Shtark Tank

What does real success look like when you’re trying to stay grounded as a Ben Torah?

In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sat down with Laizer Kornwasser — CEO of DrFirst, professor at Yeshiva University, and Chairman of NCSY — for a wide-ranging conversation about ambition, pressure, leadership, and the Torah ideas that shape how we show up at work and in life.

Laizer shares stories from investment banking and the C-suite, including how he learned to earn his “seat at the table” through facts, results, and humility. We talk about drawing clear lines when work clashes with Shabbos, why most people aren’t cut out for investment banking, and how to define success in a way that protects your priorities.

Then we shift into a deep dive on the Altar of Slabodka: Gadlus HaAdam, EQ vs IQ, gratitude, and the power of seeing each person as an individual with real potential.

And yes — we get into the now-famous practice: why Laizer handwrites 1,000 New Year’s cards and sends personal thank-you messages one-by-one, and what it teaches about hakaras hatov, relationships, and leadership.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why investment banking is “not cut out for most people”

• What “success” really means when you’re trying to grow in Yiddishkeit

• The importance of knowing your line in the sand (and not crossing it)

• A real story: a CEO tried to push Shabbos boundaries — and Laizer’s response

• “Facts, not emotion”: how to communicate with different personalities

• The Altar of Slabodka’s approach to building people, not just teaching Torah

• EQ as a Jewish leadership skill, not just a business buzzword

• Why Laizer sends personal thank-yous instead of mass messages

• Chesed that actually changes you (not just “check-writing”)

If you got value from this episode, please take 10 seconds to subscribe and leave a 5-star rating — it helps more people find the show.

This week on Shtark Tank, we’re opening the mailbag to dive into the conversations, questions, and insights sparked by our recent episodes. We explore what it really means to be an eved Hashem , a professional , and a family man in a fast-paced world.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Millstone" of Marriage: Does our Avodas Hashem fundamentally change once we have families? We look at the Gemara in Kiddushin about learning before vs. after marriage.

  
  

• Work as a "Calling": Is the idea of self-fulfillment at work a modern invention? We trace the sources from the Chovas HaLevavos to modern corporate culture.

  
  

• Savoring the Steak: Why we should treat a line of Gemara like a juicy steak and how to handle the stress of "not learning enough" in a vast sea of Torah.

  
  

• Torah as an Antidote: A deep dive into the Netziv on why the Torah critiques Yosef’s beauty and how geshmak learning is the ultimate protection against the yetzer hara.

  
  

• The AI Future: If AI takes over our jobs, will we actually have the focus to "study God" all day?

• The Aliyah Struggle: Facing the "rational" vs. "emotional" challenges of making the move to Israel.

Support the Show:If you enjoyed this episode, please hit Subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!

Gratitude is usually talked about after things work out.

This episode is about learning it while you’re still in it.

In honor of Chanukah, 'days of praise and thanks', Dan Cohen shares what it was like to go from a full, busy professional life to an unexpected spinal surgery and 90 days in a rehab ward — right in the middle of a national crisis.

Not a dramatic story.
Not a miracle tale.

A real look at what gratitude means when:

• your plans fall apart

• your body isn’t cooperating

• your work and identity are put on pause

Dan reflects on letting go of expectations, staying present when the future is unclear, and learning that gratitude isn’t about being happy — it’s about recognizing that this moment is where you’re meant to be.

A Chanukah episode about small light, honest praise, and finding steadiness in ordinary challenges that many professionals quietly carry.

We also talk about how writing Divrei Torah was an anchor for Dan during during his hardest times.

More From Dan

Check out Dan's firm, FCP Communications here

To read Dan's Divrei Torah

To learn more about Geerz, click here

It’s Chanukah — the season of miracles.

But what about the “miracles” we’re watching unfold in our own lifetime… through technology?

In this special Chanukah episode, I’m joined by Mois Navon, also known as the “Mobileye Rabbi.” Mois has spent decades in high-tech and decades learning and teaching Torah — and in this conversation he helps us think clearly about innovation, awe, ethics, and where all of this may be heading.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Mois is called the “Mobileye Rabbi” (and how it started with lunch table conversations)

• What Judaism actually says about innovation and building new technology

• A powerful Torah framing: technology as a mandate to improve the world

• The other side: limits, guardrails, and ethics (and why it matters more than ever)

• Noach as the first engineer — and why the plow changed human history

• Is new tech really a “miracle,” or just human creativity inside nature?

