In this powerful and poetic conversation, Jenna Zadaka shares the winding path of her spiritual journey—from discovering Kabbalistic meditation through Chabad in college to integrating yoga within her Jewish religious life. We explore her deep love for mystical Judaism, her reverence for Rosh Chodesh, and the ways women’s faith and leadership shine during the Pesach season. Jenna speaks to the embodied nature of healing, the importance of meeting bitterness with presence, and recounts a mystical encounter with the Arizal that continues to shape her relationship with the Divine. This episode is an invitation to reconnect with the wisdom of the body and the sacred cycles of Jewish time.

Generously, Jenna is offering 15% off her course, The Radiant Body: Embodied Kabbalah Course, which begins April 9th. Use code EMBODIEDJUDAISM at checkout. Sign-ups close April 6th!

BIO:
Jenna Zadaka is an embodiment practitioner, trauma-informed somatic coach, educator in Jewish Mysticism and Mindfulness, author, and ceremonialist. She weaves spiritual, experiential, holistic, feminine, and earth-based wisdom into all of her offerings. Jenna believes in the power of each person’s inner-directed healing and trusts that the Divine Body allows us to discover the Source of Life through our flesh, reconnecting to our inherent joyous nature. She uses the pathways of somatics, spirituality and creative visualization for healing. A pillar of her approach to wellness includes receiving support from both our visible and invisible guides. As a celebrated teacher of Kabbalah, Yoga, and Mindfulness, Jenna humbly draws wisdom from her root-teachers and ancestors. Connect with her embodied teachings on Instagram @breathandsoul_Jenna and through her website, awethenticroots.com.

So grateful to have my incredible husband Elan Gerzon on the podcast. We talk about his journey growing up, stories of seeking and experiences with other cultures, and eventually coming home to Judaism.

We also speak about our relationship coming from places of different observances/backgrounds.

With Nechama Schusterman

Connect with Maxine on her personal instagram and her company, The Power Within.

In this episode we discuss the parsha for the week, Tetzaveh.

For a much deeper dive, check out Nechama Schusterman's weekly podcast: A Path Forward.

A little bit of a listen from Jessie's journey from going abroad at 24 years old to search for a feeling of ancestral and familial resonance, to plant medicine experiences that made Jessie want to experience more Jewish prayer and songs, and just a little bit on going towards keeping Shabbat.

This is our first weekly episode with Nechama Schusterman where we explore a fractal of the light that is the weekly torah portion.

In this episode, we first discuss finding value in Torah as our GPS.

Then, we dive into a few gems from Parsha Terumah.

May this conversation be an invitation for your own cheshbon hanefesh (spiritual accounting) this week!

Get to know Nechama Schusterman, an incredible Rabbanit and torah teacher that Jessie studies with.

They share how they met and a little bit about Nechama. BeH Jessie and Nechama will be having weekly conversations around the parsha, with Nechama sharing her truly unique and "somatic" torah insights and invitations.

I was raised totally secular—without an understanding that “how Jewish I am” has no relationship to how religious I am. But after a Crohn’s diagnosis and an invitation for deep, full-body and soul healing, I turned to plant medicine… and found my way to more of an observant Jewish life. One that only works because it’s fully authentic.

Now, so much of how I experience healing is Jewishly rooted—through the lens of the healing world I came from. My wedding felt like an ayahuasca journey. Shabbat is a weekly peyote ceremony. Mikvah holds the clarity of kambo. Ritual isn’t just tradition—it’s somatic, transformative, alive.

From somatic Torah to the magic of Jewish ritual, we dive into the deep medicine of mitzvot, the power of obligation, and the beauty of going towards what lights you up Jewishly because that creates more healing, more flow, and more presence- which is where the Divine is.

In this first episode, I share just a small slice of the beginning of my journey and why I’ve decided to start this podcast. Write to me on instagram at @embodied.judaism to let me know what you’d like to hear episodes about, questions you have, etc.

As always thank you Nechama Schusterman for your time in sharing your wisdom!

