Shtark Tank

How do you make big decisions in life? What are the roles of emotions and excitement in Avodas Hashem? And why is schmoozing underrated? In this thought-provoking episode of Shtark Tank, Yaakov Wolff sits down with Moishe Bane to discuss the frameworks that guide a Ben Torah through the complexities of career, Avodas Hashem, and family life.

What We Covered:
🔥 The Art of Decision-Making: Moishe shares a four-step framework for making major life choices, from career moves to personal growth.
🛤️ Stages of Life: Why every phase—yeshiva, work, marriage, parenting—requires a recalibration of priorities.
💼 Choosing a Career with Purpose: How to balance financial stability with impact, and the trade-offs between a career in Torah vs. the secular workforce.
🗣️ The Power of Schmoozing: How a strong chevra helps keep your values intact in the corporate world.
🏡 Building a Strong Jewish Home: Why your Shabbos table—not school—is the real classroom for your children’s Yiddishkeit.
🎭 Purim & Parenting: How to create a Purim Seudah that’s both uplifting and family-friendly.

Relevant Articles from Moishe Bane

• Recalibration (from Klal Perspectives, Winter 2015, page 15)
• Revisiting the Attainability of Greatness

Guest Bio

​Moishe (Mark) Bane is a retired senior partner and chairman of the Business Restructuring department at the international law firm Ropes & Gray. In January 2017, he became president of the Orthodox Union (OU), a position which he held for 7 years

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In this episode of Shtark Tank, Rabbi Dr. Yosef Lynn joins us for a deep dive into the intersection of Mussar and Positive Psychology, and how these ideas can transform both personal and professional growth. As the Mashgiach of Machon Yaakov, Rabbi Lynn has dedicated his career to helping Bnei Torah integrate their learning into the workforce while maintaining their spiritual aspirations. He shares how understanding personal strengths, structuring learning effectively, and taking a proactive approach to marriage and career can unlock success and fulfillment.

We also explore how organizations can foster healthier environments, the role of exercise in personal well-being, and practical strategies for overcoming digital distractions in today's workplace.

You can check out his website, and connect with Rabbi Dr. Yosef Lynn on LinkedIn

You can also check out his books:

• Nurture Their Nature: The Torah’s Essential Guidance for Parents and Teachers
• Not A Partnership: Why We Keep Getting Marriage Wrong & How We Can Get It Right

Key Topics Discussed:

• Machon Yaakov’s Mission: How the yeshiva is designed to prepare students for success in both Torah and the workforce.
• Strength-Based Growth: Why identifying and leveraging your natural strengths is the key to thriving in all areas of life.
• Torah Learning That Works for You: Customizing your learning style and subject matter to maximize engagement and connection.
• Marriage & Family: The real definition of a healthy marriage (hint: it’s not a partnership) and practical strategies for nurturing relationships amidst a busy life.
• Career Development: The importance of finding the right role rather than just focusing on job titles.
• Physical & Mental Well-Being: Why exercise isn’t just a luxury but a necessity for high performance.
• Managing Technology: Strategies for staying present and minimizing distractions in an always-on world.
• Organizational Health: How company culture and team dynamics impact long-term success.

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In this episode of Shtark Tank, we sit down with Aleksey Chernobelskiy to discuss his fascinating journey—from his childhood in Moscow, his path to Torah observance, and his transition into the world of real estate investing. Aleksey shares insights into balancing idealism with reality, navigating the workforce as a Ben Torah, and his unconventional decision to turn down a spot at Cambridge in favor of Yeshiva.

Beyond his personal journey, Aleksey delves into the world of real estate investing, offering valuable perspectives on renting vs. buying, investment strategies, and the ethical challenges that come with managing other people’s money. He also talks about his growing online presence, the role of content creation in his career, and the ups and downs of being a public-facing figure in the digital age.

Some of the topics we covered:

• Growing up Jewish in Moscow – The challenges of Jewish life in the Soviet Union and why his family moved to the U.S.
• The journey to Torah observance – How a college campus organization introduced him to Yiddishkeit and led him to Yeshiva.
• Turning down Cambridge for Yeshiva – The difficult decision to forego a prestigious degree in favor of a life of Torah.
• Finding a balance between Torah and career – How he continues to navigate the tension between work and learning.
• The real estate industry – His transition into real estate investing, the advantages of the industry, and the risks involved.
• Rent vs. Buy debate – A detailed breakdown of the financial and emotional considerations of homeownership.
• Content creation and social media – How he built a following on LinkedIn and Twitter, the benefits of online branding, and the challenges of public visibility.
• Challenges of being a Baal Teshuva in the workforce – Adjusting from the Yeshiva environment back to the secular world while maintaining religious growth.
• Lightning Round: His favorite sefer for hashkafa, what he does on long Friday nights, and the dream career he never pursued.

