Shtark Tank

What does it take to go from learning Torah to owning your unique chelek in Torah—and maybe even publishing it?

In this powerful return to Shtark Tank, Rav Tzvi Goldstein joins us for a deep and practical conversation about writing, editing, publishing, and most of all—developing a personal connection to Torah that lasts beyond Yeshiva.

• Why your unique Torah insight matters—and why you might not have permission to keep it to yourself

• How Rav Hirsch and Rav Soloveitchik’s hashkafos shaped Rav Tzvi’s own Torah worldview

• Writing as a spiritual discipline: not just for clarity, but for growth and legacy

• What to do before you publish (and how much it really costs)

• Behind the scenes of editing seforim for Rabbanim and laymen alike

• Why Substack might be the best starting point for sharing your Torah

• And yes—why your writing doesn't have to wait until you're 60

  
  

Best Quotes

“If you really have a unique Torah idea… you don’t have permission to keep it to yourself.”
“Writing isn't just expression—it's clarity, chazara, and connection.”
“Publishing a sefer isn't just about ego or status. It’s about celebrating Torah—with yourself, your family, and your community.”

Thinking of Publishing?

Rav Tzvi breaks down the entire process:
Content edit → Copy edit → Proofread → Typesetting → Final read-through → Print or publish online.
Whether you go with a major publisher or self-publish, he offers tips, costs, and what to expect—without the smoke and mirrors.

For More from Rav Tzvi

Check out this substack post on the same topic

Order Rav Tzvi's book Halachic Worldviews

As we prepare for Shavuos, Rav Moshe Shwed, Director of All Torah, joins Shtark Tank to discuss the intersection of Torah, technology, and responsibility. A Brisk alum turned digital visionary, Rav Moshe shares how he helped launch some of the most popular Torah apps in the world — including All Daf, All Parsha, All Mishnah, and more.

This conversation goes beyond product design. We dive into how working Bnei Torah can stay grounded in their learning, how accountability and consistency build spiritual momentum, and why technology — if used wisely — can be a powerful tool for harbatzas Torah.

What We Discuss:

• Rav Moshe’s journey: Brisk, BMG, and the unexpected call from (or to) the OU

• The origin story of All Daf and the 2019 Siyum HaShas push

• Creating curated, Yomi-focused Torah content for the real world

• A marathon runner from Georgia and the unexpected power of accessible Torah

• Torah and tech: Is it lechatchila or bedieved? Rav Moshe’s nuanced take

• Building for depth in a short-form world: design choices and user realities

• What happens if the apps go offline? The mission to lower the barrier to entry

• The launch of All Mishnah, All Parsha, and new frontiers like Nach Yomi

• Torah as the ultimate unifier — and why that matters now more than ever

• The mem-ches kinyanei Torah and building a national beis medrash

• Advice for working Bnei Torah: accountability, chaburas, and small steps

• How Torah changes the way your family sees you

Links & Resources:

• Download the apps: All Torah App Suite

• Mentioned seforim:

  • Mishnas Rav Aharon (Rav Aharon Kotler)

  • Shaarei HaZmanim (Rav Dessler, grandson of the Michtav M’Eliyahu)

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

04:57 The Origins of AllDaf and Its Unique Approach

19:59 Balancing Technology and Traditional Learning

36:45 The Unifying Power of Torah

43:47 Success in Learning

50:30 Lightning Round

What happens when the dream job just doesn’t feel like your dream?

In this episode, we sit down with Yaakov (Bryant) Oberg, who left a successful banking career in LA in search of something deeper. What started as spiritual curiosity led to yeshiva in Yerushalayim, and later to a new challenge—integrating Torah learning into the reality of full-time work.

He started out by learning a full morning seder followed by working in the afternoon and evening. But then he burnt out.

This lead him to help launch: Kollel Gedulei Tzion, a kollel built around a bold idea—a half seder of high-quality learning for Bnei Torah in the workforce.

This episode explores:

• The decision to walk away from a high paying job in pursuit of meaning

• What it looks like to live an integrated Torah–work lifestyle

• Why sometimes less learning can lead to more growth

It’s a powerful reminder that success isn’t about how many hours you log—it’s about where your heart is.

For more information on Kollel Gedulei Tzion, led by Rabbi Zev Horowitz, go to https://www.geduleitzion.org/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

06:12 Leaving Corporate Life for Yeshiva

18:13 Establishing a New Learning Framework

33:43 Reflecting on Work, Passion and Spirituality

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Subscribe to Shtark Tank for thoughtful interviews, honest reflections, and real conversations for Bnei Torah navigating the modern world.

This week on Shtark Tank, we bring you a special megapod in honor of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut — a deep, emotional journey through stories of sacrifice, strength, and national pride.

In this episode:

• Yakir and Josh Hexter's Story: Why one bereaved father turned down a public interview — and the lesson we all need to hear.

