Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Topic: The 4th Yahrzeit of R' Moshe Shapiro zt'l   Rabbi Doniel Baron’s chinuch and kiruv efforts span two decades which include thought-provoking educational tours, seminars, programs and lectures. His flagship multimedia presentation revealing the depth of the Lashon Hakodesh has received rave reviews from audiences across Israel and the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, and Hungary. Rabbi Baron has taught at Pischei Olam, a Jerusalem yeshiva headed by Rav Moshe Shapira zatzal under whom he learned for 26 years, which caters to intellectual Israelis from secular backgrounds. Previously he has taught at Ohr Somayach’s Derech Institute, Aderes Hatorah, Lev Aharon and was a senior lecturer at Aish Hatorah. He has also taught classes to religiously unaffiliated Israelis in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be’ersheva. In addition, Rabbi Baron ran programs for thousands of unaffiliated birthright participants throughout Israel and spoke on Jewish topics at college campuses, businesses and other venues. Rabbi Baron’s worldwide experience includes outreach in Tallin, Estonia just months after the fall of the Soviet Union and leading Jewish heritage experiences in destinations that include Prague, Venice, Padua, Budapest, Frankfurt, Thessaloniki, Athens, and other cities. Whether the context is a crumbling ruin of yesteryear or a preserved magnificent synagogue of a bygone era, his insights provide a message tailored to the audience at its comfort level. Rabbi Baron spent fourteen years collectively studying at the Mirrer Yeshiva and the Jerusalem Kollel (Rav Yitzchak Berkovits). In this wide ranging interview, we cover:   1. Early Encounters 2. Living in Israel/Living in America 3. Transcription and Editing 4. Travels with R' Moshe 5. A Wise Man Trumps a Prophet 6. A diverse student body 7. Craving authenticity and disdain for false honor   And much much more!

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin is one of the few people about whom it can be said that his entire life has been dedicated to serving the Jewish people. His visionary contributions to Israel and world Jewry over the course of the past half-century have impacted upon the lives of thousands while redefining Modern Orthodox leadership, shaping the face contemporary Jewish education, and in many cases, literally changing the direction of Jewish history. Rabbi Riskin made Aliya in 1983 to become the founding rabbi of Efrat, a city which did not yet even exist – but is now home to over 12,000 residents. Efrat was also where Rabbi Riskin established the first school in what would eventually become Ohr Torah Stone, the comprehensive network of 27 unique educational institutions, women’s empowerment programs, leadership development, outreach initiatives, and social action projects. It is because of Rabbi Riskin’s uncompromising belief in the relevance and beauty of Judaism’s past – and its importance for the Jewish future – that today hundreds of dynamic OTS rabbis and educators are committed to serving Jewish communities, campuses and congregations all over the world. Young adults with special needs can now spend a year in Israel delving into their history and roots; thousands of secular Israelis are willingly participating in Jewish programming, exploring and reclaiming their Jewish heritage; and each year, 3,500 additional OTS students are being charged with a pride in their faith, a dedication to the Jewish people and a responsibility to the world at large. Furthermore, because of Rabbi Riskin, doors that had been shut to Jewish women have been pried open, empowering Jewish women to partake in the highest levels of Jewish learning, spiritual leadership, halakhic discourse, meaningful service in the Israeli Defense Forces and rabbinical court advocacy on behalf of agunot. The beauty of a revolution is that what is inconceivable one day becomes commonplace. In essence, Rabbi Riskin has fomented revolution in Jewish learning, leadership and living.   In this wide ranging interview, we cover: 1. Where it all began, the Circle in the Square   2.  Incredible Stories about Zalman Bernstein & the Lubavitcher Rebbe 3.  The Move to Efrat 4. Fundamentals of Effective Fundraising And much much more!

