Shuva Full Circle: Baal Teshuva Integration – Details, episodes & analysis

Join us for a rich and engaging discussion with Rabbi Baruch Epstein, the Director of Community Development of Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, the Rabbi of Bais Menachem shul in Chicago, and a renowned teacher and writer. With humor and warmth, Rabbi Epstein shares his perspective on what makes baalei teshuva such an important part of Chabad communities, and how successful integration takes time, investment, humility, and willingness to contribute. 

For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.

- Emmett and Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik.

All rights reserved to The BT Center

Tune in for our conversation with Shmuel (Steve) and Sharone Devorah (Sharon) Goodman, a Chabad baal teshuva couple. After Shmuel and Sharon married and settled down in Shmuel's native Columbus, Ohio, Shmuel began managing the family business: a chain of retail stores that sold children’s clothing. But the business ended up in bankruptcy, while Shmuel battled and ultimately overcame cancer. The Goodmans relocated to Chicago, Illinois, to raise their four children in the Chabad community, where Shmuel launched Nestegg Group: Investment Advisors, a trusted investment firm which he continues to oversee today. This is the story of the Goodmans' baal teshuva journey and the lessons they learned about transparent parenting and financial responsibility along the way.

Thank you to the original supporter and visionary behind our project, Leivi Bartfield, for generously sponsoring this episode. 

For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.

- Emmett and Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik.

All rights reserved to The BT Center

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 Rivka

All rights reserved to The BT Center

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 Rivka

All rights reserved to The BT Center

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 Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center

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 Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center

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 Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center

In our fourth episode, we discuss with Mrs. Rivkah Slonim her top "5 of the 500 pieces of advice" she would like to give to every Baal Teshuva beginning a new religious journey. We then unpack why intimacy is a touchstone for building a strong and dynamic marriage and where we should (and should not) get advice on this holy and essential dimension of life.

You can order your own copy of Holy Intimacy, co-authored by Mrs. Rivkah Slonim and Mrs. Sara Morosow, here.

Make sure to listen through to the end, where we unpack key takeaways from our conversation with Mrs. Slonim. 

For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.

- Emmett and Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center

In Part II of our third episode, we learn about Rabbi Freeman's personal story of return, including radical politics, convincing the Canadian government to fund a high school called “Total High,” an artistic voyage, and a run-in with a bear.

For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.

- Emmett and Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center

In Part I of our third episode, we discuss with Rabbi Tzvi Freeman how to translate fiery Baal Teshuva passion and excitement into grounded, sustainable, and translatable practice.

Make sure to listen through to the end, where we unpack some key takeaways from our conversation with Rabbi Freeman until a Gilles child makes a surprise debut.

For questions, comments, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at https://www.btcenter.org.

- Emmett and Rivka

Production and editing by Gary Waleik

All rights reserved to The BT Center