Episode 7: Mind the Gap! From Mechitza to No Mechitza (and Everything In Between)

What happens when the physical mechitza comes down… but the mental one doesn’t?

In this deeply personal episode, Sabrina explores the emotional, spiritual, and embodied experience of moving from Orthodox spaces into egalitarian Jewish life — and everything that comes with it: excitement, grief, imposter syndrome, and eventual belonging.

This episode is for anyone who has ever stood in the middle of a Jewish space thinking:
Am I allowed to be here? Do I know enough? Is this mine too?<...

Meet Your Match-riarchs: Torah’s Original Personality Types

What if the matriarchs weren’t just biblical figures — but personality types you’re still channeling today?

In this high-energy, laugh-out-loud episode of Journey With the Jewla, Sabrina (your resident chanting coach, trope hype-woman, and matriarch energy translator) introduces the nine Match-riarchs — the original Jewish archetypes whose stories explain why you show up to Judaism the way you do.

This episode is part Torah, part personality quiz, part spiritual mirror — and fully allergic to beige Judaism.

In this episode, you’ll:

✨ Meet all 9 Match...

Mindset Tools for Women Who Want a Bigger Role in Jewish Spaces

Walk into shul, see someone leading confidently, and immediately think, “Oh, I could never do that”?
Your brain might be lying to you — and we’re calling it out lovingly but firmly.

This episode blends psychology + Jewish ritual to give you three mindset tools that shift you from “I can’t” to “I can’t… yet.”

Inside we cover:
🧠 Tool #1: The Power of “Yet” — or as we say in Hebrew, od lo. Your spiritual reboot phrase.
🔯 Tool #2: Ritual as Identity Mirror — stop seeing J...

Black Fire on White Fire: Reclaiming Your Place in Jewish Tradition

Ever felt like you’re standing in a gorgeous synagogue thinking, “This feels like mine… but also, am I allowed to be this here?”
Yeah. Same.

In this episode, we dismantle the mental mechitza, drag the Other Voice™ into the light, and reclaim your place in a tradition that has always had room for you — even if you were never shown the doorway.

We explore:
✨ Rabbi Rachel Adler’s “The Jew Who Wasn’t There” (hi, religious trauma)
✨ The REAL meaning of halakha...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Rachel — The Reluctant Leader with the Best Heart

For the helpers-who-accidentally-become-leaders.

In this episode, The Jewla dives into the Rachel archetype — the quiet powerhouse who swears she’s “just here to help” and somehow ends up organizing the whole event. Like Rachel, you lead with heart first, titles never, and empathy always. You don’t crave the spotlight; it just… drifts toward you.

You’ll hear why reluctant leaders are often the most magnetic, how patience becomes its own form of leadership, and why one brave “okay fine, I’ll do it” can change more tha...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Miriam — The Tambourine Drop Before the Mic Drop

For the joy-starters, rhythm-keepers, and spiritual hype-women.

This episode celebrates the Miriam archetype — the one who doesn’t wait for permission to bring life, music, or momentum into the room. When Miriam felt liberation in her bones, she reached for her tambourine and everyone followed. That’s your superpower too: sensing the moment and sparking joy that becomes communal courage.

You’ll learn how to lead through energy rather than authority, why joy is a legitimate leadership strategy, and how even a tiny moment of ini...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Deborah — Leading Without Apology

For the seasoned leaders ready to step into power with clarity instead of burnout.

In this episode, The Jewla explores the Deborah archetype — the prophetic, strategic, calm-in-chaos leader who knew exactly when to speak, act, and delegate. Deborah didn’t shrink. She didn’t over-explain. She led with steady compassion, confident clarity, and zero apology.

This is your moment to claim that same grounded authority. You’ll hear how to let experience become ease, why delegation is holy, and how to lead with both strength and softness without sacri...

 ✨ Episode 3: Not Just a Bunch of Gossips Behind the Mechitza

...Or as Susan Weidman Schneider names it in her chapter title, "Consequences of Women's Exclusion from Jewish Religious Obligations."

Ever been told you “don’t belong” somewhere… and then realized that voice followed you long after you left the room?

👉🏻 Welcome to the historical, socio-emotional architecture of many Jewish women's mental mechitza 🚧 💭

In this episode, I share the story of being eleven years old, curled up next to my dad in synagogue — until one day, a man told me I was “too old” and sent me to the Women...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Maḥlah

For the parent learning Judaism right alongside their b-mitzvah kid — usually while handing someone a snack.