Topic: Columbia University & Antisemitism   Guest: David Schizer   Bio:    David M. Schizer served as a dean of the Law School from 2004 to 2014 and is one of the nation’s leading tax scholars. His research also focuses on nonprofits, energy law, and corporate governance.He is the author of How to Save the World in Six (Not So Easy) Steps: Bringing Out the Best in Nonprofits. He is a founder and co-director of the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy, a founder and co-chair of the Center for Israeli Legal Studies, and a founder and co-chair of the Charles Evans Gerber Transactional Studies Center.  At 35, Schizer was the youngest dean in the Law School’s history and the longest serving dean since 1971. During his tenure as dean, Schizer recruited 43 new faculty members, doubled the school’s annual fundraising, led a $353 million capital campaign, helped the Law School navigate the financial crisis, oversaw the construction of Jerome Greene Hall’s ninth floor, significantly reduced the school’s student-faculty ratio, and forged a close relationship with Columbia Business School by introducing an accelerated J.D./MBA program and establishing the Richman Center. He launched centers and programs on national security, intellectual property, climate change, global legal transformation, Israeli law, and other cutting edge issues; fostered innovation in the upper-year curriculum; and increased support for students choosing careers in government and public interest organizations. In addition, Schizer developed partnerships, known as “Global Alliances,” with the University of Oxford, the University of Amsterdam, Sciences Po, and Paris I. Schizer has won the Willis L.M. Reese Prize for Excellence in Teaching and has served as a visiting professor at Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown. He also has taught at Tokyo University, Hebrew University, the Interdisciplinary Center in Herziliya, and Ono Academic College. Before joining the Law School faculty in 1998, Schizer was a law clerk for Judge Alex Kozinski on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’59 on the U.S. Supreme Court. Schizer began his career in the tax department of Davis Polk & Wardwell. While on a three-year leave from the Law School from 2017 to 2019, Schizer served as executive vice president and CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a century-old international humanitarian organization. Schizer redesigned JDC’s planning process to allocate its $360 million annual budget more strategically, lightened JDC’s infrastructure, relied more on data and on other insights from the business world, increased and diversified JDC’s philanthropic support, and raised the organization’s public profile.  Schizer serves on the boards of the Ramaz School and the Columbia Law Review, and he also has served on the boards of other nonprofits, as well as public and privately-owned companies, including 92NY, Seacor Holdings Inc. (an NYSE-listed company), Feil Properties, and the owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. In this powerful episode we discuss how David is co-leading the anti-semitism task force on campus.   On the heels of congressional hearings this week where David appeared, this is a can't miss episode.   ***For a complimentary copy of David's new book on non-profits send an email to IsraeliLegalStudies@law.columbia.edu   How to Save the World in Six (Not So Easy) Steps: Bringing Out the Best in Nonprofits  

Topic: Senator Joseph Lieberman OBM   Guest: Rabbi Daniel Cohen   Bio:    Rabbi Cohen has served in the rabbinate for over thirty years and currently serves as senior Rabbi at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, CT, the largest modern orthodox synagogue in New England. Rabbi Cohen is author of What Will They Say About You When You Are Gone? Creating a Life of Legacy, and the newly released book The Secret of the Light, published by Union Square Publishing. He is in the midst of writing another book with former NBA All Star and Olympic Gold medalist Allan Houston. Engaging in hundreds of end of life conversations and delivering thousands of eulogies provide him with a unique perspective on the essence of a meaningful life, Rabbi Cohen speaks nationally on leading a life of legacy. He is co-host with Reverend Greg Doll of the nationally syndicated Radio Show, The Rabbi and the Reverend. He enjoys doing magic shows, playing sports, writing, searching for God, and living life with joy and ever-present smile! Rabbi Cohen and Diane are the grateful parents of six daughters and multiple grandchildren.   **A wonderful episode commemorating an extraordinary Jewish role model and a life well lived.

