Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of fourteen acclaimed non-fiction books, kicked of the 2019 Jewish Federation Levine Speaker Series with a talk on his newly re-released book Words That Hurt, Words That Heal: How the Words You Choose Shape Your Destiny. In his 90-minute talk, Telushkin captivated the crowd with personal anecdotes that were funny, heartwarming, and inspiring, each one bringing to light the very real impact that our words can have on others. Filled with Jewish wisdom, Telushkin’s ability to distill Jewish teaching in a way that is both impactful and accessible left the 85+ people in attendance with a sense that living a life in line with Jewish values is wholly possible.

Rabbi Telushkin ended his talk encouraging everyone in the audience to commit to 24 hours without speaking lashon hara, gossip about others. We invite you to take on this challenge and see for yourself just how impactful your words can be. Watch Rabbi Telushkin’s entire talk on our Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County Facebook page.

Photos by Gail Conklin. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.