Podcast
A Soul Grows in Israel
Welcome to A Soul Grows in Israel, a podcast where ancient Jewish wisdom meets the modern world. We explore spirituality, self-growth, Judaism and life in Israel. Hosted by a woman, this show features soul-o episodes, interviews with Jewish thinkers, Rabbis, of course my husband, and everyday souls.
Join us as we bridge the gap between the spiritual and the practical, offering insights on personal growth, mindfulness, Jewish mysticism, unity, and modern-day living. Whether you're seeking spiritual guidance, looking to deepen your connection to your Jewish heritage, or simply keep it light and fun, this podcast will inspire and remind you that every journey matters.
Subscribe now and start your own journey of growth. Follow us on social media to join the conversation and grow together.
- Episodes
- 75
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 44 min
- On air since
- 2025
- Latest episode
- 3 days ago
Episodes
75 episodes, newest first
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57 min
I Found Out I Was Jewish. Then Everything Changed, Jodeci Joseph’s Story
Show notes
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What would you do if you suddenly discovered that you were Jewish?
Jodeci Joseph grew up in London without knowing that he was Jewish. Then, as a child, he found out that Judaism was not simply something he was learning about. It was part of who he was.
That discovery set him on an unexpected journey of identity, faith, Torah, spirituality and ultimately a deeper relationship with Judaism and Israel.
In this conversation, Jodeci shares the story of discovering his Jewish identity and what happened afterward. We talk about belonging, being Jewish while Black, the questions that arise when your understanding of yourself changes, finding your way into Torah, and what it means to build an authentic spiritual life.
We also explore the bigger questions underneath his story: How much of who we are is given to us, and how much do we discover? What happens when life takes us somewhere we never expected to go? And can the moments that initially seem confusing or disruptive actually become the beginning of something transformative?
This is a conversation about Judaism, identity, faith, spirituality, belonging and finding your way home.
A Soul Grows in Israel with Esther Farkovits.
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36 min
Happiness in Judaism: Do I Have to Be Happy? Faith, Doubt, and Finding Joy
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What does Judaism actually teach about happiness, joy, and being happy? Do we have to feel happy all the time? What is simcha in Jewish tradition, and is happiness really a feeling, or something deeper?
In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel, I explore the Jewish understanding of happiness and joy, and what Jewish spirituality, Torah, Chassidut, and Jewish tradition have to say about living with joy even when life is difficult.
But I also ask a question that can feel much more uncomfortable: Is there room for doubt in Judaism?
Can you have faith in God and still have questions? Can you believe and doubt at the same time? What happens when our spiritual lives don't match the certainty we think we're supposed to have?
We explore faith, doubt, God, happiness, Jewish spirituality, simcha, spiritual struggle, and authentic religious life, asking whether perhaps the goal isn't to always feel happy or certain, but to develop a deeper relationship with God and with ourselves.
If you've ever wondered “Why am I not happy?” “Does Judaism require me to be happy?” “What is true happiness?” or “Can I be religious and still have doubts?”, this conversation is for you.
Topics: Happiness in Judaism, Jewish spirituality, simcha, faith and doubt, questioning God, Jewish tradition, Chassidut, Torah, spirituality, authentic Judaism, and finding meaning in difficult times.
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47 min
He Left Tech to Study Jewish Mysticism, Michael Macks on Kabbalah and the Journey to Israel
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What makes a software engineer walk away from a career in tech to study Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism? Michael Macks did exactly that, trading the certainty of code for the depths of Torah and a new life in Israel.
In this conversation, Michael traces the road from a tech career to teaching Jewish spirituality, and what he found when he started asking the questions that software could not answer. We talk about what Kabbalah actually is beneath the mystique, why the move to Israel was inseparable from the inner journey, and how the wisdom of Jewish mysticism translates into a practical way of living rather than abstract theory. It is a story about leaving one kind of certainty to find another, and about what the ancient tradition still has to say to a very modern seeker.