Topic: Sports & Philanthropy   Guest: Saul Garlick   Bio:    Saul Garlick’s career has been dedicated to how technology and human connection can intersect to drive engagement and progress in live experiences and education. His interest in merging digital solutions with the power of personal interactions has not only redefined educational models but has also elevated fan experiences at major sports events. As Co-founder & CEO at Fabric, Saul has built Fabric into a fast-emerging leader in the mixed-reality space for live events. Fabric's platform allows teams, leagues, venues, and events to publish and deliver gamified mixed-reality experiences instantly at live events while collecting real-time data and analytics from fans. Fabric’s customers can easily launch loyalty and rewards programs, payment integrations, social interactions, and much more at any time and any place. Fabric is currently working with NBA, MLB, and NHL among others. Fabric underscores the potential of harnessing technology to foster deeper, more immersive human connections during live events.   Prior to Fabric, Saul founded Unleesh, a digital platform that reimagines engagement through an experiential learning management system and custom development agency and ThinkImpact, a global immersion program, emphasizing teamwork and innovation to build new ventures in rural economies. For several years he led the expansion of a charter school network in West Africa from one school to 19 schools, serving 4,000 students.    Saul is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at ArtCenter College of Design and served as Social-Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of Southern California's Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab. He is a board member of the West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation and Johns Hopkins Second Decade Society. Saul is a Truman Scholar and Inc. 30 under 30 entrepreneur, and graduated from Johns Hopkins University and its School of Advanced International Studies. He lives in LA with his wife and two sons.   **In this episode we learn about a fascinating new technological solution in the world of sports. Saul has been a contributor across multiple philanthropic pursuits.

Topic: Comedy & Philanthropy   Guest: Modi Rosenfeld   Bio:    Voted one of the top 10 comedians in New York City by The Hollywood Reporter, Modi is one of the comedy circuit’s most sought after performers. Featured on HBO, CBS, NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, Howard Stern, and E! Entertainment, Modi has received rave reviews in The New York Times, Time Out NY and The New York Post. Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Modi emigrated with his family to the United States at the age of seven and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until his first open-mic night made him realize that stand-up was his true calling. Equipped with a sharp wit and a knack for reading an audience, Modi has gone on to become a successful fixture in New York's vibrant comedy scene, often doing bits that incorporate his heritage, and he is a hit with diverse Jewish audiences as well as fans of all backgrounds and beliefs. Now a regular performer at the New York and Los Angeles comedy clubs, Modi also headlines around the country and across the globe.    Modi has played himself on HBO's Crashing and Netflix's When Jews Were Funny. He's also appeared in several feature films and played leading roles in two: Waiting for Woody Allen, which won the LA Film Festival, and Stand Up, a feature-length film. In 2018, Mayor Bill De Blasio declared June 26th 'Mordechi Modi Rosenfeld Day' in the city of New York for his accomplishments and contributions to the artistic community. To clarify a point made in the audio recording about the recommended percentage of charitable contributions, The Jewish Future Promise encourages individuals that if any charitable contributions are made upon passing, whether that be $10 or $10 million, at least 50% will be allocated to Jewish causes and/or the State of Israel. To make the promise, please visit: https://jewishfuturepromise.org/sign-the-promise.    In this riveting episode we learn how to enjoy the art of giving back.   Thank you to the Jewish Future Promise for arranging this episode. https://jewishfuturepromise.org/

Topic: Philanthropy in Challenging Times   Guest: Michael Bloch   Bio:    Michael Bloch was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company for 23 years where he worked with senior executives and boards of large corporations in more than 10 countries to accelerate their growth, leverage technology for competitive advantage, and transform their support functions.   In parallel, Michael has worked for over a decade with non-profit organizations, helping them define their strategy and implement growth initiatives. Over the years Michael worked on the employment of weaker populations, a new museum, immigration for highly skilled olim, food rescue, woman entrepreneurship, the integration of Haredim into high-tech, the scale-up of educational programs, etc.   Prior to McKinsey, Michael was a researcher at the University of California (Berkeley) and at New York University. Before that, he worked for Unicible (a Swiss outsourcer for the banking industry) where he managed business process redesign and software development projects.   Michael received an M.S. in Business Information Systems and a B.A. in Economics and Business Administration from Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. A citizen of Switzerland, France, and Israel, he is fluent in French, English, and Hebrew.    He is also the current CEO of Israel Impact Partners https://www.israel-impact.com/   Articles by Michael on Charitable Giving:                   https://www.jpost.com/opinion/smart-tzedakah-efficiently-effectively-professionalized-giving-opinion-662342 https://www.jpost.com/judaism/seven-processes-of-smart-tzedakah-that-you-can-do-664011   In this riveting episode we learn the nuts & bolts of how to practice impactful & effective philanthropy.