• Avraham and Daniel Colthuf: Two brothers, lawyers and reserve soldiers, who serve as chazanim for IDF funerals, standing by families in their darkest moments.

• Collection of Israel Stories:

  • Jeff Swartz, former CEO of Timberland, on falling in love with Israel (from Invested podcast).

  • Nobel laureate Professor Yisrael Aumann on losing his son and a powerful shiva visit.

  • Highlights from Michael Eisenberg on making Aliyah and building a career in Israel.

  • A personal reflection from my father about how a fallen soldier shaped our Aliyah story.

Subscribe to our newsletter at ⁠shtarktank.org⁠ for more from working Bnei Torah around the world.

Join our ⁠quiet whatsapp group ⁠for episode updates, event invites and exclusive bonus content.

Thank you for listening.
If this episode moved you, please take a moment to rate and review — it helps us bring more meaningful conversations to more people.

Subscribe to Shtark Tank for thoughtful interviews, honest reflections, and real conversations for Bnei Torah navigating the modern world.

00:00 Intro

02:16 Yakir Hexter HY"D and Silent Grief

07:30 Interview with Colthof Brothers

54:56 Short Stories

With Yom HaShoah coming up this week, I sat down with Lawrence Burian, the COO of LIV Golf and the son of a Holocaust survivor. Before joining LIV Golf, Lawrence held a number of senior positions at the Madison Square Garden Company, the group behind the MSG Arena, the Knicks, the Rangers, MSG Network, and more. We spoke about his career, his father’s story, and how the two deeply interact. We also discussed Lawrence’s family’s involvement in Holocaust remembrance efforts, what Holocaust education should look like in 2025, and what it means to carry legacy into boardrooms, classrooms, and Jewish homes.

This is a conversation about memory—but also mission.
About trauma—but also strength.
About Jewish identity that doesn't just survive—but builds.

Topics we explore:

• Growing up as the son of a survivor—and what that taught Lawrence about purpose and pressure

• The power of showing up proudly Jewish in high-stakes rooms

• Lessons from a 13-year-old in Auschwitz that still echo in today’s leadership decisions

• Why Holocaust education needs to shift from trauma to relevance

• October 7th, antisemitism, and why “never again” has to mean action—not slogans

Mentioned in this episode:

• Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

• The Choice – Edith Eger

Subscribe to our newsletter at shtarktank.org for more from working Bnei Torah around the world.

Join our quiet whatsapp group for episode updates, event invites and exclusive bonus content.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

03:51 Lawrence's Journey in the Sports Industry

06:53 Andrew Burian z"l, Lawrence's father

16:00 Navigating Identity and Responsibility

21:54 Contrasting Generations: From Trauma to Success

25:00 Engaging the Next Generation in Holocaust Education

33:47 Reflections Post October 7th

39:45 Lightning Round: Personal Insights and Reflections

What the Pesach Story Teaches About Justice, Dignity, and Purpose in the Workplace

This special bonus episode is for all the busy bnei Torah out there — whether you're scrubbing your kitchen, running errands, or on the road for Yom Tov.

We know how hectic things get before Pesach, and sitting down to read a dvar Torah isn’t always realistic. That’s why we’re bringing you the audio version of a new essay posted on shtarktank.org — so you can prepare for the chag while on the move.

In this episode, we explore:

• What Yetzias Mitzrayim teaches us about navigating the workplace

• How to carry values like justice, dignity, and purpose into our careers

• Why this story isn’t just ancient history — it’s a blueprint for how we show up today

Read the original, and more, at: shtarktank.org

Please sign up so that you don't miss future essays!

Part of our new series of written divrei Torah from working bnei Torah — listeners and past guests of the show — The Write Way.

This special episode of Shtark Tank is a live recording from our third community event—and the first ever live podcast-style conversation. Recorded at the beautiful DLA Piper offices in Tel Aviv, the room was full of professionals, Bnei Torah, and thoughtful seekers, all gathered to explore a question at the heart of both our Jewish identity and our working lives: What does it mean to be free?

We were honored to host Rabbi David Lapin, whose Torah, business experience, and wisdom challenged our assumptions about freedom, slavery, technology, work, and what really defines success.

Together, we unpack:

• Why "freedom from" isn’t enough—and how Torah gives us freedom to rise above instinct

• The hidden cost of entertainment and escapism

• How Kiddush Hashem shows up at work—and why restraint is more powerful than reaction

• What Viktor Frankl teaches us about agency in the workplace

• How Shabbos might be our last line of defense in a distracted world

Whether you were there in person or are tuning in from your commute, we invite you to join this deep, practical conversation about the kind of inner freedom that can transform your life—from the boardroom to the beis medrash.

Stay In Touch

There's more to Shtark Tank than just a podcast. Check out ShtarkTank.org and subscrive for meaningful blog posts. You can also check out our Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, exclusive bonus content and more. You will also get the chance to submit questions for the show itself. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here to join.

