# THROWBACK:  The Unbelievable Story Of Rivka Shotkin

From **Meaningful People** by Meaningful Minute.

- **Published:** Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:17:00 +0000
- **Duration:** 01:03:14
- **Audio:** https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/meaningfulpeoplepodcast/Shotkin_NEW.mp3?dest-id=1900811
- **Page:** <![CDATA[https://meaningfulpeoplepodcast.libsyn.com/throwback-the-unbelievable-story-of-rivka-shotkin]]>
- **TorahApp:** https://torahapp.org/share/p/3P_meaningful-people/e/%3C!%5BCDATA%5B1610d80d-91a5-49d1-8c4f-55731b99a1dc%5D%5D%3E

<![CDATA[<p>In this special throwback episode,Nachi Gordon sits down with Rivka Shotkin, a 16 year old from Passaic and the youngest guest in Meaningful People history. On January 31, 2021, a family ski trip in Tannersville ended when Rivka missed a turn on her last run of the day and went straight into a tree, breaking 11 bones, puncturing both lungs, and severing her spinal cord. She walks us through waking up in the ICU nine days later, three months of rehab during COVID without being able to see her family, and landing back in the hospital with septic shock just five days after finally coming home.</p> <p> </p> <p>What makes this one special is how Rivka talks about all of it. She opens up about how unhappy she was before the accident, the strange sense of peace she felt that weekend, why she now calls her injury a gift, and what she wants the community to understand about treating people in wheelchairs. It's funny, honest, and genuinely inspiring.</p> <p> </p> <p>This episode is sponsored by:</p> <p> </p> <p>► PZ Deals</p> <p> </p> <p>Never pay full price again when you download the PZ Deals app.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp</p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p>► Colel Chabad Pushka App</p> <p> </p> <p>The easiest way to give Tzedaka.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful</p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p>► Shopify Guru</p> <p> </p> <p>Store looks great but not selling the way it should? Shopify Guru's Daniel gets under the hood and makes it actually work, no developer needed every time you want to make a change. Call 732-534-1404 or go to shopifyguru.io.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://go.jcn.io/sgmp</p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p>► Ness Vacation Homes</p> <p> </p> <p>Eden Gardens' largest luxury home collection. Handpicked, high end homes available exclusively through Ness.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://nessvacationhomes.com/</p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p>► Rothenberg Law Firm</p> <p> </p> <p>Personal Injury Law Firm for 50+ years! Reach out today for a free case evaluation.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://shorturl.at/JFKHH</p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p>► Town Appliance</p> <p> </p> <p>Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp.</p> <p> </p> <p>https://www.townappliance.com</p> <p> </p> <p>https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Timestamps:</p> <p> </p> <p>0:00 Intro: Meet Rivka Shotkin, MPP's Youngest Guest Ever</p> <p>4:02 Welcome to the Studio and Growing Up in Passaic</p> <p>7:23 The Ski Trip to Tannersville That Changed Everything</p> <p>10:10 Airlifted to Albany and Waking Up Nine Days Later</p> <p>13:20 Learning Rivka Was Paralyzed and Eli Portell's Advice</p> <p>15:49 Anger, Dark Humor, and Taking It in Stride</p> <p>18:04 Three Months of Rehab During COVID</p> <p>22:07 Punishment, Test, or Gift?</p> <p>23:33 Coming Home, a Wedding Cake, and Septic Shock</p> <p>27:29 How to Accept What You Never Signed Up For</p> <p>29:45 Unhappy Before the Accident and a Strange Premonition</p> <p>31:57 Choosing Happiness and Strength From Rivka's Parents</p> <p>34:59 Brain Surgeon Dreams and How to Treat People in Wheelchairs</p> <p>38:20 Emunah, Hashgacha, and Not Being Afraid of the Pain</p> <p>42:36 Rivka's Second Rosh Hashanah</p> <p>46:17 Camp Simcha and Rivka's Support System</p> <p>49:06 Poetry, Dreams, and Determination</p>]]>