Shalom Alaikum and welcome to Stark Tank, a podcast and
community addressing the challenges and opportunities of
being a Bentura in the workforce.
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This week we sit down with Aaron Katz, lawyer, show builder and
baseball writer. He is a senior associate at GT
Law in Tel Aviv. He is the founding president of
Mavakshi Ms. in the Mishka 5 neighborhood of Hermap HMS and
is an occasional contributor to Tablet Magazine and other
publications. We spoke about all these things
and more in our conversation. If you have questions, comments
or suggestions, please e-mail me at yakkowolf@gmail.com.
My name is Yakko Wolf and this is Stark Day.
Aaron Katz, welcome to Shark Tank.
Thank you for joining us today. Thank you so much.
It's great to be here. So you are the first practicing
lawyer that we had on the podcast.
Let me tell us a little bit of background, your upbringing,
your childhood and then how you decided to get pull on.
Sure. So like some of your other
esteemed guests that you've had in the Los Angeles maidors and I
grew up in a very strong, you know, classic run Orthodox for
the Zionist home in Lai grew up with Holocaust grandparents on
both sides. So that was a huge part of of my
life, you know, growing up in the community I grew up in in
until today. So the ethos I was raised in and
also a strong Shoals. I grew up Beth Jacob in Beverly
Hills, the unusual century city. Obviously we have phenomenal
shawl rabbits or about while I was there for years when I was
younger and Rabbi Muskan is still there and just, you know,
strong Shoals, strong youth program, strong tea minions,
strong kiddishes and, and just, you know, just a really a
positive environment. I was blessed.
I, I had an amazing rabbi in elementary school, Rabbi Mehfi
Blau, who's a, who's a big mechanic in LA and then in Eula.
I had also an amazing rebellion, Ravi Grama, Ravi Rusher Klein.
It's from Temblor, Ravi Nussman sour sleep, though, just really,
really phenomenal babies. So really we're just still
blessed to, to grow up in a, in a, in a great environment, in a
great, you know, torn environment.
And that sort of led a whole clever of mine to Kby.
We had like, you know, eight kids went from Eula to Kby and
it was like a historic number. And yeah, obviously had a great,
great experience there. Learned by Reverend Moshe Stav
and his commercial for two years and and developed a close
catcher with for Blachmann also in that time.
And then, you know, sort of carried on, you know, the the
classic textbook, you know, made it to the to Yu learned by
Riviera Tvorski and then actually did Smitha in Yu came
here to the grist finish. Smitha came to the grist Kolo
and the writer David Miller. And then sort of at that point
is when, you know, as, as you mentioned, there's a little bit
of a of a turn from, you know, I guess that's how I ended up on
the podcast. If I stayed on and and if I
didn't make that turn, we wouldn't end up here.
But but yeah, basically until that, that's sort of where I
was, you know, until that point, flying to Moscow.
And so up until your time finishing, while you speak like
you still hadn't made a foul decision about, say, your
professional direction. So it's a great question.
So I think when I, I, I think I started right when I started,
was graduating college and sort of starting, you know, still
sort of undetermined, but at the time I also started dating and,
you know, sort of like, OK, let's think about next stage.
And next I was a psychology undergrad.
My father, Doctor Ernie Katz is, is a psychologist in LA, you
know, for any LA listeners out there, my dad, you know, there's
a lot of communal work also in just a very, very special
prison. So I think I kind of, you know,
gravitated, you know, into sort of, oh, you know, my dad did it
is my does it, you know, we're excited.
Some internships and then I was an undergrad in psychology and
then right around, right around sort of the time when I was
getting married, I kind of realized like maybe this, you
know, I'm not, this isn't the best fit for me.
I kind of thought about, you know, I was more sort of
research inclined, but my, you know, to, to sort of make money
and to, you know, to just professionally have to be more
of the therapy setting and, and for my dad and my mom and, you
know, my future college, I was like, maybe this isn't, you
know, sort of my best skill set. So I did what many people do is
just like, let me take the LS. So I kind of, you know, ended up
in law as kind of this, you know, default, that kind.
You know, I think it was sort of in the back of my mind, but but
I had a lot of friends that at the same time, you know, there's
in law school with a lot of other at the same time, there's
a lot of friends in New York and a lot of a lot of my Febra.
And I think it was sort of like a very common, you know, default
at the at the time. And and yeah, I think I was, you
know, able to sort of make it work.
So you mentioned that when you finished me how you can play
this inflection point and you really had to decide and you
decide to go into law school and another big transition is after
law school entering to the workforce.
And tell us about that period of your life.
For sure. So I think also just in law
school, I was able to do a little bit of Ribbonic still and
as the University of Chicago Law School and I was the JLIC, you
know, part time rabbi and I was able to give shiram and and we
let used to go down for Chavez a little bit.
So that was that was nice also sort of moving into Chicago at
the you know, and so this yeah, as from the finishing rest, they
went to my wife's hometown of Chicago.
So I kind of entered the city a little bit in a in a rabbinic
setting. And also I was a rabbinic intern
that first summer there under a Matanki who's, you know, rabbi.
He's rabbi. He's phenomenal, you know, show
rabbi leader, you know, you know, leader.
And and so I sort of entered Chicago as like, you know, OK,
Rabbi Aaron Katz and then that that that kind of was very
helpful kind of to adjust because it wasn't just like
you're going from, you know, plus and and you're fine, you
know, you're sure from a Wheeler and varlings in and then like,
boom, you're in law school. But I kind of was able to kind
of like, you know, go through this sort of transition, you
know, sort of inner, inner rabbinic setting, which which
was which was very helpful. But then, yeah, once you know,
started to graduate, then you, you know, go out into, into
workforce and yeah, it was, it was, it was, it was very
different. But I, I will say what what's
nice about Chicago? I think, you know, just in
general with big law, like, you know, New York is crazy.
Like we've all read, you know, the stories and we've all, you
know, seen all the crazy what goes on in New York and people
work till 4:00 AM and they come home, you know, black, the car,
the limo drives you home and all that kind of craziness.
So, so thank God, Chicago was like not New York.
And and it was it was definitely like, you know, Midwestern
values, you know, but still kind of the craziness of the big law
of the expectations and everything.
But I think sort of being out of New York was was quite nice.
And also there's a lot of Kevra at the time, you know, but we
all took the train together. We all were keepers.
Like it was, you know, you were keepers network people, like
whatever reason that that that cultural era, you know, when I
started working, you know, it was a whole cover of us as young
guys. You know, we're in keepers
coming from, you know, W renters park and you know, something
special about that, you know, eating, you know, that was a,
you know, very limited kosher options, but we all would gather
together for lunch. So we kind of made this little
feather shaft, you know, together.
And all of this podcast is always welcome to come on and
criticize New York. It's always, always more than
welcome. So we started at Chicago.
