Shtark Tank

As we mark the yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, we’re remembering him through the eyes of two working Bnei Torah who knew him personally — not as a public icon, but as a mentor, a mensch, and a man of deep humility.Joe Hyams spent his late teens on Rabbi Sacks security team. driving him to events across London and making sure he was safe. From the front seat, he saw the balance between majesty and modesty. “He carried himself with a regal sense of presence — yet he’d be the one holding the door open for you.” Joe describes the long, quiet drives before speeches, the relaxed warmth afterward, and how those moments shaped his own path in Torah, family, and career.David Frei, a London lawyer and communal leader, became one of Rabbi Sacks’ trusted editors. He saw the scholar behind the sermons — “a brilliant writer and a brilliant orator,” who read a new book every night and took feedback with humility. David recalls those tense early-2000s years and how Rabbi Sacks emerged stronger, turning personal trials into a wider moral voice for faith and reason.Together, their memories reveal a side of Rabbi Sacks rarely seen — deeply human, endlessly curious, and quietly transformative.Select Quotes:“He could speak to you without speaking. His smile was sharp love — piercing, serious, and full of warmth all at once.”“He showed that Torah, integrity, and professional success aren’t separate worlds — they can and should live together.”

Last week’s episode hit a nerve.Some listeners loved it. Others were really bothered by it.So for the first time ever, we’re doing a feedback episode — bringing back Rav Yehuda Halpert to go deeper on the toughest questions you raised.Is the culture of Big Law really compatible with Torah values?What does it take to survive — or grow — spiritually in that world?And how do we weigh ambition, family, and avodas Hashem when the hours never end?In this follow-up:Years 1–3: the “conveyor belt” and why control is limitedWhen to pivot — and how to choose a practice that protects ShabbosThe billable-hour trap and what it does to your mindCan you ever “limit your hours” and still advance?Real talk on money, promotions, and gam zu l’tovahShabbos at the firm: teamwork, gratitude, and derech eretzMarbitz Torah without a title — from shiurim to writingHarsh listener feedback: “For what are these costs worth paying?”Hashkafic tension: excellence vs. moderationMarriage, parenting, and faith when energy and time are scarceIf you appreciate these kinds of raw, honest conversations, follow Shtark Tank and leave a 5-star review — it helps others find the show and keeps these dialogues going.

You don’t have to love your job—but you can’t hate it.Rabbi Yehuda Halpert (shul rabbi, Big Law attorney, author) joins Shtark Tank to talk straight about Torah life inside a 90-hour week, setting real standards, and why reassessing is different than slipping.What You'll HearHow a Ben Torah can thrive in Big Law without losing the plot“Slipping vs. reassessing” — setting honest standards after yeshivaThe Mincha hack that anchors your day (and your network)Peer pressure at the office: values, money, and role modelsBalancing a Shabbos-only pulpit with a full-time firm roleLessons from COVID that helped after Oct 7Career calling vs. community calling: picking your tafkidGuest BioRabbi Yehuda Halpert — shul rabbi in Teaneck, Big Law lawyer, and author of Speaking to an Empty Shul: Timeless Lessons from Unprecedented Times.Quick TakeawaysBuild a system that works with your scheduleGuard your company — work with good peopleUse Mincha as a daily reset and natural networking momentReview your standards every 6–12 months; adjust with intentYou can be excellent at your craft and strong in your valuesDid you enjoy this episode?Follow Shtark Tank on Spotify and rate the show (it really helps).Share this episode with a friendJoin the Shtark Tank WhatsApp group for episode drops and Q&A (link in show notes).

With tremendous historical events unfolding, I couldn’t record a regular episode.This moment demanded more than another interview, it called for guidance and clarity.What does this new chapter in our history mean?What is our role right now?How do we balance the whirlwind of emotions — gratitude, pain, pride, and confusion — that we’re all feeling?I was grateful that Rav Moshe Taragin agreed to join me once again to help unpack these questions.There’s truly no one who combines such deep Torah knowledge with historical awareness and a living connection to Am Yisrael.Together, we explore how to:Hold joy and grief at the same timeExpress real hakaras hatov — to Hashem, to soldiers, to each otherSee the hand of Hashem in political and military realityUnderstand what this nes demands of usA special, timely conversation for anyone trying to make sense of this historic moment.Click here to order Rabbi Taragin’s books including: Reclaiming Redemption: Demystifying the Maze of Jewish History and To be holy, but human- Reflections upon my Rebbe, Harav Yehuda Amital

Joseph Gitler, founder of Leket Israel and father-in-law of fallen IDF soldier David Schwartz, shares poignant memories of David’s life and legacy. David excelled in bridging diverse communities while studying law and serving in the IDF, embodying a spirit of unity amid national division. Gitler reflects on David's dedication to learning and the impact of his tragic loss on family and community. Memorial projects initiated in David's name aim to keep his spirit alive, emphasizing responsibility and support for mental health in the community.

