Episode Eight

Narcissism and Parental Alienation Talk

Host Eliana Baer and her guest Morton Fridman, M.D. have both seen a rise in narcissistic behavior, and subsequent parental alienation, in the observant Jewish community.

Dr. Fridman is a board-certified psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who maintains a clinical practice and serves as a forensic expert in family law cases. In this episode, Eliana and Dr. Fridman explore the cultural and societal influences that may have led to the uptick in narcissistic behavior and subsequent parental alienation.

They also discuss the positive impact therapy can have on custody and co-parenting disputes in and out of the courtroom and explain the legal and mental health challenges arising from emotional narcissistic abuse in divorce cases.

Episode Seven

Custody Evaluation Talk

Whether court-ordered or arranged by a parent, custody evaluations help support the divorce process by focusing on the best interest of the children involved.

Learn more by listening to Rachel Safran, Ph.D. and host Eliana Baer discuss the nuances involved in considering the optimal outcome for the family. Dr. Safran, a licensed psychologist and forensic child custody evaluator, explains how she works with families to formulate a recommended custody plan.

This episode also explores how religious and secular beliefs can be woven into New Jersey’s 14 “best-interest factors” that must be considered in child custody arrangements.

As an Orthodox Jewish woman, Dr. Safran also provides insight on the promising uptick in mental health acceptance and treatment she has observed in the community over the last 10 years, and how that plays into her recommendations.

Episode Five

Matchmaking Talk

Featuring Aleeza Ben Shalom of the Netflix Series “Jewish Matchmaking”

Aleeza Ben Shalom may be renowned for her many hit catchphrases but what’s the secret to her success?

Go behind the scenes as the TV personality from the popular, binge-worthy Netflix series, “Jewish Matchmaking,” joins Family Law partner Eliana Baer. Aleeza shares exclusive details about how she worked with the crew to incorporate her faith into the show and offers up information on how she prepared for reality television and how she sets up her matchmaking clients for long-term success in love and life.

Eliana and Aleeza also touch on the unexpected similarities of their careers in this can’t-miss episode.

Episode Four

Financial Talk

Are your financial plans in order, for today and the days to come? This can’t-miss episode provides important tips and strategies delivered by Aaron Safier, Chief Financial Advisor at Sapphire Wealth Advisory Group. He joins host Eliana Baer for an episode that shines a spotlight into the complicated role that money plays in all relationships.

A financial services professional for almost 20 years, Aaron discusses the importance of creating and adhering to a tailored savings plan for long-term financial success. He also details the role of third-party financial advisers during the divorce process and shares how he helps lay the financial groundwork for clients immediately after a divorce.

The episode also covers how professionals are often required to deliver “tough love” to clients and the importance of having routine family financial discussions in communities where money is considered a taboo topic.

Episode Three

Intimacy Talk

Challenges related to physical intimacy can be a catalyst for other issues within a relationship.

In this episode, intimacy counselor Sarah Fraser joins host Eliana Baer to discuss how she sees the complex and often taboo issue manifest in traditional Jewish marriages in her work.

Sarah, who is the founder of Secrets of Jewish Women, an organization that works with Jewish couples to enhance intimacy, also shares her career journey from hairdresser to intimacy therapist, and how her unorthodox introduction to Orthodox Judaism gives her a fresh and relatable approach to discussing sensitive topics. The pair also explore education as a means to destigmatize the physical aspect of intimacy in Orthodox relationships.

Episode Two

Sexual Abuse Prevention Talk

Explored through the lens of Orthodox Jewish communities, host Eliana Baer and guest Rahel Bayar tackle the difficult conversation of sexual abuse of children.

A former prosecutor who dealt with sex crimes and child abuse, Rahel is the founder and CEO of the Bayar Group, which provides sexual abuse and harassment prevention training for schools, camps and other organizations.

Eliana’s and Rahel’s discussion is meaningful for parents and communities everywhere. They examine signs of grooming and boundary crossing, dispel myths about abusers and highlight the critical need for more education and increased training on this sensitive topic in the legal system. The episode also looks at the unique challenges to preventing child sexual abuse faced by insulated religious communities.

Episode One

Get Refusal Talk

Domestic abuse comes in all forms, and in the Jewish faith, it can potentially manifest as a “Get refusal,” where a husband refuses to release the spouse and free them to remarry.

In this inaugural episode, Eliana is joined by Keshet Starr, Executive Director of the Organization for Resolution of Agunot (ORA), a nonprofit organization that seeks to eliminate abuse from the Jewish divorce process, with a particular focus on advocacy for the timely and unconditional issuance of a Get. They explore the causes for and solutions to resolving Get refusals within the Orthodox Jewish community and explain the critical role that an experienced legal team can play in guiding the process.