You started out as a lawyer in a big law firm.
And then at a certain point, you had this question making Elias
and they tell us a little about that decision was an easy
decision, hard decision, and how that transition went for you and
your founder. For sure.
So yeah, so our, we, our story, I think especially here, you
know, we'll talk about a little bit about living on my Vichano.
She's like where everyone has a story, you know, it's just
'cause otherwise it's just without a good story, like it
doesn't work. And how do you know how people
make it, how they ended up coming so far.
So my story is journey is it's a, it's a pretty interesting
story, I think like a lot of people do.
But but Oh yeah, I was sort of planted, you know, the seeds
again coming, you know, coming from the strong, you know,
religious Zionist home and we have family in Israel and was
always a big value. Although I'm only one in my, you
know, media, media family that's here.
But my wife also grew up in Chicago and also, you know,
strong, you know, connections there to stroll and from where
you're in seminary. And and if there was a big
value, like from dating, you know, she almost didn't go out
with me because I wasn't Aliyah enough.
Actually, I was shot in it to lie and say, Oh, yeah, it does
want to make Aliyah. You know, at that time I was
like, want to go back to LA, Like I'm pretty LA person.
So we think, you know, our urine verse was was instrumental and
just in terms of, you know, spending time here and and
realizing, you know, maybe there's this could work.
But again, once I went to law school and started working, it
was so in the back burner just cuz you got to focus on just
kind of getting through at the time in Chicago way to little
kids just to survive the winter. But then actually right when I
started working, Greenberg Traurig Law Firm where I am
today, still opened up an office in Tel Aviv right when I started
and I'd already worked at Greenberg, you know, the summer
before and I'd already interviewed 2 years before.
So it was already like, like, it wasn't like I picked Greenberg
because of it. It didn't.
But but you know, the sort of once when the the office opened,
I'd reached out to the head here and you know, just, hey, you
know, I'm, you know, from God, I'm interested in Israel, but
but nothing kind of real just to say hello.
And then about a year and a half into my working there, I reached
out a little more concrete and I said, you know, hi.
You know, we're thinking about yeah, in the future, you know,
can we talk? And basically this was around
pace off time. And I thought maybe in a year or
two years and three, I'm going to have this long plan.
But basically I was offered, you know, a job what for to come
down. And I was like, what do you
mean? Like now?
Like this was like, you know, after pace off April, May.
And it was like, yeah, come August, it was like, I can't do
that. Like, so in the end, actually,
they ended up coming after circus.
And I was like, makes all the way after circus.
A little weird time, but we did it.
But but it was Yeah, it was stuff on all things kind of
lining that they were looking for a corporate associate in Tel
leaves. That's what I was doing.
They were looking for someone, you know, junior, not too
junior, not too seniors, kind of like the, you know, the, you
know, every, everything had to be sort of, you know, the
perfect fit. And you know, Barkley Shannon,
we was, you know, a lot of our Scott found Gary Epstein was the
founder of our office. He's a tremendous, you know,
builder of of, you know, he built a Tel Aviv office and, you
know, mentor role, you know, and Joey Shabit, our current
shareholder, you know, we're just able to sort of make the
make the move over to to tell and having again, having being
younger and and having young kids made that obviously, you
know, much easier. There's a non aliyah podcast,
but there's a whole separate discussion.
But but, you know, just tough us, you know, coming with
younger kids made that quick and easier.
As far as general differences between tacting law here and
there, what are some of things that people who are in the raw
field don't make all I should consider think about?
For sure. I mean, there's, there's a lot,
you know, I, my path is unique because I'm sort of working for
the US law firm, but being in Israel.
So it's kind of like, you know, I didn't take the Israeli bar
and there are there's so many paths.
I guess, you know, I, I can't write a book about it all day
because, you know, I talk about a lot, you know, how try to help
people. But there's obviously the only
the Israeli law route, you know, taking the bar, joining the, you
know, working Israeli law firm has its pluses, has its minuses.
You know, there's people now with the post COVID era where
are entirely working for AUS law firm completely remote.
So that obviously has, you know, pluses has minuses.
So like, well, my situation is kind of unique and there's not a
lot of other firms that do it. But but what's been very special
has been able to sort of work at a high level on, you know, work
that USM trained in. It's the language that I'm
familiar with, you know, sort of work at a high level.
But at the same time, being in an office, you know, most of
our, almost our entire office is basically Olim 2 Israelis who
then became US lawyers. But but, but, but there is like
a real, you know, US kind of fine in terms of, you know, the
work that we do and the manner that we do it.
And at the same time just being together with people that were
all in this together. Like, you know, with the the
game, we're, you know, closed for piss off and Colmont.
I was able to like spend time with my kids and like that be
looking at my phone every second.
Like I've heard of, you know, for my peers that are in the
states. And again, just the the the
schedule was, you know, the fact that, you know, it's Friday,
Chavez is is our weekend, but today's it's a Sunday morning.
So you know, we have to work soon.
So, but it's a shift obviously of the US.
But, but I especially when I, when I was starting as like an
associate in Israel, in Chicago, you know, one time on a Sunday
at like, you know, one PMI had one of these like horror stories
where, you know, partner, you know, emailed me, I need you to
do XYZ now. And I was like, it's like Sunday
afternoon, like, you know, I'm with my wife and my, you know,
daughter at the time at Costco. Like I came home, you know,
whenever I say on my phone and everything like that.
And then the partner based and said to me, he's like, you know,
you not there Friday night, you're not there Shabbos, like
you got to be available Sunday. Like that's it like full stop.
And it wasn't like, you know, like there's not much to respond
to that. And, you know, thankfully now I
don't sort of have that just because we're sort of all on the
same same time schedule. So that that's something very
special. And obviously, you know, I don't
think we can, you know, we can't sit and talk at this time
without reflecting, you know, on the Matsab and what's going on,
you know, at this time, you know, in Israel and, and to sort
of work together with people. And, you know, the people in our
office that have, you know, kids that are in, you know, food was
serving in Gaza and then they have grandkids that we're in.
And there's like a real, like, we're in this together and
there's a real, real, you know, family vibe and also just sort
of in there to show being together.
And that's unheard of in a law firm setting where in the US
where it's just about hours. It's just different.
Something about Israel, I think that's not just for myself.
I think that's also a lot of people you've spoken with, you
know, a lot of the VCs and people in private equity and
there's something different, you know, about being here.
So, so, so for that, I think it's so great to be able to sort
of go to work and go to work with people that understand you
culturally, religiously, and and we're in this together.
So something about that is, is very special, right?
They don't just like, yeah, I was only doing it for, you know,
you had people that worked much more in the States, like on the
work for, you know, about almost two years.
But like, and I don't miss, I don't miss that at all.
