Finding Light in Loss with Rabba Yaffa Epstein

Judaism gives us the tools to hold both joy and pain simultaneously. Few understand this better than Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project’s Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, who tragically lost her nephew, Yakir Hexter z”l, while fighting in Gaza one year ago.  

Yakir was much more than a soldier—he was a brilliant Torah student, a talented artist, an athlete, and a bartender with his own signature cocktail. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabba Yaffa shares Torah in Yakir’s memory, drawing wisdom from Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot and from Yakir himself, emphasizing the responsibility we all have as spectators to step in and make a difference. 

Rabba Yaffa juxtaposes her grief with welcoming a beautiful baby girl named in Yakir’s honor within the same week, reminding us that we can find light and inspiration even in the darkest of times. 

This episode was produced by Dina Nusnbaum and Miranda Lapides. The show’s executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. 

This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. 

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