In this episode, The Jewla dives into the Maḥlah archetype: the bold, brave spirit of a parent trying to keep up with the prayers, the paperwork, and the pubescent mood swings. Like Maḥlah — who stood before Moses and fought for her share — this archetype is all about claiming your piece of Jewish knowledge while your kid claims theirs.

You’ll learn why this stage is basically “spiritual parallel play,” how switching roles (letting your k...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Bat Sheva

For the parent learning quietly, lovingly, and with a little more wisdom than they give themselves credit for.

In this episode, The Jewla unpacks the Bat Sheva archetype — the one who has lived through complicated things, learned resilience the long way, and now pours that strength into their kid’s big Jewish moment. Like Bat Sheva, you’re navigating the messy, meaningful parts of life with grace… and maybe secretly practicing trope when no one’s home.

You’ll hear how to turn curiosity into connection, why learning one aliyah with you...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Rivka

For the parent who’s not just attending the b-mitzvah — they’re stepping onto the bimah.

In this episode, The Jewla explores the Rivka archetype: intuitive, brave, willing to trust the gut even when it defies expectations. If you’re practicing a blessing, learning to chant, or planning to lead a section, you’re channeling Rivka — the woman who watered camels and made destiny-altering decisions without waiting for permission.

You’ll get the courage pep-talk you didn’t know you needed, a doable “one-line-a-day” challenge, and the reminder that half of bimah readiness is j...

✨ Episode 2: Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Putting On (or Purchasing) My First Talit

Buying your first tallit should feel holy and cinematic… but sometimes it feels more like:
“Hi, yes, I’m still here, just trying to do a mitzvah while being mildly ignored in Jerusalem.”

In this episode, I break down the five things I wish someone had told me before I wrapped myself in a tallit for the first time — the awkwardness, the beauty, the politics, and the deeply personal magic of choosing a ritual garment that actually feels like you.

...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Leah — The Beginner (Finding Your Rhythm in Jewish Learning)

In this bonus episode, we’re diving into the Leah Archetype — the gentle beginner who’s quietly wondering, “Am I even allowed to start?”
Spoiler: Yes. Always yes.

Leah’s story reminds us that Jewish growth doesn’t have to be flashy, fluent, or Insta-ready. It starts with curiosity, showing up, and taking one tiny, brave step at a time — even if your “step” is just listening to this episode while hiding from Hebrew verbs.

You’ll learn:
✨ Why feeling behind is normal (and fixable...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Ruth — Choosing Belonging and Owning It Like You Mean It

In this bonus archetype episode of Journey with the Jewla, we dive into Ruth — the Intermediate / Personal Jewish Connection archetype. If you’re the kind of Jewish woman of any gender who knows a bracha or two, rocks a challah recipe, but still hears that tiny whisper of “Do I really belong here?”… this one’s for you.

Ruth is the archetype known for choosing your place in Jewish life — even when you feel like you’re learning the choreography as you go. She didn’t inherit belong...

🎧 Bonus Episode: Sarah — The Eye-Roll That Became a Revelation

Think you’re “too experienced” to be a beginner but definitely not trying to lead services anytime soon? Welcome to your inner Sarah — the archetype of the seasoned learner who still side-eyes every invitation to “consider leading next time!”

In this episode, we dive into:
✨ Why Sarah’s iconic “sure, Jan” laugh is actually a spiritual turning point!
✨ The exhaustion-meets-hope moment every long-time learner knows 
✨ Why it’s okay to want Jewish learning that’s entirely, selfishly, deliciously yours
✨ How to reclaim joy in learning without turning it i...

"I'm Not a Rabbi (I Just Play One on TV): Why I'm Making This Podcast"

Journey with the Jewla — Build your Jewish confidence. Strengthen heart, mind, and skill.

⭐ Episode Summary

Welcome to the very first episode of Journey with the Jewla, where we gently (and Jewishly) unpack why so many smart, capable, justice-loving Jewish women still feel like outsiders in their own tradition — and why it’s absolutely not their fault.

In this debut episode, Sabrina shares her own winding Jewish journey, explains why she’s stepping behind the mic, and shows you...