Like I don't miss like, you know, Friday's Chicago going
home at, you know, 2:00 PM. You know, it's, it's just, it's,
it's it's not easy. It's really challenging.
It's like it's, it's hard and it requires a lot of shifting and,
and people can do it. Thank God this isn't, you know,
again, we're not talking about, you know, you have to hide.
I don't have to hide my you know, we're not talking about
the 50s and 60s or we wouldn't get hired or you have to hide
it. We were very open and the firm,
my other friends at other firms in Chicago, they'll give you the
cashers, they'll take care of you.
They'll give you the black car, the car to get home.
They'll take care of you. But they'll expect, they'll
expect you there must Chavez and Sunday and all that kind of
stuff. So yeah, I think it's very
blessed, blessed to be doing this here.
And it certainly sounds familiar resonates my first that year,
Israel, I was a 7th grader and I remember this feeling of Sunday
mornings at 6:30 waking up for my bus just flipping in the
mirror. I'm like this is just like a
yucky feeling of like getting up at 6:30 on a Sunday, but a
little more perspective, a little more time, a little more
water under the bridge. You realize the the profundity
of what you mentioned. You know the first myths of the
Holy Cazale Hem or coalition. That is the basis of everything
that we do is our schedule our our calendar.
And so once that's all set on Jewish and Israeli values and
and part of the part of the culture.
And then you mentioned air Shabbos.
So we're Solvic Arshads Jew. So all of us are often Fridays.
Almost everyone's country is off on Fridays.
And I really just creates a different vibe going into
Shabbos. All those things that have come
to appreciate a lot more after getting used to getting up early
on Sunday mornings. So you mentioned that your, your
firm is, is very Anglo and you're here in operation very
Anglo environment. So it's a big question that'll
lean face as far as integration goes.
So before we, I guess we'll transition talk about the show,
the beautiful show that you both segue from your law transition
by talking a little bit about the transition from being in
America to being in Israel and the integration and the
challenges that you face. And obviously each person is
different, but on your experiences in that regard?
No, absolutely. So, so reliable sandwich is
called, you know, today's term. You know, vernacular is like the
soft line, right? That's that's what everybody
says and basically comes, you know, there's different other
soft landings, like at this point, you know, people making
aliyah, you know, Ronaldin Efrat Renana flying.
Like, you know, it's funny, I think I always said, oh, like I
think, Oh yeah, first of all, you flying.
But like, what does that like, what does that mean?
No one's getting your house insurance tested.
You know, like it's not like, but you just kind of have this
like when you're in yeshiva, I think it's like, that's where I
want to be. But thankfully, I actually have
two first cousins in Ronaldin and I spent a lot of time here
when I was in yeshiva and we're actually going to do a pilot
trip. It was like, you know, we kind
of decided to come here and you know, dear friend Yakuamaran
Currents, who, you know, mutual friend of ours who made Ali just
a few months before he went to Ramat Shila where we started.
And like he went there 'cause another friend went there and
that's, we're going to go like that's just so natural.
So it was, it was incredible. It was incredible in like the
first year, you know, we were in that community.
We, you know, we were invited at every Shabbos and by amazing
people and taken in, you know, it was, it was, it's so special
to be surrounded, you know, by by other OLM And then that's,
that's really sort of who, you know, you're sort of on the
ground family is if you don't have parents here, which, which,
you know, we don't have. So so in that regard, it's been
it's been very special. And also what's unique, I think
especially even, I mean, not the chemist also is, is the number
of schools that really cater to OLM but but not even like it
means everything in English. It's just like they understand
sort of where you're coming from.
And I think there's also sort of like every flavor.
And we have friends across the board.
And it's obviously this is a whole other discussion of sort
of where you choose to put your kids in school.
But there's obviously, you know, the teelomi and then there's
like super teelomi and then there's like super caridy and
then there's kind of like Ingle caridy.
And like, you know, in that sort of Ingle caridy space, like
there are lots of schools. There's four or five schools for
girls. There's four for four boys.
You know, Nishka Feim. I don't have kids in that
school, but right across the street is is Netsuf.
And they've had, you know, people that I say he had Robert
Feffer, but now he's doing other schools and then there's Robert
Bomback. And like, you know, there's also
like other people involved sort of with the net that movement.
And that's the whole fascinating.
You know, it's literally across the street from us.
So that's a whole, you know, sort of thing.
There's a lot going on here in in Robert Chambers that you
don't necessarily find sort of in in other cities.
So that's been been very special.
But I think that's not without, you know, saying that this is
like, you know, this is not for everyone.
This is not a perfect model, but but but it definitely in sort of
when we come coming with young kids also enable us to sort of
look at the schools and choose, you know, again, we're not
coming with sort of older kids and and it just makes it much,
much easier. But but again, you know, the,
the community is, is, is phenomenal, like just the
people. They are your family and, you
know, we as a community went through, you know, Corona when
like, hey, where everyone's used to like, hey, make I gotta go
back every summer at the stage. Like it sounds very nice, but
it's like when you see, you know, but then once it's like,
wait, the airports are closed and my parents can't come and I
can't leave, you know, and then obviously you know, the current
stuff also like so it really requires like you really strong
community. Well, is different than a lot of
sort of Israeli born people. And I mean, Anton uncle lived in
Gibad Zen. So I spent a lot of time in
their Shoal and it's very it's a classic.
Like it's really show. I remember talking to uncle like
a year ago and said, like, what's membership, you know, and
he's like, Oh, no, Lemonton, they think membership for years.
Like we just started like that's because like the Yuri Allen
built their Shoal and like they just they never had a full time
paid Rabbi and now they're getting doing more of that.
But like that was just the classic model.
Like there's a Shoal and Yuri I'm dolls in and like there's no
rabbi and like we're like the complete opposite of like, if we
get to like, you know, we want membership, We want to Ravi
everyone like the community. So like there's something very
special and and and you're rabbits shimmers.
There's so many flavors of you can sort of find yourself and,
and find a a matinee community. Again, it's not the only one,
but, but, but it's been, it's been great.
And, and, and it obviously every year is, you know, you, you grew
up in in Beechamish. But but, but both Beechamish and
I was like, you know, I think in other numbers, it's the highest
percentage where the people go is to the city.
So there's obviously something that's working.
I think, you know, that is drawing people and Drew me, you
know, drew your parents, you know, So yeah.
But you mentioned two things there.
I want to tease them apart #1 is that there are some very
wonderful things about this city and this community.
And that's, that's great. We also called it a soft
landing, which is Maxima that there's also saying beyond the
landing period and there has to be some sort of transition in
thinking about how you go from those early years to maybe
longer term. So what are your thoughts about
for yourself, your family, your people around you, a long term
vision? Because, you know, it's nice to
have the soft landing, but is that really what you're going to
be doing and your kids are going to be doing and your grandkids?