• The dangers of modern tools (social media, AI, and more) — and the case for self-control

• Are we living in unprecedented times?

• The “Geulah” question: what do Torah sources suggest about a future of automation and abundance?

  Practical advice for building the right “muscles” for the world our kids may grow up in

• Mois Navon’s website (500+ shiurim + source sheets): link here

• Mois’s article on Judaism, technology, and ethics: link here

If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe and leave a rating — it helps more people find Shtark Tank.

About Mois Navon

Mois Navon is one of the founding engineers of Mobileye, where he designed the EyeQ family of SoC (System On a Chip) – the chip powering the autonomous vehicle revolution.  Mois is also an ordained rabbi who has published numerous articles on Jewish law and lore.  Working at the intersection of Torah U’Madda, he received his PhD from the department of Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University wherein his dissertation applies Jewish philosophy to address the ethical questions arising in the field of artificial intelligence.  In this vein, he teaches a course on “Ethics in Artificial Intelligence” at Ben Gurion University.  He is also a National Advisor to the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology on Artificial Intelligence Policy and Regulation in Israel. 

What do you do when your day job feels empty — but you still need to show up, provide, and stay honest?

In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sit down with my cousin and friend Yoni Schwartz — Head of Data Science at Exponential and Head Producer of Living L’chaim. Yoni shares how he went from a corporate role that felt like “a complete lack of purpose” to leading 10 shows that have inspired and helped countless people. He is also the host of Spirit of the Song podcast, make sure to check it out!

We talk about meaning, ambition, family, and the real-life tradeoffs of building something big on top of a demanding day job.

In this conversation we cover:

• What it feels like when work is steady… but meaningless

• How Yoni first joined Living L’chaim and how the role grew over time

• The ethics of balancing a primary job with major side projects

• Startup life vs. corporate life — and what actually changed for him

• How he manages two intense roles without a rigid system

• The idea of intentionality as a survival tool for busy people

• Setting boundaries after COVID blurred everything

• Early morning learning as a realistic anchor for fathers with young kids

• The impact Living L’chaim aims for — inspiration, mental health, and financial clarity

• Cultivating a relationship with your Rebbi

Key takeaway:
You don’t need a perfect system to juggle a lot — but you do need honesty, priorities, and intentional choices you can live with.

If this episode resonated, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a 5-star rating. It helps more Bnei Torah in the workforce find these conversations.

Guest: Yoni Schwartz
Host: Yaakov Wolff

Aliyah isn’t just a flight and a moving truck.
It’s a total reset of how you think about parnassah, gashmiyus, bitachon, and what “quality of life” actually means.

In this episode, I sit down with Eli Freedman, founder of Cork & Cellar Wine Club, to talk about what it really takes to move to Israel and stay – spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

Eli shares how he:

• Went from Boston → Wall Street → Montreal → Beit Shemesh

• Had zero interest in Aliyah… until COVID, a grandchild in Israel, and a breaking point in Canada

• Sold his house and business with no Plan B so he couldn’t run back

• Went through the “Eretz Yisrael car wash” – a painful but powerful reset of his gashmiyus and bitachon

• Rebuilt his career from scratch, launching Cork & Cellar, a boutique Israeli wine club for U.S. customers

• Found a real rav and kehillah after years of feeling disconnected

• Built a serious morning learning seder and finished Shas multiple times while running a business

We also talk about:

• Why you must come with a realistic parnassah plan – and still expect it to break

• The mindset shift from “keeping up with the Joneses” to “being happy with less but living with more”

• How living in Eretz Yisrael forces you to actually use your emunah and bitachon, not just talk about them

• The balance between enjoying good wine and not turning gashmiyus into your ikar

About our guest:
Eli Freedman is the founder of Cork & Cellar Wine Club, connecting small Israeli wineries with wine lovers in the U.S., and helping boutique winemakers who would never make it to American shelves. He lives in Beit Shemesh with his family.

