R’ Daniel Kalish | No Tests, No Expulsions - Rethinking Chinuch (Live at Bordeaux)
Release Date: 05/03/2025
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...
info_outline
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.
info_outline
“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...
info_outline
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:
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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....
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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_outlineRabbi Kalish and Nachi Gordon sit down for the first ever live audience podcast at the Pesach at Bordeaux program. In this dynamic conversation, Nachi pressed R’ Kalish on every point:
-
Why no tests in Yeshiva?
-
Why no expulsions from Yeshiva?
-
Why only show love to your students?
This conversation is the clearest, most powerful window into Rabbi Kalish’s vision for Jewish education (chinuch) — and his answers will challenge how we all think about education.
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
►Blooms Kosher
Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.
https://bloomskosher.com
____________________________________________________
► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again!
https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp
_____________________________________________________
► Fresh Start Retreat
Fresh Start’s intensive 7-day retreat is designed for men and women who want to understand, process, and heal from past wounds—and reconnect with their authentic self
Join us for 7️⃣ life-changing days of expert-led sessions and transformative workshops, complemented by a serene setting and gourmet kosher cuisine.🌳🍲
Your path to healing begins here: https://jewishfreshstart.com/
_____________________________________________________
► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka
https://pushka.cc/meaningful
__________________________________________________
► Lalechet
We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.
https://www.lalechet.com/website
__________________________________________________
► Torah App
TorahApp combines seforim and shiurim into the all-in-one Torah app!
🚀 Access the largest online Torah resource.
🎙️ ~1 million shiurim; the most shiurim (Torah lectures) in any one app!
🛜 Offline access to seforim.🚗 Learn on your commute with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.
🎧 Shiurim from OUTorah / All Daf, YUTorah, Jewish Podcasts, Chabad, TorahAnytime, Torahcasts, and more.
🆓 FREE on Android, iOS, & web!
https://torahapp.org/download
__________________________________________________
► Uri Kaufman: American Intifada: American Intifada:
From acclaimed historian Uri Kaufman—whose analysis of the Yom Kippur War was hailed as a "masterpiece" by the CIA's Center for Intelligence—comes the urgent new book: "American Intifada: Israel, The Gaza War and the New Antisemitism."
- Why are so many smart people so hostile to Israel?
- Why has Amnesty International refused to acknowledge that Israeli women were raped in the October 7 attack?
- Why did The New York Times report in 2019 that Gaza faced a “draconian blockade”, even as it was supplied by thousands of Israeli trucks?
"American Intifada"—Truth that cuts through propaganda. Essential reading for understanding our moment. Available now on AMAZON from Republic Book Publishers.
Order now: https://a.co/d/dXoz8AP
__________________________________________________
► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp
https://www.townappliance.com
https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp
____________________________________________________
► Order the brand new Meaningful People Game!
https://meaningfulminute.org/thegame
____________________________________________________
► Faith It Till You Make It
Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan’s course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing!
Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world!
www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible
____________________________________________________
► Special thanks to Pesach with Bordeaux where this episode was recorded!
https://pesachwithbordeaux.com/
____________________________________________________
► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
https://apple.co/2WALuE2
https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO
Or wherever Podcasts are available!
Editor: Sruly Saftlas