I thought religion might divide us. Instead, it shaped everything we became.This episode dives deep into love, faith, and identity — following a couple who built a Jewish family that didn’t fit the mold. It’s a story about the tension between devotion and tradition, how community can both challenge and embrace, and what it really takes to belong. You’ll hear how one family redefined what “Jewish continuity” looks like in today’s world — and what we can all learn about courage, compassion, and connection from their journey.Key Takeaways

1. Real inclusion in faith communities requires courage, conversation, and empathy — not conformity.
2. Love and shared values can be stronger than cultural or religious barriers when grounded in honesty.
3. The journey to belonging isn’t about labels — it’s about creating space where everyone feels at home.

Timestamps

[00:00] Creating a Vibrant Jewish Community

Peter opens with the idea of building a diverse and welcoming Jewish community.

[01:11] Episode Intro: Orthodox Conversion and Context

Adam introduces the topic and Project Ruth, framing the conversation in a post–October 7th world.

[02:15] Introducing Peter Bregman and His Family Story

Peter shares his Sephardic background, his mother’s Holocaust experience, and his spiritual roots.

[07:47] Meeting Eleanor: Love Across Faiths

Peter describes meeting Eleanor at Princeton and their early conversations about religion.

[12:09] Family Pressure and Cultural Expectations

The moment when Peter discusses family disapproval, his mother’s Holocaust-driven convictions, and the tension it caused.

[18:46] Marriage Despite Resistance

Peter explains how they decided to marry, moved the wedding up, and faced family backlash.

[24:58] Conversion Challenges and Community Pushback

Peter recounts struggles convincing Orthodox rabbis to convert their children and the theological reasoning behind resistance.

[33:45] Practicing Judaism Together

A discussion about raising Jewish children, community response, and finding belonging through schools and Chabad.

[46:41] Eleanor’s Conversion After October 7th

Peter reflects on how the war, identity, and community shaped Eleanor’s decision to convert and his emotional response.

[55:58] Final Reflections on Inclusion and Belonging

Peter closes with gratitude and hope for a more open, supportive Jewish community

Links

• Peter Bregman LinkedIn
• Bregman Partners
• Project Ruth Website
• Rabbi Adam Mintz
• Meredith Berkman’s LinkedIn

What happens when your conversion is accepted in one community but rejected in another?

This episode dives into the remarkable journey of Danielle Tomson, a scholar of political communication and Jewish convert, who shares how her path to Judaism reshaped her life, identity, and spirituality. From her early encounters with Jewish friends in Pittsburgh to deep involvement at Yale and New York’s Orthodox communities, Danielle reflects on how she found her place within Jewish tradition—even navigating the complexities of undergoing two conversions.

She also explores the meaning of Yom Kippur, describing how the High Holidays evolved from feelings of guilt to a season of joy, healing, and spiritual repair. With insights ranging from sea glass metaphors to the politics of conversion recognition worldwide, Danielle offers a refreshing and deeply personal perspective that resonates with seekers, lifelong Jews, and anyone exploring faith, identity, and belonging.

Key Takeaways

• Conversion isn’t a one-time act—it’s a journey of belonging, identity, and sometimes painful politics.
• Yom Kippur shifts from guilt to joy when seen as an invitation to repair, not punishment.
• Jewish community is found at the crossroads of tradition, spirituality, and personal truth.

Timestamps:

[00:00] First Yom Kippur as a new Jew – Danielle’s emotional experience in Central Park

[02:10] Danielle introduces herself: background, studies, and first conversion story

[04:00] High school in Squirrel Hill and first Jewish friendships

[06:00] Discovering Orthodoxy, Yale experiences, and struggle to find a conversion path

[10:25] Family ancestry, Jewish connections, and stories of possible Jewish lineage

[13:09] Why Danielle converted twice and the politics of recognition

[19:40] Deep dive into halacha, learning shochet skills, and continued Jewish study

[28:01] Rethinking Yom Kippur: from guilt to joy through teshuva

[37:34] Fasting for the first time – challenges and how she prepared

[43:00] Experiences with ultra-Orthodox communities and finding beauty in diversity

Links

• Danielle Tomson
• Project Ruth Website
• Rabbi Adam Mintz
• Meredith Berkman’s LinkedIn

This is the story of how a Christian minister became Jewish—and why it felt like coming home.

In this deeply personal and moving episode, listeners are invited into the extraordinary journey of Eleanor Harrison Bregman—a Christian minister from Savannah, Georgia—whose decades-long interfaith marriage, commitment to raising Jewish children, and deep engagement with Jewish community life ultimately led her to Orthodox conversion. This is not just a story of religion, but of love, identity, and the courage to step fully into a place where the heart has long lived.

Eleanor shares how her path wound from seminary classrooms to synagogue leadership, from Christmas traditions to Shabbat tables, and how world events—including the shock of October 7th—crystallized a truth she had been living for years. Listeners will hear about the emotional complexity of interfaith family life, the quiet accumulation of spiritual shifts, and the profound sense of belonging that comes when one’s inner reality finally meets public affirmation.

Key Takeaways

• A decades-long interfaith marriage can deepen rather than dilute religious identity when both partners explore their traditions fully.
• Conversion often happens in the heart before it’s made official—and can be triggered by unexpected world events.
• Ritual, community, and family support are just as critical to spiritual transformation as personal belief.

Timestamps

[00:00] Follow your own heart in interfaith relationships

[01:58] Eleanor’s upbringing in Savannah and path to New York

[04:04] Deciding to raise Jewish children while in ministry

[07:00] Family reactions to Orthodox conversion of children

[10:34] Navigating faith and identity after children are born

[19:00] Starting “Strangers No More” for interfaith couples

[27:45] Moving from B’nai Jeshurun community life

[34:17] Windham’s role during COVID in deepening Jewish connection

[39:00] October 7th and realizing “I was Jewish from the inside out”

[44:10] Mikvah, wedding celebration, and feeling true belonging

Links

• Eleanor Harrison Bregman’s LinkedIn
• Eleanor Harrison Bregman’s Bio
• Project Ruth Website
• Rabbi Adam Mintz
• Meredith Berkman’s LinkedIn