America's Top Rebbetzins

Truly inspirational coach, teacher, and mentor to women of all ages and stages, Chaya Hinda Allen, teaches us how to stop abandoning ourselves and how to live authentically through self-attunement.There is a parsha in the Torah that describes the Jewish people's encampment in the desert as being opposite of Har Sinai. Saying that it is "opposite" the mountain, instead of "next to" the mountain, is an interesting way of phrasing how the Jews were positioned. Chaya Hinda explains the profound reasoning for this wording. She explains that the Torah is an ideal of perfection, while the reality is that Jews aren't perfect; we were never meant to be perfect. Our life was meant to be a journey. In this way, we are always meant to learn and grow. The first step in growing is to know yourself.Chaya Hinda goes on to explain the deep importance of knowing yourself. She explains that a child is helpless and is in need of attachment to survive. We are hard wired to survive, so we will attach to people even if they are abusive or neglectful. Children often learn that the only way they get any form of attachment (that often comes in the form of attention) is if they people please; if they are attuned to the needs of others and stand ready to conform themselves to those needs, instead of their own. This type of people pleasing, giving, and always trying to make others happy is often carried into adulthood. People end up subconsciously giving so much to others (thinking that they are being "good" or doing something positive), at the expense of meeting their own needs. Quite often, people don't even know what their needs are because they are simply surviving off the praise and compliments that they receive from serving other people's needs. That is self-abandonment.Self-abandonment often leads to physical illnesses because when you suppress your own emotional needs, they come up as physical ailments in the body. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOUR OWN NEEDS! DON'T IGNORE YOUR OWN NEEDS!The cure for self-abandonment is self-attunement, when you stop focusing on other people's needs and start focusing on your own needs. Chaya Hinda encourages women to take away the blame and the shame of their feelings--all feelings are ok. It's ok to feel whatever you feel--even the yuckiest feelings are ok. You have to feel in order to heal. She explains that the most important part of the healing process is when you allow yourself to sit with your feelings and really feel them--wherever they are in your body. (Sometime you will feel a heaviness in the pit of your stomach, or a tightness in your chest.) 1. Take the time to sit with yourself, COMPASSIONATELY, WITHOUT SELF-JUDGEMENT. 2. Allow yourself to feel whatever feelings come up. It may take a while for you to fully feel the extent of your feeling. Multiple feelings might come up at the same time. That's ok. Feel whatever comes up, and DON'T PUSH THE FEELINGS AWAY.3. Cry, scream and yell if that's what you need to do to process your emotions.4.Tune into your feelings and see what message they have for you. Your feelings are your teachers. They teach you about yourself. By tuning into your feelings, you get to know authentic self; you find out who you really are, beyond the people pleasing. You learn that YOU ARE IMPORTANT. When you learn that WHO YOU ARE MATTERS, you show up in life differently. Chaya Hinda gives some great examples of some of her clients who have made beautiful transformations from being women who used to abandon themselves to now being women who are in tune with themselves and who really see themselves. It's a powerful shift!To book a FREE coaching session with Chaya Hinda Allen, please click on this link: https://setupyourappointmentwithchayahinda.as.me/schedule/1e97738a/appointment/33038991/calendar/6801787?appointmentTypeIds[]=33038991To be in touch with Vera Kessler, please email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com or visit: https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

Atara Weisberger's book, How To Soul, that she co-authored with Rabbi Dov Lipman, is a groundbreaking guide that blends ancient wisdom with modern insights to help you reconnect with your soul. Through relatable stories, practical exercises and guided meditations, this book provides a roadmap for living authentically and joyfully.According to Atara, the first thing we need to do in order to live a life full of happiness, is to create an authentic relationship with ourselves. We need to be real with ourselves about who we are--our values and beliefs; our strengths and weaknesses; our likes and dislikes; who we currently are and who we genuinely want to be. Once we know ourselves, we will begin to let go of judgements. We will stop judging ourselves and start accepting ourselves exactly as we are. Atara says that wherever we are right now is exactly where we need to be. We are ok right now, just as we are. Once we stop judging ourselves, we will stop judging others. Once we accept ourselves, we will be more accepting of others. Change the criticism to curiosity. Get curious and ask yourself questions, instead of beating yourself up about a mistake or a destructive pattern. Find out why you are doing a certain behavior. Once we connect with ourselves, we need to connect with G-d. We need to know that G-d loves us exactly as we are. Knowing ourselves deeply, and having an intimate connection with Hashem, is the key to living a fulfilled life.Atara advises us to get in touch with our soul in order to find out who we really are, and in what directly we truly want to go. Our minds are so filled with chaos--thoughts, feelings and emotions all over the place. Once we get our minds and bodies quiet, we can listen into that calm quiet voice. That is the voice of our soul. (The loud, critical voice is never our soul. Don't listen to that voice.)At the end of our conversation, Atara leads us through a beautiful guided meditation to calm ourselves and guide our thoughts inward so that we can reconnect to our soul.Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