Special thanks to DLA Piper for graciously hosting. This event was sponsored in memory of Shlomo David Ben Reuven Stanley Cohen z”l, by his son Simon Cohen. Also dedicated to the memory of Yehudit Shlomit bat Breina a”h

Like what you hear?
Please rate, review, and share Shtark Tank with a friend. It helps us reach more Bnei Torah in the workplace—and beyond.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:18 Understanding Slavery and Freedom for professionals

09:49 Finding Spirituality in a Busy Life

14:52 Engaging with Torah: Quality Over Quantity

17:43 Freedom and Entertainment: A Double-Edged Sword

25:03 Mastering Impulses: The Power of Restraint

26:30 Audience Questions

31:50 The Importance of Responsibility and Boundaries

32:32 Shabbos: A Sanctuary in a Busy World

38:16 The Interplay of Restrictions and Freedom in Judaism

From our very first episode, writing has been a steady theme here at Shtark Tank. Over the past two episodes, we got amazing feedback about the banker who wrote world-famous sefarim and Abie Rotenberg, who not only composed legendary music but also published sefarim—on top of his day job.

This week, we’re continuing that thread and talking about writing divrei Torah. But before we get into it, we’re excited to announce the launch of our new website: shtarktank.org! It features writing by Bnei Torah in the workforce—real, thoughtful Torah from people balancing work and avodas Hashem. Head over there and drop your email so you don’t miss a post.

This week we’re joined by Reuven Kirschner—a systems implementor at a tech company with a ton going on beyond his 9-to-5. He recently published a sefer called Groovin’ to the Torah, and he’s one of the founding members of the growing community in Karmei Gat. We talk about motivation, time management and more.

You can check Reuven out on LinkedIn, and don't forget to check out his podcast, Career Canvas.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction, Personal Background, Career Development

08:48 The Writing Journey

19:50 Carmei Gat: A New Chapter in Life

41:56 Time Management Strategies and Lightning Round

This week, we sit down with Abie Rotenberg. Abie is a legend in Jewish music, known for songs like Acheinu, Kol Berama Nishma, and Lakol Zman V’Eis—and that’s just his Hebrew work. His Journeys albums feature powerful English ballads, and his Marvelous Middos Machine series shaped generations of kids through music.

But what many people don’t know is that music was never his parnassah.

Abie spent decades working in his family’s business, only recently retiring. Along the way, he also taught in yeshiva, published two sefarim, and wrote a novel about baseball and Judaism.

In this conversation, we spoke about:

• Having a passion that isn’t your job

• How music can be a form of chinuch

• Finding creative ways to bring Jews closer to Torah

Check Out Abie's Books

• The Season of Pepsi Myers
• Eliyahu HaNavi
• Rabbi Akiva

Join Our Whatsapp Group! If you enjoy Shtark Tank, you don't want to miss our Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, exclusive bonus content and more. You will also get the chance to submit questions for the show itself. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here to join.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Today, we’re doing something a little different.

Most of our episodes feature incredible role models—people who are navigating the balance between Torah and work with strength and clarity. But today, we’re going back in time to talk about someone who is no longer with us. Someone who lived over a century ago, yet whose story feels just as relevant today as it did then.

This is the story of the baal habayis who shocked the Netziv.

Now, focusing on a historical figure isn’t a new concept for Shtark Tank. In fact, if you haven’t yet listened to ourincredible series on the legacy of Rabbi Sacks, I highly recommend it. But today’s episode is unique for another reason.

For the first time, this is not an interview. There’s no back-and-forth discussion. It’s just me, sharing a story that had adeep impact on my own life.

This story comes from the fourth volume of Makor Baruch, the historical memoir written by Rav Baruch Epstein, the esteemed author of Torah Temimah, Tosefes Bracha, Baruch She’amar, and many other sefarim.

Makor Baruch was written toward the end of his life, and the fourth volume, in particular, is devoted to his illustrious uncle—the Netziv, Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin.Through its pages, we get a rare, intimate look at the Netziv’s wisdom, his middos, and his unwavering commitment toTorah and his talmidim.

Some sections of this work were later translated into English under the title My Uncle, the Netziv, a book that generated its fair share of controversy. Discussions about secular studies in Volozhin, women learning Gemara, evenreading newspapers on Shabbos—these topics sparked plenty of debate. But that’s not what we’re here to talk abouttoday.

Today, we’re telling the story of one of the Netziv’s top talmidim—a young man who, left Yeshiva to become a baal habayis.

You will hear about the Netzivs advice for staying shtark in the workforce, how this talmid followed that advice, and ameleve malka that turned wild.

Join Our Whatsapp Group! If you enjoy Shtark Tank, you don't want to miss our Quiet Whatsapp group, which includes updates, exclusive bonus content and more. You will also get the chance to submit questions for the show itself. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click Here to join.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Additional Content is also available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠shtarktank.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