In this powerful episode, Bill sits down with Rabbi Nissimi Naim Naor—a unique figure who serves as rabbi, chef, healer, and officer in the IDF reserves. Their conversation explores the intersections of faith, food, trauma, and community healing in Israel.

Rabbi Nissimi Naim Naor uses cooking as a form of therapy and connection. His life's work focuses on trauma recovery and emotional wellness, in military reserves and as a civilian rabbi.

A Personal Journey of Faith
Beginning with his Tel Aviv roots through building a multidimensional rabbinate in Jerusalem, and in Jewish communities in North America, Rabbi Nissimmi shares how life’s challenges—including his wife’s illness and the COVID-19 crisis—deepened his understanding of faith, healing, and purpose.

Redefining Rabbinical Leadership
Breaking from traditional expectations, Rabbi Nissimmi integrates trauma care, emotional support, and community building into his work—both in and beyond the synagogue.

Healing Through Food and Media
We discuss his Channel 11 program where cooking becomes a tool for processing grief and restoring connection, revealing how nourishment can be spiritual and therapeutic.

Service and Sacrifice in Uniform
Rabbi Nissimmi reflects on his role as a casualty notification officer in the IDF, sharing the emotional and spiritual weight of delivering news of loss—and the sacred duty embedded in that role.

Parenting and Resilience Amid Crisis
Raising children in times of national trauma, Rabbi Nissimmi speaks to the balance between protecting innocence and preparing for harsh realities—anchored in hope and faith.

The Power of Community
We reflect on how communal bonds enable healing, foster resilience, and help individuals navigate collective trauma through shared experience and sacred presence.

To watch videos of Rabbi Nissimmi's healing through cooking with bereaved families on the Kan Channel 11 network:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4K4gIA0v0s

FOLLOW THE HONEY FOUNDATION:

Website: https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.honeyfoundation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyfoundationforisrael

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8BZXaMlyuM&list=PLBvWXVThJky8dAsjPV6TwHsj606qBfkal

In this powerful and timely episode, Bill is joined by the renowned Israeli rabbi and community leader, Rav Binyamin Tzvi (Benny) Lau, for a deeply personal conversation about community, faith, and resilience in challenging times. Together, they explore the transformative power of Torah study, the essential role of community in healing from trauma, and how to maintain hope during some of the most difficult periods in Jewish history.

About Our Guest

Rav Benny Lau is a prominent Israeli rabbi, community leader, activist, author, and public speaker based in Jerusalem. Rav Lau has dedicated his life to Jewish education, community building, and social activism.

Episode Highlights

History and Heritage

Rav Benny's story begins with his grandfather's legacy in Poland - who endowed in the family the unequivocal value that "Eretz Yisrael is our home".

The Ramban Story

Rav Lau shares the fascinating story of how he became the rabbi of the Ramban Synagogue and chronicles the remarkable growth of this Jerusalem community over his 20-year tenure there.

Formative Life Stories

Both Bill and Rav Benny open up about pivotal moments that shaped their lives and defined their respective missions, offering listeners intimate glimpses into their religious journeys.

The Inception of 929

They discuss the establishment of the famous and wildly successful 929 project, which brings together thousands of Israelis and people worldwide to study one chapter of the Bible each day, creating a global community of Torah learners.

Community as a Healing Force

They engage in profound discussion on the vital role and importance of community, especially in the aftermath of October 7, 2023 , and how collective support becomes essential for healing from trauma and returning to healthy living.

Israeli Identity and Jewish Community

Rav Lau and Bill delve into a fundamental question facing modern Israeli Jews: Is being Israeli, speaking Hebrew, and living by the Jewish calendar sufficient, or do we still need intentional community while living in Israel?

Staying Optimistic in Dark Times

Rabbi Benny shares his thoughtful perspectives on how to maintain optimism and hope during this particularly painful period for the Jewish people and the world at large, offering wisdom for navigating collective trauma and uncertainty.

About 929: Tanach B'Yachad

929 is Rav Lau's groundbreaking initiative that has revolutionized Torah study by encouraging people worldwide to read the same chapter of the Tanach (Hebrew Bible) each day. This innovative program has created an unprecedented global community of learners, connecting thousands in shared daily Torah study and fostering deep connections across geographic and cultural boundaries.

To learn more about 929: https://www.929.org.il/lang/en/today

FOLLOW THE HONEY FOUNDATION:

Website: https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.honeyfoundation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyfoundationforisrael

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehoneyfoundationforisrae7795

To be part of creating an Israeli society that is more open, more connected and more reflective of our Jewish values, click here to donate to the Honey Foundation for Israel https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/give/

This episode was produced and edited by thepodwaves.com

Rabba Keren Apfelbaum Riff

In this episode of Honey from the Rock, we speak with Rabba Keren Apfelbaum Riff, a Honey Fellow whose work centers on building spaces where Jewish identity can be explored, questioned, and reimagined. Drawing from her own journey—from a childhood marked by silence around Judaism to becoming a leader in Israeli spiritual life—Rabba Keren shares what it means to create community without labels, hold space for complexity, and trust that the conversation itself can be sacred.

Highlights from this episode include:

• Her childhood experience growing up in a household where Judaism was not openly discussed, yet feeling a strong inner connection to her heritage.
• A heartfelt story about her maternal grandfather, who humorously claimed to be the messiah, and the profound influence he had on her—despite being secular yet deeply spiritual.
• The path that led her to become a leader in the Jewish community and dedicate her life to Jewish learning.
• Her reflections on her Jewish identity during war and what it taught her about resilience and faith.
• Her leadership position in Mabua, an Israeli Beit Midrash, and the vital role it plays in her life and in fostering Jewish engagement outside traditional religious settings.
• The fundamental role of community, especially during current times of conflict and war, and how it serves as an antidote to cynicism.
• Her insights on the shifts in Jewish life and tradition as people move to Israel.
• Her work in establishing a liberal house of prayer with over 300 weekly attendees.
• Her efforts to bring Jewish education—secular and inclusive—to secular schools.

Join us as we delve into the transformative power of community, faith, and education in shaping Jewish life today.

To Follow Rabba Keren and Mabua:

https://www.facebook.com/mabua.bmi

https://www.facebook.com/keren.apfelbaum/

FOLLOW THE HONEY FOUNDATION:

Website: https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.honeyfoundation/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyfoundationforisrael

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thehoneyfoundationforisrae7795

To be part of creating an Israeli society that is more open, more connected and more reflective of our Jewish values, click here to donate to the Honey Foundation for Israel https://honeyfoundationforisrael.org/give/

This episode was produced and edited by thepodwaves.com.