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Shtark Tank

Shtark Tank
Author: Yaakov Wolff
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© Yaakov Wolff
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If you are a Ben Torah in the workforce, this is the podcast for you! Make sure to check out ShtarkTank.org for more meaningful content. Feel free to reach out with feedback, or just to say hi: yaakovwolff@gmail.com
95 Episodes
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Balabatish Questions is a 4-part series about the mindest of being a Ben Torah in the workforce, co-hosted by Yaakov Wolff and Zevi Reinitz.
The final Balabatish question: Should we keep our accomplishments to ourselves? Or is there room for making a big deal and celebrating?
After the discussion, we conclude the series with a quick summary and a few action items.
Sources:
'Celebrate' by Rabbi Sacks zt"l
Tombstone of Rav Eliezer Yosef Lederberg
Michael Jordan on the GOAT debate
Thank you to the Iyun Institute for sponsoring this series. Check out their website, subscribe to their email list, and listen to their brand new podcast, for hard hitting analysis of the Haredi Draft debate and more.
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Balabatish Questions is a 4-part series about the mindest of being a Ben Torah in the workforce, co-hosted by Yaakov Wolff and Zevi Reinitz.
The third Balabatish question: What is the role of jealousy? Is it purely negative or can it serve a positive function as well?
Tune in for another fun conversation, followed by a question that has bothered me for years!
Thank you to the Iyun Institute for sponsoring this series. Check out their website, subscribe to their email list, and listen to their brand new podcast, for hard hitting analysis of the Haredi Draft debate and more.
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Balabatish Questions is a 4-part series about the mindest of being a Ben Torah in the workforce, co-hosted by Yaakov Wolff and Zevi Reinitz.
The second Balabatish question: Why do Balabatim play down their accomplishments and abilities?
Tune in for a conversation packed with some surprising data, sources and Gedolim stories!
Thank you to the Iyun Institute for sponsoring this series. Check out their website, subscribe to their email list, and listen to their brand new podcast, for hard hitting analysis of the Haredi Draft debate and more.
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Balabatish Questions is a 4-part series about the mindest of being a Ben Torah in the workforce, co-hosted by Yaakov Wolff and Zevi Reinitz.
The first Balabatish question: Why is "Bahlabus" a dirty word in many Batei Midrash? And why does it matter?
Tune in for a conversation about the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah, the psychology of identity, and more!
Thank you to the Iyun Institute for sponsoring this series. Check out their website, subscribe to their email list, and listen to their brand new podcast, for hard hitting analysis of the Haredi Draft debate and more.
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
To sign up for the new zman of VHP, click here.
Proffesor Aaron Allen is Chair of Radiation Oncology at Shaare Zedek Medical Center,
and Deputy Director of the American Medical Program at Tel Aviv University. He can be reached by email, Aaronal@szmc.org.il
We talk about his efforts to find a deep and authentic connection with Hashem and His Torah, despite being a busy physician.
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Ori Sobovitz is in charge of accelerators and incubators at the OurCrowd.And even though he spends his days in the VC world, his most important investment is in uniting the Jewish people around Torah values. This is what led him to publish יש בתוכנו שמיים, a book which connects modern day issues, the weekly parsha, and the thought of Rav Kook.
Topics Covered
Childhood & upbringing
Learning at Mechinat Eli
Career path
Writing to build bridges
Returning from Miluim
Shabbos and Chol
To hear more from Ori, you can join his Whatsapp group, Order his book, or send him an email Ori@ourcrowd.com
Do you want more Shtark Tank in your life?
Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Rav Moshe Sokol, Ph.D. is the Dean of Lander College for Men, a Shul Rav and Professor. He has been guiding Bnei Torah as they transition to the workforce for almost 30 years!
We discussed the most important criteria for navigating career decisions, coming out of college and beyond. We also discussed his unique connection with Aggadeta, and some Aggadeta lessons we can learn for life in the workforce.
You can check out his books here, and reach him by email Moshe.Sokol@touro.edu
Thanks to Lander College for Men for sponsoring this episode!
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Marc Lesnick has impacted thousands of people, by helping distribute the Torah of Rav Asher Weiss and Rav Shalom Rosner. Professionally, he is a partner at Fortissimo Capital.
He can be reached by email, Marc@ffcapital.com
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Topics Covered
Choosing a career that you love
Facilitating the Torah of Rav Asher Weiss and Rav Shalom Rosner
The challenges of being a ghostwriter
Up-close view of greatness
How to start spreading Torah of a Gadol
Rav Gil Student is the Editor of TorahMusings.com . He does all of his writing, learning and community work on the side, since he works full-time as an actuary. You can follow him on X or reach out by email.
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Tune in to hear Rav Gil Student talk about:
Unconventional Career Path
Chessed at Work
Learning Goals
Laid-back Intensity
Torah Musings
Quality of Torah
Bahlabus but not Balabatish
Ziv (or Zivi) Mendesohn is the author of מלאים זיו, a 570 page sefer on a wide varitey of topics. He can be reached by email at zivi@lmanda.com
We talk about his 20 year journey to writing a sefer. This episode will provide you with two things:
Practical advice on writing a serious sefer.
Motivation to get started!
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Partial list of topics:
Discovering Personal Connections in Torah
Writing and Memorializing Learning for Family
Torah Learning and Aliyah
My father is the COO of OurCrowd, Chairman of Kav L'Noar, and an informal career coach. You can contact him on LinkedIn.
