Stories Of Hope With Tzipora Grodko

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
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► Colel Chabad Pushka App

The easiest way to give Tzedaka

https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful

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► 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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► 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

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►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    
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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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►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

What happens when two ambitious, thoughtful Jews—raised with identity but not observance—begin asking deeper questions about truth, purpose, and God? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Jenna and Justin share their journeys back to Judaism, from college campuses and law school to Israel, yeshiva, marriage, and parenthood.
They open up about the beauty and the struggle of becoming religious, navigating dating as baalei teshuva, building a marriage rooted in faith, and confronting real-life challenges like postpartum depression, identity shifts, career pressure, and spiritual comparison. With wisdom, vulnerability, and warmth, Jenna and Justin reflect on mentors, slow and sustainable growth, daily consistency, and what it truly means to serve Hashem in the trenches of everyday life.
This episode is for anyone who’s searching, growing, questioning, or simply trying to live with more intention—right where they are. 
You can contact Jenna and Justin Maio via email: [email protected]
For any questions or suggestions please email us at [email protected]

This episode is sponsored by:

► 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 
___________________________

► 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

What does it mean to create hope while still living in pain?

In this deeply honest and powerful conversation, Haddasa Manela shares her extraordinary journey of building and leading Bonei Olam of Florida while navigating more than a decade of infertility and loss. Instead of waiting for her own “happy ending,” Hadassah chose to act — raising millions of dollars, funding treatments for countless couples, and helping bring over 100 babies into the world.

With vulnerability, clarity, and courage, Haddasa speaks about grief, bitterness, faith, taking breaks, setting boundaries, and finding purpose even when the answers don’t come. This episode is not about easy miracles or neat resolutions — it’s about resilience, honesty, and the quiet strength of continuing to show up.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, stuck in waiting, or unsure how to keep moving forward when life doesn’t unfold as planned, this conversation will make you feel understood — and less alone.

You can reach out via email: [email protected] or [email protected] 

Or follow Hadassa on Instagram: 

https://www.instagram.com/bydaza or via email: https://www.instagram.com/boneiolam_florida

for more information visit:
 www.Charidy.com/knockout

www.Boneiolam.org/florida

This episode is sponsored by:

► 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 

___________________________

►JCCGCI Holocaust Survivors Need You Now!

For over 50 years, JCCGCI is one of the largest providers of Holocaust survivor support services in the world. Their programs are designed to help survivors maintain their independence and dignity while living in their own homes. 

There are approximately 10,000 Holocaust survivors living in New York City today- and every day, JCCGCI sees survivors struggling to afford food, heat, medical care, transportation, and homecare. They cannot wait.

👉Please Donate and Support the Light Up Their Lives campaign at:
www.JCCGCI.org/lightuptheirlives