3 LIVE CONVERSATIONS
survival
to strength
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In the wake of October 7th, everything changed.
Our sense of safety, our understanding of Jewish identity, our place in the world—all shifted overnight.
Together, we’ll explore, process, and bring clarity to the changes around us.
- Navigating Jewish identity on campus and at work
- Processing trauma while holding on to hope
- Finding meaning amid rising hate
- Building resilience through uncertainty
Join Adiel of Israel, Melinda Strauss, Shabbos Kestenbaum, and other inspiring voices for a powerful three-part journey into what it means to be a Jew in this new reality.
More than a course—it’s an engaging, uplifting, and deeply relevant experience.
WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE.
3 LIVE CONVERSATIONS
Connect with Jews worldwide who are navigating the same questions, challenges, and opportunities in this new reality. Together, we'll discover how to transform darkness into meaningful light.
3 LIVE CONVERSATIONS
session 1:
from pain to purpose
Join Melinda Strauss and Jennifer Airley for a raw, honest conversation about resilience in the face of tragedy. Hear firsthand accounts of how they’ve channeled the pain of October 7th into purpose, meaning, and unexpected strength.
Wednesday, May 21 | 8:00 PM ET
session 2:
Understanding and Outliving Antisemitism
Dive deep with historian Ken Spiro and Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack the world’s oldest hatred. Where does such unbridled animosity come from, and how can understanding its roots help us respond with wisdom rather than fear? Discover how this ancient hatred can paradoxically become a catalyst for deeper Jewish identity.
Wednesday, May 28 | 8:00 PM ET
session 3:
OUR NEW REALITY: JEWISH & PROUD
Turn insights into action with Adiel of Israel as he moderates a dynamic panel featuring rising Jewish voices Ilan Snilnekov and Elaine Chaya. These student leaders and activists share practical strategies for living with purpose, advocating effectively, and creating light in your campus, community, and beyond.
Wednesday, June 5 | 8:00 PM ET
meet your guides.
Melinda Strauss (@therealmelindastrauss) is a New York-based Jewish content creator and influencer with over 1.3 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. She is celebrated for her engaging and educational content, which explores Orthodox Judaism, kosher recipes, Jewish history, Antisemitism and Zionism, while sharing insights into her everyday life. Since October 7th, she has expanded her role as advocate and activist for Israel, and is running on the Aish Ha’am slate. Born and raised in Seattle, WA, Melinda has been blogging and sharing her love of cooking since 2011. Her debut cookbook is set to release in Fall 2025.
Jen Airley is a motivational speaker, Exercise Physiologist, and personal trainer. On November 18, 2023, Jen lost her oldest son Binyomin when he was killed in battle in Gaza. Since then Jen has been an inspiration to Jewish communities all over the world, speaking openly from the heart with extraordinary strength and faith.
Ken Spiro is a historian, rabbi, and dynamic speaker who lectures around the world on Jewish history and values. A graduate of Vassar College, he pursued postgraduate studies at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow and holds a master’s degree in history from Norwich University. He lives in Israel with his family, where he works as a licensed tour guide and teaches at the Aish HaTorah College of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. His previous works include the acclaimed WorldPerfect: The Jewish Impact on Civilization and Crash Course in Jewish History: From Abraham to Modern Israel.
Shabbos Kestenbaum is an American Jewish activist and graduate of Harvard Divinity School. He is known for leading a lawsuit against Harvard University, filed in January 2024, which alleges that the university failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
Adiel Cohen is an Israeli-Jewish activist, content creator, and IDF reserve commander. A student of Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies at Tel Aviv University, he served in the artillery corps during the war.
Known on TikTok and Instagram as @adielofisrael, Adiel shares his personal journey following October 7, including footage from his reserve service. His content highlights the resilience of IDF soldiers and the unity of Israeli communities in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Ilan Sinelnikov is the Founder and President of the International Students Supporting Israel movement, a speaker, blogger, and a coach on the topics of Israel, campus advocacy, and grassroots activism.
Born as a first generation Israeli to a family that immigrated to Israel from Ukraine, Ilan and his family came to the United States when he was in high school. While in college, Ilan founded Students Supporting Israel – SSI, a pro Israel grassroots movement with the mission of being a clear and confident pro-Israel voice on college campuses, and to support students in grassroots pro-Israel advocacy. In the past 11 years under Ilan’s leadership, the SSI movement has grown to nearly 200 college campuses and universities in the United States, Canada and Argentina with over 1300 active members and 700 alumni.
As an Iranian Jew who took a career off the beaten path, Elaine Chaya has been in the influencing world for the past 11 years. Originally a fashion blogger, Elaine has since shifted gears to speak up about Judaism, mental health and education. She uses her Iranian Jewish heritage as a pillar in a lot of her messaging and has been fighting antisemitism across her social media platforms and on campus.
Find Your Community.
Connect with a global network of young Jews navigating the same questions about identity, purpose, and resilience.
Learn From Those Who've Been There .
Gain insights directly from October 7th survivors and respected Jewish thinkers who are transforming trauma into meaning.
Practical Tools, Not Just Theory.
Walk away with actionable strategies for strengthening your Jewish identity, responding to antisemitism, and creating positive change.
Convenient and Accessible .
Join from anywhere—all you need is an internet connection and a desire to grow.
Resilience in the Face of Adversity.
Drawing inspiration from survivors of October 7th and others, we’ll examine how to rise above personal and collective challenges with strength, faith, and purpose.
Antisemitism – More than just Hate .
Learn about the origins of the world’s oldest hatred and understand the deep roots behind antisemitism. Where does such unbridled hatred come from, and can it be harnessed into a force for good?
Transforming Pain into Power .
Practical tools and insights from Jewish students to bring positivity, clarity, and light into your everyday routine, relationships, and work.
ready to join
this JOURNEY?
Limited spaces available to ensure meaningful connection.