Religious Doubt, Jewish Womanhood and Accepting the Cost of Our Choices | Shani Taragin

In this deeply honest conversation, Shani opens up about the origins of her love for Torah, a genuine religious crisis she experienced in college, and how wrestling with philosophy ultimately widened her faith. We talk about Jewish womanhood, halacha, and why Shani wants women to stop being afraid of their own bodies and their own questions. With remarkable vulnerability, Shani reflects on the cost of a life given to community, the nights she wasn't home, and the conversation with her daughter that taught her a powerful lesson about accepting the hidden costs of our most idealistic choices. Rabbanit Shani Taragin directs and teaches in Israel and worldwide. She currently serves on the advisory committee for the Mizrachi Olami Shalhevet program, as Rosh Beit Midrash for the women in Yeshiva University’s new academic program in Israel, and together with her husband, Reuven, as Educational Director for Mizrachi Olami.Join our new virtual Tanya class! We will be hosting a live, three part series on the divine soul, through Chapter 2 of the Tanya, a space to explore the text through shared study, poetry, curated illustrations, songs, and guided reflection. Link to join us here: https://humanandholy.mykajabi.com/tanyaclass* * * * * * *To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at [email protected] support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor.Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.* * * * * * *TIMESTAMPS:[00:00] — Intro [00:03] — Host's intro[00:06] — Online Tanya Class Launch[00:09] — Welcome Rabbanit Shani [00:12] — How My Love of Torah Developed[00:15] — The Merging of Study and Teaching [00:18] — Torah Changes Who I Am[00:21] — Bible Criticism in the Beit Medrash[00:24] — Have You Ever Experienced Religious Doubt?[00:27] — A Personal Faith Crisis[00:30] — What is the Foundation of Faith?[00:33] — Judaism Where We Can Question While We Study [00:36] — Not Just an Ethical System, A Relationship with God[00:39] — A Love Letter to the Torah [00:42] — Ideals Put Into Daily Practice[00:45] — Women's Torah Study[00:48] — Torah and Daily Life Are Naturally Intertwined for Jewish Women[00:51] — I Want Women to Feel More Comfortable in Their Bodies[00:54] — What I'd Like to See Changed[00:57] — The Human Dimension of My Role [01:00] — The Hidden Costs of Our Choices[01:03] — A Conversation with My Daughter About Balance in Motherhood[01:06] — Communicating the Why Behind Your Choices[01:09] — Evolving in the Balance Between Family and Public Work [01:12] — Rapid Fire [01:19] — Outro