The new reality of Israel and really all Jews is stressful and even traumatic. Anne and Shoshanna talk with Sherri Mandell, a certified pastoral counselor, a founder of the Koby Mandell Foundation, and the bereaved mother of Koby Mandell Hy”d, about how to navigate this challenging time, from parenting to handling oneself to helping others.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
Shoshanna and Anne have been nearly at a loss for words to reflect on Hamas’s horrific massacre of some 1,400 people (updated number from recording). But we need words to podcast, so here we are with our experiences of that day, and a range of responses and reactions to it, from widespread chesed to social media warriors to some hypermodesty nonsense.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
You’ve seen their art, now meet the artists. Anne and Shoshanna speak with the artists who have given life to Chochmat Nashim’s new project, illustrating biblical and historical women. Come hear why they chose the figures they did, why they depicted them as they did, and what surprised them in the endeavor. A longer-than-usual episode, to introduce the talented women responsible for the SEEN images.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
The idea that Israel’s beautiful natural pools would have separate hours for men and women to swim is, at first blush, amazingly considerate for the religious populations. But when the very people MK Idit Silman’s stalled pilot program is supposed to help don’t want it implemented, Shoshanna and Anne are reminded why gender segregation outside of the synagogue isn’t good for anyone.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
Israel’s government voted for the first part of Israel’s judicial reform, the “reasonableness” clause, and everyone has an opinion about it, but Anne and Shoshanna focus on other actions of this coalition that are less known and may be even more significant, especially if you’re a woman in Israel.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
Look at your shelf of Jewish books, and you’ll see that you have far fewer books authored by women. Rabbanit Sara Wolkenfeld joins Anne and Shoshanna to elaborate on Sefaria’s new writing circle to foster books of Torah scholarship written by women, some of the challenges – and also profound and practical hopes for the future women writers of Torah.
Music: “Misery” by The Whips
