024 | Harnessing Trauma for Healing with Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein
Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein is the Senior Rabbi of the Am Shalom Congregation in Glencoe, IL, and was ordained in 1995 by the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion. He is also the author of the books, For the Love of Being Jewish: An A-to-Z Primer for Bubbies, Mensches, Meshugas, Tzaddiks, and Yentas! and For the Love of Israel: The Holy Land from Past to Present. A dear friend, Rabbi Steven is a chosen family member and someone I hold close to my heart.
Rabbi Steven joins me today to discuss how his greatest challenges helped him become the rabbi that he is today. He shares his experiences following his father’s stroke and how his mother exemplified resilience. He describes the time he lived in our home and underscores the power of empathy. He also explains who pastors the pastor when they are experiencing life’s difficulties and highlights the value of listening to everyone’s story.
“Sometimes, we need to open up our wounds to begin the healing process.”
- Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein
This week on the Trauma Hiders Club Podcast:
● How Rabbi Steven’s teenage traumas inform his decisions as a Rabbi
● The childrens’ biggest fear and how Rabbi Steven wrestled with overgiving
● How his mother’s resilience inspires him
● What led him to his first sessions with a psychiatrist
● Harnessing difficult, traumatic experiences to become a better parent, spouse, and Rabbi
● Rabbi Steven’s experiences living in our house and why our packed lunches were never bologna
● His reliance on family, friends, and colleagues when times are tough
● What Rabbi Steven does as a Rabbi when someone is experiencing stress or trauma
● The power of empathy and listening
● The response I wish I got when I came out to my parents about experiencing sexual abuse
● Why we should all stop resisting and start wrestling
Connect with Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein:
● Book: For the Love of Israel: The Holy Land from Past to Present
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