Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko

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

______________

► 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

______________

► 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

______________

► 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

In this deeply honest episode, Deena Flaks and Kalman Flaks share their raw, unfiltered journeys through years of dating, heartbreak, faith, doubt, and resilience—before finally finding each other later in life.

Deena opens up about dating from 19 to 36, going out with over 200 people, navigating pressure, intuition, burnout, and the quiet fear of “maybe something is wrong with me.” Kalman shares his path through community leadership, divorce, public scrutiny, choosing joy, and continuing to build others even when life didn’t go according to plan.

Together, they speak candidly about singlehood, delayed marriage, trust in Hashem, emotional clarity, red flags vs. intuition, the damage of gossip, and what actually matters when choosing a partner. This conversation is not about segulos or shortcuts—it’s about faith, patience, self-honesty, and believing you didn’t miss your moment.

If you’re single, supporting someone who is, or carrying quiet doubts about your timeline, this episode will make you feel seen.

Watch until the end for powerful advice for singles, parents, and anyone struggling with fear, comparison, or loss of hope.
To contact Deena and Kalman Flaks:
📧 [email protected]

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:
► PZ Deals

Download the app and never pay full price again!

https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp
_____________________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka

https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful

_____________________

► 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
_____________________
► B’Sefer Chayim

When you get married—or marry off a child—you plan for the future. You make thoughtful choices. You lay the foundation for what comes next. Life insurance is one of the cheapest, simplest, smartest things you can do.
Life insurance isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a basic.
www.bseferchayim.org

_____________________

►Pizza Biza

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

https://www.pizzabiza.com

They waited. They struggled. They almost walked away—more than once.
After 12+ years of painful dating, self-doubt, fear, therapy, and deep inner work, Michal and Nadav finally found each other in the most unexpected way. This is not a fairy tale. 
It’s a raw, honest conversation about loneliness, faith, surrender, rejection, healing, and why the journey doesn’t end when you get engaged.
If you’ve ever felt “behind,” broken, or afraid it may never happen—this story is for you.
You can reach out to Nadav and Michal via email: [email protected] and [email protected]
To contact Tzipora Grodko with suggestions, comments or questions, you can email: [email protected] or message her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tziporagrodko 

This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:

► PZ Deals
Download the app and never pay full price again!
https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp 
_________________________
► Colel Chabad Pushka App
The easiest way to give Tzedaka
https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful
_________________________
► B’Sefer Chayim
When you get married—or marry off a child—you plan for the future. You make thoughtful choices. You lay the foundation for what comes next. Life insurance is one of the cheapest, simplest, smartest things you can do.
Life insurance isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a basic.
www.bseferchayim.org    
_________________________
► 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
_________________________
►Pizza Biza
Delight your guests with our expansive menu and a culinary experience that exceeds expectations.
https://www.pizzabiza.com

In this powerful episode, Simi Polonsky, shares her journey through love, devastating loss, widowhood, remarriage, divorce, and rebuilding life with faith and honesty.

She speaks openly about grief, anger at Hashem, motherhood, shame, resilience, and what it truly means to choose life when nothing feels certain.

This conversation explores how to live with hope without waiting for things to work out, how to sit with pain without becoming a victim, and how faith can evolve through suffering.

A raw, honest discussion about loss, healing, and finding beauty in the middle of the story — not the end.

You can follow Simi on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelifeofsimi/?hl=en 
To contact Tzipora Grodko with suggestions, comments or questions, you can email: [email protected] or message her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tziporagrodko 

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

___________________________

►Shas 4 Shidduchim
Shas for Shidduchim gathers hundreds of lomdim to complete Shas in 24 hours as a tremendous z’chus for Jewish singles to find their zivugim.
Sponsor a daf for up to 3 people in need of a shidduch. A lomed is then assigned to learn in the z'chus of the names you submit.
www.Shas4shidduchim.org 

___________________________

► B’Sefer Chayim

When you get married—or marry off a child—you plan for the future. You make thoughtful choices. You lay the foundation for what comes next. Life insurance is one of the cheapest, simplest, smartest things you can do.
Life insurance isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a basic.

www.bseferchayim.org    

___________________________

►Meaningful Minute Plus

Meaningful Minute Plus gives you access to exclusive video series, raw uncut podcast moments, behind-the-scenes with your favorite creators — plus original films, powerful documentaries, and live-streamed conversations you won’t see anywhere else.

www.soh.plus