Shtark Tank Learning a Half Seder with a Whole Heart (Episode 75!!) ft. Yaakov (Bryant) Oberg
What happens when the dream job just doesn’t feel like your dream?
In this episode, we sit down with Yaakov (Bryant) Oberg, who left a successful banking career in LA in search of something deeper. What started as spiritual curiosity led to yeshiva in Yerushalayim, and later to a new challenge—integrating Torah learning into the reality of full-time work.
He started out by learning a full morning seder followed by working in the afternoon and evening. But then he burnt out.
This lead him to help launch: Kollel Gedulei Tzion, a kollel built around a bold idea—a half seder of high-quality learning for Bnei Torah in the workforce.
This episode explores:
The decision to walk away from a high paying job in pursuit of meaning
What it looks like to live an integrated Torah–work lifestyle
Why sometimes less learning can lead to more growth
It’s a powerful reminder that success isn’t about how many hours you log—it’s about where your heart is.
For more information on Kollel Gedulei Tzion, led by Rabbi Zev Horowitz, go to https://www.geduleitzion.org/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
06:12 Leaving Corporate Life for Yeshiva
18:13 Establishing a New Learning Framework
33:43 Reflecting on Work, Passion and Spirituality
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