The Challah Mom (Anat Ishai) candidly shares her personal Jewish journey of making aliyah to Israel from Toronto, Canada. She speaks about being born in Israel and growing up in Toronto as the daughter of Russian Jews. The Challah Mom describes the process of how she and her family made the decision to come to Israel for a year during Covid, how they moved back to Toronto afterward, and then officially moved back to Israel, making aliyah just 30 days before October 7. Her story is beautiful, soulful and authentic. It highlights the importance of listening to our inner voice, and it encourages people to embrace their light and potential. Don't be afraid of succeeding! Anat shares how she felt a return to self in Israel. Throughout our conversation, you can tangibly feel her deep, soulful connection to Israel and to Torah. As she navigated the ups and downs of life, Anat progressed on her Jewish journey. Instead of asking, "Why?" when things happened, The Challah Mom learned to ask, "What am I supposed to learn from this?" It's such a powerful shift in perspective. It's not so much that we need to know why something is happening, but more importantly, we need to know the hidden message inside of what is happening, and how we can grow from it.This is a very powerful message!The Challah Mom also shares her story about how she began covering her hair and why she wears her beautiful scarves.You can follow The Challah Mom on Instagram and Facebook.Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

Rebbetzin Dini (Dina) Coopersmith is the trip leader and coordinator of women's learning trips to Israel through Women's Reconnection Trips. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Jewish History. Rebbetzin Dini teaches in a number of seminaries in Jerusalem, where she lives with her husband and children.From this situation, only good will come, was the central theme of our enlightening conversation. Emunah--the belief that everything comes from Hashem (G-d), everything He does is good, and everything He does has a purpose--is the way Rebbetzin Dini lives her life. This is also the theme that runs through her Reconnection trips with women. The Level Up women's emunah and solidarity missions are designed to help women reconnect with each other, with themselves, and with Hashem, in a truly transformative way. The women visit historical places in Israel and they also spend time with people and families whose lives were directly impacted by the events of October 7. When women connect to women, in an authentic and compassionate way, they have the capacity to truly uplift each other's souls.Rebbetzin Dini also describes some of the classes that Reconnection Trip participants experience. She speaks about a beautiful class where women learn to identify their purpose and their tikkun in life. Also, she speaks, in depth, about a class on emunah that calls women's attention to:A--appreciation for all the Hashem has done for youB-belief and connection to HashemC-communication through prayerD-declaring your beliefs and positive affirmations out loudE-expecting the best from HashemFor more information on Rebbetzin Dini's Reconnection Trips, please visit:https://www.reconnectiontrips.com/For Rebbetzin Dini's YouTube channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/@dinicoopersmith Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

