Shows
Dear Yoetzet(3) Shana Rishona: Balancing Me Time, We Time and You TimeIn this episode, @dearyoetzet Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Rabbi Yehuda Fogel explore shana rishona and the emotional adjustments of the first year of marriage. They discuss common challenges couples face when expectations around time together and emotional presence don't align, offering thoughtful insights and practical guidance for navigating these sensitive dynamics.
2026-02-161h 08Dear Yoetzet(2) Kallah Classes: The Answer to Everything?In this episode of Dear Yoetzet, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Rachel Tuchman, LMHC discuss different styles of kallah classes as well as key things for couples to consider as they begin building their lives together.
2026-02-0150 minDear Yoetzet(1) Struggling with Negiah While DatingIn this episode, @dearyoetzet Lisa Septimus speaks with MGC co-director and fellow Yoetzet Halacha, Karen Hochhauser, who brings years of experience mentoring young couples throughout the dating stage. Together, they explore how to support couples navigating the challenges of keeping the halachot of negiah, and the shame, confusion, guilt, or denial that can arise along the way. To reach Karen-- karen@afnishmat.org
2025-11-2456 minDear Yoetzet(11) In Conversation with Rabbanit Chana HenkinIn this special episode, @dearyoetzet Lisa Septimus interviews Rabbanit Chana Henkin, Founder and Chancellor of Nishmat. Together, they go behind the scenes to explore Rabbanit Henkin's remarkable vision and her journey alongside her ezer k'negdo, Rav Yehuda Henkin zt"l, bringing this vision to reality and leaving an indelible impact on Klal Yisrael. To order Rav Henkin's book Responsa on Contemporary Women's Issues (referenced in the episode) go to https://ktav.com/products/responsa-on-contemporary-jewish-women-s-issues-1?_pos=2&_sid=cadc118a3&_ss=r or https://a.co/d/bov7hh6
2025-10-191h 05Dear Yoetzet(10) Love, Loss, and New Beginnings: Halacha and the Journey to a Second MarriageIn this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus speaks with Malkie Gordon Hirsch Magence about her personal journey through the sudden loss of her first husband and her subsequent second marriage. Together, they explore the unique challenges and halachic questions surrounding second marriages and weddings, as well as the emotional realities for both the couple and their children. With honesty and sensitivity, Malkie reflects on grief, resilience, and the complexity of creating a new chapter while honoring the past. This conversation offers halachic insight, emotional wisdom, and a message of hope for anyone navigating life after loss.
2025-08-2152 minDear Yoetzet(9) Perfectionism, Anxiety, OCD and MikvehIn this episode Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews Dr. Regine Galanti, clinical psychologist and founder of LI Behavioral Psychology. They discuss women who experience anxiety or OCD around Niddah observance and mikveh preparation and how it can be best addressed in therapy and with halachic guidance.
2025-07-2834 minDear Yoetzet(8) Two Ships Passing in the Night: When Spouses Drift ApartIn this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews renowned clinical and sex therapist Dr. Shy Krug. Together they address how couples can navigate rebuilding their relationship when they feel they have drifted apart and are leading parallel lives without much connection.
2025-05-0452 minDear Yoetzet(7) I Feel Like I've Exhausted All the Birth Control OptionsIn this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews her own teacher, Nishmat Miriam Glaubach Center Senior Lecturer, Rabbi Gedalyah Berger. Together they discuss different halachic issues with different types of birth control as well as how to approach a situation in which you feel like you've exhausted all the options.
2025-02-1755 minDear Yoetzet(6) Mikveh After Pregnancy LossIn this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and guest Dr. Aimee Baron discuss the challenges of pregnancy loss, including how that impacts going to the Mikveh. In their conversation, they emphasize that if you are experiencing this, you are not alone and they share some tips for approaching this challenge.
2025-01-2638 minDear Yoetzet(5) Maintaining Intimacy while Juggling Life's ResponsibilitiesIn this episode Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and Shoshannah Olshin discuss what we can do to keep the spark alive in our marriages and intimate lives when we feel pulled in many directions including raising children, careers, and household responsibilities.
2025-01-0538 minDear Yoetzet(4) Bleeding During the First Trimester of PregnancyIn this episode of Dear Yoetzet, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews OBGYN Dr. Elana Kastner to discuss some of the common causes of bleeding during early pregnancy and what the halachic and medical implications are of different diagnoses.
