Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko

In this episode of Stories of Hope, Rabbi Jamie and Ilana Cowland share the journey that shaped their life’s mission. From London to Israel, they reflect on the pivotal moments that led them to dedicate their lives to bridging gaps within the Jewish world . Rabbi Jamie explains how he realized traditional kiruv models were no longer reaching people the same way , which ultimately led to the creation of Justifi, taking participants around the world to confront real human suffering and awaken a deeper sense of purpose. Ilana speaks about the courage it took to choose conviction over comfort and how that decision changed everything.

They also open up about raising idealistic, confident children in a world of comfort and distraction . With honesty and vulnerability, they discuss parenting through struggle, redefining success, and helping children discover their own mission. This conversation is a powerful exploration of purpose, relationships, and living with intention.

This episode was brought you in part by:
► PZ Deals

Download The PZ Deals App and Never Pay Full Price Again

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► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka.

https://pushkapp.cc/soh

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► Leaders Kids Clothes

You want clothing that looks good. That you can find in coordinating yet age-appropriate styles. That doesn’t break the bank. That you can buy when you need it (and not only 6 months in advance).

Leader Kids is for you. real kidswear, for real moms.

https://leader-kids.com/?utm_source=storiesofhope&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=stories_of_hope

In this unforgettable episode of Stories of Hope, Clair and Yitzchok share a journey that defies every expectation. From adoption and identity struggles to secret university studies, dangerous relationships, deportation, and a deep spiritual unraveling, Clair’s path took her across continents and cultures before ultimately bringing her back to her roots . Yitzchok’s story runs parallel: divorce, loneliness, unwavering faith, and the quiet resilience it takes to keep believing when the future feels uncertain. Their individual roads were anything but simple, yet every twist led them closer to something neither of them saw coming.

What happens when two 38-year-old singles, both carrying full lifetimes of experience, meet at a Shabbos table in Miami? Ten days later, they knew. This episode is about faith through confusion, gratitude through pain, and the courage to keep searching for truth even when it costs you everything. If you’ve ever wondered whether your story still has a chapter waiting to unfold, this conversation will remind you that hope has a way of showing up exactly when it’s meant to.
To connect with Yitzchak and Claire:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @claireofpemberley
This episode was brought you in part by:
►PZ Deals

Download The PZ Deals App and Never Pay Full Price Again

https://app.pz.deals/install/soh

______________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka.

https://pushkapp.cc/soh

______________

► Western Wall Prayers

It’s starting next week! 40 days through Purim and Pesach.

https://www.westernwallprayers.org?a_aid=689ea0c620351

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► Jewish legacy stories
Jewish Legacy Stories preserves real Jewish family histories through thoughtful interviews, archival photos, and legacy films so voices and lessons aren’t lost over time.
https://jewishlegacystories.com

In this episode of Stories of Hope, Yisroel and Devorah Feder share the part of marriage most people hide. Married young, disconnected from the start, and eventually separated, they open up about years of struggle, loneliness, public judgment, and the quiet pain their family carried. With honesty and humility, they talk about what it feels like to believe your marriage is broken beyond repair, and the shame that often comes with that reality 

What makes this conversation powerful is not just that they got back together, but how they did. Through dating each other again, therapy, hard self-reflection, and learning how to truly see one another, Yisroel and Devorah rebuilt something real, slowly and imperfectly. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, discouraged, or afraid that their story is already over. It’s a reminder that hope doesn’t come from pretending things are perfect, it comes from refusing to give up when they’re not 

To contact Yisroel: [email protected]
To contact Devorah: [email protected]
This episode was brought you in part by:
► PZ Deals

Download The PZ Deals App and Never Pay Full Price Again

https://app.pz.deals/install/soh

________________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka.

https://pushkapp.cc/soh

________________

► Jewish legacy stories
Jewish Legacy Stories preserves real Jewish family histories through thoughtful interviews, archival photos, and legacy films so voices and lessons aren’t lost over time.
https://jewishlegacystories.com

In this deeply honest and moving episode, Yisroel Kerner and Elana Kerner share their personal journeys through dating, identity, mental health, and finding each other in Israel. From navigating labels and social pressure to speaking openly about depression, therapy, and self-acceptance, they unpack what it really means to be “ready” for marriage. Their story challenges the boxes people are placed into and highlights how growth, struggle, and authenticity are not obstacles to love, but the very things that lead to it. 

This conversation is raw, thoughtful, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever felt out of place, pressured by systems, or afraid that their challenges make them “less than.” Yisroel and Elana show how honesty, emotional safety, and respect for each other’s journeys became the foundation of their relationship, and why the right person doesn’t overlook your story, but honors it.

To contact Yisroel & Elana Kerner, email: [email protected]
This episode was brought you in part by:
► PZ Deals

Download The PZ Deals App and Never Pay Full Price Again

https://app.pz.deals/install/soh

______________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka.

https://pushkapp.cc/soh

______________

► Chesed 24/7 — RUN 24.7

Help keep Chesed rooms running in 30 hospitals
Join the live 5K at American Dream Mall (Feb 22, 2026) or sign up as a raiser—every mile keeps the rooms going.

https://run4chesed.org

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► Torat Imecha - Nach Yomi Siyum
Thousands of Jewish women worldwide are completing a two-year Nach Yomi journey. Celebrate the Torat Imecha Nach Yomi Siyum on February 15 in Woodmere, NY—or at local siyumim in Boston, Chicago, Boca, and Phoenix.
https://go.ou.org/siyum26

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► Jewish legacy stories
Jewish Legacy Stories preserves real Jewish family histories through thoughtful interviews, archival photos, and legacy films so voices and lessons aren’t lost over time.
https://jewishlegacystories.com

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► Pizza Biza

Delight your guests with our expansive menu and a culinary experience that exceeds expectations.

https://www.pizzabiza.com

This episode of Stories of Hope is a raw and deeply moving conversation with Hadassah and Yossi Chen, who share their journey through unimaginable grief, faith, marriage, and growth after the loss of their daughter, Navi. They speak honestly about navigating childhood illness, loss, bitachon, and how pain can either break a person, or transform them. This is not just a story of loss, but a story of light, resilience, and purpose, and what it means to keep moving forward when life brings you to zero.
Lezecher nishmat Nava Ruth bat Yosef

To contact Hadassah and Yossi: [email protected]
This episode was brought you in part by:
► PZ Deals

Download The PZ Deals App and Never Pay Full Price Again

https://app.pz.deals/install/soh

________________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka.

https://pushkapp.cc/soh

________________

►Pizza Biza

Delight your guests with our expansive menu and a culinary experience that exceeds expectations.

https://www.pizzabiza.com