Ep 221: Humanity in the Arts with Ranelle Wolf and guest Esther Muller on hmTv

Episode 221 – Humanity in the Arts with Ranelle Wolf and Guest Esther Muller

In this inspiring episode of Humanity in the Arts, host Ranelle Wolf sits down with visionary real estate leader and educator Esther Muller, affectionately known as “Queen Esther.” The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Esther shares how her family’s legacy of resilience and creativity shaped her entrepreneurial spirit, her billion-dollar real estate career, and her mission to teach ethics, human rights, and moral courage through education.

Together, Ranelle and Esther explore the idea of real estate as sacred space—not just transactions, but places of memory, healing, and human dignity. From her parents’ survival in Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, to her own journey of building and giving back, Esther shows how creativity, Torah values, and the strength of the divine feminine can transform business into a force for humanity.

Listeners will come away inspired by Esther’s story of survival, her commitment to ethical leadership, and her passion for empowering the next generation to succeed with courage, compassion, and vision.

Transcript

Humanity in the Arts – Ep 221

Host: Ranelle Wolf
Guest: Esther Muller

Ranelle Wolf:
Hello and thank you for joining Humanity Matters Through Art. I am your host, Ranelle Wolf, and we are taping this at our television center at hmTv in the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center located in Glen Cove, Long Island.

If you’ve never been here before, I promise you—walking through our doors will not leave you the same person you were when you came in.

Today I have the incredible pleasure of introducing an extraordinary woman. She is not only a visionary in real estate, property ethics, and education, but also a creative spirit with a survivor’s legacy running through her veins. The theme of our conversation is sacred space and real estate.

I call her “Queen Esther,” and I think after today, you will too. Please welcome Esther Muller.

Esther Muller:
Oh my gosh, thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to be here.

Ranelle:
Thank you, Esther. When I first met you, I was brand new to the East Hampton Jewish Center. I remember sitting in a Torah class—maybe my second one—when I heard you speak. You spoke about property as a place of healing and light, and I thought to myself, “This is an artist.” I knew you were someone special, and the more I learned about your life, the more I knew we needed to share your story with our listeners.

So, let’s start here: as a daughter of Holocaust survivors, how has that legacy shaped your approach to business, creativity, and your mission in real estate?

Esther:
Wow. That’s such a big question. You should’ve warned me so I could think about it! But let me answer from the heart.

My mother was taken to Auschwitz at just 16 years old. She survived both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, but she lost her parents and five siblings. My father was in the underground in Budapest and also lost most of his family. Out of twelve siblings, only six survived.

So I was raised by two people who had known unimaginable loss and yet carried an astonishing resilience. My mom was only nineteen when she had me. She had already endured three years in camps, and yet she managed to be both broken and incredibly strong.

From them, I inherited creativity, drive, and the instinct to survive. My father was passionate about music—he had the voice of an opera singer. My mother was entrepreneurial, resourceful, and practical. Together they built a life from nothing.

In fact, I was born in a detention camp in Atlit, before Israel even officially became a state. My parents had literally swum ashore, clinging to each other, with me on the way. You could say I was born into survival and creativity.

Ranelle:
That’s incredible. And it shows in how you approach your work. People often think of real estate as purely transactional, but for you it’s so much more. You’ve described it as spiritual and even educational. How do beauty and memory shape the spaces you create and sell?

Esther:
For me, real estate was never just about money. It was about freedom. My parents always told me: Never be a tenant. Always own. Owning meant safety—it meant no one could tell you to leave after three years or take away your stability.

I came to see real estate as sacred space. A home isn’t just a roof—it’s shelter, it’s family, it’s memory, it’s dignity. And when I sold real estate, I wasn’t selling property. I was helping people find the space where their lives would unfold.

Over time, I sold more than a billion dollars in real estate. But what mattered more than the wealth was the opportunity to uplift others. That’s why I co-founded the Real Estate Academy. I wanted to give back—to teach others not only the practical skills, but also the ethics and courage it takes to create a life of meaning through this work.

Ranelle:
That’s beautiful. And I know you often connect Torah lessons to your work. I remember in class you pointed out that the biggest real estate deal in the Torah was when the five daughters of Zelophehad fought for their inheritance.

Esther:
Yes! It’s one of my favorite stories. These five sisters had no brothers, and by law, women weren’t supposed to inherit property. They went to Moses, who went to God, and God said: “Yes, they inherit.”

To me, that’s a lesson about women, justice, and property rights. It reminds us that real estate is more than buildings—it’s tied to human rights, equality, and legacy.

Ranelle:
Exactly. And Esther, you embody that divine feminine strength. You bring Torah, ethics, and heart into everything you do.

So let me ask you this: what advice would you give young women today about the moral courage it takes to build and heal through business and real estate?

Esther:
First, I’d say this: it’s not just about real estate—it’s about humanity. To be in this profession, you have to learn tolerance, ethics, and human rights. In fact, in my academy, those are mandatory courses.

I teach my students that being ethical and moral is non-negotiable. You can’t just chase the commission. You have to care about people, about doing the right thing, about leaving the world better than you found it.

And I always tell my grandsons: When you give, you get. Not because you’re expecting it, but because generosity has its own magic. So my advice is: give it away. Share your knowledge. Share your light. Success will follow.

Ranelle:
Beautiful. Esther, before we close, where can people find you if they want to work with you or learn from you?

Esther:
Two ways: you can find me at EstherMuller.com and at RealEstateAcademy.com. I love coaching, teaching, and helping people succeed in this business—and in life.

Ranelle:
Wonderful. Well, on that note, thank you, Queen Esther, for being with us today. And to our listeners: remember, you have no excuses. If Esther’s parents could survive Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, rebuild their lives, and raise a daughter who has touched thousands through real estate, education, and ethics—then you too can find your light, your art, your sacred space.

Thank you for joining us for another episode of Humanity Matters Through Art. I’m your host, Ranelle Wolf. Until next time, keep creating, keep caring, and keep changing the world—one person at a time.