SHOSHANA TOBI WINTERS (AKA REBBITZEN TOBI) - in her mid to late 50s, possibly older. She is the widow of a respected mechanech. She dresses in what appears to be typical frum style - wears a sheitel - but comfortable rather than restrictive. She expresses herself physically with jewelry that is a bit more brash. Tobi was widowed about 3 years prior. About 5 years ago, shortly after her youngest child left the house, she started speaking publicly about inner peace in Jewish thought. She is a licensced social worker who became more of a spirituality coach. She became very popular and had her own lecture series. While she took a public hiatus after her husband passed, she has been working privately. She started the Lech Lecha Hotline and has an active following. She started fundraising for a women’s retreat center. She’s been running retreats here or there but feels that it would be best to have a permanent space. Personality wise, Shoshana Tobi was always spiritual. She never fit in in school and was often in trouble when she was young.

SARAH FRAIDEL SHWARTZ is the same age as Shoshana Tobi. In fact, they were in the same class in school. They were not friends. She seems very content and very square. Sarah Fraidel is the perfect rebbitzen on the outside. She sees the women in her small community as her responsibility. Professionally, she teaches at the local school but really sees her primary role as supporting her husband.

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Friend of Rebbitzen Winters

CHANA LINTON - The Nail Gal - There is no specific age requirement of Chana, other than that she and Anna should be close in age. Chana is from a bt family, but did grow up frum. She wasn’t a good student because really she is just good at hands-on spacial stuff. She was going through a crisis after always feeling that she had to suppress that side around the community but Rebbitzen Winters encouraged her to embrace that side of herself and that it was ok to be different. 

ANNA LINTON - Her cousin - There is no specific age requirement for Anna, other than that she and Chana should be close in age (Originally this character was conceived of as being not frum, but I think it can be either way. She and her cousin are two peas in a pod. She is probably a tad younger than Chana and looks up to her.)  

SHIRA ORMAN - Shira is Rebbitzen Tobi’s right hand woman. She is the organizational brains. She dresses more flowy, wears a tichel, but is very straight forward and down to earth. I would place Shira in the age range of upper 40s. She does not have little people at home so is able to focus. She lives near Feiga, and they are good friends.

FEIGA FELDER – Feiga fits into more of the stereo-type for the spiritual retreat personality. She is a Yoga instructor. She has a mixed range of kids at home but is dedicated to Rebbitzen Tobi and is very excited about the Retreat Center. She lives near Shira, and they are good friends.

TIRZA AZERBEN – Tirza is a young woman who has become an avid listener to Rebbitzen Tobi’s hotline. She has reached out to the rebbitzen and has developed a personal relationship with her. She is young. She can be single or married, but if married, she wears a beanie. She is a talented graphic designer and artist. Tirza grew up in an unusual family situation. Her frum family decided to live on a farm. They are very crunchy. She is not. She has moved to the city, but her mother has heavy ties to her that she is trying to break in a way that doesn’t affect kibud aim.  

KAILA SPECTOR - Kaila is a real estate agent. She is probably in her mid-30s. She likes to get involved in the local community. Kaila is humorously ditzy. She has cycled through a “gazillion” jobs, much to her friends’ amusement. 

NAOMI BRONSTEIN - Naomi is upper middle age. She is a teacher in the local schools, and, through that and her other community activities, she has relationships with the women of the block. She is a subtle know-it-all and a bit of a confident sheep. She always believes she knows the right thing to do until someone in authority says something different and then she accepts that and moves forward strongly that way.She comes across a bit obnoxious and "prissy" but is really well-meaning if a bit territorial

ALIZA GEWIRTZ - Aliza is a confident, stylish woman in her 30s. It is her natural life mission to be trendy and acceptable. She values wealth and fame because she has been trained to value these things, not because she is inherently snobby.

ATARA ELLISON - Atara is a little bit younger than Aliza. She owns the florist shop, and she likes it, but she finds it doesn’t really fulfill her. She has a tremendous creative urge and she has been meeting that need by working in sculpture. She is quite talented but feels that this off-the-cuff-creative should be kept private.

DINA SINGER - Dina has a catering company/take-out place that she runs out of the corner building that she owns. While she is sufficiently successful, she is, by nature, ambitious. She and Molly are friends and collaborators in an ambitious business scheme.

MOLLY SMITH FEIN - Molly is not part of the local community but doesn’t live far away. She is friends with Dina, and they have invested in a business venture. Molly is not willing to have anything stop her plans and is willing to be deceptive and manipulative to get her way.