I am NOT my struggle, I AM my LIGHT. Very powerful words from Rebbetzin Ruty David, who is renown for her relatable manner and non judgmental way of engaging. She is authentic in her passionate commitment to spread Torah values as she works with the many brides who seek her out to help prepare them for their weddings. She also focuses on energetic healing to help people shift from self-doubt to self-empowerment.In our engaging conversation, Rebbetzin Ruty explains to us how we can find the light of Hashem inside ourselves and inside of others, including our husband. The first thing you need to do is to realize that Hashem chose YOU to radiate YOUR light--if He hadn't chosen you, then you wouldn't be here. Once you know yourself, you know Hashem. His pure essence is inside of you.Next, you need to understand that your TRUE ESSENCE is your LIGHT. Your soul is pure light. The darkness you experience is just the yetzer hara (the evil inclination.) Wherever you have the greatest struggle, you have the greatest light. If you want to know where your strengths are, look at your weaknesses. If you are struggling, turn inward and listen to your intuition. Your intuition is a soft voice; it's Hashem's voice guiding you. Listen to that voice.When things are hard for you, sit with your pain for a while. Express your pain. You can journal or write down your feelings. Then move the pain out of yourself through exercise, dance, music, or anything that moves the pain out of your psyche. You don't want to hold on to pain.Show yourself compassion, but don't drown in self-pity. Look for your inner light. Your intuition will guide you to see your light and, therefore, your strengths. It will allow you to shift your beliefs from "I'm not good enough" to "I am a shining light of goodness." By sitting with your pain and then shifting your mindset, you give yourself compassion with boundaries--Tiferet.Once we shift our mindset, we shift our energy. When we shift our own energy, creating a positive, loving light, others feel our energy shift, and THEIR energy also begins to shift, and they are more receptive to us. Our husband, children, family, friends, potential clients, will be drawn to us because we are radiating happiness and positivity. People want to be around light, not darkness. Also, we need to see the light in others, including our husband. The more light we see in ourselves, the bigger that light grows inside of us. Consequently, the more light we see in others (especially our husband), the more their light grows, and the more radiant they become.When you see the good in yourself and in others, your mind becomes accustomed to seeing the good, or looking for the good, instead of the negative. When you look for the good, you will find more good--both in yourself and in others.You can email me at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

The way the world functions works through women. Our world moves through seasons. Similarly, women go through different phases in their monthly cycle that correlate with the seasons of nature. As women, when we understand the way our menstrual cycle works (even in perimenopause and menopause), we are able to better understand ourselves, especially our moods, our energy levels, and our natural tendencies during different times of the month.Malka Chana Amichai, a certified Postpartum Doula, is passionate about helping women connect to their femininity. Her mission is to educate and support women to be active participants in their own life experiences. She expanded her practice to become a Prenatal Yoga instructor, a Kallah teacher who gives premarital education to brides, and a sexual health mentor. He main objective is to empower women in their womanhood and to facilitate their reconnection with the divine feminine that flows through all of us.Below are the phases of our menstrual cycle, as they correspond to each season:Menstrual Phase--Winter--just like when it's cold in the winter, we cuddle up with cozy socks and a warm blanket, and tend to stay home, during the time we are menstruating, women go inward. They want to spend more time at home; they tend to want to be by themselves; they do a lot of inner work and self-care during this time of the month.Follicular Phase--Spring--just like in the spring when the flowers start blooming, and the weather starts getting warner, women start coming out of their shell more. They tend to want to be around people a bit more than during the menstrual phase. They experience more creativity, inspiration and hope.Ovulation Phase--Summer--just like in the summer when it's hot and everything is in full bloom, women are more aroused, they want to be closer with their partner, they want to be around their friends and be much more social and outgoing. This is the phase of the month when they feel most connected to others.Post Ovulation Phase--Fall--just like the fall is the transition between summer and winter, the post period phase is an in between time for women; a type of "nowhere zone," where we feel that we're neither here nor there. This is the time when we experience higher than usual anxiety. If you are in the perimenopause or menopause phase of your life, you can still connect to your cycle through the phases of the moon. Rosh Chodesh is a women's holiday, and it's marked by the New Moon.New Moon--correlates with the menstruation phase (winter)Waxing Moon--correlates with the follicular phase (spring)Full Moon--correlates with the ovulation phase (summer)Waning Moon--correlates with the post ovulation phase (fall)Malka Chana also talks about how mothers can introduce the concept of menstruation and periods to her preteen or teenage daughter, and how mothers can transmit to them the beauty of being a woman.For more information on Malka Chana, visit her website: https://www.bohemianbalabusta.com/about-me/Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