Yeah, no, it's a great question is as we get, you know, a little
bit older actually at the end of this week, please.
God is our oldest, our daughter's Pavitzvah.
So I feel like we're, you know, in that year.
So we're getting old, I guess at the end of this week, but that
is just sort of like the next stage.
I mean, we're already, you know, we're not at high school yet,
but we're already know. It's like, you know, a few years
ago all we talked about shops table was like, you know, I'm
interested though. Now we're like all we talk about
is like high school and the older ones are girls and then
few years to have some boys. So then you know, the whole Army
question and that that's it's sort of the next thing.
But we have started going like in stages and kind of and you
know, kind of kind of growing up and, and thinking about it.
But these are these these questions are strong questions.
And I think they're the the with the thing about the RBS bubble
that you see, which is in a way nice is now a lot of the RBS
Brown Navish, others really, I think started in 97 or 98 or
something. So now a lot of, you know, kids
that were sort of born from that first cohort are getting there
to each other, right? I guess you're, you're part of
that also that you know, of of sort of that, that generation
kind of marrying each other. So that's like in Vegas.
I know it's like really beautiful everyone like Mary,
you know, and then it's nice and, and, and that works for a
lot of people. But obviously, what if, you
know, you know, you, you have a child who doesn't want to sort
of stay in that bubble? Or what about sort of, you know,
broader thinking about the broader, you know, country as a
whole. So, so I think again, there
there are, I'm not one of the you know, I, I look, you know,
with people that sort of like the in their guess, and I think
that that's really beautiful. Some people, again, you could
sort of look at it from different perspectives, but I
think for for my generation, it's like, it's really
beautiful. Like if my kids who got would
end up marrying like one of my full friends, like would be
awesome. Like these are great people,
like so that it makes sense and we're very similar and all that
kind of stuff. But I've been, I think all like,
you know, these are the strong questions when it's, you know,
when you when you have a child who goes to like an Anglo
friendly school and then, you know, is is suffering in Hebrew,
like, you know, that's a problem.
That's something that I think has to be addressed and I think
those questions I think are people are realizing now like we
have to address those. I don't think it's like and we
get to in a minute about about the show I'm involved in.
But Jaimezen seems are more Dastra, you know, so so he hates
the fact that like, you know, kids aren't lacking in either,
like it's not allowed. And he made it.
He makes a strong it was a strong point in the show and he
speaks a lot in Hebrew, ensuring that he gives, which was very
you know, Mahoodash and he he all announcements have to be
Hebrew and people come like, why are you announcing?
You know, Marv is going to be a you know, Marvia, you know, like
everyone's American, but like, you know, like we're in Israel,
like it's a very strong makes a very strong cheetah about that.
And all our kids programming is in Hebrew.
And again, it's it's, it's, it's, it's that's sort of a you
know, a statement. And again, I think, you know,
you, you tie the Rabbi Thefron and like, you know, the thing
when he's writing our army and and these are strong questions.
Like, and I think that people realize that it's not you can't
sort of just come and and just, you know, you ought to have to
think about the here and now, but you you have to kind of
think, you know, X leads to, you know, Y to Z and credit also to
sort of Waffman when we spoke, you know, spoke with him, you
know, we made out of 10 years ago and he was asking that about
schools and this school and that school and Raffman's like, what
do they go to high school? I don't know, he's like, well,
that's like a fundamental question.
And, you know, the diamond was like a first grader and he said,
you know, what's high school and you know, what's high school,
what's afterwards? Like, I think people are sort of
realizing that we do have to sort of think, think long term.
And again, think about, you know, Hebrew, think about
integration, think about, you know, if if a kid and Finnish
graduates from a local high school and then ends up in an
American institution, you know, like a hutzing program, like is
that, is that failure? Is that something good?
Is that how do you pay for that? If that like, I mean, like the
real, you know, dollars and cents questions and hushed off
the questions. And, you know, at this stage,
I'm still a bunch of years away, but I would if you would tell me
now. And so this is in 5-6 years
that, Oh, my daughter is going to the American, you know,
seminary for hutzing. I don't want that.
But maybe in, you know, in a few years, they'll say that's
actually great because then it shows that she's still
integrated with, you know, the US and she has those norms and
she'll stay here and she'll have the values.
And you could, you could, you know, cross, you know, cut this
in many different ways. But I think these are, they're
strong questions that, that, that we need to have.
And, and I think thankfully we're in a community.
They even are, you know, RBS as a whole where, where people are
asking these questions, but but they think they need to be, they
need to be asked. Right.
It's a the big questions and you know, I appreciate the
perspective and I think the, the image of the show Americans and
the guy and the guy by stumbling through Hebrew announcements,
China with his broken Hebrew is a, is a strong image in my mind
that I just think that my question for you maybe would be,
do you think that one of the keys might be actually having
more Israelis in your life and maybe trying to engineer that
little net? Because as much as you try to be
Israeli or speak Hebrew by like, if you're all surrounded by
Americans in your Shoal, in your community and in your law firm.
So then you're going to be limited to handicap in that
sense. Yeah, no, it's a great point.
It's funny, when we, we started to Shoal, I mean, Mishkafayim
was right now Mishkafayim I think has about 10 Shoals.
So you know, it's, it's like in the valley and they're actually
building more. But you know, it started as one
Merkazi Shoal, you know, and then now there's 10.
And so from that came, you know, some American Shoals came on the
Hashemis where, where Raidov and Akima Kabad came a Swarni came
as Swarni. How many things?
So like everything kind of like, you know, broke and Eliza boss,
our, our mayor, you know, previous mayor, we met with her
many times and her dream was a big Ashkenazi on the big Sari
and everyone's together and like it just, it just doesn't didn't
have to. It's just, there's so many
reasons why. But that was her dream and she
always spoke about it And, and you know, that was, that was her
vision and, and there's something beautiful in her
vision and there's something beautiful in what we have now.
But, but, but it's hard. Even in our show in the early
on, we had some more Israelis and then they, they a lot of the
things that we really wanted. They don't necessarily, you
know, again, with all of the sort of the kids programming and
all that kind of stuff in the formalities, you know, they're
more comfortable was just Boeing to local show and give sort of
more no frills And there's lots of great shows like that in also
and sort of the formalities and the sherim and necessarily
things that they are used to that they grew up with.
I have a very good friend here, Jessie Green actually works for
LFF. He works for Teclaw and we were
neighbors when I when we first moved to Michigan.
Fine, yes, he grew up, you know, here in Israel and he saw the
show isn't this and then the Flyers and he was just like, he
was like, he's still fired them. And he was always like we were
always reflecting and and he was coming from a whole different,
you know, vantage one. He now worked with LFFF and
already community building engineers.
It's all and like there, it's very foreign, like, you know,
sort of what was used, what was done here and, and sort of and
then the shows that that we're getting at.
