Parenting from a Jewish Perspective — with Fraida Shusterman

The Parenting Wisdom

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, I sit down with Fraida Shusterman—Orthodox Jewish mother of 11 and a woman of remarkable perspective and strength. Fraida shares her family's journey, including raising a child with Rett syndrome, and how focusing on gratitude, resilience, and proactive growth has shaped her outlook on life.

Drawing from Jewish wisdom, Kabbalah, and her lived experience, Fraida discusses the critical role of parenting in preserving Jewish values, how to raise children who can navigate life's challenges, and why rituals, traditions, and a sense of higher purpose are essential for emotional stability and meaning.

This conversation is a reminder that challenges are not endpoints—they are invitations to build, to deepen our connection to God, and to live with greater purpose and joy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Fraida and her family embrace gratitude even amid life's toughest challenges
• The concept from Kabbalah of looking forward and being proactive during hardship
• The Jewish approach to parenting and the three core life skills parents must teach:
  • How to "swim" through life's waters
  • Learning a trade or skill
  • Preparing for marriage and emotional maturity
• Why modeling values is more powerful than preaching them
• Parenting each child according to their unique way ("Teach the child according to his way")
• How Jewish traditions and rituals create stability, belonging, and emotional resilience
• What it means to discipline from a soul-centered, Torah-based perspective
• How to maintain connection and faith when children choose different paths
• The importance of living every moment as a teaching opportunity through Torah values