Strength In Every Step: David Beiss

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbeiss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Beiss</a> is an attorney and partner at Hunter Herman PLLC. His practice areas include complex commercial litigation and post-judgment enforcement. </p>David was born with an extremely rare and painful skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). </p>As a child and young adult, David mainly used a wheelchair for mobility but never let EB define his life or ambitions. </p>As an advocate, David is dedicated to raising awareness and fundraising for rare diseases and helping those with disabilities achieve their goals. </p>Thank you for listening!</p>00:00 - Introduction to David Beiss</p>02:00 - David's Early Life and Family Background</p>05:14 - Understanding Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)</p>31:37 - Yachad, Camp Simcha, and Kids of Courage</p>43:14 - Navigating Yeshiva with a Disability</p>47:40 - Impact of EB on Relationships</p>55:14 - Fundraising and Advocacy Efforts</p>57:52 - Career Path and Legal Profession</p>01:07:03 - Involvement in Disability and Israel Advocacy</p>01:10:47 - Final Thoughts and Messages</p><br /></p>*For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>** Please note that from November 11th until December 31st, Anything But Traditional is having a sale on podcast ads - $25 for a 30-second ad. Be in touch if interested! </p>Thank you for listening!</p>

01:21:56

Finding The Grey in A Black and White World: Giddy Ben Tzvi

Originally from Rockville, Maryland, Giddy Ben Tzvi, is a lot more than Anything But Traditional's host, Tamar Ben Tzvi's husband. </p>He currently lives in Neve Shamir in Ramat Bet Shemesh, is an avid lover of Torah, a massive religious Zionist, dedicated member of his shul Avnei Shamir, runner, and pick up ball player. </p>Over the past 9 years, Giddy has held various positions in hi-tech and hi-tech adjacent companies. </p>In this episode, we explore Giddy's life, various challenges, his relationship with God especially in dealing with infertility, the importance of living a more nuanced Jewish life and so much more. </p>This is an episode you don't want to miss!</p>Thank you for listening!</p>00:00 - Introduction</p>02:35 - Giddy's Early Life</p>14:50 - Yeshiva and Israel Experience</p>33:18 - Post-Yeshiva Reflections</p>37:07 - Aliyah</p>39:31 - Meeting Tamar and Early Marriage</p>41:56 - Navigating Life's Challenges</p>43:13 - Coping with Anxiety </p>56:06 - Fertility Journey and Faith</p>01:08:22 - Tamar and Giddy Fun </p><br /></p>*For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>Thank you for listening!</p>

01:14:57

Adversity, Advocacy, and Administration: Dr. David Leitner

Dr, David Leitner, better known as Dr. D., is a strategy and leadership consultant and a university lecturer. He specializes in using strategy to create team alignment and engaged followership. He is married and has three amazing kids. He is a disabled IDF veteran who suffers from CRPS. And is the only IPSC wheelchair competitor in Israel.</p>In this episode of Anything But Traditional, Dr. David Leitner reflects on his upbringing as the son of a conservative rabbi, his life-changing experience in Israel, and his severe injury during military service that led to his struggle with CRPS. </p>Dr. D discusses making aliyah on his own, building Bar Ilan into a more accessible university, and building a family and career despite chronic pain. </p>Thank you for listening! </p>00:00 Introduction </p>01:22 Growing Up as a Rabbi's Kid</p>05:06 Journey to Israel and Religious Transformation</p>08:39 College Life and Struggles with Identity</p>16:16 Military Service and Injury</p>26:48 Living with CRPS</p>31:26 Adapting to a New Reality</p>41:44 Expanding Accessibility Efforts</p>42:47 Handing Over the Role and Creating a Board</p>43:43 Pursuing a PhD and Major Life Events</p>46:00 Challenges and Triumphs in the Army</p>51:11 Building A Family </p>01:01:26 Daily Life and Assistance</p>01:10:12 Leadership and Followership</p>01:14:57 Final Thoughts and Advice</p><br /></p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>Thank you for listening!</p>

