Home vs. Career: A Mother of 12 Who Ran a President's Office Tells All

She was married at 18, had 12 children, and became the first female Chief of Staff to the President of Israel, all without ever shaking a man's hand. Rivka Ravitz sat across from Biden, Putin, Obama, Trump, and King Charles, and never once compromised who she was to get there. In this episode of The Jamie Geller Show, Rivka opens up about the moment a photo of Biden bowing to respect her religious boundaries made headlines around the world, how she balanced raising a dozen children while running a finance committee and later the President's office, and the "computer science" mindset she uses to stay sane under pressure (hint: it involves garbage collection). If you've ever been told career and family are a trade-off, this conversation will change how you think about both. Watch to the end for her advice to young women who feel like they have to choose between ambition and family. Spoiler: she says it's fake news. 0:00 – Cold Open: Meeting Putin, Biden, Obama and More 1:23 – Welcome to the Show 2:11 – Growing Up in a Large Religious Family 3:30 – Married at 18 4:09 – Marrying into a Political Family 5:41 – A Whirlwind Courtship: Engaged in a Week 7:30 – 32 Years of Marriage 9:05 – First Day at the Knesset, Pregnant and Overwhelmed 11:24 – Pregnant at the Same Time as Her Mother 12:15 – Learning the Ropes in a Man's World 13:16 – A Nepotism Law Forces a Career Change 14:00 – Working for Future President Reuven Rivlin 15:12 – Becoming the Youngest Chief of Staff in Israeli History 16:29 – Fighting for Her Place Among Powerful Men 19:08 – Finding Confidence Through Faith 21:44 – Balancing the Chief of Staff Role with Motherhood 24:15 – Staying Present with Her Children 27:13 – Quality Versus Quantity Time 30:01 – Raising Daughters Who Choose Different Paths 32:18 – Meeting World Leaders: Putin, Biden, Obama and More 34:11 – Parenting Advice for the King of Spain 35:23 – Borrowing Algorithms from Computer Science for Life 36:07 – The Handshake Story: Faith Meets Business 38:53 – Meeting President Biden in the Oval Office 41:47 – Her Father's Reaction and Approval 44:11 – Generational Shifts in Career and Family Dreams 47:09 – Her Husband: The Partner Behind the Success 50:00 – Advice to Women on Career, Marriage and Motherhood 53:17 – Closing Thoughts 👑 Subscribe for more real conversations with extraordinary women. 💬 Drop your questions for Rivka in the comments, we'll get her answers. #JamieGellerShow #RivkaRavitz #WorkingWomen #FaithAndFamily #careerwomen _____________ Jamie Geller is the Chief Communications Officer and Global Spokesperson for Aish. As a key member of Aish's senior executive team, she brings extensive experience in building a media empire that influences millions daily. An award-winning producer, eight-time bestselling author, and media and marketing executive, Jamie’s career spans renowned networks including HBO, CNN, and the Food Network, where she earned numerous awards as a producer and marketing executive. Follow Jamie on social media for regular new uploads and updates: Instagram:   / jamiegeller   TikTok:   / jamiegeller.com   YouTube:    / @jamiegeller   LinkedIn:   / jamie-geller   Website: https://www.jamiegeller.com/