Shtark Tank

Get ready for Pesach with a mega collection of divrei torah, from Bnei Torah in the workforce.You will hear from Rav Yakov Danishefsky, Rav Jonathan Livi,Rav Max Berger, Zak Lenik, Mark Tobin Dr. Mordy Goldenberg and Yoel Van Messel.At the end, you will hear some ideas of mine which I shared on The Greatest Parasha podcast, hosted by Raymond Ashkenazie and Emma DayanA big thank you to Shlomo Price for his help with extra editing.Wishing you and your families a Chag Kasher Vsameach Guest Bios and LinksRabbi Yakov Danishefsky, LCSW CSAT, is a Chicago-basedtherapist and author of the widely read Attached, the newly released AttachedHaggadah, and the forthcoming sefer The Delight of Shabbos. He leads AvodasHaLev, a Chicago organization devoted to meaningful learning and communityprogramming, and hosts The Attached Life Podcast. He is known for bringingdepth, passion, and warmth to everything he teaches.To order the Haggadah:To order in US:https://a.co/d/03dgzXKD https://alehzayis.com/product/the-attached-haggadah/ https://feldheim.com/the-attached-haggadah To order in E"Y:https://siparti.co/attachedH/Jonathan Livi is founder and Principal of RJL CapitalAdvisors, which places JV equity for middle market commercial real estate transactions across the United States. He is also the Hazzan and assistant rabbi at Shaare Rachamim Synagogue in Great Neck, NY, in which capacity heteaches Tanakh daily. His shiurim are available on Spotify and Apple Podcast via his various podcasts. He is married to Kayla, and father to 3 kids.https://open.spotify.com/show/45srXeZZgZKHAomOmpIkmh?si=hf6h-z2dToezYb95H0dMxQ https://open.spotify.com/show/48iHU4mP1cvgZOGFrC5Jys?si=JinlUNvmSeimGKQl9LWiMQ Max Berger was an aspiring rabbi turned aspiring philosopherturned VC. He spent the last two years at Next Gear Ventures, a Tel Aviv basedearly stage VC fund, before moving back to New York this year. ZakLenik  is a real estate advisor in Israel who works mainly with Anglos looking to buy a home andbuild a life here. His own aliyah journey didn’t start in the most typical way, but through years of learning—and later teaching—Torah, he developed a strongsense of purpose that ultimately brought him back to Israel for good. Now, he helps others navigate that same journey, combining real estate guidance with a deeper understanding of what it means to truly build a life here https://www.instagram.com/zak_in_israel?igsh=YTU0MWRlbW5iMGMx&utm_source=qr 00:00 Intro00:52 Rav Yaakov Danishefsky: Writing Your Own Story18:08 Rav Jonathan Livi: The Revolution of Freedom34:40 Rav Max Berger: Matzah and Authenticity52:26 Zak Lenik: Freedom or Slavery?01:11:12 Mark Tobin: The Holiday of Emunah01:19:07 Dr. Mordy Goldenberg: Late Night Vision01:25:51 Yoel Van Messel: Understanding Our Goals01:38:40 Yaakov Wolff on Greatest Parashah Podcast02:01:26 Outro