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Topics covered:
Work-Life Synergy
Lessons From Baking Cookies
Advice For Job Applicants
Non-Profit Work
Divine Providence
Rav Yitzchak Breitowitz is a Senior Lecturer in Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. Until April 2010, he was the Rabbi of the Woodside Synagogue in Silver Spring, Maryland and Professor of Law at the University of Maryland Law School. We spoke about his journey from yeshiva to law school, and from the the workforce to the Rabbinate. And we discussed one of the most underrated aspects of living a Torah life. To listen to the Rabbi
Breitowitz Q&A Podcast click here (highly recommended).
Join me in learning hilchos Purim with Virtual Halacha Program! Click Here for free registration.
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Topics Covered
Early Childhood+Yeshiva Years
Decision to Leave for Law School
Memories of Boston
Early Career+Teaching Torah
Returning to the Rabbinate
Today's Generation
Noam Wasserman is the Dean of Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University, and used to teach at Harvard Business School. He wrote two bestselling business books, the Founders Dillemas and Life is a Startup.
Topics
Sy Syms VS. HBS
Personal Journey
Talmud Torah
Business and Values
Am Yisrael
You can follow Dean Wasserman on LinkedIn
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
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 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Aumann remains active in the academic community, sharing his wisdom on mathematics, philosophy, and human behavior.
Chapters:
• Childhood and early influences
• Making Aliyah and losing his son Shlomo HY"D
• Career Joureny
• Winning the Nobel prize
Don't miss out on exclusive bonus content, as well as special offers and initiatives. Join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group today.
Has Shtark Tank made even a small impact on your life? Email me at yaakovwolff@gmail.com with feedback, questions, comments.
Click Here to check out Sichot on the Parsha from Rav Moshe Stav
Rav Chezkie Glatt is a Rebbi at Yeshivat Torat Shraga, and the co-founder and CTO or Roga Analyitics. We talk about his main role-model, his daily schedule and more!
You can reach him by LinkedIn, and you can join his WhatsApp group, A Pasuk A Day from Mishlei.
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Moe Mernick is Chief of Staff @ Triple Whale, a Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur, and an inspirational speaker.
We spoke about his column in Mishpacha Magazine about Work Life Solutions, overcoming life's challenges, and the importance of family.
For more from Moe:
Final Column Ft. Moe Mernick, Short Videos on the Daf Daf Yomi Moe-ments, Moe's book about living with a stutter The Gift Of Stuttering, Mishpacha Magazine Column Archive
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
If you have any sort of feedback, or just want to say hey, don't hesitate! You can reach me by email and LinkedIn
Rav Yehoshua Pfeffer is a Rav, Dayan, Director of the Iyun Institute, and former Supreme Court Clerk. You can follow his work by subscribing to the Tzarich Iyun email list and YouTube Channel. You can also reach him by email. yehoshuapfeffer@gmail.com.
Please join the Shtark Tank Quiet Whatsapp Group for exclusive bonus content!
Chapters
1) Personal Journey: From London to Mir to Law School
2) The Proper Mindset: Transitioning Out of Yeshiva
3) Practical Advice
In our very first episode, we sit down for a conversation with Zevi Reinitz, tech executive and mechaber seforim.
We discuss his journey as a writer, and what he thinks is the most important mindset for a Ben Torah in the workforce.
You can check out Zevi on LinkedIn and join his "Great Qs on the parsha Whatsapp Group"
Shtark Tank is a podcast for Bnei Torah in the workforce, providing insightful conversations with role models and mentors.
Join our quiet WhatsApp group, where I will be posting new episodes, as well as bonus content related to each weeks conversation. Would love to have you along for the ride!
Chapter 1: Intro and Background
Chapter 2: Zevi's Writing 'Career'
Chapter 3: Limiting Mindset
Chapter 4: Today's Unique Moment
As we prepare for Yom Kippur, we speak with Joseph Gitler about his son-in-law, David Schwartz HY”D—a ben Torah, law student, and IDF reservist in Handasah Kravit (combat engineering) who fell in Khan Younis on January 8, 2024 alongside his chavrusa Yakir Hexter HY”D.Joseph shares how David wove together strong learning with real-world duty, his years in Gush Etzion, his time at Reichman University law school, his gift for connecting across communities, and what it means to mourn while still choosing life and responsibility. We also hear about ongoing projects in David’s memory and the weekly Divrei Torah initiative that now reaches thousands.LinksTo join the David Schwartz Divrei Torah chatTo watch the video from the AzkaraHighlightsBen Torah in the world: David’s learning (Kli Yakar chavrusas, steady seder) and his drive to serve—both in the IDF and potentially in public service.Bridging worlds: Deep ties across communities (yeshiva, Chassidus, secular campus). Seeking dialogue without blurring values.Reichman law school: Culture shock, principled debate during the judicial protests, and the value of hearing people who think differently.Army service: Training, multiple rotations in Gaza with Tzanhanim commandos; pride in the unit’s work despite the dangers.January 8, 2024: The incident in Khan Younis; community and family response; what shiva looked like for parents of the almanah.National resilience: “The whole country has PTSD.” Practical takeaways: watch your friends and kids; speak up when you see someone struggling; get help involved.Living memory: A sefer of David’s Torah (written in yeshiva), a growing weekly parsha sheet in Hebrew and English, shul/Beit Midrash renovations, and a loans fund for farmers and soldiers—projects that carry his light forward.
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.