In this episode:
• Why Michael left a career in tech, and the questions that pulled him toward Kabbalah
• What Jewish mysticism really is, past the popular image of it
• How the move to Israel became part of the spiritual path, not just a change of address
• Turning mystical wisdom into daily practice rather than theory
• What the tradition offers anyone feeling the pull toward something deeperMichael Macks is a teacher and author of Jewish spirituality who traded a career in tech for a life of learning and teaching in Israel. He is the author of Practical Spiritual Tidbits: 365 Torah Insights to Awaken Your Mind and Heart and hosts a podcast of the same name, where he explores the spiritual architecture of the universe through Kabbalah and Torah sources. He is currently at work on a new book on how the mitzvot build a living connection with the Divine.
📖 Read Michael's book, Practical Spiritual Tidbits, on Amazon
🎧 Follow his podcast, Practical Spiritual Tidbits, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
📱 Find Michael on Instagram @michaelmacks🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on Kabbalah, Jewish thought, and the inner life
#Kabbalah #JewishMysticism #Torah #Judaism #Spirituality #Israel #Aliyah #MichaelMacks #JewishWisdom #Mysticism #Chassidus #TorahStudy #JewishPodcast
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31 min
Marrying Off My Child Taught Me How to Let Go, Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Every Transition
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
Marrying off a child cracks something open. In the middle of the joy there's a quieter truth: you are being asked to let go. This episode is about that, and about what ancient Jewish wisdom teaches all of us about moving through the transitions we never feel ready for.
The wedding is the doorway, but the subject is bigger than any one simcha. Every life is a series of thresholds we have to cross with open hands: children growing up and leaving, seasons ending, roles we held tightly slipping into something new. Drawing on Torah, the prayers, and generations of Jewish teaching, we look at why letting go is a skill rather than a weakness, how perspective changes everything about a transition, and the real power we hold even in the moments that feel entirely out of our control. Whether or not you're standing under a chuppah anytime soon, these are lessons for anyone facing change.
In this episode:
• Why letting go is something we learn, not something we're born knowing
• What marrying off a child reveals about every transition we face
• How the prayers reframe our sense of control and surrender
• The power that stays in our hands even when everything is shifting
• Finding perspective in the thresholds we never felt ready to crossHowever life is asking you to grow right now, may you cross the threshold with steadier hands.
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on Jewish wisdom, Torah, and the inner life#JewishWisdom #LettingGo #Torah #Transitions #Judaism #Spirituality #Prayer #LifeLessons #Simcha #Growth #JewishThought #Perspective
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50 min
What Is Teshuva? Rabbi David Aaron on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the High Holidays
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What does teshuva really mean? Not punishment, not self reproach, but return, coming home to who you actually are. Rabbi David Aaron reframes Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the whole arc of the High Holidays as an invitation rather than a verdict.
We tend to translate teshuva as "repentance," a word heavy with judgment. Rabbi David Aaron opens it back up to its literal meaning, return. In this conversation we talk about why Rosh Hashanah is a beginning and not a sentencing, what these days are really inviting us toward, and how Yom Kippur can be the most freeing day of the year rather than the most fearful.
In this episode:
Rosh Hashanah as coronation and new beginning, not judgment day
What the Days of Awe are actually asking of us
How to approach Yom Kippur?
A practical way to enter the High Holidays with honesty and opennessRabbi David Aaron is the author of several books on Jewish spirituality and the founder of Isralight, known for making Kabbalah and Torah accessible and deeply personal.
The Jewish year 5787 begins at sundown on September 11, 2026, with Yom Kippur following on September 20 to 21. However you come to these days, may they be a genuine homecoming.
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts
🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on Jewish thought, Torah, and the inner life#RoshHashanah #YomKippur #Teshuva #HighHolidays #DavidAaron #JewishWisdom #Torah #Kabbalah #DaysOfAwe #Repentance #JewishNewYear #Teshuvah
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54 min
Judaism, Torah, and the Temple Mount, With a Friend Who Actually Thinks
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
New studio, same old questions.