What happens when Torah, growth, and mental health start pulling against each other instead of working together?In this episode of Shtark Tank, Yaakov Wolff speaks with Dr. Dan Jacobson — psychologist, musmach, co-author of Flipping Out, and author of Light in the Darkness — about stress, anxiety, yeshiva pressure, and the long-term impact they can have on our Avodat Hashem.To recieve a free copy of Light in the Darkness, about kedusha in today's world, email dan.jacobson.psyd@gmail.comThey discuss the difference between healthy pressure and unhealthy stress, why anxiety seems to be rising in today’s world, and how formative yeshiva experiences can shape a person’s relationship with learning for years afterward. They also talk about balancing Torah, work, and family life, navigating Pesach pressure in a healthier way, and approaching struggles in kedusha with more honesty and less shame.This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about serving Hashem with more clarity, more balance, and more simcha. What We DiscussedDr. Jacobson’s path into psychology and his interest in the intersection of Torah and mental healthThe difference between stress and anxietyWhy some pressure is necessary, but too much can become destructiveHow yeshiva culture can sometimes create unhealthy stress around learning and growthThe long-term effect of yeshiva experiences on a person’s relationship with TorahWhat to do if learning has become tied up with guilt or pressureBalancing competing values like learning, marriage, parenting, and responsibilityHow to reduce stress around Pesach prep and focus more on meaningOCD, halachic uncertainty, and the importance of clear guidanceWhy so many men struggle silently in areas of kedushaWhat Dr. Jacobson hoped to add with his booklet Light in the Darkness Key TakeawaysStress and anxiety are not exactly the same thing. Stress is often tied to present pressure, while anxiety is more future-oriented.Some pressure is part of growth. The goal is not zero stress, but healthy stress in the right dose.Yeshiva can be deeply formative, for good and for bad. If Torah became associated with guilt or pressure, that needs to be rethought.A working person should try to build a relationship with learning that includes pleasure, connection, and simcha — not just obligation.Many struggles become worse when there is too much doubt, especially for people with OCD tendencies.Pesach can become overwhelming when people lose sight of what is halacha and what is chumra, habit, or family expectation.In struggles around kedusha, shame and secrecy often make things worse. Honest, psychologically grounded guidance helps. Notable Lines / Ideas“If the prime emotion that someone has with regard to their learning is a negative emotion, that has to be checked.”“You want there to be simcha and pleasure and joy and connection with your learning.”“We build our strength and resilience by encountering and learning how to handle some difficulty.”“The holiday of freedom can feel enslaving if we lose sight of meaning.”Chapters00:00 Intro05:20 Stress and Anxiety, in Yeshiva and beyond28:12 Balancing learning, marriage, parenting, and other real responsibilities32:15 Pesach pressure: cleaning, OCD, chumros, and staying sane38:52 Light in the Darkness: what Dr. Jacobson wanted to add to the kedusha conversation45:48 Rapid fireAbout the GuestDr. Dan Jacobson is a psychologist and musmach who has spent years thinking and writing about the intersection of mental health, yeshiva life, and Avodat Hashem. He is the co-author of Flipping Out and the author of Light in the Darkness, a booklet addressing struggles in kedusha with psychological depth and Torah sensitivity.

Dov Adler is an audit partner who has in intereresting relationship with auditing. In this episode, Dov Adler shares a refreshingly honest take on work, fulfillment, and responsibility. We talk about growing up in a rabbi’s home, choosing accounting over rabbanus, wearing a kippah in corporate America, and building a career that is meaningful not because every task is enjoyable, but because of the life and impact built around it.We also discuss Torah learning during busy seasons, public speaking, fundraising, parenting, and the challenge of raising children with patience, example, and conviction. This is a wide-ranging conversation about ambition, service, and what it means to build a serious Torah life in the workforce without thinking in narrow boxes.Key Highlights:Smashing Paradigms: Why you don't need to "love" your core job to find professional fulfillment.The Power of Bribes: The viral story of how Dov used a car lease to spark his son’s love for Gemara.Kiddush Hashem at PwC: Navigating the corporate ladder while maintaining a visible Jewish identity.Fundraising as a Mission: How Dov balances multi-million dollar campaigns for schools and shuls with his 9-to-5.Consistent Learning: Tips for maintaining two sedarim a day, even during peak "busy season."Listen to Dov's shiurim on YUTorah