But it was it was always great to sort of speak with him until
now, to speak with him and get a sort of his perspective.
But it's just it's very different.
We're coming from different places.
We're looking for different things.
What we're really looking for was it's kind of like, you know,
going back to the, you know, the, the the Jewish center that
was, you know, built to the Upper West Side.
You start with mortified capital, right, But then, you
know, obviously left shortly thereafter.
But, but that was sort of the vision.
And then sort of these Upper West Side Shoals where again,
where there's sort of like a JCC, you know, the Jewish
Community Center in component with the Shoal.
And you know, again, that was a very it was a big finish, you
know, in New York in 1920. But that's how most I grew up in
strong Shoals and and most of our Shoal grew up, you know,
thousands of as you know, seeing Ecker W Einstein or Everly grew
up with with with Shoals and looking looking for more.
And again, we don't have notice there is a math NASA in the
city, but like in a way, our Shoal is sort of functioning as
that, you know, as the sort of the JCC and the Shoal.
And then it's just it's different.
But but I think you, you want to, you know, definitely right,
in terms of like, well, the idea would we would just sort of like
all, you know, you know, be together and and dive them
together. And and the I don't think that I
mean, all the shows that that I could think of that are
successful, like this is a great show.
You know, Ziff for most up the hill where there's no Rabbi, but
it's a great Israeli American come go.
But it again, but having like it sort of allows that sort of
coming together and it's a very beautiful show.
Again, Israeli, American, everyone's together.
But I think it's sort of where you have like kind of thinking
and, you know, Rabbi stammers, you have full, you know,
leadership of Rabbi David and, you know, Rabbi Haber or
Cornfell. That means world class.
I mean, like those trolls are drawing angles like it's just
the just the nature of it. But but I think it's a great
point. I think again, it's it requires
further, further thought. This is sort of just this is one
approach, not that this is the only one.
You keep on mentioning box Ms., so let's really dive in that
little more toss about actually Ms. and how it was founded and
where it's holding today. Great.
So so we've actually started again.
So Michigan's were started the classic, you know, starts with
one show and then you know sort of the differentials came out.
So some of actually came out of another Shoal.
It's you know, the beginning is always fun.
There's this Shoal, there's that Shoal.
Like I remember even when I first moved to not be Chamas and
I went up the hill, you know, to the classic olive and someone's
like, oh, you know, that that shoal's a split of national and
national and this one go in the numbers, you know, so so
thankfully now we're about fight.
We're literally five years in. So at this point, you know who
the beginning was all this, you know, XYZ, but it all it's all
it's all worked out. But but a couple of us from Lily
Bruce Kolo Lam, who some of us had been actually when I was in
gross revising, revensing himself, you know, as a as a
fascinating background himself. And he learned in Torvidas and
then he learned in Yu for many years in Kohalion was Talmud of
Branch Stiegel and then came to heir to Straw to be a Shana
Berebi and a Tivare at a very young age and was a native for,
you know, about 15 years with Shana Berebi came very host of
Nevinsal with still his Rabi Muvak and a big part of, you
know, his sock and the shoulders is is sort of in the Derek with
Nevinsal and then now is teaching Gross gross Colo.
So a few of us when you were right interesting from gross,
you know, he sort of was was in the Mapa chemist and and there's
also was a nightclub that has been going on for 7-8 years,
started by Donnie Feiner, that very doctor Di Feiner, who's
also tremendous to be on the podcast, You know, a tremendous
person who's done a lot of amazing things.
Also gross alum and then who knew roboticine from Yu and and
sort of Reinstein was sort of doing teaching and where shell
sheddest is going on in different places, but it was
never sort of, you know, compratized.
And then we we so we sort of saw a need in in here in Nishka
Feim. We were looking for a strong
organic presence posing also someone again, sort of bring in,
you know, to do shell sheddesses to do communal and instead of
looking for for to sort of build a, a a sort of tequila.
And again, we started, you know, small, we started, you know, in
a parking spot and then right away, boom, came COVID and then
we were in a tent. And then thankfully, you know,
just working with the area, working with different Shoals,
we were able to get a piece of land and then we put up a, it's
called Biancala. So it's sort of like, you know,
it's kind of like a glorified, you know, it's not just the care
that you just put down. It was actually revolted.
And you know, it's right now we're actually a few weeks away
from unknowns. I'm about from potentially
during, you know, to do another to build a second floor with
Azure Nusham and to make it more MATIM for just for usage.
Right now it's sort of one big room.
So we can't we're limited in sort of having multiple things
at the same time. So in sort of slow process, but
thankfully we have the shows been growing and just tremendous
people like a lot of you know, a lot of guys working a lot of
guys, most of the February guys working a lot of guys have U.S.
jobs, which is also a unique thing about, you know, living in
these angle areas. So you have Bob at them that are
learning in the morning and then you know, sort of working, you
know, late into the night. And they also have a nice amount
of guys that work in in ratio and Nasira and Ashranu Shalvin.
So that's also really nice because that brings a lot of,
you know, show off shuntback kids that are always there that
are coming in and out of the Shoal and, and revised teaching
growth. So, you know, gross people
coming. So I think it's been nice and
sort of been able to sort of, you know, put ourselves, you
know, on the map in sort of in our, in our, in our world, but
obviously still a lot, a lot more, you know, to do.
And, and, and just for instance, like yesterday, where there's a
new program that revised seems to be pushing for a while.
Is that, you know, we, we we've done a lot of you know, we have
like Tilai Ladin, you know, take care of the kids.
And then we have like a, you know, Lim mood harem, like, you
know, Abu Sabanim, you know, again, like next little older
kids. But you know, the 5th, 6th, 7th,
8th grade boy is like, you know, what's there.
The coach I was actually doing is like is a long day, you know,
so there was no programming for that.
So we just added a Batache Shi program.
The guy's going to do an amid a week.
And that was that started the and led by Rusa, who's a red
being racist. So, you know, he's, he has real
focus that like, you know, getting guys and motivating guys
like the same thing of like sort of getting, you know, the racial
kids. And he's able to now do that
with, you know, our 6-7 day good boy.
So it's very special that people are able to sort of take
different, different cocos. And then then the show also has,
you know, very strong niche, which when my wife started, you
know, five years ago. And then, you know, we have
girls, kids, girls programming and, and, you know, a lot of
Marcos and, and, you know, the sort of things again, that we're
sort of are used to when you take this for brand aid, you
know, when you're, you know, in the states paying, you know,
$3000 a year membership, then you go full time rabbi.
So I guess this is like a little bit different here where it's
limited around Cava. You know, you know, the full
time rabbi is not something common here.