My husband and I sat down with our friend Robert Blum, a man who actually thinks and never gives us the easy answer, for a wide-ranging conversation on Jewish values, making Aliyah to Israel, the Torah, Navi, and the Temple Mount. No script, no easy conclusions, just an honest talk between people who've known each other long enough to agree, push back, and dig deeply into Judaism, Israel, and how we live out those values today.
If you want more from Robert Blum on Jewish parenting, Israel, and Torah, find him at jewishparenting.substack.com.
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51 min
Living Out Loud in Israel: The Truth About Aliyah with Marc Rosenberg of Nefesh B'Nefesh
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What is it really like to make aliyah? Is moving to Israel everything people imagine—or are there challenges no one talks about?
In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel, Esther Farkovits sits down with Marc Rosenberg, Vice President of Diaspora Partnerships at Nefesh B'Nefesh, for an honest conversation about making aliyah, building a life in Israel, and discovering what it truly means to live with purpose in the Jewish homeland. Marc believes that in Israel, we're "living out loud"—where Jewish history, identity, and values are woven into everyday life.
Whether you're seriously considering aliyah, dreaming about moving to Israel one day, or simply want to deepen your connection to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel, this conversation offers practical insight, inspiration, and heartfelt honesty.
In this episode, we discuss:
• What inspires people to make aliyah.
• The biggest fears and challenges before moving to Israel.
• What Nefesh B'Nefesh does to help new olim succeed.
• The realities of building a new life in Israel.
• Raising a family, finding community, and creating a meaningful future.
• Why so many Jews continue to choose Israel as home.If you've ever searched for making aliyah, moving to Israel, living in Israel, Nefesh B'Nefesh, aliyah from America, or Jewish life in Israel, this episode is for you.
Subscribe to A Soul Grows in Israel for inspiring conversations on Israel, Jewish spirituality, aliyah, Torah, Jewish identity, and living a life of meaning.
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1 hr 23 min
From the Kindertransport to Israel: Paul Alexander's Extraordinary Journey
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What was it like to escape Nazi Europe as a child? How did one life, shaped by the Kindertransport and the horrors of World War II, lead to a future in the State of Israel?
In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel, Esther Farkovits sits down with Paul Alexander to hear his remarkable firsthand story of survival, resilience, and hope.
Paul shares his memories of leaving Europe through the Kindertransport, the difficult and often unlikely path that followed, and how those experiences ultimately led him to build a life in Israel. His story is a powerful reminder of courage, faith, perseverance, and the enduring strength of the Jewish people.
This conversation explores:
• The Kindertransport and the rescue of nearly 10,000 Jewish children before World War II.
• Growing up during the Holocaust.
• Life after the war and rebuilding from unimaginable loss.
• The journey to Israel.
• The resilience of the Jewish people across generations.
• Lessons of hope, identity, and survival that remain deeply relevant today.Whether you're interested in Holocaust history, Jewish history, Israel, World War II, family stories, or the resilience of the human spirit, this episode offers an unforgettable personal testimony.
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43 min
Why Humility Changes Everything: A Jewish Perspective
Show notes
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What is humility according to Judaism? Is humility thinking less of yourself, or is it seeing yourself more truthfully?
In this episode of A Soul Grows in Israel, Esther Farkovits explores one of the most misunderstood ideas in Jewish spirituality: anavah (humility). Drawing on Torah, Chassidut, Kabbalah, and timeless Jewish wisdom, she explains why humility is not weakness, low self-esteem, or self-erasure. Instead, it is one of the deepest spiritual laws governing personal growth and the Jewish soul.
Discover why Moses, the greatest leader in Jewish history, was also called the most humble person on earth, and how humility transforms our relationships, strengthens our connection with God, quiets the ego, and helps us live with greater purpose, clarity, and inner peace.
If you've ever wondered how the universe really works from a Torah perspective, this episode offers a profound look at why humility may be the foundation for spiritual growth and authentic confidence.
you'll discover:
• What humility (anavah) really means in Judaism.
• Why humility is different from low self-esteem.