Topic: The JPP 2023 Year in Review   Rabbi Cohen highlights the top episodes of this past season.   Looking forward to 2024 on the JPP!  

Topic: A Concierge Rabbi   Guest: Rabbi Yehuda Albin   Bio:   Yehuda's story is genuinely remarkable.  He grew up as a Reform Jew in Scarsdale, NY, his father was a successful entrepreneur that ran a secular Jewish camp called Ken-Mont and Ken-Wood.  He became religious in Jerusalem, after graduating Bowdoin College with the highest honors.  Then he studied the Torah and the Talmud for nearly a decade in Jerusalem, before returning to the states, and moving to Chicago. In Chicago he established a Torah teaching and counseling practice, focused on successful business people and professionals. He has been doing this for 30 years wearing two different hats in the process.     Yehuda's experience, education, and wisdom, melding the best of two worlds, provide a unique perspective helping people manage business, family and every type of unique  problem.  His unique, spiritually based, approach to life is a fresh alternative to more traditional counselling and coaching.     To get a feel for Yehuda's engaging approach and command of subject matter, you can listen to him at  https://www.theemberfoundation.org/   In this episode, we discuss impacting people through personal relationships, deep torah study & philanthropy.

Topic: Israel at War #4: The Capitalist Kibbutz   Guest: Oded Hermoni   Bio:   General Partner & Co-Founder; J-Ventures, J-Angels In the past 15 years Oded has invested in many industries as a partner in Rhodium VC, J-Ventures and J-Angel. Most of the investments were in Silicon Valley NYC and Israel. Oded has been an Entrepreneur, Investor and experienced High Tech Executive and over 40 companies in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv as a board member, observer, founder, consultant, and manager. Investments include Face.com (FB) Outbrain, Hopstop ( Apple), Hexatier ( Huawei), Storedot, Compass ( Sage), Cabin, AFresh, Yieldmo, Yotpo, Zooz ( PayU), IMGN, MDGO, Phylagen, Macheye, Swiftmile, Home365, Physera. Oded Hermoni is a leader in connecting the American Jewish community and the many Israelis working in Silicon Valley. Jerusalem-born Oded began his career as a journalist covering the country’s flourishing technology sector. He soon took an active role in the technology sector himself by founding two start-up companies, one of which was acquired by Yellow Pages in 2006.  Oded became a leader of the high-tech industry in Israel, founding the country’s High Tech Industry Association, before he, his wife, Ravit, and their young son relocated to the Bay Area in 2011. Upon arrival, Oded found an already well-established Israeli community on the South Peninsula.   In this episode, we discuss being the child of a hero who died in the Yom Kippur war & how we can create greater connection amongst Jews throughout the world.

Topic: Israel at War #3: Raising Funds for the State of Israel   Guest: Howard L. Goldstein   Bio:   Howard is the Chair of the National & International Boards of Israel Bonds. He is senior partner at Citrin Cooperman, one of the nation's largest professional services firms. With more than 50 years of experience as a certified public accountant, Howard has broad knowledge in all tax strategies and planning for corporations, partnerships, individuals and start-up companies. Howard is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New Jersey Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and State of New Jersey Board of Certified Public Accountants.   In this episode we discuss the importance of Israel bonds at this critical juncture as well as the $1 billion plus raised for Israel since October 7th.

