Chanie Werzberger | “She Was My Mother… But I Couldn’t Call Her Mommy“
Release Date: 07/05/2025
Meaningful People
In this powerful episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Greenwald and later with Rabbi Chananya Greenwald, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferet in Yerushalayim (TJ), to reflect on the life, legacy, and impact of Ronnie Greenwald z”l, a man who quietly changed the lives of thousands. From building Camp Sternberg into a haven for kids who didn’t fit the mold, to negotiating on behalf of Jews imprisoned behind the Iron Curtain and in hostile regimes, this conversation reveals the heart, courage, and relentless compassion behind the legend. We talk about marriage,...
info_outlineMeaningful People
She grew up Catholic in Venezuela, never knowing Jews still existed, yet her family quietly lit candles, covered mirrors, and placed stones on graves. Centuries-old Jewish practices survived in her home without explanation, passed down in secret since the Spanish Inquisition. In this episode, Reyna Simnegar shares her extraordinary journey from Venezuela to Judaism: uncovering crypto-Jewish roots dating back over 500 years, discovering her family’s hidden mesorah, living through political collapse under Chávez, and ultimately converting Orthodox and building a Jewish life and family....
info_outlineMeaningful People
In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Tuvia Blau and Hindy Herman address one of the most painful and least talked-about struggles in our community: parental alienation and family estrangement. They unpack what estrangement actually looks like, how it develops, and why the emotional toll on parents and adult children alike can feel unbearable. With honesty and compassion, Tuvia and Hindy explore both sides of the story, parents and children, touching on boundaries, shame, communication breakdowns, and the tools needed for healing. This conversation isn’t about blame....
info_outlineMeaningful People
A father and son sit down for an unusually honest conversation about Jewish identity, continuity, and choice. Allen Horowitz was raised with a strong cultural Jewish pride but little religious observance; his son Meir grew up the same way, until a series of experiences slowly pulled him in a radically different direction. What begins as a familiar American Jewish story turns into something far more complex, touching on interfaith dating, generational expectations, and the quiet questions people are often afraid to ask out loud. As Meir’s curiosity deepens, through travel, community, and...
info_outlineMeaningful People
Four years ago, Shaina’s life changed forever. Her husband, Yaakov—beloved, successful, devoted, admired—took his own life. In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Shaina speaks openly about what it’s like to live through a tragedy that many are forced to hide, but she was never given the option to silence. She shares the painful reality of loving someone who was suffering invisibly, the strength it took to keep moving forward, and the unexpected blessing of authenticity in the aftermath. This episode goes beyond grief. It confronts the stigma around mental illness in the...
info_outlineMeaningful People
In this powerful episode, David Lichtenstein opens up about wealth, success, failure, and what truly gives life meaning. From business setbacks and rebuilding, to philanthropy, community responsibility, and personal resilience, this conversation challenges how we define success and where our real value comes from. It’s an honest look at money, pressure, ego, and purpose, through a deeply Jewish lens grounded in lived experience. The discussion goes far beyond finances, touching on tzedakah, leadership, cancel culture, failure, healing from trauma, Israel, and the responsibility to...
info_outlineMeaningful People
What goes through a person’s mind when they’re told—before even stepping into the courtroom—that they’ve been sentenced to 27 years in prison? In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin takes us inside the moments that changed his life forever: hearing the sentence, choosing emunah over despair, surviving years behind bars, and ultimately witnessing a miracle no one expected. This is not just a story about prison or justice—it’s a masterclass in faith under fire, resilience in the face of total powerlessness, and what it truly means to trust Hashem...
info_outlineMeaningful People
A Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach turned into a scene of terror. In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit with a father and community leader who survived the Bondi Beach terror attack. His children were nearby. What he first thought were fireworks quickly became gunshots. Within moments, people were running, hiding, and falling. He shares, in real time, what it was like to be there: – realizing the danger – hiding with his daughter – searching desperately for his son – trying to help the wounded while protecting his child This conversation was...
info_outlineMeaningful People
In this powerful and emotional conversation, Jewish music icon Yaakov Shwekey opens up about the evolution of Jewish music, the responsibility of an artist, and the deeply personal moments that shaped his life and career. From unforgettable camp memories and behind-the-scenes studio stories to the creation of his upcoming massive Shabbos project, Shwekey reflects on legacy, inspiration, and the transformative power of music. He shares raw stories about loss, fatherhood, kindness, and how music can lift broken hearts—from hospital rooms in Israel to Shabbos tables around the world. Music...
info_outlineMeaningful People
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rabbi Elchanan Shoff (Los Angeles, USA) and Rabbi Michal Weichbrod (Yehuda, Israel) for a rare, honest, and passionate conversation about one of the most charged topics in the Jewish world today: Do Jews belong in America—or is it time to move to Eretz Yisrael? Together, they dive into: 🇺🇸 The spiritual role of Jews in America 🇮🇱 The mitzvah and meaning of living in Israel 🧠 How to make decisions based on Torah, not fear 👨👩👧👦 Raising children, chinuch, army service, and communal responsibility 📜...
info_outlineChanie 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 battles she fought for her daughter, Simmy. From a child longing for love to a mother fighting for her child’s life, Chanie’s story is one of strength, transformation, and unshakable faith.
This interview is a testament to the human spirit, the power of choice, and the miracles that can arise even in the darkest moments.
You can purchase Chanie’s book here: https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644539.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqXqdSJfA1WItrXf2PlkJzo2qePOPGggv-SJQKX8Fc6GKd5UryP
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
_______________________________________
► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka
https://pushka.cc/meaningful
_______________________________________
► Say Kaddish - the Ultimate Sign of Love and Respect
For centuries, we have honored our parents and loved ones who have passed on by reciting Kaddish in their merit. Saying Kaddish serves as a great virtue and does wonders for the soul of the deceased.
https://saykaddish.com/
_______________________________________
►YIEP
Now enrolling: The YIEP online Counseling Master’s program is fully CACREP-accredited and designed for frum adults seeking a meaningful and flexible career in mental health.
Enrollment is now open for our Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s cohort, beginning this August. The program is fully online, follows the Jewish calendar, has competitive pricing, and is designed to support working adults and busy families — so you can advance your career while balancing life.
Learn more and apply now at https://theyiep.com/new/ — or call or WhatsApp me at 917-861-6707 with any questions.
_______________________________________
► Toveedo
Visit- https://toveedo.com/
Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off!
_______________________________________
► 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
___________________________________________
►Rothenberg Law Firm
Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!
Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation
https://shorturl.at/JFKHH
____________________________________
► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.
https://nrspay.com
__________________________________________________
► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp
https://www.townappliance.com
https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp
______________________________________
► 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
____________________________________________________
► 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