How do Bnei Torah apply skills from the workforce to serve non-profit organizations? In this episode, Yaakov Wolff speaks with Allen Pfeiffer and Hillel Scheinfeld two successful professionals who bring their strengths into the world of tzedakah and nonprofits.They discuss why donors should think more seriously about where their money goes, why nonprofits need more transparency and accountability, and why giving should not be passive. The conversation also explores how working Bnei Torah can contribute not only with checks, but with perspective, standards, and real involvement.This is a conversation about treating tzedakah with the seriousness it deserves.In this episode:Why tzedakah is not just “giving money away”Why business skills matter in the nonprofit worldHow donors should think about impact and accountabilityWhy trust and transparency matter so muchWhat smaller donors can do besides give moneyHow to support causes in a more thoughtful way

Uri Edell shares his story of addiction, rehab and recovery.If you need help, contact Amudim now.Crisis hotline can be reached at 646-517-0222, or from israel 02-374-0175This is a special Purim bonus episode—a raw and honest conversation meant to warn and wake people up.In this episode, Uri Edell shares his personal story—how gambling started young, how “just for fun” escalated over years, and how legalization + apps turned it into something 24/7, always within reach.Uri describes:The first win that hooked him—and the years spent chasing that same highHow gambling isn’t only about money, but about time, secrecy, and controlWhat happens when betting becomes available in the palm of your hand, anytime, anywhereThe “VIP” treatment that makes you feel special… while pulling you deeperThe moment he realized this was hurting the people he loved most—and why he finally came cleanRehab, Gamblers Anonymous, rebuilding trust, and living one day at a timeThis conversation is intense, but it’s also hopeful. Uri doesn’t share this story for drama. He shares it to help someone listening avoid the same trap, or to help someone already struggling realize: you’re not alone, and help is real.Purim Sameach—and please, a safe one.

We’re coming up on the 40th yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, and this episode is a guided tour through Rav Moshe’s Torah on the questions every Ben Torah eventually faces:How do I build a life where Torah stays central… while I’m working, providing, and living in the real world?Our guest, Rabbi Moshe Kurtz (rabbi, podcaster, and serious Rav Moshe researcher), just released a new sefer: Me'oros Moshe — a curated collection of Rav Moshe’s divrei Torah on Pirkei Avos, pulling from Igros Moshe, derashos, chidushim, and key writings from talmidim and family.You will hear: how Rav Moshe frames kollel, parnassah, college, career choices, and what it means to live with “aseh Torascha keva” even outside the beis medrash.What you’ll learn in this episode:1) Kollel isn’t “all or nothing”2) “College” is not automatically the derech ha-parnassah3) The big idea: “Aseh Torascha keva” is about orientation, not just hours4) Career choices: Rav Moshe’s lens on medicine and “zero-sum” tradeoffs5) Rav Moshe’s greatness wasn’t only brilliance — it was care-driven psakTo order Meoros Moshe, click hereBio: Rabbi Moshe KurtzRabbi Moshe Kurtz serves as the Rabbi of Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown, PA. He is the author of Meoros Moshe (Aleh Zayis, 2025), a Pirkei Avos anthology of scholarship and stories about HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. Rabbi Kurtz previously hosted Shu"T First Ask, Questions Later, published Challenging Assumptions (Mosaica Press, 2023), and writes about contemporary halachic issues in forums such as the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society (RJJ Journal), OUTorah, The Lehrhaus, Torah Musings and Jewish Action. Rabbi Kurtz proudly serves as a member of the Allentown Police Department’s chaplain unit as well as the Allentown School District Superintendent’s Interfaith Council. He also contributes to The Morning Call and was featured on Business Matters, a production of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (WFMZ Studios). Rabbi Kurtz hosts the As I Walk Through the Valley podcast, and is currently writing a book based on his Unpacking the Iggerot column at Tradition. He can be reached at rabbi@sonsofisrael.net. 

