minute released its first-ever feature film: Homeless — a powerful story about exile, identity, and return. This episode was made possible...
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Off the Record: A 9th of Av Conversation With R' Ari Bensoussan
Meaningful People
This Off the Record segment was filmed in the lead-up to Tisha B’Av — and it gets real. But this is only part of the conversation. To hear the rest, become a Meaningful Minute Plus member. 🎬 Sign up at to unlock the full episode, plus our new documentary Homeless, behind-the-scenes clips, livestream replays, and more exclusive content.
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“Mommy, Are You Going to Die?” | The Story of Shana Alayev’s Fight For Life
Meaningful People
Meet Shana Alayev, a wife, mother of four, and speech therapist who is facing stage four cancer with brutal honesty, raw humor, and unshakable emunah. In this emotional and deeply human conversation, Shana opens up about her journey: from a delayed diagnosis during pregnancy to navigating treatment, parenting through pain, and redefining faith, purpose, and resilience every single day. Her story isn't just about illness, it's about choosing hope when the path is unclear, and finding light in the darkest places. WonderWomen is a community dedicated to empowering and supporting young Orthodox...
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What If We’re Too Comfortable in Galus?
Meaningful People
This isn’t a typical podcast. It’s the trailer for Homeless — our first-ever film. A raw, emotional journey into what it means to live in exile… and what it means to come home. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, if you’ve ever stopped to wonder where Moshiach fits into your life — this is for you. 🎥 Watch the full film now:
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Devorah Halberstam: The Day My 16-Year-Old Son Was Killed for Being Jewish
Meaningful People
She Lost Her Son in a Terror Attack on the Brooklyn Bridge – Deborah Halberstam’s Story In this deeply emotional and powerful episode, Deborah Halberstam shares the heartbreaking story of her son Ari Halberstam, a 16-year-old yeshiva student who was murdered in a 1994 terror attack on the Brooklyn Bridge. Deborah recounts Ari’s unique upbringing, his deep connection to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and the chilling events leading up to the attack that took his life. She opens up about her personal grief, her years-long battle for justice, and how she transformed tragedy into activism—shaping...
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Shmulie Hartstein | The Most Avoidable Tragedy In Our Community
Meaningful People
In this emotional and eye-opening interview, we sit down with Shmuie Hartstein, the founder of B’Sefer Chaim, an urgent initiative born out of heartbreak and driven by love. After witnessing the repeated devastation of families who lost a parent without life insurance, Shmuel decided enough was enough. With raw honesty, he shares the story that led him to launch B’Sefer Chaim—an awareness campaign dedicated to ensuring that no Jewish family ever faces financial ruin in the wake of personal loss. This isn’t about business. It’s about responsibility. About protecting those we love....
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Dovid Bashevkin | The Achdus Crisis We Pretend Doesn’t Exist
Meaningful People
In this wide-ranging and deeply honest episode, Dovid Bashevkin unpacks one of the most pressing and overlooked issues in the Jewish world today: the fragmentation of the Orthodox community and the illusion of unity we like to project. With humor, vulnerability, and rare clarity, he explores why we’re lonelier than ever despite packed shuls and buzzing WhatsApp groups, how labels like “Modern Orthodox” and “Yeshivish” have shifted from ideological statements to institutional shorthand, and what it would actually take to foster real achdus, not just feel-good unity, but the kind that...
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Chanie Werzberger | “She Was My Mother… But I Couldn’t Call Her Mommy“
Meaningful People
Chanie Werzberger’s life reads like a dramatic novel, but every moment is real. In this emotional and powerful interview, Chanie shares her incredible journey: from a childhood in Argentina torn apart by her parents' separation, to a secret escape with her father to America, her entrance into the Satmar Hasidic world, and the many painful transitions she endured as a young girl without her mother. We explore her resilience through being moved from home to home, her complicated but deep love for her father, her eventual reconnection with her estranged mother after 21 years, and the health...
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Danielle Renov: I’d Rather Be Under Fire in Israel Than Safe Anywhere Else
Meaningful People
Danielle Renov—best known as the creative force behind “Peas, Love & Carrots”—joins the Meaningful People Podcast not to share recipes, but to open up about something far more raw and real: living through war in Israel as a mother. In this emotionally charged episode, Danielle shares what life is like in Yerushalayim under missile fire, separated from her husband and holding down the home with extraordinary resilience. She opens up about fear, faith, and motherhood in a war zone—describing what it means to remain strong for her children while the world around her is shaking,...
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The Lubavitcher Rebbe: Judaism’s Most Impactful Leader — 30 Years Later
Meaningful People
In this special Gimmel Tammuz episode, we reflect on the legacy, leadership, and transformative vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, 31 years after his histalkus. Featuring moving conversations with Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz, Rabbi Yosef Bronstein, and Rabbi Shlomo Katz, this episode explores how the Rebbe's teachings continue to shape Jewish life today, from his unmatched scholarship and moral clarity, to his relentless optimism and unconditional Ahavas Yisrael. Whether you're Chabad, not Chabad, or simply searching for deeper meaning in your Yiddishkeit, this episode offers a powerful...
info_outlineIn this powerful interview, we sit down with Rabbi Yehoshua Soudakoff, a trailblazing deaf rabbi, to discuss his journey, the challenges he has faced, and the impact he is making in the Jewish Deaf community worldwide. He shares his experiences growing up deaf in a hearing world, his path to becoming a rabbi, and the work he is doing to make Torah and Judaism more accessible.
There are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Deaf and hard-of-hearing Jews in Israel and around 40,000 to 50,000 worldwide, with communities in the U.S., Europe, and Russia. Many face limited access to Jewish education, Torah learning, and religious services due to a lack of sign language resources. Organizations such as the Jewish Deaf Foundation and The Israel Deaf Community Center are working to bridge this gap and create more inclusive opportunities.
This conversation is both inspiring and eye-opening, offering a glimpse into the resilience, faith, and dedication of Rabbi Soudakoff and the broader Jewish Deaf community. Watch now to hear his story and gain a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and triumphs within this often-overlooked part of the Jewish world.
For more information, you can visit his website: https://chushim.org/
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This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
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You can learn more about the campaign on their website at www.providencetorah.com and the in town Jewish School, Providence Hebrew Day School, on IG at https://www.instagram.com/phds_rhodeisland/
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► Eretz Hakodesh - Vote to Keep Israel Holy!
Over the years, liberal movements have gained significant influence as the primary representatives of the Jewish Diaspora. From this position, they have pushed agendas that impact crucial issues related to religion and state in Israel.
Eretz HaKodesh seeks to balance this influence by accurately reflecting the power dynamics of Jewish communities in the Diaspora and amplifying the voices of Orthodox communities dedicated to preserving the timeless values of the Torah and authentic Jewish tradition.
Click here to vote in the upcoming World Zionist Organization elections: https://bit.ly/41D1Ag0
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► Lema’an Achai - Donate to Families this Pesach!
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This Pesach set a family free. Make a donation today
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