KOLOT with Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein

Kicking off Season 6, Charlie Harary joins KOLOT for a powerful conversation about what real inspiration actually looks like and how we turn inspiration into lasting growth. In this episode: • What does it really mean to be inspired?• Who should we look to for inspiration?• “Feel-good” inspiration vs. real Torah inspiration• Why inspiration so often fades, and what makes it last• What does real Tefillah look like?• Are we sometimes treating Hashem like “Amazon.God”?• What makes someone a successful parent?• What makes a successful teacher?• How do you measure success in kiruv and outreach?• How do we genuinely inspire the people around us?• And much more… Living on Fire is a conversation about moving beyond the momentary high and building a life of real inspiration, growth and purpose.

What happens when the only Chassidic journalist in the White House press corps steps into one of the world’s most powerful briefing rooms? In this captivating episode of the KOLOT Podcast, Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein sits down with Jake Turx, Senior White House Correspondentfor Mishpacha Magazine, for an unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond the headlines. From navigating the White House before and after October 7 to asking difficult questions of the Administration, Jake shares what it’s really like to represent the Jewish community while covering some of the most consequential stories on the planet. 🔹 The dramatic shift inside the White House after October 7🔹 Asking tough questions that challenge the Office of the President🔹 Sefer Shoftim coming to life in today’s geopolitical landscape🔹 The future of the U.S.–Israel relationship🔹 Should America continue military aid to Israel? The strongest arguments on both sides🔹 Bret Stephens vs. Bob Kraft: Two very different strategies for combating antisemitism🔹 Why America’s support for Israel matters—for both nations🔹 Behind-the-scenes stories from the White House press room🔹 Plus, plenty of moments you won’t hear anywhere else. 🎧 Whether you’re interested in politics, Israel, journalism, Jewish thought, or simply love thought-provoking conversations, this episode delivers insight, perspective, and plenty of surprises. One conversation. One White House. A perspective unlike any other. The KOLOT Podcast is a project of the Columbus Community Kollel, a full-time learning center in Bexley. Ever Since 1995, boy, girls, men and women of all backgrounds and affiliations have found learning opportunities at the Kollel. Whether it's a study partner, engaging lesson or a program, the Kollel is your one-stop-shop for all your Jewish learning. To learn more, visit www.thekollel.org and forever be inspired! 📰 Media Sponsor: Columbus Jewish News 🤝 In partnership with: The Henry, Bertha and Edward Rothman Foundation (Circleville, Ohio • Cleveland, Ohio • Rochester, New York)

🎙️ JOHN FETTERMAN LIVE 🇺🇸 Senator. Leader. Fighter. One of the most talked-about voices in America today. Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein sits down live with U.S. Senator John Fetterman for a powerful, wide-ranging, and deeply personal conversation about politics, mental health, resilience, Israel, and moral leadership in today’s America. In this candid live interview, Senator Fetterman opens up about: 🎨 First ever job scraping paint of walls 💪 Surviving a stroke during his U.S. Senate campaign🧠 His battle with depression and treatment at Walter Reed🔥 The pressure and realities of public office🇮🇱 October 7th and standing with Israel🗳️ Why he believes in “moral clarity over polls”👨‍👩‍👧 Family, hope, resilience, and staying grounded🇺🇸 The current political climate in America Raw. Honest. Unfiltered. This is more than a political interview — it’s a conversation about courage, conviction, mental health, leadership, and the human side of public service. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube. Kolot is a project of the Columbus Community Kollel, a full-time learning center in Bexley. Ever Since 1995, boy, girls, men and women of all backgrounds and affiliations have found learning opportunities at the Kollel. Whether it's a study partner, engaging lesson or a program, the Kollel is your one-stop-shop for all your Jewish learning. To learn more, visit www.thekollel.org and forever be inspired! 📰 Media Sponsor: Columbus Jewish News 🤝 In partnership with: The Henry, Bertha and Edward Rothman Foundation (Circleville, Ohio • Cleveland, Ohio • Rochester, New York)