When you live your life with joy and calm, you can think more clearly and make better decisions.Beverly Chimes is a social worker and a life coach with more than 20 years of experience. She is an expert at helping people untangle complex situations and relationships so that they can take care of their inner world and show up for themselves, and for others, with more ease.In this lively conversation, Beverly teaches us how to avoid overwhelm and burnout. The first thing that Beverly recommends to do is to take a few breaks in your day ON PURPOSE. Use those breaks to truly refresh you. Put your device down; no electronics. Have a snack while looking out the window. Step outside for 5 minutes to get a breath of fresh air. Sip on your iced coffee or drink a delicious glass of water while giving your brain and eyes a break from whatever it is that you were doing. Take this break on purpose, with a purpose--to clear your mind from chaos and allow it to relax and be calm.The second thing that Beverly advises is to create joy ON PURPOSE. Identify a few things that you really enjoy doing (yoga, walking in nature, taking an art class, shopping, etc.) and schedule it into your calendar for a set day and time so that you can look forward to it. The more joyful things that you can regularly schedule for yourself, the better. When we do things in our lives that bring us joy, we become happier people. When we are happier, are thoughts become clear and our emotions begin to regulate and become balanced.In order to further enhance our emotional regulation, we need to understand that thoughts create feelings/emotions, and those feelings/emotions create our actions. We act based off our feelings/emotions. If our emotions are not regulated, we tend to become explosive, rageful, anxious, and sad. We need to look at is what is actually happening before we become dysregulated. What thoughts were we having? What did those thoughts cause us to do? Quite often we have a narrative of our story playing and replaying in our minds every day; this could be things that happened in childhood, negative messages and limited beliefs. If we are thinking, and therefore living, from that negative place, we can't expect ourselves to emotionally regulate and we can't expect ourselves to be happy. In order to become emotionally regulated and happy, we need to work with someone to understand where our thoughts and limiting beliefs are coming from, and then discard those that no longer serve us.To contact Beverly, visit her website: https://www.beverlychimes.com/Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

There is a narcissism pandemic in our world. For those who are in relationships with narcissists--whether it's your boyfriend/husband, mother/father or sibling, being in a relationship with a narcissist is not easy. In this interview with Rikki Jacobson Davies, we learn how to identify the signs of a narcissist, and how to navigate our relationship with them. Rikki is the clinical director and founder of the Center for Relational Resilience. She is passionate about helping people heal from relational trauma with clarity, truth and resilience. A private clinician and lecturer, Rikki has developed a unique approach to healing from complicated, confusing, and painful relationships.First, we need to recognize that being in a relationship with a narcissist falls into the category of relational trauma--trauma in the context of a close relationship. (This is different from trauma someone sustained that came from a more distant relationship, like a teacher, a community member, or a stranger.)How do you actually know if your husband (or other family member) is a narcissist? A narcissist is a person who has a severely under developed sense of self; their basic emotional core is missing. This is a person who has an extremely fragile ego and needs another person to constantly validate them, appreciate them, see them hear them, focus on their needs exclusively, and build them up continuously because they can't do that for themselves. They are pre-occupied with validating and affirming their own existence and that they matter. Since they are very insecure, they will do anything they can to get their emotional sustenance from other people. They will manipulate and intimidate until they get their way. One tactic of manipulation is love bombing--flooding someone with a lot of love and loving gestures to either bring them into a relationship initially, or pull them back into the relationship when they try to leave. While most people develop their sense of self as young children, narcissists seemed to skip that step due to circumstances in their early childhood years that prevented normal inner growth and development. While people don't enjoy being criticized, a healthy person can take critique, learn from it and grow from it without throwing a temper tantrum or flying into a rage. Criticism to a narcissist is like kryptonite to a narcissist. They avoid criticism at all costs because their fragile ego simply cannot handle it.So how can we deal with the narcissist in our lives? According to Rikki, people to set aside their own personal finances so that they feel as financially secure as possible, in case they need to leave the relationship, so that they don't have to rely on the narcissist for money.Rikki encourages us to get support from family and friends. We need to find our people--those who will listen to us, encourage us, and stand by us. When we build relationships with friends and family who envelop us with love and positivity, we build a life for ourselves outside of our relationship with the narcissist. We can still be happy and whole people who are in a relationship that did not go the way they dreamed. Whether you decide to stay in the relationship or leave, YOU have your own innate value and worth that has nothing to do with the narcissist. You can have a beautiful life despite of your relationship. You can reach Rikki through her website: www.relationalresilience.comYou can also email: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

