Shtark Tank

This week, we sit down with Abie Rotenberg. Abie is a legend in Jewish music, known for songs like Acheinu , Kol Berama Nishma , and Lakol Zman V’Eis —and that’s just his Hebrew work. His Journeys albums feature powerful English ballads, and his Marvelous Middos Machine series shaped generations of kids through music. But what many people don’t know is that music was never his parnassah. Abie spen...

Today, we’re doing something a little different. Most of our episodes feature incredible role models—people who are navigating the balance between Torah and work with strength and clarity. But today, we’re going back in time to talk about someone who is no longer with us. Someone who lived over a century ago, yet whose story feels just as relevant today as it did then. This is the story of the baa...

How do you make big decisions in life? What are the roles of emotions and excitement in Avodas Hashem? And why is schmoozing underrated? In this thought-provoking episode of Shtark Tank , Yaakov Wolff sits down with Moishe Bane to discuss the frameworks that guide a Ben Torah through the complexities of career, Avodas Hashem, and family life. What We Covered: 🔥 The Art of Decision-Making: Moishe...

In this episode of Shtark Tank , Rabbi Dr. Yosef Lynn joins us for a deep dive into the intersection of Mussar and Positive Psychology, and how these ideas can transform both personal and professional growth. As the Mashgiach of Machon Yaakov, Rabbi Lynn has dedicated his career to helping Bnei Torah integrate their learning into the workforce while maintaining their spiritual aspirations. He shar...

In this episode of Shtark Tank , we sit down with Aleksey Chernobelskiy to discuss his fascinating journey—from his childhood in Moscow, his path to Torah observance, and his transition into the world of real estate investing. Aleksey shares insights into balancing idealism with reality, navigating the workforce as a Ben Torah, and his unconventional decision to turn down a spot at Cambridge in fa...

Is it possible to build a profitable company that is focused on doing good in the world? Is it possible for a busy professional to live a healthy lifestyle? Is it possible for a startup co-founder to also serve as an assistant rabbi of a shul? For Sam Fromson, the answer isn’t just yes—it’s his reality. As the co-founder and COO of YULife and community rabbi of Golders Green Synagogue, Sam has sha...

What happens when your dream job isn’t the right fit? This week, we sit down with Bini Maryles, who went from being a shul rabbi in the Five Towns to a leader in Jewish communal organizations and nonprofit fundraising. Bini shares the hard truths about realizing a career isn’t working, making a pivot without losing your core values, and how he found his true calling in coaching and leadership deve...

With the big game coming up, we take a deeper look at the role of sports in the life of a Ben Torah. To check out more of Ari's work: Linkedin Websites: www.stadiumcustomkicks.com www.aishtamidhats.com Join Our Whatsapp Group! If you enjoy Shtark Tank, you don't want to miss our Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, exclusive bonus content and more. You will also get the chance to submit q...

There’s a struggle that almost every Ben Torah faces—but few talk about openly. Today, we’re breaking that silence. Rabbi David Lapin joins Shtark Tank to explore the delicate balance of Shemiras HaEinayim in today’s hyper-visual world. From the Torah’s foundational perspective on attraction and discipline to practical strategies for strengthening ourselves from within, this episode tackles the re...

In this conversation, Rav Daniel Hershkowitz shares his unique journey as a Rabbi who also held leaderships positions in govenment, academia, and politics. We discuss the balance and integration between his various roles. The conversation touches on: How his grandmother inspired him to pursue smicha, adding rabbinic ordination to his academic and professional achievements. His philosophy on balanc...

In this episode of Shtark Tank, host Yaakov Wolff interviews Allen Pfeiffer, a managing director at Kroll and part-time professor at Sy Syms School of Business. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of balancing a professional career with Torah values, the importance of authenticity in the workplace, and the dilemmas faced by professionals in maintaining their Jewish identity. Alan shares...

In this episode we sit down with Steve Glanz, whose journey from the fast-paced world of tech to the thoughtful halls of the Beis Medrash is nothing short of a roller coaster. Steve shares his unique story of taking risks in the Israeli tech scene, founding a startup, and achieving a successful buyout that many entrepreneurs only dream of. But his path wasn't all smooth sailing—Steve opens up abou...

Jeremy Lustman created and leads DLA Piper's Israel Group, which includes over 300 lawyers throughout the firm.  But we barely touched on his legal career, since there is so much to talk about relating to Jeremy's Chessed, Aliyah and Rabbeim. Join Our Whatsapp Group! If you enjoy Shtark Tank, you don't want to miss our Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, exclusive bonus content and more....