01:27:48

The Common Ground Of Jewish & American Values: Shabbos Kestenbaum

Shabbos Kestenbaum graduated from Harvard’s divinity school this past May, and is now suing Harvard University for failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. </p>This past Wednesday night, Shabbos addressed the Republican National Convention. </p>Today, we hear the story of his past, present, and future. </p>From Yeshivat Noam to Harvard Divinity School, and his evolving political ideologies. </p>He emphasizes the importance of fighting for Jewish and American values, both domestically and abroad, and outlines his vision for the future, including his hope for greater unity and support for Jewish causes. </p>00:00 - Introduction </p>01:57 - Early Life and Family</p>04:26 - Educational Journey and Harvard Experience</p>07:36 - Political Views and Ideologies</p>08:16 - Experiences in Poland and Jewish Education</p>19:30 - Reflections on American and Israeli Jewish Communities</p>24:11 - Future Plans and Final Thoughts</p><br /></p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>Thank you for listening!</p>

00:31:48

The Unspoken Struggles Of Motherhood: Chari Pere

Chari Pere, creator of Miscarried: An Unspoken Cartoonmentary, worked as a creative director and illustrator/storyboard artist on projects for Red Bull, Jockey, Disney, Comedy Central, and Bud Light. </p>She has created content for The Washington Post's The Lily and Mad Magazine and has collaborated with NYT bestselling author Gretchen Rubin and actress Mayim Bialik. </p>Chari launched the "Unspoken" Cartoon series as part of the 2024 Jewish Writers' Initiative Digital Storytellers Lab Fellowship. </p>Breaking Stigmas through Cartoons: An Interview with Shari Pair</p>In this episode of Anything But Traditional, Chari shares her journey from childhood aspirations to her experiences working with major brands like Red Bull and Disney, and her profound personal journey through miscarriage and postpartum depression. </p>The conversation delves into her efforts to break the silence around very important, yet often untalked about topics, through her comics and animated shorts, and is a powerful testament to using art to foster empathy and support others facing similar challenges.</p>Website: https://www.charipere.com/</p>Miscarried: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI7kEAYkUJI</p>Michael's Miscarriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-9Nc66L2k&t=2s</p>Subscribe to the "Unspoken" YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UnspokenCartoonmentary</p>Instagram/Facebook: @charipereart</p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>Thank you for listening!</p><br /></p><br /></p>00:00 Introduction </p>01:29 Chari's Journey into Cartooning</p>02:32 The Impact of Miscarriage on Chari's Work</p>03:48 Creating Comics for Social Change</p>08:58 Chari's Background and Early Influences</p>16:24 Navigating Career and Motherhood</p>20:16 Challenges and Resilience in Chari's Career</p>27:26 Struggles and Miscarriages</p>31:48 Postpartum Depression and Health Challenges</p>34:19 Balancing Career and Family</p>38:31 Finding Support and Breaking Stigmas</p>49:50 Final Thoughts and Reflections</p>

00:54:32

Finding Judaism, Finding Self: Kylie Lobell

Kylie Ora Lobell is the president of <a href="http://www.koldigitalmarketing.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KOL Digital Marketing</a>, a marketing, PR, and ghostwriting firm for Jewish organizations, authors, and business owners. She is also an award-winning writer who has been published in the Jewish Journal of LA, Washington Post, LA Times, New York Magazine, Aish, Chabad, and Tablet. You can follow her on <a href="https://x.com/kylieoralobell" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">X</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylieoralobell/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kylieorawriter/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</p>In this episode, Kylie shares her extraordinary journey from a secular Christian upbringing to converting to Orthodox Judaism. She discusses her tumultuous childhood, questioning faith, and eventual embrace of Jewish practices after experiencing the warmth of the Jewish community. </p>Kylie delves into her struggles with depression, postpartum depression, the challenges she faced in her conversion process, and how Judaism is misrepresented in the media. </p>This episode is packed with inspiring anecdotes, offering a deep dive into the complexities and rewards of Kylie's faith and personal growth.</p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p>Thank you for listening!</p><br /></p><br /></p>00:00 Introducing Kylie Ora Lobel</p>01:55 Kylie's Childhood and Family Background</p>03:42 Questioning Faith and Early Doubts</p>14:52 Meeting Daniel and Exploring Judaism</p>17:29 Discovering Chabad and Connecting with Faith</p>21:41 Conversion Journey and Challenges</p>33:28 Challenges and Reflections on Jewish Practices</p>46:51 Postpartum Depression and Community Support</p>01:01:09 Final Thoughts and Inspirational Messages</p>

