Rebuilding from the Rubble: Faith, Shabbat, and Survival with Shanna Fuld

Every so often, you meet someone whose story completely stops you in your tracks. This week in the Rova, I had one of those moments.

I sat down with the incredible Shanna Fuld. You might know her as a talented journalist and the voice behind The Israel Daily podcast, but Shanna is also a survivor. On June 16th, during the recent war, an Iranian missile struck her Tel Aviv home, destroying almost everything she owned.

The “Whoosh” That Changed Everything

Shanna walked me through those harrowing seconds—hearing the missile “whoosh” past her window, feeling the entire building sway, and the terrifying uncertainty of whether she would survive the night.

But as we sat together in a Jerusalem cafe and walked toward the Kotel, I realized that the most powerful part of Shanna’s story isn’t the destruction—it’s the rebuilding.

We talked about:

• The Power of Shabbat: How keeping Shabbat actually saved her sanity while working in a 24/7 news cycle.
• Standing Tall: Our experiences dealing with bosses to protect our religious observance.
• The “Only in Israel” Spirit: Why the saying “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” takes on a whole new meaning when you’re literally rebuilding your life from the ground up.

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Faith Under Fire

Shanna’s journey to becoming an observant Jew and her move to Israel are testaments to her unbreakable spirit. She reminds us all that even when our physical world feels shaky, our faith and our community are the foundations that stay firm. 🕍

This conversation is raw, it’s real, and it’s a beautiful reminder of the unity we’ve seen in Israel post-October 7th.

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Watch the full episode here:

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What’s Your “Shabbat Sanity”?

I promise, you will be so moved by Shanna’s strength. It really puts those “laundry piles” and daily stresses into perspective, doesn’t it?

Ready, set, watch! After you’ve seen the episode, I’d love to know: Is there a tradition or a moment in your week—like Shabbat—that keeps you grounded when things feel chaotic? Let’s chat in the comments!