From Puerto Rico to Satmar: Malkie Wiener's Improbable Journey
Release Date: 09/06/2025
Ronnie Greenwald: The Rabbi Who Refused to Give Up on Any Jew
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,...
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Reyna Simnegar: Her Family Hid Their Judaism for 500 Years
Meaningful 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....
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Parental Alienation: When Adult Children Cut Off Their Parents
Meaningful 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....
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I cut my son off for becoming religious
Meaningful 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...
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My Husband Fought a Private War No One Could See
Meaningful 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...
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David Lichtenstein | We Spoke About the Things No One Talks About
Meaningful 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...
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Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin | They Gave Him 27 Years. He Didn’t Break.
Meaningful 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...
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Surviving the Bondi Beach Terror Attack
Meaningful 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...
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Yaakov Shwekey Like You’ve Never Heard Him Before
Meaningful 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...
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America vs Israel: The Debate Every Jew Needs to Hear.
Meaningful 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_outlineIn this inspiring episode, Malkie Weiner shares her extraordinary life story: from her Catholic upbringing in Puerto Rico, to her family’s unexpected spiritual search, their conversion to Judaism, and their eventual integration into the Hasidic community of Williamsburg.
Malkie opens up about:
🌍 Growing up between two worlds: Puerto Rican roots & New York life
🙏 Her father’s spiritual quest that led the family to Judaism
✡️ The challenges and beauty of converting and becoming part of Klal Yisroel
💔 Facing antisemitism as a child and finding strength in her faith
👩👧 Building her own Jewish family and embracing her Jewish identity
This is more than just a personal story. It’s a testament to resilience, faith, and the beauty of Jewish unity across all backgrounds.
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
►Blooms Kosher
Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.
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► Touro
Are you going back to Israel for Shana Bet or Shana Gimmel? If you’d like to get a jump start on your college degree while you’re still learning, Touro Israel is the place for you.
You can take classes toward your degree while learning and living in Yerushalayim and seamlessly transfer to a Touro New York campus when you return. Bachelor’s-level Touro courses are offered in a whole range of fields, including accounting, business, education, psychology, science, speech and more.
Classes start after Sukkos and are conveniently scheduled to accommodate your Yeshiva or Seminary schedule. You’ll receive one-on-one guidance and personalized support to help you plan your next steps and you’ll also have access to top faculty and career advisors. All this in a warm environment that aligns with your Torah values!
So get a head start today. Visit rmi.touro.edu/israel
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► Meaningful Minute Plus
Meaningful Minute is releasing its first-ever feature film: Homeless — a powerful story about exile, identity, and return.
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► Faith It Till You Make It
Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan’s course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing!
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