Join us on the None of Your Business podcast as we delve into an engaging conversation with Rabbi Aaron Spivak, an author, former elementary school teacher, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. In this first part of a two-part series, Rabbi Spivak recounts his transition from being a fifth-grade Rebbe to becoming a therapist. The discussion navigates the complexities of Jewish education, personal values, mental health, and the educational challenges within Hasidic and ultra-Orthodox communities. Key topics include guilt, self-worth, the balance of religious and secular studies, and the necessity of modern educational approaches.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:36 Getting to Know Rabbi Spivak

01:10 Rabbi Spivak's Teaching Journey

03:46 Transitioning from Teaching to Therapy

06:11 Challenges in the Education System

07:57 Career Guidance for Rabbaim

15:12 Ethical Dilemmas in Career Transitions

30:52 Personal Reflections and Jewish Guilt

32:29 Understanding Jewish Guilt

33:02 Therapeutic Approaches to Guilt

34:14 The Impact of Guilt on Daily Life

37:04 Creating a Guilt-Free Environment

39:42 Personal Reflections on Guilt

43:05 The Role of Therapy in Overcoming Guilt

55:23 Educational Challenges in Orthodox Communities

01:07:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions