The Moment that Stuck | Shternie Rosenfeld: How Gratitude Got Me Through My Divorce

Human & Holy is on a season break for the rest of the summer! During this time, we're airing your favorite moments from the past few seasons. In this excerpt, Shternie describes the way she moves through the world: not with a basket she guards, protecting what's "owed" to her, but with an empty one, open-handed, saying thank you every time something lands in it. Shternie Rosenfeld went through what she calls her own tsunami: a devastating divorce that cracked her open completely. In this conversation, she shares what actually got her through: a relationship with Hashem that is raw, honest, and full of open gratitude. We talk about the difference between feeling entitled to goodness and feeling worthy of it and about how gratitude isn't whitewashing our pain, but allowing it to live in the same body that is screaming, grieving, and being honest with G-d. * * * * * * * Shternie Rosenfeld has spent more than 25 years in Jewish education and community leadership, teaching everyone from preschoolers to seniors. She spent 15 years as director of the Chabad Fox Chapel Jewish Center, building its Hebrew School, summer camp, and adult education programs from the ground up. She went on to found The Jewish Spark, a nonprofit running weekly Kabbalah classes and community Shabbat and holiday programming, and now serves as Program Director of the Yonah Foundation, where she supports 38 community centers worldwide and empowers women to lead Torah classes globally. She has also taught at Yeshiva Schools, Hillel Academy, and Tzohar Seminary. Find out more at shternie.com To inquire about sponsorship & advertising opportunities, please email us at info@humanandholy.com To support our work, visit humanandholy.com/sponsor. Find us on Instagram @humanandholy & subscribe to our channel to stay up to date on all our upcoming conversations ✨ Human & Holy podcast is available on all podcast streaming platforms. New episodes every Sunday & Wednesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. * * * * * * * 00:00 — What got her through divorce 02:16 — Talking to Hashem like a best friend 03:55 — A real relationship, not a performed one 05:02 — Seeing kindness as Hashem's hand 05:40 — The basket metaphor 10:36 — Entitlement vs. worthiness 11:41 — What to do when you feel shortchanged 13:54 — Gratitude in the tiny things 15:08 — Modeh Ani as the daily reset 16:40 — The Torah source on what is owed to us 18:29 — Is gratitude ever dishonest? 19:28 — "There's room for both" 20:40 — Day by day 22:41 — Marriage as a mirror for Hashem 23:30 — Outro