Check out https://www.corkandcellar.net/club

If this episode gave you chizuk or clarity about Aliyah and mindset,
please follow Shtark Tank, leave a rating, and share it with a friend who’s thinking about moving to Israel.

Is work a curse, a burden… or a gift from Hashem?

In this solo episode, we go into the Netziv on Parshas Bereishis and pull out five big career ideas for Bnei Torah in the workforce.

1. Is Work a Curse?
2. Did God Plan on Creating Bahlabatim?
3. How do I handle Relationships with Secular Collagues?
4. Is it Possible to be Spiritual at Work?
5. Can I Live a Life of Luxury?

If this kind of Torah-first career talk speaks to you, share the episode, leave a comment on Spotify or Apple, or join the Shtark Tank WhatsApp chevra and keep the conversation going.

100th episode. World-class Torah educator. All your burning questions.

To mark our 100th episode, Rav Aryeh Lebowitz joins Shtark Tank for a wide-ranging Q&A on what it really means to be a Ben Torah in the workforce.

We talk about:

• “You’re never going to be Rav Schachter… and that’s okay” – setting healthy goals in learning

• Gadol biographies, ambition, and why you’re not supposed to be the Chafetz Chaim

• How to grow in learning when you’re working full time and raising a family

• Stress and guilt: when “I’m not learning enough” is healthy – and when it’s toxic

• Who should go into chinuch and rabbanus… and who should not

• Aliyah, parnassah, and the real math of teaching in Eretz Yisrael

• Minyan, mincha at work, and missing davening for family

• Phones, attention spans, and why Rav Aryeh deleted Twitter

It’s a packed, honest conversation with one of the most listened-to Torah teachers in the world – and a fitting way to celebrate 100 episodes of Shtark Tank.

If this episode helped you, the best “100th episode gift” you can give is simple: follow the show, leave a 5-star rating, and share it with one friend who’s trying to balance Torah, work, and family.

As we mark the yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, we’re remembering him through the eyes of two working Bnei Torah who knew him personally — not as a public icon, but as a mentor, a mensch, and a man of deep humility.

Joe Hyams spent his late teens on Rabbi Sacks security team. driving him to events across London and making sure he was safe. From the front seat, he saw the balance between majesty and modesty. “He carried himself with a regal sense of presence — yet he’d be the one holding the door open for you.” Joe describes the long, quiet drives before speeches, the relaxed warmth afterward, and how those moments shaped his own path in Torah, family, and career.

David Frei, a London lawyer and communal leader, became one of Rabbi Sacks’ trusted editors. He saw the scholar behind the sermons — “a brilliant writer and a brilliant orator,” who read a new book every night and took feedback with humility. David recalls those tense early-2000s years and how Rabbi Sacks emerged stronger, turning personal trials into a wider moral voice for faith and reason.

Together, their memories reveal a side of Rabbi Sacks rarely seen — deeply human, endlessly curious, and quietly transformative.

Select Quotes:

“He could speak to you without speaking. His smile was sharp love — piercing, serious, and full of warmth all at once.”

“He showed that Torah, integrity, and professional success aren’t separate worlds — they can and should live together.”

Last week’s episode hit a nerve.
Some listeners loved it. Others were really bothered by it.

So for the first time ever, we’re doing a feedback episode — bringing back Rav Yehuda Halpert to go deeper on the toughest questions you raised.
Is the culture of Big Law really compatible with Torah values?
What does it take to survive — or grow — spiritually in that world?
And how do we weigh ambition, family, and avodas Hashem when the hours never end?

In this follow-up:

• Years 1–3: the “conveyor belt” and why control is limited

• When to pivot — and how to choose a practice that protects Shabbos

• The billable-hour trap and what it does to your mind

• Can you ever “limit your hours” and still advance?

• Real talk on money, promotions, and gam zu l’tovah

• Shabbos at the firm: teamwork, gratitude, and derech eretz

• Marbitz Torah without a title — from shiurim to writing

• Harsh listener feedback: “For what are these costs worth paying?”

• Hashkafic tension: excellence vs. moderation

• Marriage, parenting, and faith when energy and time are scarce

If you appreciate these kinds of raw, honest conversations, follow Shtark Tank and leave a 5-star review — it helps others find the show and keeps these dialogues going.