What Came After

Welcome to What Came After. Today is October 22, 2025. While much remains uncertain in Israel, one thing is clear: the emotional recovery of an entire nation coping with collective trauma will be a long and complex process. In this episode, I speak with several remarkable people from Ripples of Healing, a therapeutic program that helps individuals process trauma through guided immersion in water. It’s a powerful, innovative and effective approach. We'll explore the therapy itself, as well as the personal journeys of several people who've been transformed by it.
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Yitzchak (Itzik) Rabinovitz
An electronic engineer and graduate of the University of Illinois, Itzik immigrated to Israel 47 years ago and has since devoted his career and life to strengthening Israel’s defense — both through his service in the IDF and his work in the defense industry.
He and his wife, Channa, are proud parents of five children and grandparents to 29. During Operation Iron Swords, four of Itzik’s sons and his son-in-law served on active reserve duty, each contributing over 400 days in defense of the nation.
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Tzviki Barkai
Age 37, husband and father of two daughters.
During his military service in Gaza (Operation Cast Lead), Tzviki was shot in the head by a sniper and critically wounded.
After undergoing treatment at Einot Bar, he experienced a profound personal transformation and chose to dedicate his life to helping others heal.
Today, Tzviki serves as the CEO of Advot Marpeh (Ripples of Healing), a nonprofit organization operating within the Einot Bar ecosystem. He leads with deep commitment to expanding care and rehabilitation for trauma survivors.
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Einat Sarfati Cohen
Founder of Einot Bar, Israel’s leading center for growth through crisis.
For the past decade, Einot Bar has been operating as an integrative healing center located in the heart of the Negev Desert, offering innovative programs that combine mind, body, and spirit.
Einat is a mother of three and the founder of the community of Giv’ot Bar, which became a model for sustainable living and regional development that transformed the Negev and the Galilee over the past twenty years.
Since October 7th, Einat has been working tirelessly in Israel and abroad to support soldiers and civilians recovering from trauma. The integrative medical model she developed at Einot Bar has been recognized as a leading approach in Israel for trauma recovery and holistic rehabilitation.
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Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "And The Waves" by Menachem Halevi and Nuriel
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Simon Deng is a former slave from South Sudan, human rights activist, public speaker, and professional swimmer. He has lived in the United States since 1989 and has been a leader of the South Sudanese expatriate community since 1993.
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Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Jerusalem" by Elijah Aaron
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In February, What Came After sat down with the Chief Rabbi of Poland and native New Yorker, Michael Schudrich. Their conversation was recorded in Warsaw, where Rabbi Schudrich has lived and worked for the past 35 years.
Host Manya Marcus speaks with Schudrich about his personal journey to Poland, how there are many more Jews- or those with Jewish heritage- who live in Poland than anyone realized or expected when Schudrich took his post in 1990, and how Poland’s Jewish community is growing to include more Poles whose Jewish parents, grandparents and great grandparents stayed in Poland after the war and chose not to share with their own families that they were Jewish. Schudrich speaks to the process of self-discovery among these community members, as well as the need for the broader international Jewish community to recognize and support the Jewish life that has not only survived in Poland, but begun to thrive.
Schudrich talks about the Polish response to October 7th, and how, in the wake of the tragedy, more Polish Jews have come out of the woodwork and chosen to live Jewish lives.
 
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "It's Never Too Late" by Elijah Aaron
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Mino is a Roman entrepreneur and restaurateur with deep roots in the culinary world, shaped by his family’s experience in the industry. He manages two establishments: Casalino Osteria, a kosher restaurant, and a bakery-café, Dolce Kosher. Through his work, he combines tradition and innovation, creating welcoming spaces where people can enjoy great food and hospitality. Beyond the kitchen, Mino is passionate about curating special events and menus that highlight seasonal ingredients and Italian culinary heritage.
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Voice Acting: Matt Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Osim Shuk" by Noa (Achinoam Nini)
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Ruth Dureghello was born in Rome on July 5, 1967. She earned a law degree from the University of Rome La Sapienza and went on to pursue a career in entrepreneurial activities. Married with two children, Ruth led the “For Israel” party as its presidential candidate for the Council of the Jewish Community in Rome in 2015. She won 44.08% of the total vote and, following the Council’s recommendation, became the first woman to serve as President in the history of the Roman Jewish Community. Re-elected by a wide majority in 2019, she led the Jewish Community of Rome until June 2023.
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Shir L'Shalom" by Lehakat HaNachal
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Listen to our conversation with ELNET CEE (Central and Eastern Europe) featuring:
Anna Miszewska, Deputy Director
Joanna Olszewska, Project Manager
Marta Kubica, CEO
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Old Polish Tango in Hebrew" by Olga Mieleszczuk
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Arie Bensemhoun has been the Chief Executive Officer of Elnet France since 2011. He has made his career in the private sector as a consultant in communications, PR, and international relations, dealing with Middle Eastern and strategic affairs. He plays a crucial role in the French-Israeli relationship through his commitment at both the community and political levels. He seeks to strengthen ties between political leaders from France and Israel who believe that close relations between Europe and Israel are vital to both parties.
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Nigun Ga'agu'a" by Elnatan
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Marta Kubica is the Chief Executive Officer of ELNET CEE (Central and Eastern Europe), driven by a passion for strengthening ties between Europe and Israel through innovative diplomacy. After five years in the role, Marta sees ELNET as more than just an organization facilitating delegations or strategic dialogues; it is about creating a safe space for open conversation and building trust. With over 18 years of experience, including work at both the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Poland, she skillfully brings people together, applying her background in Jewish studies and political science to bridge cultural divides and foster mutual understanding.
Marta is currently focused on developing innovative diplomatic initiatives that support resilience, civil defense, and crisis management, including aiding Ukrainian refugees—a testament to her belief in the power of human connection and collaborative problem-solving.
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Goral Ehad" by Ofra Haza
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In this special episode, What Came After presents an audio travelogue from the team’s trip to Paris this past January. Join our summer intern, Keren Glicksman, as she interviews host Manya Marcus about the experience, and listen to on-the-ground recordings from Manya and producer Maya Zanger-Nadis as they navigate the city during a particularly challenging moment in Jewish history.
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Une Petite Cantate" by Talya Eliav
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Rabbi Emile Ackermann is the co-founder, together with his wife, Rabbanit Myriam Ackermann-Sommer, of Ayeka in Paris — the first Liberal Modern Orthodox community in France. Born in Strasbourg and a graduate of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he holds a BA in Administration Économique et Sociale. Rav Emile is also deeply engaged in French political life.
He is the author of N’oublions pas qui nous sommes (Let Us Not Forget Who We Are), in which he shares his vision of Modern Orthodoxy, reflects on his time at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and explores his perspective on laïcité in France — a subject at the heart of many public debates. A regular guest in national media, he often defends and articulates the Jewish voice in the French public sphere.
Rav Emile is also a trainer in the fight against antisemitism, providing education for French political parties as well as Jewish youth organizations. Committed to interfaith dialogue, he frequently speaks at multicultural and multi-faith events across the country.
 
Host and Creator: Manya Marcus
Managing Producer: Maya Zanger-Nadis
Editor and Producer: Ben Wallick
Editor: Keren Glicksman
Logo Design: Samuel Vilemar
Outro Music: "Pa'am" by Anat Malamud
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