Wisdom from the Field By Tzviki Krasnjansky

  In this episode, I sit down with my uncle, Rabbi Bentzion Krasnianski, who has led Chabad of the Upper East Side for 35 years—and is now entering a historic new collaboration with Park East Synagogue.   But this conversation goes far beyond the announcement.   At its heart is one powerful conviction: Give people the real deal.   Don’t water down Yiddishkeit or underestimate the people you are trying to reach. Become immersed in the wellsprings of Chassidus, allow them to transform you, and then communicate them with authenticity and conviction. Because people aren’t only listening to what you say—they’re watching how you live.   That same principle shapes Rabbi Krasnianski’s approach to fundraising. Meaningful institutions aren’t built by collecting donations. They are built by developing genuine relationships and cultivating partners who take ownership of the mission—people who stop asking, “What are you doing?” and begin asking, “What are we doing?”   But there are no shortcuts. It takes years of giving, serving, building trust, and responding to one need at a time.   We explore the unique challenges of shlichus on the Upper East Side, the difference between donors and true partners, why communicating Yiddishkeit transforms the shliach himself, and how 35 years of consistent work ultimately opened the door to an opportunity Rabbi Krasnianski never could have imagined.   A passionate conversation about being emes, cultivating ownership, the long game of leadership, and what becomes possible when a shliach remains faithful to the mission.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit!   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com   If you would like to share some feedback you can reach me via email at: [email protected]   Or via WhatsApp: 808-499-5850     Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook 

Are you really afraid of hearing “no”—or of what you believe that “no” would mean? In this Field Note, I share a coaching conversation about uncovering the hidden beliefs behind our fears—and how questioning those beliefs can help us become freer and move forward. To register for the upcoming workshop, Mastering the Inner Game of Fundraising, using the link below. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5U9xqtFvQ72DLhUvNPuQvg

In this Field Note, I reflect on a short maamar of the Alter Rebbe and a teaching attributed to Reb Mendel Bar, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, that sparked a powerful insight about fundraising, leadership, and authenticity. When our mission and fundraising become intertwined, how do we remain authentic? How do we ensure that our genuine care for the person in front of us doesn't get overshadowed by our need for support? The reminder is simple, but profound: keep the ikar the ikar. Be there for the person first. Let everything else remain secondary. I'd love to hear your thoughts after listening.   -   Free Workshop Mastering the Inner Game of Fundraising Discover how to overcome the fears, beliefs, and inner patterns that hold us back from fundraising with more confidence, authenticity, and freedom. 📅 Monday, August 24 - Yud Alef Elul 🕐 1:00 PM Eastern Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/5U9xqtFvQ72DLhUvNPuQvg   -   Connect If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Website: coachingbytzviki.com Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: 808-499-5850

For this episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down with Rabbi Mendel Lipskar, head shliach to South Africa for more than fifty years, for a rich conversation about what it truly means to be a shliach.   Rabbi Lipskar takes us back to the beginning of his shlichus, sharing the stories and guidance from the Rebbe that shaped his life's mission. Along the way, he reflects on building Jewish life in S.A. from the ground up, navigating financial crises, leading through both extraordinary growth and difficult challenges, and building a thriving network of shluchim while fostering unity, trust, and long-term collaboration.   But more than anything, this conversation is about the inner life of a shliach: staying connected to the Rebbe, remaining humble, persevering through setbacks, and never losing sight of the privilege and responsibility of carrying the Rebbe's mission.   Whether you've been on shlichus for five years or fifty, Rabbi Lipsker's timeless wisdom offers encouragement, perspective, and a renewed appreciation for the incredible zechus of being a shliach.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit!   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com   If you would like to share some feedback you can reach me via email at: [email protected]   Or via WhatsApp: 808-499-5850     Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook 

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Yitzi Steiner, shliach at the University of Minnesota, for a rich and honest conversation about campus shlichus, fundraising, family life, personal growth, and learning what really matters with time.   A major theme of the conversation is simple but powerful: time is your best friend. In building relationships, raising support, and finding your own way, things often take longer than we want — but patience, persistence, and consistency can open doors that pressure never could.   Along the way, Rabbi Steiner shares practical wisdom on following up without giving up, asking for introductions more effectively, delegating what drains your headspace, creating healthy boundaries for family, and helping other shluchim whenever possible.   This is a grounded, thoughtful, and deeply practical conversation for anyone building a shlichus, and for life in general.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit.   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com   If you would like to share some feedback you can email me at: [email protected]   Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook