In our severely challenged world — as we look to define and grasp hope — Rabbi Debra Orenstein sat with Good People Fund Director of Engagement Julie Fisher to talk about her own journey to hope … the value of hope to our mental and physical well beings …  practical tips for all of us to embrace and elevate hope … and much more.

Rabbi Debra is spiritual leader at Congregation B’nai Israel in Emerson, NJ, and a nationally known Jewish educator and commentator on the theory and practice of hope, and the Jewish wisdom surrounding it. She recently taught a six-part online workshop, “Real Hope”  — the inaugural series in GPF’s Good People Learn program.

“Real Hope” Session 5 — “Meeting Hope Heroes” 

More about Rabbi Debra Orenstein

Amy Ever, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, is the Founder and CEO of A Courageous Voice — educating and equipping children, parents, teachers and community leaders with the knowledge and tools to end the scourge of child abuse, neglect and exploitation rooted in both on- and offline spaces. Amy talks about her journey from trauma to impact with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger.

Three of our visionary grantees in Israel vividly describe how they’re meeting new challenges since the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, and staying true to their passions and missions elevating good and hope — and uplifting the communities they serve with renewed resolve.

While in Israel in March, GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger and GPF Director of Engagement Julie Fisher sat with Avraham Hayon of S.A.H.I., Yael Noy of Road to Recovery, and Shlomit Somech-Lehmann of Al-Baqour for a live Zoom event (link below), here presented in audio-only podcast format.

Live from Israel Zoom Recording:

Listen below or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

We’re at our 50th episode of Good People Talk! Marking this milestone moment, we’ve handed the microphone over to special guest host — Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief of the Forward and former Jerusalem Bureau Chief of The New York Times — as she discovers The Good People Fund’s secret sauce for building and sustaining a community of Good People creating positive change in a challenged and conflicted world. Jodi sits with GPF Co-Founder and Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, and GPF Director of Engagement Julie Fisher.

More About Guest Host Jodi Rudoren: https://forward.com/authors/jodi-rudoren/

Listen below or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Blyth Taylor Lord founded Courageous Parents Network in 2014 — some years after her daughter, Cameron, and her nephew, Hayden, both died from infantile Tay-Sachs. Blyth turned her grief into purpose. CPN — a GPF alum grantee — uses education, advocacy and community to equip and empower parents of children with serious medical conditions. She speaks with GPF Exec. Director Naomi Eisenberger.

This is Good People Talk, where Good People Fund grantees describe how their vision, passion and mission are making impact in communities in the US, Israel and elsewhere around the world.

For youth across the spectrum of developmental, physical and learning abilities, the war presents unique challenges. Beth Steinberg and Miriam Avraham — both mothers of children with Down syndrome — are the Founding Directors of Shutaf (“partner” in Hebrew)  —  practicing an inclusionary model of informal programming for kids, teens, and young adults across abilities. In this conversation with Good People Fund Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, Beth and Miriam talk about the war’s effect on their work and impact.

Kavod v’Nichum (“Honor and Comfort”) — a GPF grantee — brings Jewish end-of-life discussions and practices into the light by elevating and advancing Chevrot Kadisha — holy societies that support individuals, families and communities during a sacred life cycle event. Sarit Wishnevski, Kavod v’Nichum’s Executive Director, joins Naomi Eisenberger, GPF Co-Founder and Executive Director, to discuss the work and its impact on us and our communities.

Since its founding, Road to Recovery has driven thousands of Palestinians — mostly children — from crossing points to Israeli hospitals for critical medical care … and back again. Road to Recovery Chair Yael Noy joins GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger to discuss how the organization and its volunteers are adjusting to new realities on the ground … and committing to hope.

This is Voices from Israel … a companion podcast of Good People Talk! … where Good People Fund grantees in Israel share how they are pivoting to meet urgent and evolving needs since the country was attacked and war began.

Shlomit Somech-Lehmann is CEO of Al Baqour, a Good People Fund grantee using innovative approaches to early childhood education to empower Israel’s challenged Bedouin community in Israel’s Negev. In this very personal conversation with GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger, Shlomit shares stories of loss and hope from October 7 and the weeks since.

This is Voices from Israel … a companion podcast of Good People Talk! … where Good People Fund grantees in Israel share how they are pivoting to meet urgent and evolving needs since the country was attacked and war began.

Brit Ha’Leviot — a Good People Fund grantee in Israel —  works to protect and promote the rights and well-being of trans and gender diverse youth and their families, and educate institutions like schools, and greater Israeli society. Co-Founder Merav Livni Keish speaks to GPF Executive Director Naomi Eisenberger about how the organization is adjusting to meet unprecedented needs since Oct. 7, and keeping its community intact.

This is Voices from Israel … a companion podcast of Good People Talk! … where Good People Fund grantees in Israel share how they are pivoting to meet urgent and evolving needs since the country was attacked and war began.