I don't even know if, you know, it was it exists in in in the
city of the championship. I don't, I can't think of any
rabbi who's full time. Obviously, you know, our Irvine
is teaching, you know, teachers and girls teachers in Traaga,
teachers in racial. So obviously, you know, there's
some there's it's a it's a different just sort of how
things work here. And I think people are a lot of
times, you know, perspective on that come to the show and
they're like, you know, like, you know, expecting, you know,
Oh, so you're like, Brandon's here like all day.
I'm like, no, it doesn't work like that here.
Like it's like, it's just not, it's not how, you know, I
understand. Like, so it's again, you're
thinking of like, you know, LA and Teaneck and you know,
Chicago and stuff. So it's it's different.
But but I think we're trying to to kind of mold something
special and and thankfully with, you know, Eisen's Eisenstein's
leadership and and I should just just to note if it would be, you
know, I couldn't really know sort of my involvement with the
show. Then first of all, my wife who's
been behind it and put up with, you know, everything from the
beginning. And thankfully there's also just
a great team around me. I sort of stepped down kind of
into like an emeritus role, but obviously still involved.
But but with some great other Febra that has, you know, that
has has sort of picked up the day-to-day just because, you
know, I think it's time for new blood and it's a good new
perspectives. And, and also just, you know,
other Rabin that have helped me. Obviously with David Miller, who
is Reinstein, it's very helpful when you know, one of your Rabin
is also a your boss, your your shore rabbi is boss.
So it's like we're sort of all coming, you know, from Rabilla,
we're able to bring Rabilla from Chavez and, you know, spoken
with him a lot. And also just in general, even
when we're talking about sort of the RBS bubble, you know, Judah
Michelle, he's in a no noted teacher of Aphia taught for many
years in racial and now, you know, running camp Hass.
So a lot of the Federer show are very close with him.
You know, from different places that you know, people and a lot
of guys went to racial. The only guys went from pass and
I just submitted. It was so hard to meet him, you
know, 7-8 years ago to share in rapid challenge.
And Rosita has a real, you know, he's amazing, he's amazing, he's
amazing and he has a real close and understanding of of, you
know, how to work with people. And I've since they wanted sort
of always, always been my go to. You know, I remember we're doing
like a cosmet and I was super into it.
And then, you know, a guy next to me in troll who's also
Dobbins there, like I asked him, can you do a cage?
And he's like, no, I'm like, I was like, you have to invade.
And I was like everyone I'm calling from junior.
I was like, you got to help me, like I need help.
How do you deal with people? And like, you know, there's a
way, there's a way to deal with people like that, like, you
know, the sort of the free riders And but you know, he's
special and special, you know, again, just, you know, his two
son in laws, you know, one one who you know very well,
obviously in Cologne fate white, another son-in-law.
You know, they're both his daughters got married.
And then, you know, they're both their husbands were off, you
know, called up or in, in fighting in, in the in the in
Gaza and like to have a Judah as a mentor or someone who works
together, you know, sort of just family.
They're always guiding me and, and to ask him about final
questions. And then to sort of see this
real arity straw again, like my kids are not there yet, but but
he's been, you know, someone's been very special to me into a
lot of a lot of the fabric here in the show.
It's special. It's special to to, you know, to
to be in a city where there's, there's there's a lot of talent
in the city of bitch Amish, like from bitch Amish Robbie Jamish,
like it's, it's very special. That's another sort of special
thing. Again, other cities have that
also, But but again, I didn't, you know, Chicago, they're
obviously they have great, great drivers, but you know, just in
terms of the, you know, number wise, like it's, it's not the
same. It's not like you, you can sort
of just, you know, everywhere you go sort of bring people and
connect people into your soul. And I think the informality a
little bit of of, of Israel sort of allows, you know, you could
sort of move around a little bit more than sort of how you do
sort of sometimes in the States, you know, kind of just a little
bit, you know, sort of tighter see or just.
And listening to you is really resonates what you're saying in
many ways. But one of the things is that
you built the resource that you want to have in your life.
You want to have that strong, robust community and show and
Rob's presence. And so you went out and you took
that role of building the resource that you wanted to have
for yourself and your family and your friends.
So reflecting a little bit on this podcast, it was a similar
journey that it was a resource that I felt I wanted for myself
and didn't really exist. So I felt I had to go and build
it. So we're going to tell you
reflections on the challenges and frustrations and also
opportunities and benefits of being in that role of the
building chair along with others obviously of building that
project that is so important to you.
Yeah, no, it's a it's a great question.
I think I I heard a recent story where where it's a classic joke
of, of someone's like, oh, where is, you know, the new show
starting, right. So let's say there's, you know,
Ruben's coming to your show and then all of a sudden Ruben's not
there. We quite OK, OK, whatever, and
he's not there week two. You know, he's at the week 3
like OK, he's at the breakaway, he's at the race and this and
then you like call within up. He said Ruben, like where are
you? He's like, oh, I've been sick
with mono and you know this and then you're like oh box of shit,
like it's like amazing, like you look completely stain of like
what is important and and everything like that.
I think that that's a real challenge.
And I think I I myself, you know, in the beginning, again,
we're sort of like this show, the new show, the breakaway
who's happening here. And it was hard in the beginning
to, to sort of to get out of that mindset.
And I think it, it's a real challenge.
And I will say, you know, thankfully, you know, a lot
kudos to my wife. And, you know, sort of like the,
the shul that we, you know, sort of were together with and we
used to broke apart from, you know, some of my best friends
are in the other shul and I, I love those guys and we're still,
you know, we're great friends. Like, you know, I'm in a weight
loss competition right now with some guys and the other like
we've got that. It's a small community.
We sort of we're all in this together.
But again, you can't, it's obviously it is natural.
I think in the beginning where you sort of trying to make why
we different, like why you different, what's new about you?
Well, you have to now do that in a way we're not putting down the
other Shoals. And they'll do that.
Why is your law firm different? Why is your show different?
Why is your Sheila different? Like again, the ideal is like to
do that without knocking the other, but it's hard to do.
It's just, it's hard because once you start sort of making a
separation, Oh, so you oh, you do XYZ.
So they don't, you know, well, they do it also.
Well, then why, why do you need to be there?
So, so again, I think that was sort of the struggle in the
beginning, but thankfully that really time heals that like
there's no other way around there.
Again, at this point, it's so long ago, you know, And again,
the the sort of the show we left from, I'm actually like I was on
the original bot of that other show.
So I tell like new people move in like, you know, like I
actually like help start, you know, that's like what?
It doesn't make any sense. Like, yeah, it was a long time
ago and that's only five years. But in the time, time heals that
and also to revise instance credit, like in the beginning,
there were a few times where I thought, you know, just in
general, things happened and I, I felt that I could still stand
out for him. And I had to like I had to go to
battle and, you know, someone, you know, slide it in.
