B"H Sitting at my daughter's high school graduation earlier this week, I found myself wondering: “If I were 18 again, knowing everything I know now about money, what would I do differently?” Here’s my answer:1. Open a Maaser dedicated account Then ten percent of anything I make goes here first. (That's the money that I will then continuously deploy to charity.) It goes in this account... Not after I pay my bills. Not after I save. First.Because if I can't part with 10% when I have $100, what...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
B"H Hi Reader, These two conversations happened the same week. I think G-d was trying to remind me of something. Last week I met with a woman who told me how she got tired of “chasing after the dollar.”She had a thriving online business, plus a real estate business with her husband, who additionally was the principal of a Jewish school. But, she had a major wake up call, a health scare that put her thriving online business on hold. After multiple surgeries, she decided it was time to move....
2 months ago • 1 min read
B"H Hi Reader, Writing this in the midst of some travel (to Panama and Florida), but you were so kind in your responses to last week’s email, I wanted to send a response. I posed the question: “So… does making money come at a cost?” I told you to head to the podcast where I was giving the answer, straight from last week’s Torah portion. Many readers told me:“I’m not on podcast apps—PLEASE send me the answer?” 🙂 So here it is, simply: No—making money does not inherently come at a spiritual...
3 months ago • 3 min read
B"H Hey Reader, Here’s a small — not so small — moment from last week that ended up meaning a lot more than I expected. I thought it might be helpful to you too. Last week one of my kids said something that surprised me. “Let’s go to the beach.” My usual reaction to that request? Ugh. Houston beach.It. ain’t.this… Florida, two weeks ago Or this… Puerto Rico 2024 But I thought, “You know what? Great idea. Let’s go!” Everyone packed up, and on our way out, I grabbed an old siddur (prayer book)....
5 months ago • 1 min read
B"H Hi Reader! Quick note to say: I read all the replies to my last email - and wowza! That was a super warm welcome back. I really felt the love. Thank you. 💙 And if you were one of the many who wrote back to tell me what you’d like me to share from my 90-day Sabbatical — thank you for that too! I’m sitting with all the responses and organizing what to share first as I ease back in. More on that soon.In the meantime, I’m excited to share that my episode on the topic of Kosher Astrology with...
6 months ago • 1 min read
B"H “You have a best seller out, Yael?” Well… not yet… Working on it! And I hope you’ll help with that. But, I do have a best seller on my shelf - and I hope you do too. It’s called the Torah. 🙂 Now here’s a story from two best sellers - mine and G-d’s. I once had a conversation off-line with a podcast guest who told me the story of her all glammed up 💄👗👠in a ball room full of 200 Jewish women at a Jewish Federation Luncheon:“... the guest speaker gave an impactful presentation and she...
9 months ago • 2 min read
B"H Hey Reader! The two largest one-day stock market drops in history are: • 1929 — “Black Tuesday” (October 29, 1929) • 1987 — “Black Monday” (October 19, 1987) That’s 58 years apart. Does the number look familiar? The Hebrew name Noach (נח) has the numerical value (gematria) of 58. After the chaos of the Flood, Noach (meaning rest, or comfort) brought the world comfort - menucha. But before the calm came destruction. The Flood wiped away a corrupt world to allow for renewal. Each of those...
9 months ago • 1 min read
B"H Chodesh Tov, Reader! As I mentioned earlier this week, this month is the so-called “no-hum-drum” month. But is it really? Depends what you make of it. Tishrei was full of G-d’s "instructions" — shofar, apples and honey, fasting, praying, lulav, etrog, sukkah, dancing. Every day came with a mitzvah, a moment, a spiritual highlight. Then comes Cheshvan… and nada. Which is precisely why our sages called it Mar-Cheshvan — bitter Cheshvan. Nebach! Who wants to be remembered that way? But as my...
9 months ago • 1 min read
B"H Chodesh Tov, Reader! Saturday night/Sunday morning was an odd one for me. I had very little sleep, was up in the middle of the night (who’s calling 4 am the morning?) to send my daughters and my husband off on trips. That evening had also hit my youngest pretty hard, realizing his sisters were leaving, and that he only had a few more days at home before he also left to school (it’s his first year away from home). So let’s just say that I wasn’t in my best place that “morning”. In trying...
9 months ago • 3 min read
B"H Hi Reader, I hope you had a wonderful and beautiful Tishrei. As I reflect on the past whirlwind month of Tishrei, and look forward to the less intense month of Cheshvan, I imagine sending a letter to G-d. Next year, would He mind changing things around a bit for us Jewish women? 😉 Dear G-d, After many years – generations, actually – of solid experience managing schedules – our work schedules, our children’s extracurricular activities, family activities, the Holidays, etc. – we’ve noticed...
9 months ago • 3 min read