Thank you to Nechama Schusterman as always for such wonderful conversations. Nechama and I usually speak about the parsha, but as we both love Pesach, we decided to share a bit about prepping for the holiday.

Ariela Sharon is passionate about elevating the Feminine Energy of this world so that we can bring peace, love and moshiach. Ariela has been a Jewish Educator and Women's Health Advisor for the past 10 years. She is also an Herbalist, Bodyworker and Birth Keeper. She has studied at the Hadar Institute, The Eden Center, ArborVitae, Manzanita Wellness, and Birthing from Within. In addition to one-on-one learning services, she offers workshops that bring together the physiological with the spiritual on all things pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She is dedicated to rewilding womanhood and exploring how we can root in ancient Jewish wisdom while bringing in our own life experiences. She has taught in collaboration with Imeinu Doulas, Moishe House, The Jewish Studio Project, The School of Living Jewishly, At the Well, Hazon, Atiq and more. Ariela lives in Cleveland Ohio with her husband and 4 daughters. 

In this conversation, Jessie and Idan explore themes of personal growth, practical spirituality, and the courage that ends up leading to sometimes surprisingly significant life changes. They discuss the importance of emotional intelligence, the role of forgiveness in healing, and the necessity of genuine connections in relationships.

Idan shares insights from his journey as a therapist and teacher, emphasizing the interconnectedness of personal experiences and spiritual growth. Together, they explore the themes of emotional regulation, availability, and the impact of personal choices on relationships and healing.

The conversation also delves into the significance of dreams as reflections of healing and connection, and how our choices can have a ripple effect on those around us.

Join us for a conversation on the power of emotional expression and the importance of being present and available in our relationships.

• Connect with Idan on instagram
• Free whatsapp dream group
• Because healing happens in presence, through relationship, and with the courage to feel. To join Idan's 6 week upcoming course The Capacity to Feel, sign up here.
• To reach out to Idan direct- say hi, ask questions about the course, or to inquire directly for 1:1 or couples work.. message him on Whatsapp: +972-549-45-0060

About Idan Lumi:

I’ve spent the past 15 years immersed in the worlds of therapy, counseling, and teaching, guiding individuals and groups through deep emotional and spiritual processes. Over time, I developed a unique method I call Practical Spirituality — an integrative approach that weaves together emotional intelligence, relational healing, and spiritual insight.

My work centers on real conversations about what it means to feel, to connect, and to be human. I speak with people about emotions, relationships, Judaism, and the often-unspoken spaces in between. I’m especially interested in the meeting point between ancient wisdom and contemporary psychology — where the soul’s longing meets the practical tools for living a grounded, authentic life.

In this conversation, Jessie interviews Orka, a prominent figure in the medicine music scene, discussing her journey as a musician, her connection to Hebrew identity, and the transformative power of music in healing and peace.

Orka shares her experiences of navigating her identity as an Israeli artist, the impact of significant events like October 7th, and her commitment to empowering voices through music. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, understanding, and the role of music in bridging cultural divides.

Follow Orka on instagram to find out about her latest events, including concerts and vocal journeys.

Rabbi Rishe, from a Chabad background, shared her journey of embracing her Jewish identity and spiritual roots, emphasizing the importance of balancing traditional practices with personal experiences in Judaism. She discussed the challenges faced by Jewish women, the significance of creating meaningful rituals at home, and the need for accessible Jewish education for adults. The conversation also touched on the spiritual benefits of various practices, including water blessings and cacao ceremonies, and the importance of understanding and adapting Jewish traditions for personal growth and connection with the divine.

Follow her on instagram here.

It was a real gift to delve into the profound journey of mind-body connection and personal growth with Rabbi Peretz. Rabbi Peretz shares some of how his own personal exploration has led to transformative experience. Rabbi Peretz shares his insights on balancing practice with everyday life, the importance of authenticity in non-dogmatic Judaism, and the role of music and movement in connecting the body and soul. Join us as we get a small glimpse of his path to personal breakthrough and the power of living an intentional, authentically Jewish life.