"We died a thousand deaths before we were murdered," is the stand out quote from today's conversation with Rebbetzin Lisa Cook, rebbetzin of the Cincinnati Jewish Experience (CJX). This quote says it all!Rebbetzin Lisa is teaches mikvah education to Jewish women of all backgrounds and levels, works as a mikvah attendant at the Cincinnati community mikvah, is part of the Cincy chevra kadisha, and is currently in the 3rd cohort of the Core MMC Program led by Rebbetzins Aliza Bulow, Debbie Greenblatt, and Rochel Goldbaum.One of the aspects of her job that Rebbetzin Lisa is most passionate about is taking people on trips to Poland, where they experience what life was like for the Jews of Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust. Rebbetzin Lisa's groups visit concentration camps, such as Treblinka and Auschwitz, cemetaries such as the Warsaw Cemetary, and other historical sites like the Warsaw Ghetto and Bialystok. The men and women who participate in these trips are not just learning about Jewish history in Poland, they are experiencing the sites and the stories first hand. They are standing in the same places where their ancestors stood, just a few decades ago. They hear stories of what pre-war Poland was like, from the Polish people themselves--Jews and non-Jews alike. This experience is incredibly personal and life-changing for many. Kosher food is provided for the people on the trip, as they are deeply affected, inspired, awed and empowered by what they are witnessing.If you would like to participate in a Poland Experience trip with Rebbetzin Lisa, please contact me, and I will put you in touch with her. I can be reached via email at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com Vera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit:https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

In any darkness that you are going through, there is light. In your depression, in your anxiety, in your co-dependency, there is light. It's actually the darkest darkness that leads us to the light light.Rachy Friedlander is an Emotional Mastery Coach and a TEB Practitioner (TEB stands for Transforming the Experience-Based Brain.) In this fascinating interview, Rachy talks to us about the vital role that regulating our nervous system has on our body and our soul. If we have suffered from trauma in our lives, or our needs were unmet, or we felt like we were in survival mode for extended periods of time, our bodies hold those traumas and fears. Over time, we begin to operate in survival mode, even if no one is threatening us. Rachy talks about nervous system regulation so that we can FINALLY calm ourselves down and begin to feel safe. It's the feeling of safety that is the core of emotional healing. One way to begin feeling safe is to stop and focus on your breathing for a few minutes. You heart rate will slow down, and you will begin to feel safe. Once we feel safe, we can observe our emotions--anger, sadness, frustration, fear, happiness, melancholy, etc. It's important that we observe our emotions WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. Rachy goes on to explain the kabbalistic aspect of emotional healing. She tell us that every feeling, every emotion, every desire, every thought, every word, and every action that you have ever had, are having right now, or will have, is encompassed in the concept of All Is. Everything inside of you and outside of you is part of All Is. Everything (All) was put in place by Hashem (G-d) for our own good; to help us achieve our higher purpose. Ask yourself, "Am I safe right now?" Take into account what is realistically happening for you right now--WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. Don't judge your feelings or emotions; just observe what is. Creating safety and emotional regulation inside of yourself will slowly, over time, help you feel whole. Own your wholeness.Rachy has an incredible online course called, Becoming Your Own Therapist. This course, as well as more information on Rachy, and the opportunity to work with her to achieve your own healing, is offered on her website: https://www.coachrachy.com/aboutContact: atrebbetzins@gmail.comVera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit: https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/

