Shuva Full Circle: Baal Teshuva Integration

Mrs. Miriam Lipskier - No One "Makes" a Baal Teshuva

In Part II of our eighth episode with Mrs. Miriam Lipskier, we dive into two controversial topics: the role of women in Judaism and a baal teshuva's individual responsibility for his or her spiritual journey. First, are Jewish women disempowered second-class citizens? Miriam challenges that simplistic narrative based on her own lived experience as a shlucha, and shares some advice on how to build a family life in which each spouse contributes to the fullest inside and outside the home. Second, who bears responsibility and takes credit for the success of baal teshuva integration -- shluchim or BTs? Miriam gives an empowering message to baalei teshuva to own your destiny even as you seek out the support and resources you need.Plus, tune in to hear our answer when Miriam flips the mic and asks us why we started this podcast!Thank you to Dovid Woonteiler for your generous sponsorship. For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.Production and editing by Gary Waleik- Emmett and RivkaAll rights reserved to The BT Center

Mrs. Miriam Lipskier - A Campus Shlucha Whose Parents Found Yiddishkeit on Campus

In Part I of our eighth episode, we hear from campus shlucha Mrs. Miriam Lipskier what it was like to grow up in Morristown as the child of baalei teshuva. Miriam shares candidly how her parents went from college valedictorians to hasidim of the Rebbe, and her own experience growing up in a family that unapologetically stood out as different. We learn about the importance of staying connected to mentors, proudly owning who you are, being open to learning from your children, respecting authority figures while acknowledging their complex humanity, and always putting inner spiritual work above external appearances. Finally, Miriam shares with us her unique "full circle" perspective as a campus shlucha whose parents found religious Judaism as students on campus. Thank you to Moti and Miriam Sandman for your generous sponsorship. For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.Production and editing by Gary Waleik- Emmett and RivkaAll rights reserved to The BT Center

Mrs. Yehudis Cohen - Who Said You Have to Be Like Everyone Else?

In our seventh episode, Mrs. Yehudis Cohen shares essential guidance for baalei teshuva building new Jewish homes after learning in yeshiva. In our conversation, we address overcoming BT insecurity and embracing yourself fully, becoming a giver rather than constantly expecting to receive, the importance of remaining connected to one's mashpia and peer group, and how to celebrate quirkiness and individuality while recognizing issues that require treatment or intervention. Make sure to listen through to the end for priceless marriage advice and Mrs. Cohen's personal BT story!For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.- Emmett and RivkaProduction and editing by Gary WaleikAll rights reserved to The BT Center

Yehudah Forster - Learning from Mentors and Ultimately Finding Ourselves

In our sixth episode, we sit down with Yehudah Forster, a baal teshuva with an amazing background of personal transformation and first-hand experience of mentorship from Dr. Dovid Sholom Pape and Rabbi Abba Paltiel, among others. Yehudah shares the remarkable story of how he found his way from a yoga ashram to 770 for Shavuos, then returned to the ashram on a mission, left to learn in yeshiva, and finished law school before getting married and starting a family in Crown Heights. We hear from Yehudah how impactful his relationships with close mentors were along the way, and yet that each of us must ultimately take responsibility for bringing ourselves fully into the new relationships we build.  For Yehudah, that process involved counseling, and brought him to the realization that he ultimately wanted to be a marriage and family therapist.Make sure to listen through to the end, where we share our reactions, discuss some key takeaways, and unpack the title of our podcast!For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.- Emmett and RivkaProduction and editing by Gary WaleikAll rights reserved to The BT Center

Rabbi Yossi Paltiel - The Rebbe's View on Baalei Teshuva and Community Integration

In honor of Gimmel Tammuz, we've dedicated our fifth episode featuring renowned educator and mentor Rabbi Yossi Paltiel to the Rebbe's tremendous love for baalei teshuva and the vital mission of helping them find their footing as new members of the Chabad community. Rabbi Paltiel challenges both baalei teshuva and the Anash community to make integration happen, identifies several ways baalei teshuva can tap into the lessons learned by previous generations, and gives us some homework.Make sure to listen through to the end, where we sign Rabbi Paltiel up for doing a future episode on chinuch and shalom bayis!For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.- Emmett and RivkaProduction and editing by Gary WaleikAll rights reserved to The BT Center