Peretz is a one-of-a-kind, unique Rabbi who meets you exactly where you are. Need a concierge Rabbi? Spiritual motivation? Psychedelic support? For over 20 years, Peretz has been a rabbi outside the Synagogue, understanding that there is a need for Jewish life beyond the walls of traditional religious practices. Passionately guiding, mentoring, and teaching those seeking something real.

Rabbi Peretz does Jewish events tailored to your needs. Guides individuals in plant medicine experiences. Coaches you to your spiritual center.

Peretz means breakthrough, and that’s the heart of his work: helping you break through limiting beliefs, outdated paradigms, and spiritual stagnation—so you can step fully into the life you’re meant to live.

and Follow him on IG here!

Rav Benji Elson, LMSW is a passionate instructor of embodied Jewish practice, a psychotherapist, an author, a musician, a Jewish environmental educator, and a transformative experience facilitator who has been privileged to share his impactful self-transformation and Jewish psychology teachings globally, including in cities across the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, Mexico, Turkey, Finland, Zambia, South Africa, and India.

Benji's acclaimed book and course, Dance of the Omer, integrates Jewish psychology, kabbalah, chassidut, embodied practices, meditation, state-of-the-art therapeutic modalities, and nature connection, offering participants a unique path to personal transformation. He is currently writing a second self-transformation guidebook on Elul and Tishrei (the High Holidays).

As a psychotherapist, Benji works with individuals, couples, and families, utilizing a diverse array of cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including EMDR, IFS, DBT, CBT, KAP, NLP, Somatic Experiencing, Mindfulness, Regressions, and more.

Rabbi Benji is also the co-founder and director of Sod Siach, an innovative EcoTorah Discovery Program that combines weekly text-study classes, hands-on workshops, and experiential field trips to promote sustainable Jewish living through Torah & the Land.

Previously, Benji served as Educational Director and Lead Transformational Facilitator of Shebet Haaretz, leading transformational Jewish jungle expeditions to reconnect participants with themselves, spirituality, Judaism, and the world.

On a more personal note, Benji’s colorful life experiences include living in two veggie-oil-fueled mobile homes, shepherding goats in the Jerusalem hills, meditating in Indian ashrams, living & working on Jewish farms around the globe, and volunteering in remote African villages.

Connect with Benji here

• His website
• His instagram

Hey everyone, I’m back.
I launched Embodied Judaism in February 2025, recorded consistently through July, and then life… really lifed, and I took a hiatus.
I’m returning now at the end of January 2026 (almost a full year later) to begin what I’ll call unofficial Season 2, and I’m genuinely so excited to be sharing the podcast here on Substack.
So so so much has changed since last year. I have updates, stories, and new teachings I can’t wait to bring you. Thank you for being here, and welcome (back) to Embodied Judaism. 💛

In this “unofficial Season 2” opener, I’m joined by my friend Eli Witkin for a deep, practical, and mystical conversation about Tu B’Shvat — not as “Jewish Earth Day,” but as a serious spiritual technology.

Eli is known for hosting a deep & powerful Tu B’Shvat Seder (the kind people try to get a seat at). We talk about what makes a ritual container work: candlelight, pacing, boundaries, beauty, and how intention moves through the senses.

Together we explore:

• Tu B’Shvat as “medicine without medicine”

• The Pri Etz Hadar and the origins of the Tu B’Shvat Seder

• The Four Worlds (Asiyah / Yetzirah / Briyah / Atzilut) through fruit + wine

• “Cracking shells” and removing pits

• Shefa, Yesod, and the cosmic tikkun/fixing idea of “opening channels” for blessing and renewal

• Why tradition needs both chesed (flow) and gevurah (structure)

• How cycles, seasons, and Jewish time teach us to live more truthfully

We close with a blessing for renewal- personal, communal, and cosmic- as the sap begins to rise.

Chag Sameach and welcome back to Embodied Judaism.