Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories

Perla Zaltzman lost her daughter Mussia in a drowning accident. She opens up about how she coped with the trauma; how the loss impacted her family, her community, and herself; and how she honors her daughter’s memory.

A conversation with a mother of five who manages to juggle the worlds of parenting, high-powered finance, and deep Chassidic spirituality.

In this special episode, Chana Weisberg shares what it was like to grow up as the daughter of the legendary Torah scholar and leader, Rabbi Dovid Schochet of Toronto.

An interview with the father of Ben Zussman, who wrote: "I am happy and thankful for the privilege that I had of protecting our beautiful country and the people of Israel."

Amanda Spiro lived a carefree, successful life and even worked as a model at one point. She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21. Her frightening new reality helped her discover her Jewish soul and the hand of G-d guiding her all along.

Tamarinado, Costa Rica, is known for its surfing and nightlife. Now, it has its own Chabad center, staffed by Rabbi Yaakov and Naomi (Nicolle) Rubinstein. Nicolle was not always religious and never imagined she'd one day serve as a religious guide to others. How did her life turn around?

Rivka Goldstein grew up in Singapore, where she always felt she was searching for something "big.” Her quest, which continued through her time at Harvard, led to her conversion to Judaism and eventually writing a book about the Jewish approach to leading a meaningful life.

For nearly two decades, the Pizems have bravely served the community of Sderot, just a kilometer from Gaza. Tzivia and her family narrowly survived the terrorist rampage, and her husband is still in their hometown, serving the many soldiers (and few civilians) there.

Born in the Golan Heights, Batsheva Cohen was inspired by the teachings of Chabad. She established Chabad in downtown Chevron together with her husband Rabbi Danny, and literally "cooks for an army" as they host large groups of soldiers and civilians. Ever since the war, she's busier than ever servicing soldiers stationed near Chevron, and helping them to do more mitzvot.

Author, activist and co-director of a bustling Chabad House, Rivka Slonim has been breaking stereotypes, sharing information and inspiration, and making an outsized mark on the Jewish world for decades. Here's her story.

Ezzy Morgenstern, serving in an elite unit of the IDF, shares how he and his friends feel after two months of war, and what keeps them going.

In the past seven weeks, Rabbi Levi Mendelson slept very little. His main concern? Aid and relief for soldiers, the wounded and the displaced, and the hostages and victims’ families.

Citizen-activist, co-founder of Ohr Chabad, and Chabad.org news reporter Bruria Efune speaks about how her family is dealing with war. They have brought toys and supplies to the displaced families, volunteered in a soup kitchen, and even taken a mission to the troops in Gaza.

After spending two days in her "safe room”, Michla and her family evacuated. They've now been spending the past 50+ days in a hotel room, having given their home to the IDF troops.

Naomi Galeano is a medical volunteer for Israel's United Hatzalah. On the day of the Simchat Torah attacks in Israel, she rode to the danger zones to tend to the victims. Six weeks later, she's still saving lives every day.

Three Chabad Shluchos (emissaries) serving university campuses discuss the rising antisemitism at their colleges and what they are doing to help students feel safer, prouder and even more connected to their Judaism. An interview with Miri Gourarie, Chabad at Penn State; Mushka Lipskier, Chabad at Tulane University; Naomi Drizin, Chabad at Columbia University.

An interview with the Campus rabbi who didn't flinch in the face of an anti-Israel rally.

Batya Bluming, wife of IDF staff sergeant, Yossi, shares what life feels like for the many Israeli wives whose husbands are right now at war, and what we can do to be of help for them.

Chani Klein shares her perspective on the ravaging effects of the war from her corner in Eilat, Israel, where close to 60,000 refugees have been relocated and there has also been an increase in soldiers at army bases. Together with her husband Rabbi Mendy, and their fellow Chabad of Eilat representatives, she does her part to bring comfort and support.

Rabbi Mendel and Dini Polichenco of Chabad in California came to Israel with their family to visit army bases and provide support.