Listen "Rabbi Deren: Four Here, Four in Heaven"
Episode Synopsis
In the season finale, host Amanda Spiro speaks with Rabbi Yisrael Deren, who together with his wife Vivy has faced the unimaginable — the loss of four of their eight children. Instead of retreating into grief, they chose to transform their pain into purpose, becoming a source of strength and comfort for others walking through darkness. Rabbi Deren shares deeply personal stories, from turning a hospital room into a place of joy to hearing his child cry out, “This golus stinks.” With honesty and faith, he reflects on how each loss reshaped their lives, the blessings that sustained them, and the small “drop of faith” that carried them forward.This is not only a story about grief, but about resilience, community, and the eternal bond between parent and child. Rabbi Deren offers hard-won wisdom on finding G-d in life’s darkest corners, transforming loneliness into connection, and discovering meaning even in the depths of pain. As he movingly says, “We have eight children, four here and four in heaven. And they’re still shining.”
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About Hand in Hand
06/08/2025
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