💍 Sparks & Stability: The Torah Take on Marriage with Harav Yosef Greenfeld, Rov of Chestnut Shul – Lakewood, NJ In this deeply insightful and practical episode of the KOLOT Podcast, Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein sits down with Harav Yosef Greenfeld, the esteemed Rov of Chestnut Shul in Lakewood, New Jersey, who has guided and prepared thousands of chassanim for marriage over the course of his career. Drawing on decades of experience counseling young couples, Rabbi Greenfeld shares timeless Torah wisdom about what truly makes a marriage thrive — from the moment a couple prepares for the chuppah to building a home that lasts a lifetime. Rabbi Greenfeld reflects on the formative influences that shaped his own path, including the profound guidance of Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, and the powerful role his parents played in directing him toward a life dedicated to strengthening Jewish marriages. This episode explores some of the most important and sometimes uncomfortable questions about relationships — with clarity, warmth, and authentic Torah perspective. 🧭 In This Episode We Discuss: ✨ What does it really mean to be “ready” for marriage? ✨ How does someone know they married the right person? ✨ The balance between individuality and unity in marriage ✈️ Is it appropriate to vacation with friends without your spouse? 📈 What happens when spouses grow at different levels of Shmiras HaMitzvos? 👶 Healthy Torah perspectives on family planning 🏠 Breaking cycles: building a healthy home even if you grew up in a broken one 📜 The essential do’s and don’ts every couple must know 👨‍👩‍👧 Chinuch Habanim U’Banos — raising children in a Torah home 💒 The powerful bracha every chassan and kallah receive under the chuppah ❤️ Practical marriage advice for the first year — and for decades to come 💡 Rabbi Greenfeld shares profound yet practical insights drawn from thousands of conversations with chassanim and young couples, offering guidance that is relevant not only to newlyweds but to anyone seeking to build a stronger, deeper marriage. Whether you are preparing for marriage, newly married, or many years into building your home, this conversation offers wisdom, perspective, and tools that can transform the way we think about relationships. 💬 This episode will challenge assumptions, strengthen perspectives, and provide timeless Torah guidance for building a marriage filled with both sparks and stability. KOLOT is a project of the Columbus Community Kollel, a full-time learning center in Bexley. Ever Since 1995, boy, girls, men and women of all backgrounds and affiliations have found learning opportunities at the Kollel. Whether it's a study partner, engaging lesson or a program, the Kollel is your one-stop-shop for all your Jewish learning. To learn more, visit www.thekollel.org and forever be inspired! 📰 Media Sponsor: Columbus Jewish News 🤝 In partnership with: The Henry, Bertha and Edward Rothman Foundation (Circleville, Ohio • Cleveland, Ohio • Rochester, New York)

🎙️From Ashes to Empire: How Torah Took Root—and Thrives—in America Recorded live at the Columbus Community Kollel’s historic 30th Anniversary Celebration on November 19, 2025, inside the majestic Ohio Statehouse, this rare conversation brings together two of the most consequential leaders of American Torah Jewry—on one stage, in one unforgettable dialogue. In this landmark episode, Rabbi Aaron Kotler, President Emeritus of Beth Medrash Govoha, and Rabbi Boruch Neuberger, President of Ner Israel Rabbinical College, trace a three-generation journey that reshaped the destiny of Torah in the United States. They begin with their grandfathers—survivors of the European devastation—who arrived on American shores with little more than unshakable emunah and a daring conviction: Torah could not only survive in America, it could flourish. They continue with their fathers, who transformed that vision into living institutions as Torah life took root and spread across the country. And finally, they turn inward—reflecting candidly on their own leadership, responsibility, and the weight of carrying a mesorah that now shapes tens of thousands of lives. Along the way, you’ll hear: Powerful, never-before-shared stories of chesed and achrayis (responsibility)—often expressed in the most unconventional and surprising ways A penetrating look at the current stage of American Torah Jewry: its strengths, its tensions, and its unprecedented opportunities A forward-looking charge on how Torah learning can continue to thrive amid the cultural, spiritual, and communal challenges of our time The conversation closes with a stirring vision for the future of the Jewish people—rooted in humility, courage, and unwavering commitment to Torah. This is not a panel. This is not a speech. This is a once-in-a-generation conversation between the stewards of the two largest Torah institutions in America. 🎙️ Hosted by: Rabbi Hillel Kapenstein 📍 Presented by: Columbus Community Kollel 📰 Media Sponsor: Columbus Jewish News 🤝 In partnership with: The Henry, Bertha and Edward Rothman Foundation (Circleville, Ohio • Cleveland, Ohio • Rochester, New York) ✨ A rare moment. Historic voices. A timeless mission.