Judaism with Altitude

Episode 33: Making It Relevant: Timeless Torah Wisdom for Our Ever-Changing World with Katia Bolotin

Discover how Torah wisdom can guide us through life's challenges with resilience, purpose, and emotional awareness. In this episode, Katia Bolotin, pianist, composer, song-writer, lecturer, and most recently, author of Making It Relevant shares her inspiring journey from a traditional upbringing to embracing Torah Judaism, and how she leverages her background as a musician to connect deeply with spiritual and personal growth. Her insights offer practical tools to live intentionally in today's fast-paced world.Main Topics: * The transformative power of Jewish inspiration and sustaining momentum * Integrating Torah principles with personal and professional life as an artist * Balancing the paradox of being a singer with the Torah concept of Kol Isha * The concept of "becoming" versus "being" and ongoing growth through Torah * Overcoming challenges with anti-Semitism and strengthening Jewish identity * Applying emotional resonance and relevance to Torah study * The significance of purpose over fleeting pleasure in life * Insights into Jewish life and growth from her new book, Making It Relevant * Making It Relevant: Timeless Torah Wisdom for an Ever-Changing World [https://www.katia-bolotin.com/] * Buy on Amazon Here [https://www.amazon.com/Making-Relevant-Timeless-Torah-wisdom/dp/B0FRSWS2B2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MMROLWY3RT4T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KzBNZMy1gliLfN2qmxjCTw.zqJRjwJIkKUib_EgvxO7wbc44UjzS5jOMk6alNevU1c&dib_tag=se&keywords=making+it+relevant+katia+bolotin&qid=1781036488&sprefix=making+it+relevant+katia+bolotin%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1] * Mosaica Press [https://mosaicapress.com/] * Chabad.org [https://www.chabad.org/] * Aish.com [https://www.aish.com/] Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to Katia Bolotin and her multifaceted background 02:04 - The weekly Parsha and the importance of sustaining inspiration 03:34 - The story of her early Jewish education and pivotal moments 04:48 - Impact of Torah learning during her conservatory years 06:26 - The process of embracing Torah and overcoming difficulty 07:23 - Trusting oneself and the role of intuition in spiritual growth 08:41 - The analogy between piano practice limitations and Torah observance 09:15 - The significance of Naase Venishma and experiential learning 10:32 - Balancing a career in music with Shabbat and Torah observance 11:20 - Using her voice to empower Jewish women and her transition to Kolisha 13:00 - The shock of Kolisha and her commitment to Torah halacha 14:09 - Founding One Voice and the vibrant Jewish women's music scene in Israel 15:52 - Teaching the beauty and intimacy of singing in Torah context 17:03 - How she accepted her initial spiritual restrictions as a divine plan 18:21 - The metaphor of the Kohen with a disability serving others 19:02 - Recognizing oneself as created according to God's will 20:31 - The importance of transforming impulses through Torah and self-awareness 22:07 - The diversity of musical interpretation and internal spiritual uniqueness 23:44 - The meaning behind the detailed offerings of the 12 princes 24:33 - Her book Making It Relevant—timeless lessons for modern life 26:23 - The relevance of Torah character traits in today's tech-driven society 27:42 - The concept of human becomings and continuous growth 28:50 - How Torah promotes emotional resonance and life relevance 30:34 - From dreams to reality: writing her book through divine support 32:34 - The role of her husband in her journey and his encouragement 33:36 - The simplicity and authenticity of her writing process 35:02 - A deep dive into Yosef's story—transforming victimhood into purpose 36:36 - Changing life's story by shifting perspective and mindset 38:27 - Advice for young Jews facing anti-Semitism and strengthening identity 39:54 - The importance of connecting to Israel and spiritual reawakening 43:55 - Filling the gap in her Jewish education through consistent self-study 45:56 - The power of regular Torah learning and self-education 47:20 - Acknowledging life's struggles while pursuing purpose and happiness 48:15 - The message of moving forward, unstuck, and living with purpose 49:19 - How and where to purchase her book Making It Relevant Resources & Links :Connect with Katia Bolotin:

Parshas Behar Bechukosai: Should we Always Put on our Oxygen mask First?

Join us for our first ever podcast of a live class on Parshas Behar Bechukosai! Like and subscribe for more, or come join us for class on Wednesday nights!

Episode 32: Money With Meaning: Financial Planning, Giving, and Jewish Values with Sydney Levy

How should we think about money, financial planning, and charitable giving? Financial advisor Sydney Levy joins Sara and Danny to discuss emergency funds, debt, retirement planning, and how Jewish values can guide smarter, more meaningful financial decisions. In this episode, Danny Wolfe sits down with Sydney Levy, a financial advisor and Head of Wealth Planning, to explore how money, meaning, and Jewish wisdom intersect. They discuss practical financial planning basics — including emergency funds, managing debt, retirement investing, and savings strategies — alongside the psychology of money and the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal and Jewish values. The conversation dives deeply into charitable giving (tzedakah), including how to give consistently, the tax benefits of donating, and why small, regular contributions can create powerful ripple effects. Sara, Danny and Sydney also reflect on prioritizing values over financial efficiency, legacy planning, generational giving, and using Jewish education and community investment as tools for long-term impact. This episode is ideal for anyone looking to build a healthier relationship with money while staying true to their values. Check out her podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@syd_thefinancegal

Episode 31: The Forgiveness Experiment with Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

On this episode, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath joins us for the second time-- not to speak about matchmaking, but about the release of his recent book, The Forgiveness Experiment. We discuss the concept of forgiveness, the victim mentality and how liberating it can be to grant forgiveness to people who have hurt us. His book can be bought anywhere books are sold, including an Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 The link for the book can be found here. https://forgivenessbook.org/ Please like and subscribe and share this episode!

Judaism with (Football) and ALTitude: Broncos on the AFC Championship

The Rabbis discuss the Broncos game, Bo Nix's injury, the sad, sad state of the Buffalo Bills and their great fans, and so much more!