Topic: Israel at War #2: The Battle for our College Campuses   Guest: Daniel Lowy   Bio:   Daniel is a seasoned financial expert with a track record for identifying underperforming businesses and executing successful business turnarounds. He received his MBA in Finance & Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School and his Bachelor’s in Economics & Finance and Master’s in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Daniel has a broad range of executive and investment experience in the U.S. and international marketplace, with a particular focus on healthcare. He serves on the board of the Orthodox Union (OU) & CUNY graduate school of public health.   In this episode we discuss Daniel's letter to the President of U of Penn withdrawing his support due to blatant failures of the university to condemn antisemitism & failure to condemn the Hamas atrocities of 10/7.  This was in tandem with other noted philanthropists withdrawing support from the Ivy league.

Topic: Israel at War: How Can We Help?   Guest: Michal (Miki) Leon   Bio:   Miki is the CEO & Director of her family foundation in Israel.   In 'regular times' the foundation focuses on fortifying home-room teachers in Israel to ensure the education of the next generation of Israelis and to ensure nobody is forgotten.   In this episode we have a raw heart to heart conversation about recent events in Israel including using philanthropy as a tool to help on the front-lines and in the emergency crisis we find ourselves in.   Learn More at this link: https://lionff.com/

Topic: Technology & Philanthropy   Guest: Adam Nash   Bio:   Adam is the co-founder and CEO of Daffy.org, a not-for-profit community built around a new, modern platform for giving. He is a seasoned executive, investor, and advisor with a long career at companies like Apple, eBay, LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Wealthfront, where he was CEO. He is also an adjunct lecturer at Stanford, where he teaches “Personal Finance for Engineers”. In this episode we discuss:   1) Contradictions-Humility & Hubris 2) Impact of AI 3) Developing a Career: How to Grow 4) Tracking Charitable Giving 5) Helping to become the Ideal Philanthropic Version of Yourself  6) Coaching Personal Finance and so much more!

Topic: Family Offices & Societal Change    Guest: Daniel Goldman   Bio:   Daniel is the founder and Managing Partner at Goldrock Capital. Born in London, Daniel emigrated to Israel in 1992. He now lives in Beit Shemesh, where he was very involved in building and shaping the city. Daniel is active in many organizations that promote understanding and tolerance among all sectors of society. He lives with his wife and five children.   In this episode we discuss:   1) Growing up in New Castle 2) A thirty-year story of Rags to Riches 3) Helping High-Net Worth Families 4) Diverse Sources of Inspiration 5) Changing the sociological landscape in Israel 6) Difference between Tzedaka (Charity & Philanthropy) and so much more!Topic

Topic: Breaking Barriers While Helping Others   Guest: Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin   Bio:   Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin is a Clinical Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School and the Founding Director of the Program on Leadership at the Heyman Center for Corporate Governance.  Professor Greenberg-Kobrin is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, where she served as Dean of Students for eleven years. She also holds an appointment at Columbia University's Teachers College in the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership.  She teaches in the areas of transactional law, leadership, conflict resolution and negotiation, intellectual property law and educational governance.  She served as the Title IX Coordinator at Columbia Law School where she authored sexual harassment policies and oversaw the sexual respect initiative, training hundreds of students each year. Professor Greenberg-Kobrin also facilitates the Arev Fund, a grantmaking organization whose mission is to use and promote impactful female Jewish philanthropy to spur change, with a particular focus on the advancement of women.  Areas of interest include spiritual leadership, communal life, social justice, and education. Prior to her appointment at Columbia, she was an attorney in the corporate, securities, and financial Institutions group at Arnold & Porter. She received both her BA and her JD from Columbia University, and was a Bruriah Scholar at Midreshet Lindenbaum and a Torat Miriam fellow.  Professor Greenberg-Kobrin trains leaders around the world and lectures and consultants with various universities, organizations, Jewish day schools and private schools on a wide-range of issues, including leadership training, negotiation and conflict resolution, agunot, policy drafting and implementation, sexual assault and harassment prevention, crisis management, work/life balance, faculty development and training and women and Judaism. She serves on a number of not-for-profit boards and lives in Riverdale, New York with her husband. They are the parents of five children.   In this episode we discuss:   1) Hard Work 2) Memories from Columbia Law School class of 99' 3) Learning in Depth  4) Lessons in Parenting 5) Influencing Students  6) Start-Up Philanthropy 7) Never Saying No and so much more!