In this special episode we sat down with Rav Shlomo Rayman. On Chanukah we talk about the military victory of the Chashmonaim, and I wanted to get Shlomo's take on some of these issues, since he has spent many months fighting in Gaza. We spoke about Torah learning under difficult circumstances, witnessing miracles, and more. To check out Shlomo's chidushei Torah from Gaza, click here . Join Our Wh...

In this episode, Gil Student discusses his new book, ' Articles of Faith ,' exploring the intersection of traditional Jewish beliefs and modern challenges, particularly in the context of the internet. He shares his personal journey to faith, the importance of emunah and hashkafah, and the struggle between independence and authority in contemporary society. The conversation also delves into the imp...

A few weeks ago, we quietly passed the 50-episode milestone of Shtark Tank , but today, we're finally taking a moment to celebrate this achievement with a special episode. In this reflective episode, I step out of my comfort zone as the host and into the guest seat to share the story of this rapidly growing podcast and a bit about my own journey. Hosting today’s conversation is Rav Efrem Goldberg,...

If you are want to help others to the right career, now is the time to book a discovery call for ⁠Rockport Career Coach Training⁠. Registration closes soon, PLUS Shtark Tank listeners will get a $500 discount with the code Shtark500. For more info ⁠click here⁠. ⁠In this conversation, Rabbi Avigdor Goldberger discusses his journey from being a Kollel director in Minnesota to becoming a certified ca...

During our 2-part series on Career Advice from Rabbi Sacks, I was blown away by the work of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Office. So I wanted to learn more. So we are going behind the scenes at Rabbi Sacks' office. This conversation delves into the legacy of Rabbi Sacks, focusing on his innovative use of digital media to share Torah teachings. Joanna Benarroch, who worked closely with Rabbi Sacks, discus...

⁠ Make sure to check out Rabbi Sacks Koren publications ⁠ Click Here for Part 1 What would Rabbi Sacks say? In this two-part series, Career Advice from Rabbi Sacks , we explore timeless wisdom from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l and how his teachings can inspire and guide Bnei Torah navigating the modern workforce. Rabbi Sacks was a towering intellectual with a global following, addressing some of the m...

For a limited time, you can enjoy 20% off Rabbi Sacks Koren publications What would Rabbi Sacks say? In this two-part series, Career Advice from Rabbi Sacks , we explore timeless wisdom from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l and how his teachings can inspire and guide Bnei Torah navigating the modern workforce. Rabbi Sacks was a towering intellectual with a global following, addressing some of the most pre...

Dr. Edo Lavi is an orthodontist based in Baltimore (for now). He is also the host of the Dafsplaining podcast . We spoke about the perks of being an orthodontist, finding meaning at work, and his plans for coming back to Israel. If you enjoy Shtark Tank, make sure to check out or Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, bonus content and more. ⁠⁠Click Here to join.⁠ Guest Bio Dr. Edo Lavi joi...

Josh Herzberg is a Tech Lead & Sr. Software Engineer at Google. He is also the founder of The Torah App. You can download The Torah App at ⁠https://thetorahapp.org/download⁠ If you enjoy Shtark Tank, make sure to check out or Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, bonus content and more. ⁠Click Here to join. Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:55) Background and Going in to Software (07:41) Work...

Yisrael (Robert) Aumann is an Israeli-American mathematician and Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences. Renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to game theory, Aumann's work has influenced fields ranging from economics to political science. His research on repeated games and conflict resolution offers deep insights into cooperation and strategic decision-making. A dedicated professor emeritus...

Moshe Rapps is the Assistant Vice President at Bernstein Private Wealth Management, and the host of the Rav Hirsch on the Parsha podcast. We discussed Rav Hirsch's commentary on the Etrog, which expands on three qualities of the Etrog tree and fruit. Rav Hirsch also throws in an amazing nugget from the world of scientific botany. And finally, we discuss some important lessons that we can take to o...

In this special episode, we honor 4 fallen heroes, Eli Moshe Zimbalist, Ari Fuld, Yosef Guedalia and Binyamin Airley. Chapters - (00:00) Intro - (01:46) Simmy Zimbalist remembers his son, Eli Moshe Zimbalist - (25:56) Hillel Fuld remembers his brother, Ari Fuld - (44:25) Avraham Rosner remembers his friends, Yosef Guedalia and Binyamin Airley Don't miss out on exclusive bonus content, as well as s...