If G-d didn't need YOU, He would not have woken YOU up today. You are here because you are NEEDED.A Jew is never Stuck. People are built to stand upright because their minds rule over their hearts.Mitzvot are the spiritual clothing of the soul. They are your responsibility, and they give you purpose. Mitzvot are a connection point between you and Hashem.Above are just some of the deep insights that Rebbetzin Chani Shemtov, a Chabad Emissary at the University of Illinois in Chicago, shares with us in this very powerful conversation. We start off speaking about the Modeh Ani prayer, which is the very first thing that we say when we wake up in the morning. This prayer doesn't have Hashem's name in it. This is because we have just awoken from sleep, and we need to do the traditional washing of our hands (netilat yadayim ) before we say Hashem's name. However, Modeh Ani is said right when we wake up, before we wash our hands. It is for this reason that Hashem's name is not said during this prayer. The first word of the Modeh Ani prayer is "Modeh," translated in English as "grateful." We literally start off our day with gratitude. It has been scientifically researched, studied, and proven that gratitude leads to happiness. By starting off our day with being grateful that G-d gave our soul back to us, we are beginning on a positive, optimistic, and happy note. (When we sleep, we are 1/60 dead, so G-d needs to restore our soul to us in order for us to wake up. We are therefore grateful to Him for giving us life, each and every day.) Remember, if G-d woke you up, He gave you life. The reason He gave you life is because you have a purpose in this world that you still have an opportunity to fulfil. Otherwise, He would not have woken you up.Following the Modeh Ani prayer, we have the morning blessings, birkot hashakar. These are a series of 15 blessings. Each of these blessings begin with the words, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe...," and then goes on to mention specific things.Rebbetzin Chani and I spoke about several of the 15 blessings, in detail.We talked about, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who frees those who are bound." From this, we learn that a Jew is never stuck. We have free will every single moment of the day. What we said or did 5 minutes ago, yesterday, or last year, doesn't need to define what we do or who we are 10 minutes from now. Hashem recreates the world every single moment. Because of this, we are never stuck, and we always have the ability to move forward in any direction, at any moment.Then, we spoke about, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who stands upright those who are bent over." Many animals are made such that their head, heart and lower organs are on the same level. However, humans are created such that our head is on top, our heart is below our head, and then come our lower organs. This structure shows that our head rules our conduct, not our emotions, or our desires. It is the head that must make clear choices for us to follow. We then get to the controversial blessing that a man says in the morning, "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, for not having made me a woman." The reason behind this blessing is that mitzvot are a point of connection between Hashem and humans. In His infinite wisdom, Hashem gave men more commandments that He gave to women. They need these commandments for their spiritual growth, and since they are commanded with more mitzvot, they have a more points of connection to Him than women. Women, however, do have many mitzvot that they have the responsibility to fulfil. However, they are not confined to time-bound mitzvot because their primary responsibility is taking care of their family. Rebbetzin Chani explains this beautifully!If you don't know how to read Hebrew, you can say the blessings in your native language.Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

Every Hebrew month has its own unique energy that is specific to that month. The energy of Nissan is that of new beginnings and miracles--POWERFULIn the month of Nissan, G-d does for us, as opposed to in Tishrei, when we do for G-d. So what did G-d do for us in Nissan? He took us out of Egypt! In the story of Pesach (Passover), Hashem (G-d) physically took us out of Egypt (Mitzrayim.) The word, Mitzrayim, means narrow or limited. Hashem took us out of a limited place, and into an open, expanded place--eretz Israel. On a personal level, during the month of Nissan, Hashem helps take each and every one of us out of our own personal Mitzrayim, our own personal limitations. We can use the energy of Nissan to begin removing our own personal klippot--shells/blockages, LIMITATIONS. When we work on eliminating our personal limitations, G-d helps us. Once we remove our limitations, we have boundless, endless capacity to actualize our potential in this world, and fulfill our life mission.On a national level, our limitation is that we are not a unified people; we are fragmented. However, the month of Nissan is not only the month of new beginnings, but it is also the month of miracles. When we unite as a nation, Hashem can literally make miracles for us, like He did with the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea.)The astrological sign for Nissan is Aries, the ram. This animal, the ram, is associated with the lamb. At the time that the Jews were in Egypt, the lamb was worshiped as an idol by the Egyptians. Hashem commanded the Jews to take a lamb into their house, tie it to their bedpost, and then kill it. Then, they were commanded to smear the lamb of the blood on their doorpost, in the place which we now put up a mezuzah, indicating to the angel of death that he should jump or skip over this house because it was a Jewish house. In this way, the Jews elevated an idol from being something that was wrongfully worshiped, into something that was elevated by being used to save lives.Rebbetzin Mattie Pil suggests that we can take our modern day idol of technology and use it to listen to Torah classes, Torah podcasts, read Jewish texts online, and overall use this "idol" for holy purposes.Rebbetzin Mattie, also shares with us that the Hebrew letter associated with the month of Nisan is the letter "hey." She explains that G-d created the world with the letter, "hey," as He spoke the world into existence. We can use our words to tap into our G-dly soul through prayer, which is a form of meditation with our Creator.Rebbetzin Mattie, is the rebbetzin of the Schneerson Center, a synagogue in San Francisco, California. She has been an educator for over 40 years. She is also a certified life coach, and teaches kabbala for women.Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.comVera Kessler (host of America's Top Rebbetzins) is a certified life coach. She specializes in transformational life coaching and accountability coaching. She is also a motivational speaker. Vera's mission is to help women get out of survival mode and start thriving. She works with women who are committed to stepping into their own self-worth and creating the life they want to live--one that is full of joy, empowerment, meaning, and purpose. To learn more, visit: ⁠https://innerlifecoachingwithvera.com/