Yisroel Bernath's Forgiveness Experiment

Yisroel tell Chavie about his childhood in Des Plaines, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, where he was raised by parents who were still in the process of becoming more observant. Yisroel opens up about having a stutter as a child, the first time he has ever shared this publicly. He reflects on how it shaped the way he learned to speak, pause, and communicate with intention. He talks about being perceived as a mainstream Chabad yeshiva boy while internally struggling with not fitting in, and how he eventually made the radical decision to leave the regular yeshiva track and spend a year in Tiferes, a yeshiva built for beginners in Morristown, NJ. He shares how that choice changed his relationship with Judaism, Hassidic teachings, and eventually his work as a rabbi. Chavie and Yisroel then trace his unexpected path to Montreal, where he established Chabad of NDG and began working with young Jewish professionals and became known as the “Love Rabbi,” leading to matchmaking and the documentary Kosher Love. Chavie asks what led him to write The Forgiveness Experiment, and Yisroel shares the Yom Kippur Facebook post that opened his eyes to how much resentment people quietly carry, especially toward those in leadership positions. They deep dive into what it’s like to feel wronged by G-d, and what it means to move from waiting to be rescued toward becoming a co-creator in your own life.   Rabbi Yisroel Bernath is the senior rabbi of Rohr Chabad NDG in Montreal and the voice behind a growing global audience online, where he shares heart-open reflections on relationships, healing, and purpose. Known for his honest and relatable style, he brings together Jewish wisdom, Kabbalah, and real-life experience to help people navigate love, pain, and personal growth. He is the author of The Forgiveness Experiment, a #1 Amazon bestseller that explores what life could look like if we truly let go. Through his writing, podcasts, and social media, Rabbi Bernath invites people into deeper, more meaningful conversations with themselves and with each other.   This Week's Prompt Tell me about your fitness journey! Do you have a routine? How has your relationship with fitness evolved? This NEW segment at the end of every episode features voice notes from listeners with their personal stories and hot takes on the given prompt.   Referenced On the Pod 00:1:29 Chavie’s blogpost about Zeesy health journey  27:55 Tiferes Bachurim - Rabbinical College of America  51:41 - Kosher Love Documentary 1:16:46 Steven Karpman - Karpman Drama Triangle 1:16:50 - Omer Pinto  1:22:49 - David Emerald 1:59:59 Chavie’s interview with Moshe Weinbaum  2:01:05 - Chavie’s blogpost about her fitness journey  2:13:25 Walk At Home - at home workout subscription 2:19:07 Jazzercize   Stay in touch with Yisroel! www.theloverabbi.com rabbi@jewishndg.com @montrealrabbi on Instagram @myrabbi Facebook www.forgivenessbook.org The Forgiveness Experiment - Paperback  The Forgiveness Experiment - Kindle The Forgiveness Experiment Audiobook   Stay in touch with Chavie! @chaviebruk on Instagram www.totallyunexpected.blog Totally Unexpected! on Youtube   Want to sponsor or dedicate an episode? Reach out to<a href='htt