2024-11-2323 minDear Yoetzet(3) Did I Just Make a Huge Mistake?So many of us are taught that adjusting to marriage takes time and effort. Is it normal to worry that you made a big mistake? Is it common to think about divorce during the first year of marriage? Have you ever had those thoughts and worried that something is wrong? In this episode Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews therapist Elisheva Liss, LMFT to discuss these questions and troubleshoot common issues that come up in early marriage. No matter what your age or stage, you will find value in this episode as Lisa and Elisheva tackle issues that are important i...
2024-09-2950 minDear Yoetzet(2) Anxiety Surrounding Consummating the MarriageSometimes the halachot regarding beginning a sexual relationship might feel difficult emotionally. How do we work to enable the halachot to work in tandem with how a particular couple feels as they begin their sexual relationship? How do we handle situations where things feel at odds? In this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews therapist Talli Rosenbaum and together they address these questions.
2024-09-0848 minDear Yoetzet(1) What Do I Do if the Guy I'm Dating Watches Pornography?What happens if you discover the guy you are dating has watched, or currently watches, pornography? Are there red flags- when can it be worked on, and are there times where you might need to break it off? In this episode of Dear Yoetzet, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews Dr. Binyamin Tepfer on this challenging issue, more prevalent in our community than we might want to think.
2024-08-1844 minDear Yoetzet(Bonus Episode) Mikveh on Seder Night: Challenges and ChoicesIn this episode Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews Yoetzet Halacha Yaffa Setton. Together they explore the possibilities of how to handle mikveh on Seder night from a halachic perspective and share some practical advice as well.
2024-04-1531 minDear Yoetzet(11) Everything You Wanted to Know about Menopause and Halacha Peri-menopause and menopause can be confusing stages of the life cycle, and they don't always get too much airtime or attention. In this episode of Dear Yoetzet, in which Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews menopause expert Dr. Avigayil Rapp, you will certainly learn something new about menopause and about how Taharat Hamishpacha observance interplays with the changes women experience during this stage.
2024-03-1740 minDear Yoetzet(10) Clean Enough? Exploring the Necessity of Bathing in Mikveh PreparationIn traditional Kallah classes, it is often emphasized that bathing is a crucial part of preparing for the Mikveh. However, certain situations, such as the unavailability of a bath or external circumstances like the Covid pandemic and specific conditions in Israel, can make bathing at the Mikveh challenging or unsafe. These scenarios raise important questions about the essential nature of the pre-Mikveh bath. In this episode, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus, alongside Rebbetzin Abby Lerner, veteran kallah teacher and educator, delve into the halakhic aspects of this issue. They also discuss women's personal experiences and the most effective teaching practices...
2024-01-1530 minDear Yoetzet(9) When Spouses Aren't on the Same PageWe know that while right now, we as a nation are very focused on the war in Israel, individuals and couples are still experiencing normal struggles of life, sometimes even exacerbated by the current situation. In that light, we share this episode, in which Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus interviews Rabbi Yosef Blau, discussing some very real challenges that couples may experience in navigating their relationship with each other as each spouse navigates his or her own relationship with Taharat Hamishpacha and mikveh.
2023-12-0756 minDear Yoetzet(8) Wartime Questions As the war in Israel rages on, questions Yoatzot are receiving range from the relatively mundane and typical niddah questions to extremely weighty ones. But, even when answering the seemingly more mundane and typical questions, there is so much beneath the surface. Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus as she interviews Yoetzet Halacha Michal Roness, who answers questions on Nishmat's Golda Koschitzky Halachic Hotline, about what women's questions during this time reflect about their experiences during war.
2023-11-1339 minDear Yoetzet(7) Do I NEED to be Niddah? Have you wondered if it's ok from a halachic perspective to skip your period using hormonal IUDs or OCPs? What about a hashkafic perspective? What if you experience light staining every month, but don't get a full period—does that put you into niddah? Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus as she and guest Rabbi Assaf Bednarsh, Rosh Yeshiva at RIETS and teacher of Yoatzot Halacha in Israel, discuss these questions and more.
2023-09-0352 minDear Yoetzet(6) A Touchy Subject: Talking to our Kids about NegiahJoin Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus as she and guest Yoetzet Halacha Shayna Goldberg discuss navigating complicated parenting issues and conversations, particularly around intimate touch and relationships.
2023-07-3051 minDear Yoetzet(5) Ovulation before Mikveh: How do I know and What do I do?It can be stressful when you're trying to conceive and you think you may be ovulating before mikvah. But, one thing that can definitely help is being knowledgeable and empowered to turn to the right people with the right questions. Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus in conversation with guest Dr. Elissa Hellman, of The Confident Kallah, about how to know if and when you're ovulating, and what and medical questions to ask as well as what halachic questions to explore if you do suspect you are ovulating before getting to the mikveh.