And every time I call Ryan's engine, he's like, stop, like,
just like I don't need that. And, and again, you know, at the
time I was younger, I didn't know how these things worked and
a lot of credit to him. And I think it takes, you know,
it takes maturity. It takes, you know, someone
who's been a little bit more experienced, but but that also
sort of enables, you know, everyone to sort of just, you
know, kind of let, let let things develop.
But but again, it's sort of what you're hitting at of like to
sort of like to step back. And I, I think that that for
myself has been really special. You know, everyone, everyone's
always joking. Like my answer now is like, I'm
not involved. You know, I would say I'm not
involved. I'm involved.
And then, you know, because like, I'm still involved and I'm
not like, not really that involved, but sometimes, but it
is special. And it's it's special to to to
even yesterday, like, you know, to look around, see all these
these kids are learning and everything and like to know that
you had a father, you know, just and just in getting people
together. Not that I did anything special
and had any special skill or anything like that, but I was
able to to help, you know, bring people together and help bring
Rabbi in. And then sort of like, you know,
things like, you know, can work together.
But but again, once you you start a project, you know, you
never know, you know, what's going to what's going to be and
it says lots. You have to shy and I maybe the
night before we like announced the show.
I remember calling the no, and I'm like, so I make sure, like I
had your broth. It's like it's like a move that
like, you know, that like blast, like we're good, we're good,
like we're good, we're good with me doing this.
You go with the writings in doing this, like just again,
just take sort of get that. And and you know, it's a rough
time We have, we have we're being what we could turn to
because because otherwise, you know, I think it's, you know,
it's hard. It's hard because you're always
like, wait, am I just doing this for for, you know, for for
conflict, for doing this for, you know, type of comfort or,
you know, for some similar ulterior motive.
And, and again, it would be we're we're natural, right?
There are there are elements of it.
You know, you doing this to again, like in the beginning,
when it's like, you know, that first time you make a million,
you know, and that other show fails, you know, because they, I
mean, those guys have to come over to your show and they have
it happened, you know, and like, wow, it's like, well, it's a
great feeling, but like that's not that's not the point of
this. And and I think Regina a lot
also, and there was specifically, you know, one time
someone left me a voice note and it was a very it was someone,
you know, on our pro-life, but it was like a very divisive and
like, you know, XYZ did like this whole thing.
And I said to them, because there was no names of any, you
know who you didn't know the person getting it and there was
no names of, of specific, you know, whatever.
Like it was, it was, you know, I don't have time for this, but I
think I, I think it weren't like I was very, you know, just in a
vacuum, like the statement, like, what do I do with this?
Like, and I just remember you like like, wait, what are we
what are we sure? What are you what are you
probing this this is for are you doing this for a sham?
Like we're we're going to sham and all this and like, you know,
I'm saying I've listened a lot of like emotional wander machine
and like, you know, he's yeah, so young when he talks to that
also when he was doing NH photos and like, you know, there there
is ultimately like we're all doing this, you know, it's we're
all doing this ultimately, you know, for like to be bonded of a
track and stuff. So like, where is that in this
discussion? And then and I think we're like
really put me in place again when it was like this again,
like let's all take a step back. Like, you know, you know, let's
just big picture and it's a total to doom.
So so I think again, think I just that I have to think, think
we're Bam that that have, you know, enabled again, and I'm not
I'm not perfect. I don't for someone's going to
listen to this and they're going to call me up and laugh at this
part because, again, I don't think I'm you know, the, the the
the the paragon of this. But if it's something that that
I start for and I think, you know, I'm, I'm, you know,
getting at a little bit and as I get older, I would say like as I
can able, I understand this more and more.
So just so yeah, on that, on that point.
So they said Ben Arbay and Labino.
So I'm not there yet, but please go ahead in a few months.
So I hit that. And then Ben Shishen was Zikna.
So Lachman told me a story once someone came to a Rebbe and they
said, you know, I'm turning 60, you know, they're getting old.
And then Shishen was Zikna. Like I'm really worried about
this next stage of life. So Redby said.
Like, don't worry, you didn't hit Ganabra and Labina.
You're not kind of don't worry about being choosing the Zigna.
So hopefully these are stages that we're able to hit into true
accomplish. But again, so there's something
there's and there's just hitting on something obviously very
wise. You don't have Vena.
We just don't have at this moment.
So there's so many important points there about
relationships, community building, Beam guiding you, and
Sparkle staying at the center of everything we're doing.
And I really appreciate all of that.
We're winding down on time now. So maybe the last few minutes
you talk a little bit about some of the writing that you do, a
lot of different writing and different styles and different
genres and topics, and you just tell us about a little bit about
that as we wind down the conversation.
OK, great. Yeah, so I kind of I always had
a bug bug for writing and it's come from expressed itself in
different points, you know, sort of a long a long the journey.
So a tablet I've a dear friend, NASA Butler, who's involved in
in tablet. So most of my earlier years,
sort of years in last year in Chicago and then earlier years
in Israel, I wrote 10 different articles for them and Jews in
baseball, baseball, we didn't even talk about it all 47
minutes. It's crazy, you know, made it as
far or whatever 45 minutes. And then about mentioning
baseball, but that that's, you know, again from LA roofs is
it's a deep love and it's it's not just there's, you know,
people, you know, watching a game, but there's, you know,
sort of the history component to it.
And, you know, baseball books and everything, You know,
there's no room for, you know, in my, you know, man cave here.
So all my baseball books are actually in my law, you know,
the office at work. So it's like you get to keep it
all, keep it all over there. But but there, you know, there's
a real, real baseball love and and real love of history.
And so I've done some really some cool stories along the way.
You know, Sandy Colfax called my cell phone.
You know, I have some cool things that are written about
and also, as I mentioned in the beginning, is sort of Holocaust
shaped a lot of my it continues to shape, you know, my identity
and and my my upbringing. So written different articles
about the grandparents story and how back to next.
So that that was, you know, some really great outlet and and
something that I've been able to use and sort of send those
articles along and and been very special.
In addition, I was able to write something on this farm blog and
Hot Kill, which is a very special article that I had
worked on for a little while and worked with Naha Butler and dear
friend else Eliezer brought also on that.
And in addition, now at this point, you know where I am right
now, I'm trying to get some write something sort of once a
year that will sort of get published.
So I'm not if I'm not if I'm just edited an amazing book on
the FEMA from Misha Berra for Kaylin.
And there's phenomenal articles in there.
And you know, it was gracious to add a little bit of my piece,
you know, a little smart piece to really a phenomenal book, you
know, plug for that book. Yeah, it's an amazing book, but
I sort of like a little bit of what we talked about is sort of
like making Alia and sort of living in this bubble.
And again, not, you know, having been in the army, you know, and,
and the being in Israel during this time.
How do I deal with that? How do I, you know, also having,
you know, having tremendous artists, but then also sort of
reflections of guilt. So.
So that was a very special article.