• The relationship between humility, ego, and the Jewish soul.
• What Torah and Kabbalah teach about spiritual growth.
• Why Moses is the ultimate model of humility.
• Practical ways to cultivate humility in everyday life.If you enjoy conversations about Jewish spirituality, Kabbalah, Chassidut, Torah wisdom, the Jewish soul, personal growth, and living a meaningful life, subscribe and share this episode.
#Judaism #JewishSpirituality #Humility #Torah #Kabbalah #Chassidut #JewishSoul #Middot #PersonalGrowth #Moses #Israel #Faith #SpiritualGrowth
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44 min
Pens for Swords
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
Founded by Faye, Pens for Swords is a grassroots advocacy movement dedicated to combating antisemitism, supporting Israel, and advancing public awareness through civic engagement. The organization mobilizes volunteers worldwide to participate in petitions, educational initiatives, letter writing campaigns, and advocacy efforts that promote solidarity with Israel, support hostages, and counter misinformation. Pens for Swords empowers individuals to make a meaningful impact through collective action and community driven advocacy.
The movement also highlights the importance of defending democratic and Western values, including freedom of speech, religious liberty, human rights, pluralism, and the rule of law. Pens for Swords encourages people of all backgrounds to stand against antisemitism and extremism, recognizing that attacks on these principles affect not only the Jewish community but all societies that value freedom, tolerance, and democracy.
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49 min
Why Fitness Is a Spiritual Practice: Shuli Goldstein of Studio Soul
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
What does fitness have to do with spirituality?
In this conversation, I sit down with Shuli Goldstein, founder of Studio Soul, to explore the connection between physical movement, emotional well-being, personal growth, and spiritual life.
We discuss why exercise can be more than a tool for weight loss or appearance, how movement affects our mindset and sense of self, the relationship between body and soul, and what it means to approach fitness as a spiritual practice.
Together, we explore discipline, self-respect, presence, resilience, health, and the ways that caring for the body can deepen our connection to ourselves and the world around us.
Whether you're passionate about fitness, interested in spirituality, or simply looking for a healthier relationship with your body, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on movement, meaning, and personal transformation.
Topics discussed:
• Fitness and spirituality
• Mind-body connection
• Emotional wellness
• Personal growth
• Healthy habits
• Self-care and self-respect
• Mindfulness and movement
• Building resilience
• Wellness and holistic health
• Studio SoulFollow us on Instagram, Youtube and tiktok for more.
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38 min
Intrusive Thoughts in Uncertain Times: A Jewish Answer
Show notes
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In times of war and uncertainty, how do we practice gratitude? In Israel right now, we’re all navigating fear, intrusive thoughts, and the question: where is faith when everything feels unstable? This episode explores a Torah based approach to gratitude that doesn’t require you to feel okay, it requires you to know what’s true. A teaching for anyone living through Iran tensions, conflict, or any moment when your mind won’t stop catastrophizing. Featuring Chassidic wisdom on da’at (knowledge), tikkun (elevation), and how to stay conscious when uncertainty is loudest.
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58 min
Rabbi Akiva Gersh: Was the World Meant to Be Vegan?
Show notes
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In this episode, Rabbi Akiva Gersh, "the Vegan Rabbi" explores veganism through the lens of Judaism, Genesis, Rav Kook, compassion toward animals, spirituality, holiness, and the future of food. We discuss the Garden of Eden, the ethics of eating meat, Jewish thought, modern industrial farming, and whether the Torah points humanity toward a more compassionate world.
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51 min
Feminism, Jewish Identity & Film With Paula Kweskin
Show notes
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Paula Kweskin is a documentary filmmaker, human rights attorney, and founder of The 49%, a nonprofit focused on women’s storytelling and global women’s rights. In this conversation, we discuss Judaism, feminism, Israel, documentary filmmaking, faith, identity, and the power of storytelling.”
