Rabbi Ayala Deckel shares her remarkable journey of spiritual transformation and her current role as a spiritual leader during one of Israel's most challenging times. From her Orthodox upbringing to becoming a progressive rabbi, her story intersects with some of the most pressing issues facing Israeli society today.

Key Topics Discussed

Personal Journey

• Growing up in an Orthodox Jewish home
• Childhood memories of accompanying her father to siyum celebrations marking the completion of Talmud tractates
• The complexity of her marriage: an Orthodox woman married to an initially unorthodox man who later became observant
• Her own path away from strict halachic observance and the call to become a rabbi
• Finding her unique rabbinic and spiritual mission

Motherhood During War

• The challenges of raising children while fathers are serving in the military
• Helping children process the loss of their classmate's father in the war
• Strategies for discussing war and loss with children at their developmental level
• Building resilience and emotional maturity in young people during crisis

Leadership at Hostage Square

• Her emergence as the de facto rabbi of Kikar Hahatufim (Hostage Square) in Tel Aviv
• The role of prayer and ritual in supporting families of hostages
• Creating and maintaining community during prolonged crisis
• The importance of spiritual leadership in times of national trauma

Show Notes

This episode explores themes of spiritual evolution, communal responsibility, and finding meaning during times of crisis. Rabbi Deckel's personal journey from Orthodox Judaism to progressive rabbinical leadership provides a unique lens through which to examine contemporary Jewish identity and the role of religious leadership during national crisis.

Her work at Hostage Square demonstrates how traditional Jewish practices can be adapted to meet the urgent spiritual needs of a community in crisis, while her approach to parenting during wartime offers valuable insights for families facing similar challenges.

This Podcast was produced and edited by thepodwaves.com