01:03:41

Cancer Survivor to Community Builder: Raphy Sassieni

Today, Raphy Sassieni works at UserWay and plays a pivotal role in the vibrant Neve Shamir community of Ramat Beit Shemesh, loves mountain biking and has three beautiful children.</p>However, his journey to this fulfilling life wasn't always smooth.</p>At the young age of four, Raphy was diagnosed with cancer. </p>Now, in remission for many years, the journey undoubtedly shaped both him and the course of his life.</p>In this episode, we explore Raphy's transformative journey, his diverse upbringing, his dedication to the nonprofit sector, his love for Israel & Judaism, and his commitment to his community. </p>Furthermore, Raphy imparts invaluable insights on parenting, emphasizing the importance of fostering each child's distinct individuality, a principle instilled in him by his parents multiple times during his own upbringing.</p>So whether you're seeking inspiration, practical wisdom, or simply a heartwarming tale, tune in to this episode. It's certainly worth a listen!</p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p><br /></p>Thank you for listening!</p>

01:02:19

Dream, Believe, Achieve: Sean (Zeesha) Littman

From public school kid to chossid, Sean (Zeesha) Littman shares his story of determination and perseverance in this week's episode of Anything But Traditional. </p>Hear as he shares his religious journey, the epic story of how he met his wife Ilana, their journey to aliyah, having 5 daughters, his path to Ramat Beit Shemesh, and his awesome career in nonprofit marketing. </p>Lastly, make sure to listen until the end as he shares more about his incredible new business, GiveSuite.com, a marketing solution for the nonprofit sector. </p>To be in touch with Zeesha, you can email him at sean@catch22nonprofit.com. </p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar on Instagram. </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries, and/or check out my website tales-of.com to learn more about who I am and what I do. </p><br /></p>Thank you for listening!</p>

00:43:59

Dating & Anxiety: Rabbi David Schlusselberg

Rabbi David Schlusselberg received his Bachelor's degree in psychology and Rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. </p>He has a master's degree in Jewish education from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education and currently works at the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, and serves as the Mashgiach Ruchani. </p>Last summer, he started his Instagram page, which now has over 12,000 followers, where he provides Jewish inspiration and education about Israel and antisemitism. </p>He has lectured at Columbia, Princeton, NYU, Maryland, Rutgers, and a few other colleges.</p>While his career is certainly fascinating, in this episode, we talk more about who Rabbi Schlusselberg is, his family, upbringing, dating experience, and immense struggle with anxiety. </p>There's a lot in this episode - so listen and be inspired! </p>Also, make sure to follow him on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rabbi_david_schlusselberg/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, check out his series <a href="https://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecturedata/927561/Lessons-from-a-Decade-of-DatingPart-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lessons From A Decade of Dating</a> on <a href="https://www.yutorah.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YU Torah</a>, and feel free to be in touch with him if you have any questions via <a href="mailto:daveschluss@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">email</a> or phone 201-543-9308</p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries. </p>Thank you for listening!</p>

01:04:01

Oh, The People You Meet: Marna Becker

Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Marna Becker is a natural networker, a social media enthusiast, an SDR leader, an activist, an educator, and a ball of energy. She was the youngest member of the board of the Jerusalem Business Networking Forum (JBNF), the predecessor of Made in Jerusalem, where she served for 5 years. In addition, she has worked successfully in both the B2B and B2C marketing and sales universe, where her passion for making processes more efficient and effective has shined through. She has worked with numerous startups, both here in Israel and abroad. She currently is the SDR Team Lead at UserWay.org</p>Marna is the founder of the Anglo Israel Job Network Facebook group that has over 15K members. The group helps more than 100 people find jobs in Israel each year. </p>She has spoken on the topics of networking effectively and the power of networking in Raanana at N4ES (Networking for English Speakers), in Gush Etzion at Hub Etzion, in Bet Shemesh at SUBS, and has taught a class on social media for the Temech Hub. She most recently spoke at an event sponsored by SDRs of Israel in Tel Aviv and virtually for the Innovate Summit.</p>In this episode, we delve into the many opportunities she tapped into over the years and how she created magic wherever she went, always learning from everyone she met. </p>**For updates and conversations about these episodes, follow me at @talesoftamar </p>You can also reach out to Tamar@tales-of.com with questions, comments, or inquiries. </p>Thank you for listening!</p><br /></p>Please make your donations to:</p><a href="https://donate.stripe.com/00gaGgdms21R9dm7uQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yad Yehuda</a> to help students afford their gap year in Israel and make sure to include in the special instruction box that you heard of this cause from Anything But Traditional!</p>Thank you and Tizku L'Mitzvot!</p>

01:03:07