During Elul last year, we had one of our most powerful episodes. We spoke with Rav Moshe Taragin about Teshuva, spiritual growth and the Yamim Noraim experience.Whether or not you listened the first time around, its worthwhile to revisit as we prepare for the Yamim Noraim.

How do we define success as Bnei Torah in the workforce?I asked Rav Dovid Lichtenstein, who is a talmid chochom and real estate executive. We spoke about defining success in learning, at work, and in our relationship with technology.Rav Dovid's ideas are firmly grounded in Torah sources, but are also extremely practical.

Moshe Chaim started out as a successful Kollel yungerman. But soon after he transitioned to the workforce, he found himself in a therapists office, as his professional struggles had already started to spill over in to his marriage, emotional health, and other areas.This true story (with names changed) is the case study that Rabbi Dr. Yosef Sokol uses to introduce his book 'Becoming Godly'. The book combines Machshava from the Ramchal and others, along with psycholgy, to give a framework for religous growth.We spoke about having a healthy relationship with the past, as a neccesssary condition for building a better future. We also spoke about finding meaning at work, the role of labels, and some practical tips ahead of the Yamim Noraim.Please help us grow the show by leaving a 5-star review and hitting the subscribe button. Thanks!Guest BioRabbi Dr. Yosef Sokol (credentials) is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor at Touro University, and VA research scientist specializing in suicide prevention and recovery. He developed Continuous Identity Cognitive Therapy (CI-CT), an innovative approach that supports healing and recovery from suicide attempts and ideation. He has numerous peer reviewed publications and leads major research grants from the VA and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Dr. Sokol earned his PhD from Hofstra University, received semichah from Yeshivas Bais Yosef Novardok, and is the author of Becoming Godly: Integrating Torah and Psychology to Guide Us in Emulating Hashem. He is dedicated to bringing recovery-oriented, identity-focused approaches to healing individuals struggling with suicide.

It’s Elul, a time to prepare for the Yamim Noraim with the theme of Defining Success.When we take stock of our lives with a cheshbon hanefesh, we’re really asking: Where am I now—and where should I be?That’s the core question of this series: how to define success as a Ben Torah in the workplace. Many of our rabbeim push us toward ambitious goals in learning, but how do we balance those ideals with the blessed responsibilities of work, family, and community?This week’s guest is Rav Simi Lerner. Rav Simi is an educator in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, a passionate Hirschian thinker, and—on the side—an electrician in Beit Shemesh. We discuss how Rav Hirsch’s idea of Torah im Derech Eretz and other foundational principles can help us shape a grounded, realistic, and meaningful definition of success.🎧 Before you listen: please take 10 seconds to help us grow by leaving a 5-star review and hitting subscribe. Thank you!ReferencesJudaism from Within podcastRav Hirsch on Viduy

It’s Elul, and we’re focusing on Defining Success as Bnei Torah in the workplace. What does real success look like? Is it possible to set goals that are both ambitious and compassionate?This week, we sit down with Rav Shimon Isaacson, Rosh Yeshiva of Mevaseret. Before entering the world of Torah and chinuch, Rav Isaacson worked in Big Law in New York City. Many assume he left that life to escape its spiritual emptiness — but the truth is much more surprising.SummaryIn this episode, I sat down with Rav Shimon Isaacson, Rosh Yeshiva of Mevaseret, to trace his remarkable journey from Big Law associate to respected mechanech and community leader in Israel. Rav Isaacson shares how his wife’s passion for Aliyah shaped their family’s path, how he balanced intense Torah learning with a demanding legal career, and how an unusual arrangement of “lawyer in the summer, learner in the year” gave him the springboard into full-time chinuch.The conversation dives into big life questions: What makes for a successful decision-making process? How can a Ben Torah thrive in the workforce? What does passion in Avodas Hashem look like? Rav Isaacson also reflects on 30 years of Aliyah, the role of rebbeim as life guides, the value of combining Torah greatness with real-world experience, and how yeshiva can prepare talmidim for decades of growth ahead.