#PaulaKweskin #Judaism #WomenInJudaism #DocumentaryFilm #JewishWomen #Feminism #Israel #WomenRights #Podcast #JewishPodcast
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51 min
Millie Schweky on Women’s Health and Healing
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
In this episode, Millie Schweky, lpelvic floor specialist, joins us for a conversation on women’s health, healing, and the topics many women quietly struggle with but rarely talk about openly.
We discuss pelvic floor health, postpartum recovery, body awareness, physical symptoms women often dismiss, and the connection between emotional and physical well being. This conversation goes beyond quick fixes and trends and looks at what it means to actually understand and support the female body through different stages of life.
This is an honest, informative, and deeply validating conversation about women’s health in a more real and grounded way.
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33 min
Shavuot and the Jewish Woman
Show notes
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As Shavuot approaches, I found myself thinking deeply about femininity, spirituality, and what it truly means to receive Torah in the modern world.
In this episode, we explore the role of women at Har Sinai, the spiritual power of receptivity, why softness in Judaism is often misunderstood, and the quiet exhaustion so many Jewish women carry today. From motherhood and identity to intuition, ambition, nurturing, burnout, and holiness hidden inside ordinary life, this is an honest conversation about the feminine soul of Shavuot.
Maybe receiving Torah was never only about laws and learning. Maybe it was also about becoming open enough to hear something Divine.
Topics include:
• Shavuot and the Jewish woman
• Torah and femininity
• The feminine experience of receiving Torah
• Ambition vs softness in modern Jewish life
• The spiritual role of women in Judaism
• Why receptivity is a form of strengthA thoughtful pre-Shavuot episode on Torah, femininity, identity, and the deeper inner world of the Jewish woman.
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31 min
We Tried to Be Funny It Got Real Fast
Show notes
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This episode started light. We went outside, tried to be funny, and it got real fast.
We get into Lakewood, its culture, the nuance people miss, and how quickly conversations shift when you actually look a little deeper. We even break down a Lakewood influencer and what people see versus what is actually there.
What starts as jokes turns into something more honest about identity, perception, and the way we talk about communities from the outside.
This is unfiltered, unscripted, and very much us, moving between humor and something more real in the same conversation.
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54 min
Yakira Apfel: What It Means to Live Honestly Part 2
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
In part two, Yakira Apfel returns for a deeper conversation on what it actually means to be fully yourself.
We talk about health beyond trends, the nuance that often gets lost in simple advice, and the ongoing work of staying honest with yourself even when it is uncomfortable. This is not about perfection or performance, but about paying attention to what is real and what is not.
We also touch on life in Israel, not as the focus, but as part of the broader conversation around environment, identity, and how where you live shapes how you show up.
This is a conversation about clarity, self trust, and the complexity of living in a way that actually reflects who you are.
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59 min
Yakira Apfel on Confidence, Insecurity, and Her Life Journey: Part 1
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
In this first part, Yakira Apfel from Fit Studio and The Yard joins us for a conversation about confidence, insecurity, and the unfolding of her life's journey.
We explore how confidence is built, shaped, and sometimes questioned, what insecurity really looks like beneath the surface, and how personal history and lived experience influence the way someone shows up in the world.
This is an honest and grounded conversation about identity, perception, and the tension between how we feel inside and how we are seen from the outside.
Part two is out next week. Stay tuned.
Follow Yakira on instagram for more
https://www.instagram.com/the.fit.studios/
https://www.instagram.com/fitattheyard/
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36 min
I Never Got Tanya Until Now
Show notes
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2423592/fan_mail/new
In this soul-o episode, I share something very real. I was in the middle of a conflict and needed something to hold onto, so I went back to my favorite lines from the Tanya, a foundational text from Chabad on the inner life, the mind, and the soul.
What I found wasn’t abstract. It was immediate.
I gathered quotes that speak directly to sadness, joy, and the power of our thoughts, and tried to actually apply them in real time. Not as an idea, but as a way to move through something difficult.
This is a conversation about what it looks like when these teachings stop being theoretical and start becoming usable. About the tension between how we feel and how we want to think and about whether we can actually shift our inner world when it matters most.
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