A Jewish Divorce Mediator Shares What She Sees Behind Closed Doors

We explore one of the most sensitive and least discussed topics in Jewish life: money and marriage. • Why do so many couples avoid talking about money? • What do fights about money really represent? • How can couples build financial trust and literacy before — and during — marriage? • What role should community education play in preparing young people for real-world financial responsibility? To unpack all this, we sat down with Sarah Nissel, an attorney, law professor at Pepperdine, and Executive Director of the Jewish Divorce Assistance Center of Los Angeles. After mediating over 300 divorces, Sarah has learned what truly makes (and breaks) relationships when it comes to money — and how self-awareness, communication, and education can prevent heartbreak. She shares candid lessons from the front lines: how to talk about money without shame, how to manage conflict constructively, and why the chuppah isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting line. It’s a powerful, eye-opening conversation about emotional intelligence, financial transparency, and Torah values in Jewish relationships — not just how to avoid divorce, but how to build marriages that actually thrive. 👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 105 ✬ ► TWILLORY – Premium menswear that looks sharp and feels even better. End-of-year savings live now at Twillory.com/KosherMoney ► THE DONOR'S FUND – The Donor’s Fund gives you one place to manage all your giving, with a sleek app and smart tools that make donations strategic and seamless. 🎁 Open your free account today: https://thedonorsfund.org/koshermoney ► BITBEAN – Turn big ideas into scalable, AI-powered software. Learn more at bitbean.link/4edg53 ► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney • Learn more about Sarah’s organization: https://www.jdacla.org/ • One of Sarah's favorite books, The Anxious Generation: https://amzn.to/4qnGOvN CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:53 Who Is Sarah Nissel? 02:27 Practicing Law in Los Angeles 04:10 A Decade of Experience in Family Law 04:24 What Lawyers See Behind Closed Doors 05:18 The Lack of Financial Education 05:56 When Someone First Goes to a Divorce Lawyer 07:23 Men vs. Women Divorce Misconceptions 07:42 Tips for a Healthier Marriage 11:45 Advice for Newlyweds 12:56 Improving Conflict Resolution Skills 18:28 How Frum Couples Manage Money 21:07 Why Wives Should Know the Finances 24:20 Look Good and Feel Good in Twillory 25:33 The Donors Fund: A Smarter Way to Give 27:52 Modeling Healthy Money Habits for Kids 29:34 Being Honest About Debt With Your Spouse 31:32 Understanding Your Appetite for Risk 34:33 How to Guide an Amicable Divorce 37:24 Prenups in the Orthodox Community 40:00 What Sarah Wants Her Children to Know About Prenups 41:35 When Parents Stop Financial Support 44:14 Separate Bank Accounts for Spouses 48:35 Setting Up Newlyweds for Financial Success 51:05 BitBean Brings Big Ideas to Life 51:53 Colel Chabad Feeds Families Across Israel 52:43 It Is Never Too Late to Have the Important Conversations 55:58 Starting Financial Education Earlier in Schools 59:03 Moving Forward Toward Peace 1:02:39 Amazing Resources in the Jewish Community 1:05:52 How Sarah Helps People Nationwide 1:06:23 You Do Not Need to Recreate the Wheel 1:08:01 Why Sarah Stays Away From AI 1:09:26 Sarah’s Nonprofit Work 1:09:52 Sarah’s Book Recommendations 1:12:36 The Advantages of the Jewish Community 1:14:04 Sarah’s Remarkable Yichus 1:19:26 Thanking Sarah for Joining Us 1:19:49 Outro. Episode Takeaways, Subscribe and Resources ✬ Helpful Efforts Out in the World ✬ • Living Smarter Jewish brings free financial coaching to families: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/ • Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you're in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/ • Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/ Follow Kosher Money for more honest, practical conversations: TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod Visit our BRAND NEW Website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/ Call-in Hotline: USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088 WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513 #KosherMoneyPod #JewishMarriage #FinancialWellness #MoneyTalks #TorahValues #KosherMoney #LivingLchaim #KM