Shtark Tank Are Employees Really Free? LIVE in Tel Aviv with Rav David Lapin
This special episode of Shtark Tank is a live recording from our third community event—and the first ever live podcast-style conversation. Recorded at the beautiful DLA Piper offices in Tel Aviv, the room was full of professionals, Bnei Torah, and thoughtful seekers, all gathered to explore a question at the heart of both our Jewish identity and our working lives: What does it mean to be free?
We were honored to host Rabbi David Lapin, whose Torah, business experience, and wisdom challenged our assumptions about freedom, slavery, technology, work, and what really defines success.
Together, we unpack:
Why "freedom from" isn’t enough—and how Torah gives us freedom to rise above instinct
The hidden cost of entertainment and escapism
How Kiddush Hashem shows up at work—and why restraint is more powerful than reaction
What Viktor Frankl teaches us about agency in the workplace
How Shabbos might be our last line of defense in a distracted world
Whether you were there in person or are tuning in from your commute, we invite you to join this deep, practical conversation about the kind of inner freedom that can transform your life—from the boardroom to the beis medrash.
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Special thanks to DLA Piper for graciously hosting. This event was sponsored in memory of Shlomo David Ben Reuven Stanley Cohen z”l, by his son Simon Cohen. Also dedicated to the memory of Yehudit Shlomit bat Breina a”h
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:18 Understanding Slavery and Freedom for professionals
09:49 Finding Spirituality in a Busy Life
14:52 Engaging with Torah: Quality Over Quantity
17:43 Freedom and Entertainment: A Double-Edged Sword
25:03 Mastering Impulses: The Power of Restraint
26:30 Audience Questions
31:50 The Importance of Responsibility and Boundaries
32:32 Shabbos: A Sanctuary in a Busy World
38:16 The Interplay of Restrictions and Freedom in Judaism