2023-07-0444 minDear Yoetzet(4) Navigating your Childbirth Concerns You may know that Halacha requires that a couple refrain from any physical relationship once a woman becomes teme'ah during childbirth. For some, this is difficult to navigate. Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus in conversation with guest Chanie Fingerer, RN, @yoledetacademy, about exactly when and how these halachot apply and about how to receive the support you need during labor and delivery.
2023-05-0843 minDear Yoetzet(3) Consummating the Marriage: Common and Less Common ScenariosYou may know that a couple has to separate after consummating their marriage whether the woman bleeds or not. But, did you know that sometimes, there could be questions after the second time? Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus in conversation with guest Yoetzet Halacha Nechama Price about navigating these early marriage questions, as well as for a review of the universally applicable laws of staining.
2023-03-2741 minDear Yoetzet(2) Sephardi-Ashkenazi Shidduch: Navigating Creating a Home TogetherWhat are the challenges when two people of different backgrounds get married? Should they integrate halachic practice and customs from both of their communities into the home you build together? What does halacha have to say about this? How can you navigate discussing this with each other with respect and admiration? Our letter writer asks these questions and more. Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus in conversation with guest Rabbi Joseph Dweck about differences in minhagim between Sephardim and Ashkenazim, whose minhagim should be followed when there's an "intermarriage" and how to approach talking about these issues in your own r...
2023-02-2736 minDear Yoetzet(1) Experiencing Chemistry Without Physical Touch: Dating Advice for a Shomer Negiah CoupleHow do you know when you're with the right person? How important are attraction and physical chemistry, and how do you measure them in a relationship without touch? What can we learn from Torah's rules around Niddah and Negiah? And who can we trust as we figure this all out? Our letter writer asks all of these and other important questions. Join Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and her guest, Rachel Hercman, LCSW for a conversation about navigating dating in the religious community, learning to trust ourselves, and giving advice.
2023-02-0852 minDear YoetzetTRAILER- Welcome to Dear YoetzetComplex people deserve multi-faceted answers. In each episode of Dear Yoetzet, Yoetzet Halacha Lisa Septimus and her expert guests address a complicated question in the areas of women's reproductive health and halacha. They approach it from halachic, social, psychological, medical and spiritual perspectives, in order to provide answers that are deeply rooted in Jewish law, grounded in medical knowledge, and sensitive to the specific needs of the individual asking the question.
2023-01-2405 min
America's Top RebbetzinsRebbetzin Lisa Septimus--Jewish Women in Leadership/Bringing Women Back to ShulRebbetzin Lisa Septimus is the Yoetzet Halacha of the Five Towns. She is also the Rebbetzin of Young Israel of North Woodmere, and a Judaic Studies Teacher at North Shore Hebrew Academy High School in Great Neck, New York. She talks about the responsibilities of a Yoetzet Halacha, and how having a woman in this position is helpful for other women in the community. Rebbetzin Lisa also talks about having women in various leadership positions within the shul and the community. She also discusses various ways to make women feel more comfortable coming to shul and community events. Lastly...
2022-03-1041 min
Soul Sessions with KKYOATZOT HALACHA: REIMAGINING MIKVAH EXPERIENCEWhen it comes to being “niddah” or going to the mikveh, there are endless questions. Many of us don’t feel comfortable asking a rabbi these questions which directly relate to our bodies because it is uncomfortable or too intimate. Some of us might also feel like a rabbi can’t relate to what we’re even experiencing. Well that’s where a Yoetzet Halacha comes in…
Meet my friend Lisa Septimus @5townsyoetzet. Lisa is a Yoetzet Halacha otherwise known as a Female Halachic consultant. In episode 58, Lisa talks to me about why there is a need for Yoatzot especially in todays day...
2022-03-081h 05
Identity/Crisis#12: What Comes Next for Denominational Judaism?A conversation between Rabbi Rick Jacobs (Union for Reform Judaism), Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal (Rabbinical Assembly / United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism), and Yehuda Kurtzer (Shalom Hartman Institute).
Register now for "The Revelation Will Be Digitized" on May 27, a virtual conversation about the future of online Jewish education. Joshua Ladon, Hartman’s Director of West Coast Education, will host Miriam Heller-Stern (HUC-JIR), Daniel Septimus (Sefaria), and Lisa Colton (Darim Online) to explore the questions that emerge for Jewish education in an era of COVID and Zoom. Register at https://updates.hartman.org.il/shavuot-2020.php
2020-05-2151 min
Jew in the City SpeaksEpisode 108: Allison Josephs interviews Rebbetzin Lisa Septimus, Yoetzet Halacha of the Five Towns and Yoetzet Halacha of Great Neck Synagogue
2018-02-0100 min