Maya Rockowitz was 24 and two semesters into a master's program in social work, when she lost her father suddenly and without warning, on a Shabbos that she now recognizes was filled with signs she couldn't have understood in the moment. In this raw and deeply personal conversation, Maya opens up about that Shabbos, about being the one who found him, and about the year and a half since, navigating grief while trying to build a life, date, and eventually get married without the person she calls her rock.

Maya and her host talk candidly about what it actually means to grieve while dating, the pressure to put on a brave face, and why suppressing pain only pushes people further from the person they love. Maya shares the small rituals that keep her connected to her father, the friends who showed up and the ones who didn't, and the hard-won belief that grief isn't something you move on from, it's something you learn to move with. Anyone who has experienced loss, is single and struggling to navigate life without someone they need, or simply wants to understand how to better support a grieving friend will find something here worth holding onto.

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Rena and Shaya Weinstein are logging in from opposite corners of an extraordinary life: Rena serving as an active-duty JAG officer in the United States Air Force stationed in England, and Shaya, a physical therapist originally from Teaneck, NJ, along for one of the most unpredictable rides in Jewish marriage. From a chance meeting at a Chabad Shabbat lunch in Miami to a breakup that sent them to opposite sides of the globe, Rena to Wichita, Kansas, Shaya to Israel, their story is a testament to timing, trust, and the belief that nothing is too hard for God, not even Kansas.

Together they open up about keeping Shabbos alone in the middle of a wheat field, dating long distance across a six-hour time difference, and building a marriage that's spanned Kansas, Israel, Cambridge, and the English countryside, with a baby now along for the journey. Their conversation is a powerful look at resilience, communication, and finding purpose in the most isolating chapters of life, with a message for anyone waiting for their own plans to finally align: God knows your zip code, and nothing is too hard for Him.

This episode was brought to you in part by:

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Rifki Holtzberg, born without legs in Brooklyn, shares her journey of adapting to life and overcoming challenges. She credits her parents for instilling confidence and independence. Rifki discusses her experiences in high school, where lack of accessibility made her feel different. She works full-time in marketing and enjoys party planning, despite physical limitations. Dating has been difficult, with people often judging her based on her appearance rather than her personality. Rifki actively participates in her family's Chabad activities, hosting around 200 people weekly. She drives independently using modified cars and remains hopeful for the future, relying on faith and family support.

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