And then sort of on a personal level, I also had sort of, you
know, IIA few Mustafa's. Then I, I compile sort of notes
on each omelet and sort of just, you know, small country thing
that I sort of wrote, I just sort of sent to friends and I
hadn't done anything with sort of on a, you know, math level.
So I, I think it's a lot of sort of a lot of writing.
Now I'm doing also sort of on this personal time, just
collecting over the years. I've also, you know, I, I just
learning more and more facitous and, and a lot of history
facitous and some amazing books. And I always found that that
ideas, you know, that you would see they're a great idea.
You like, if you don't write it down and you don't, it just kind
of goes in, you hear a great voice like you're not going to
remember, you're not going to write it down.
So with encouragement, you know, of some friends a few years ago,
I, I basically started just sort of writing down emails on
Hasidic ideas, say history or Rebbe died writing something
like that, just a small idea. And then, and then basically I
would write sort of an e-mail and send it.
I send it to my family and then after 100 I would collect them
together. So, and now I've, I've, you
know, I have four of these collections, you know, I have
400 ideas. And then now I'm, I just
finished another hundred, which I have to now put it into this
small, you know, again, this is that it's just send it on the
friends. You know, anyone wants it, you
know, happy to reach out, but I don't know, I know I'm booming
with it. Like I, I think it's just but,
but the idea was sort of again, you, you listen to Cheryl Wolf
Weimer or you, you know, you read something in the Judas
Vegaris or, or, you know, you look at them around here and
like in these beautiful ideas, these inspirational ideas.
And like, again, if you're not without sort of writing it down,
without putting it, it's just going to you're, you're in that
you're going to forget it. And and that's OK.
And I'm judging, you know, forgetting.
But but there's something I just kind of felt that I was lacking.
I think with the sort of the main, the primary text is, you
know, Gomara, there's like, you know, Gomara, the Gomara's
there. But a lot of these like great
ideas are like, like, you know, you don't necessarily find that
you're not going to find the trigger to to find it again.
So, so I think, yeah. So that's sort of another sort
of project. I think more I think with that
project. I don't know, we'll, we'll see.
I think I, it's now it's just been enjoyable.
You know, now I have at least, you know, 500, you know, ideas
and hopefully, you know, maybe another 500, maybe in 1000, you
know, I'll call you up and you can think about what to do with
it. But but I but I think it's it's
an important idea for unless it is that there, there's obviously
sort of like, you know, a formal publishing, which I've done a
little bit of because obviously you've had people on that
they've done more people have done less.
There's only different, different ways.
But but again, something like, you know, you know, dear mentor
mine, Z Mendelson, you head on to put out, you know, like a
safer, like in that quality and caliber that's inspirational to,
you know, maybe maybe you know, it's situational as.
What do you say? It's both.
I did. The wrong word, but but
something like that is is amazing.
So, so, so maybe, you know, maybe maybe that that's the
answer. Maybe that's something I'll work
on, you know, in the next next period.
But but I think I think it is important for people to at
least, you know, again, whether you know, it's whether you have
a spiritual diary like, you know, of conquer, you know,
you're writing things down like Robbie Nachman or, you know,
something but the talent to be sort of to be producing.
And maybe it's just, you know, an audio blog or something
internal for your family. I don't did some level to start
to be producing because I think it is it is helpful and it shows
it allows you to continue. You're sort of growing and you
sort of see your growth and also, you know, at the right
time to think about how ways that you could, you know, spread
it out. I think like, you know, this
podcast is amazing, Like, you know, you could have potentially
done all these interviews and waited five years and then
published a book or something. And maybe that's maybe that
means maybe you still will, but maybe right now you're putting
it out and you're getting feedback in active in real time,
and that's amazing. You know, again, just on the
podcast, I have this, you know, idea in my head of like doing
something with my father, you know, my father's psychologist
and there's all these amazing ideas and like, you know, and,
and it's, it's there. It's like, I already spoke to,
you know, PR person and someone who could help with the social
media component and accept the podcast.
And then, but then I know like then like then I never got back
to him. It's like, you know, but I don't
have to think about these, these amazing idea and like, I don't
want to be something, you know, in 10 years and like, well, why
didn't I go through with that? So I think we all have to, you
know, sort of we all have to come up with these ideas.
We have to act on them and, and yeah, kudos on, on this podcast.
And there's an amazing opportunity for, to hear
different, different. I've learned a tremendous amount
from, you know, people I knew that were on the podcast and,
and you know, people I'm not familiar with.
And again, just everyone just trying to, to grow in their own
way. And I think that's what's
beautiful. Also, like you've had people
from across, you know, different living in different places,
living in different fields, you know, even had doctor on 'cause
that was, it was an exciting thing.
So I was, I think it's something very special.
So kudos for, you know, for promoting this and and for
spreading this. Thank you, thank you.
It was it was definitely touching the number of people
reached out and told me that they actually sat down deep
notes on certain conversations, which touched a lot because it
really shows that the touch ball pad that it was too wild.
They're washing dishes or driving.
So they really want to concretize and have that extra
level. And I do hope to be doing more
written content around what we're doing here.
And I just wanted to ask you what your favorite episode was
so far that you mentioned that you're you're you're loyal
listeners. Yeah, no, yeah, I have some.
I have some different. I mean like MO Merlich is my
picture and my my softball side. I love MO.
So I, you know, there's no, no, I love them all, but I, I think
for for me personally, again, Zvi think maybe the LA
connection. My families go like that.
But when I first actually let Zvi's father, Les Mendelson also
is a long time family friend. And I, I first Les gave me Zvi
safer before I even met Zvi. He's like, I have a son or a
safer and I'm like, OK, I don't know what that means.
Like, I don't know when I can just go to the Super and then,
you know, sort of looking through the pieces.
And then I have the opportunity to meet, to meet Zvi and to, to,
to to see the safer and then, you know, to hear his to hear
his journey. A lot of, you know, I had
learned a lot from him from his podcast.
And again, someone that that's, you know, that's incredible.
And the, the, the love that he has for his Rebbe, for Scheffler
is, is, you know, unparalleled. And, and so see it again, it's
like, again, we've seen people in Washington Heights that are
like that. We see people in the girls that
are like that. But to see someone, you know,
who's in Renana, who's, you know, who's, you know, working
at such a high level and and you know, and you know, and, and the
community leader, but the public that he has for his Rebbe like
that, that that was it was worth it.
I think, you know, for me to, you know, just for just to hear
his love for a chapter and and, and to, you know, to to see that
in action was very, very special.
And then that touched that just hit a chord.
So. So that's a fake, back to that.
OK. Thank you, Eric.
Thank you so much for tuning in to Stark Tank.
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The next episode is the finale in the Perky Devil series,
followed by a very special interview dropping next Monday,
so stay tuned for that. Until next time, keep on
stacking clever.