💬 “If you’re proud to be Jewish, and you carry yourself with dignity, Hashem will take care of the rest.”

Biography: 

Aleksey Chernobelskiy advises limited partners (“LPs”) on existing and future investments. He’s also the founder of GP-LP Match, a platform which allows LPs to see deals that match their specific investment criteria right in their inbox immediately after a GP submission. Aleksey writes weekly to 7,000 investors at www.LPlessons.co to explain how to properly vet and think about LP investments in the grand scheme of their portfolios. Aleksey also helps General Partners on matters relating to LPs, such as capital calls or feedback on investment decks.

Prior to advising LPs, Aleksey ran STORE Capital’s $10 billion commercial real estate portfolio and oversaw the firm’s underwriting team. Aleksey graduated from University of Arizona with a quadruple major – Finance, Mathematics, Economics, and Accounting.

Popular Articles

• Top 15 syndicationmistakes
• 26 questions to askyour GP
• Do sunk costs matterin capital calls?

Find Aleksey:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)
• Weekly newsletter (LP Investing Lessons)

• Register for GP-LP Match

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Is it possible to build a profitable company that is focused on doing good in the world?
Is it possible for a busy professional to live a healthy lifestyle?
Is it possible for a startup co-founder to also serve as an assistant rabbi of a shul?

For Sam Fromson, the answer isn’t just yes—it’s his reality.

As the co-founder and COO of YULife and community rabbi of Golders Green Synagogue, Sam has shattered common misconceptions about work, health, and Torah leadership. In this episode, we dive into his journey and explore what it means to integrate success, meaning, and personal well-being.

Sam shares how startup life taught him lessons in emuna, how his venture-backed company is revolutionizing insurance with a focus on well-being, and how his role as a rabbi deepens his impact both in business and in the community.

We also cover:

• The surprising parallels between emuna and entrepreneurship
• Building a healthy lifestyle as a busy professional
• Mindfulness, reframing stress, and the power of “I get to”
• Creating meaningful work in a for-profit world

🔥 Plus, don’t miss the lightning round where Sam reveals his favorite sefer, his ideal Friday night, and his dream career if he ever left the startup world.

🎧 Tune in now for an inspiring conversation packed with wisdom, strategy, and the practical realities of balancing Torah, career, and family life.

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What happens when your dream job isn’t the right fit? This week, we sit down with Bini Maryles, who went from being a shul rabbi in the Five Towns to a leader in Jewish communal organizations and nonprofit fundraising. Bini shares the hard truths about realizing a career isn’t working, making a pivot without losing your core values, and how he found his true calling in coaching and leadership development.

Partial list of topics:

🔹 The struggles of transitioning out of the rabbinate
🔹 The identity shift that comes with leaving a public-facing role
🔹 Lessons from working in Jewish organizational leadership
🔹 How coaching and business skills can empower impact-driven work
🔹 The balance between Torah, career, and personal fulfillment

You can get in touch with Bini and listen to his podcasts here:

• Linkedin
• Coaching the Bible
• The Raimy and Bini Podcast

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With the big game coming up, we take a deeper look at the role of sports in the life of a Ben Torah.

To check out more of Ari's work:

Linkedin

Websites:

www.stadiumcustomkicks.com

www.aishtamidhats.com

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There’s a struggle that almost every Ben Torah faces—but few talk about openly. Today, we’re breaking that silence. Rabbi David Lapin joins Shtark Tank to explore the delicate balance of Shemiras HaEinayim in today’s hyper-visual world. From the Torah’s foundational perspective on attraction and discipline to practical strategies for strengthening ourselves from within, this episode tackles the real challenges head-on.

We discuss:
✅ Why Shemiras HaEinayim is about more than just avoiding temptation
✅ The hidden dangers of guilt and how it can actually hold you back
✅ How to reinforce yourself from within, rather than just escaping challenges
✅ The role of marriage in maintaining a strong inner world
✅ Practical tools to stay strong in a world of endless distractions

Plus, Rabbi Lapin shares his thoughts on how Torah itself serves as the ultimate anchor—and why true self-discipline is built through joy, creativity, and deep learning.

You can listen to our first conversation with Rav Lapin here

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Additional Resources from Rav Lapin

Time Stamps

🕒 (00:00) – