Chanie Werzberger | "She Was My Mother… But I Couldn't Call Her Mommy"

Chanie Werzberger | "She Was My Mother… But I Couldn't Call Her Mommy"

Author: Meaningful Minute July 5, 2025 Duration: 1:31:29

Chanie Werzberger's life reads like a dramatic novel, but every moment is real. In this emotional and powerful interview, Chanie shares her incredible journey: from a childhood in Argentina torn apart by her parents' separation, to a secret escape with her father to America, her entrance into the Satmar Hasidic world, and the many painful transitions she endured as a young girl without her mother.

We explore her resilience through being moved from home to home, her complicated but deep love for her father, her eventual reconnection with her estranged mother after 21 years, and the health battles she fought for her daughter, Simmy. From a child longing for love to a mother fighting for her child's life, Chanie's story is one of strength, transformation, and unshakable faith.

This interview is a testament to the human spirit, the power of choice, and the miracles that can arise even in the darkest moments.

You can purchase Chanie's book here: https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644539.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqXqdSJfA1WItrXf2PlkJzo2qePOPGggv-SJQKX8Fc6GKd5UryP  


This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:

►Blooms Kosher

Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.

https://bloomskosher.com

______________________________________

► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again!

https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp 

_______________________________________

► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka

 https://pushka.cc/meaningful 

_______________________________________

► Say Kaddish -  the Ultimate Sign of Love and Respect

For centuries, we have honored our parents and loved ones who have passed on by reciting Kaddish in their merit. Saying Kaddish serves as a great virtue and does wonders for the soul of the deceased.

https://saykaddish.com/

_______________________________________

►YIEP

Now enrolling: The YIEP online Counseling Master's program is fully CACREP-accredited and designed for frum adults seeking a meaningful and flexible career in mental health. 

Enrollment is now open for our Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's cohort, beginning this August. The program is fully online, follows the Jewish calendar, has competitive pricing, and is designed to support working adults and busy families — so you can advance your career while balancing life.

Learn more and apply now at https://theyiep.com/new/ — or call or WhatsApp me at 917-861-6707 with any questions.

_______________________________________

► Toveedo

Visit- https://toveedo.com/

Use Promo Code MM10 for 10% off!

_______________________________________

► Lalechet  
 
We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.

 https://www.lalechet.com

___________________________________________

►Rothenberg Law Firm

Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!

Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation

https://shorturl.at/JFKHH

____________________________________

► NRS Pay - Honest, clean credit card processing.

https://nrspay.com

__________________________________________________

► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp
 
https://www.townappliance.com

https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp 

______________________________________

► Faith It Till You Make It

Join Rabbi Ari Bensoussan's course on Bitachon sponsored by Censible Marketing!

Your guide to keeping your faith in today's complicated world!

www.Meaningfulminute.org/censible 

____________________________________________________

► Subscribe to our Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
 
https://apple.co/2WALuE2 

https://spoti.fi/39bNGnO

Or wherever Podcasts are available!


Editor: Sruly Saftlas


Every week, Nachi and Momo sit down for a conversation that feels more like a discovery than an interview. Their Meaningful People podcast explores the journeys of fascinating individuals from across the Jewish world, though you don't need to be Jewish to find their stories compelling. These are artists, educators, thinkers, and community builders-people whose lives are driven by purpose. Each episode delves into the personal turning points, challenges, and inspirations that shaped them, moving beyond public personas to reveal the real human experience behind them. You’ll hear conversations that are as likely to be funny and lighthearted as they are profound and reflective, offering a genuine sense of connection. This isn't about abstract ideas, but about the lived wisdom that comes from a life examined. Tune in for a weekly dose of perspective that feels both uplifting and grounding, a reminder of the diverse paths that lead to a meaningful life. From Meaningful Minute, this podcast sits at the unique intersection of spirituality, self-improvement, and education, all through the power of personal narrative.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 298

Meaningful People
Podcast Episodes
Ronnie Greenwald: The Rabbi Who Refused to Give Up on Any Jew [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:35
In this powerful episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Greenwald and later with Rabbi Chananya Greenwald, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferet in Yerushalayim (TJ), to reflect on the life, legacy,…
Reyna Simnegar: Her Family Hid Their Judaism for 500 Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:33
She grew up Catholic in Venezuela, never knowing Jews still existed, yet her family quietly lit candles, covered mirrors, and placed stones on graves. Centuries-old Jewish practices survived in her home without explanati…
Parental Alienation: When Adult Children Cut Off Their Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:48
In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, Tuvia Blau and Hindy Herman address one of the most painful and least talked-about struggles in our community: parental alienation and family estrangement. They unpack wh…
I cut my son off for becoming religious [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:06
A father and son sit down for an unusually honest conversation about Jewish identity, continuity, and choice. Allen Horowitz was raised with a strong cultural Jewish pride but little religious observance; his son Meir gr…
My Husband Fought a Private War No One Could See [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:15
Four years ago, Shaina's life changed forever. Her husband, Yaakov—beloved, successful, devoted, admired—took his own life. In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Shaina speaks openly about what it's like to live th…
David Lichtenstein | We Spoke About the Things No One Talks About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:27
In this powerful episode, David Lichtenstein opens up about wealth, success, failure, and what truly gives life meaning. From business setbacks and rebuilding, to philanthropy, community responsibility, and personal resi…
Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin | They Gave Him 27 Years. He Didn't Break. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:41
What goes through a person's mind when they're told—before even stepping into the courtroom—that they've been sentenced to 27 years in prison? In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin takes…
Surviving the Bondi Beach Terror Attack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:29
A Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach turned into a scene of terror. In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit with a father and community leader who survived the Bondi Beach terror attack. His children we…
Yaakov Shwekey Like You've Never Heard Him Before [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:52
In this powerful and emotional conversation, Jewish music icon Yaakov Shwekey opens up about the evolution of Jewish music, the responsibility of an artist, and the deeply personal moments that shaped his life and career…
America vs Israel: The Debate Every Jew Needs to Hear. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:35
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rabbi Elchanan Shoff (Los Angeles, USA) and Rabbi Michal Weichbrod (Yehuda, Israel) for a rare, honest, and passionate conversation about one of the most charged…