Topic: Overcoming Obstacles   Guest: Tamir Goodman   Bio:   Zone190 inventor Tamir Goodman, dubbed “The Jewish Jordan” by Sports Illustrated in 1999, is a former professional basketball player who has become a successful entrepreneur, coach, educator, and motivational speaker. During high school, Goodman was ranked among the top 25 recruits in the country, and he garnered attention after averaging 35.4 points per game his junior year, all while remaining faithful to his Orthodox Jewish upbringing. He achieved additional notoriety after being named MVP of the prestigious “Capital Classic All-Star Game,” an award won by players like Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James. Tamir went on to make history as the first Jewish basketball player to play D-I college and professional basketball, while faithfully wearing a yarmulke on the court and without playing on the Jewish Sabbath. In 2002, Goodman fulfilled his dream of moving to Israel, signing a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv and serving in the Israeli Defense Force, which is a requirement of all Israeli citizens. Goodman played in Israel and again in the U.S. until injuries forced his retirement in 2009. Since retiring, Goodman has established his reputation as a sought-after motivational speaker, coach, and educator. He has coached more than 3,000 basketball players around the world, and has partnered with Houston Rockets small-forward Omri Casspi on a series of basketball camps around the U.S. He is also the cofounder of Coolanu Israel, which strengthens ties to Israel through innovative seminars, sports programs and literature projects for athletes, college students, and coaches. In this episode we discuss: 1) Being a Kiddush Hashem 2) You can do Anything 3) Having a Coach & Mentor 4) What does G-d Want from me Today? 5) Inspired by Those who Overcome 6) Loving Life 7) The Ultimate Connector and so much more!

Topic: Becoming Elite   Guest: Mike Dube   Bio:   Mike Dube, co-founder and President of Elite Method, has an incredible passion for working with kids and teaching them the skills needed to be successful in life. He stresses character building as much as strength and skill building. Mike is also co-founder of DubeZone, where he served as the inspiration and master trainer to a large coaching staff. Mike is considered an expert coach for his unique ability to connect with and transform every child with whom he works. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious, and he spreads his positive message through volunteerism, motivational speaking, and the charity he co-founded, Sharing Seats, which has given away thousands of event and sporting tickets to children in need. "Coach Mike," as he is affectionately called, is an inspiration to many and is very much looking forward to continuing his passion in helping kids through the development of Elite Method.     In this episode we discuss:   1) Child of Divorce 2) A Passion for Helping Others 3) Giving is the Best Feeling 4) From Kids to CEO's 5) Time is our most precious commodity 6) Living an Inspirational & Meaningful Life 7) Sharing Seats & Gronk and so much more!

Topic: From Yeshiva to an IPO   Guest: Menashe Kestenbaum   Bio:   Menashe is an entrepreneur and industry disruptor based out of Toronto.   He started off his career in the gaming industry leading Enthusiast Gaming from a basement startup in 2015 to an all-time high valuation of $1.4B in 2021.    He's currently focused on disrupting the mental health industry with his new start-up entitled Glimmer.   In this episode we discuss:   1) A Yeshiva Life/Critical Values 2) Not Having Money 3) A Public Persona 4) The Role of Wealth & Financial Resources 5) Charity & Standards of Living 6) The Mental Health Space and so much more!  

Topic: Hatzolah Air   Guest: Dr. Avishai Neuman   Bio:   Dr. Neuman is the Medical Director of Hatzolah Air as well as the Director of Centurion Anesthesia. He is a graduate of the Sackler School of Medicine in Israel.  He lives in North Woodmere, NY & is an active Hatzolah member & community leader.   See this link to learn more about Hatzolah Air   https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/369487     In this episode we discuss:   1)  A Life of Chesed 2) The passion for saving lives 3) Doubling Down on our Talents 4) Always wanting to be the Giver in any situation 5) The need for & impact of Hatzolah Air 6) Travel Habits of the Jewish community and so much more!