What if the most “frum” thing you can do at work… is simply doing your job well?In this episode, I’m joined by Rav Dovid Gottlieb for a sharp, practical conversation built around a powerful piece from Rav Shlomo Wolbe (Alei Shur)—with guidance that every working Ben Torah needs.(The short chapter can be found in Alei Shur vol. I pp. 269-271)Soon after, we take these ideas into one of the hottest and most real-life arenas right now: religious soldiers in the IDF, and the tension of doing what’s right while still missing the beis medrash, the minyan, and the Yom Tov experience. The takeaway applies to soldiers and professionals: avoid guilt, stay honest about what you’re missing, and keep striving.In this episode:The Midrash about Chanuch the cobbler: how “every stitch” can be holy when your goal is to help peopleRav Wolbe’s big idea: there’s no such thing as truly “secular” work when you bring the right kavanaThe “Do Your Job” principle: why learning/davening at the wrong time can become a mitzvah haba’ah b’aveirahThe soldier/workforce parallel: no guilt when you’re doing what Hashem needs from you now—while still feeling the loss of what you’re missingBalancing the three jobs: family, parnassah, and Torah (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all formula)A powerful closing charge from Rav Wolbe: Hashem hasn’t given up on you—keep striving to grow in Torah“Latent awareness”: how Torah stays with you even when you’re fully focused on your missionTo support Religous IDF soliers click here and support Tzalash.If you want to help us grow Shtark Tank, make sure to hit subscribe and leave a 5 star review, thanks!

In this episode, I sit down with Yossi (Joseph) Landes—President and co-founder of Nerdio (a unicorn), and a 23-year veteran of Microsoft.But this conversation isn’t mainly about startups.It’s about growing in Gemara when you don’t see yourself as “the best learner,” and building a life where Torah stays at the center—through airports, moves abroad, pressure, and big responsibility.We talk about:“I might be the worst learner in the whole yeshiva.” And how that humility became fuel—not a stop sign.Daf Yomi as identity: train rides, flights, gates, and “downtime” that turns into real learning time.Awe for talmidei chachamim: the pictures on his desk, and what they remind him of when work gets loud.Lessons from Satya Nadella + lessons from yeshiva—especially the mindset of being a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all.What it takes to stay frum while living around the world—plus huge hakaras hatov to Chabad for making that possible.“Truth is found in the field”: how empathy, listening, and outside-in thinking shaped his leadership style.The long game: building a unicorn company, and still saying, “When I’m done, I want to learn full time.”If you appreciate Shtark Tank, please make sure to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

Super Bowl week is here, and as Bnei Torah, we can't avoid asking a hard question: what is sports doing to our time, our headspace, and our Avodas Hashem?In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sit down with Rav Moshe Benovitz (Director of NCSY Kollel) for a real, nuanced conversation about loving sports without losing yourself in it—including the famous story of a Super Bowl night in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavne where he made a deep decision to skip the game.We talk about:When sports is healthy… and when it starts to take over“Must-see TV,” compulsion, and where to draw the lineSports as a “religious” experience (arenas as temples)What Torah educators and marketers can learn from the NFL’s pullCommunity, purpose, and building a mission-driven lifeA fun detour into Bill Simmons and why sports can create real connection

For Parashat Beshalach / Shabbat Shirah, we’re pulling a fan-favorite from the archives: a wide-ranging conversation with Jewish music legend Abie Rotenberg — songwriter of classics like Acheinu, Mama Rochel, and Na’ar Hayiti.But this episode isn’t only about music.A.B. shares how building a serious career in business gave him something rare in the music world: freedom. Freedom to write at his own pace, choose what to release, and never treat music like a paycheck.We also get into:His path from chinuch to the family import business (and what that transition really felt like)Why he sees songwriting as a real form of chinuch — and how melodies can open up the words of tefillah and pesukimThe story and intent behind Marvelous Middos Machine, and the very real dilemmas of teaching values through songsReflections on Acheinu returning to the world in a painful new wayHis Torah writing (sfarim on Eliyahu Hanavi and Rabbi Akiva) — plus a surprising third book: a baseball novel built for kiruvBaseball, balance, and the line between a healthy outlet and a distractionSubscribe if you’re enjoying the show — it helps more than you think.