Shmelke Diamond: His Journey to Satmar and the Moment We Didn’t See Eye to Eye
Release Date: 11/22/2025
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Yaakov Shwekey Like You’ve Never Heard Him Before
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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 gripping and deeply honest conversation, Shmelke Diamond opens up about his unlikely path—from a traditional Long Island Jewish upbringing to discovering Chabad as a teenager, navigating a lonely and self-taught journey into observance, and ultimately becoming a proud Satmar chasid.
Shmelke shares powerful stories of identity, family tension, spiritual searching, and the moment he realized he had to choose between two worlds. He talks about the kindness that drew him into the Satmar community, his struggles with chronic illness, and how disability reshaped his understanding of purpose, humility, and faith.
Whether you’re religious, secular, curious, or anywhere in between, this episode is a raw and inspiring exploration of what it means to find yourself—and to stand by what you believe, even when the world pushes back.
This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
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► Ketubah
At Ketubah.com, every Kesubah is designed with care, blending timeless beauty with texts that are fully halachic, including RCA and Sephardic versions. Our team collaborates with rabbanim and mesadrei kiddushin to ensure each document is accurate and accepted without question. Choosing Ketubah.com means you arrive at your chuppah with peace of mind, knowing your Kesubah is both beautifully crafted and halachically sound.
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► Eishet Chayil
Eishet Chayil — The Woman of Valor is a new book by Rabbi Yossi Marcus that brings King Solomon’s classic poem to life through the stories of 24 remarkable Jewish women — from Sarah and Miriam to Esther and beyond. Drawing on millennia of Jewish scholarship, especially the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the book celebrates women of faith, courage, and wisdom.
Each verse is paired with contemporary artwork by Israeli artist Lia Baratz, making the book both educational and inspirational for readers of all ages. Dedicated to the women of Nahal Oz who were killed on October 7, 2023, it stands as a tribute to Jewish women of valor throughout history.
Already in its second printing, Eishet Chayil is an ideal gift for Bat Mitzvahs, brides, wives, and mothers. Available at https://www.eishetchayil.com and https://store.kehotonline.com/mobile/
Use code MM20 for 20% off when checking out on Kehot.com.
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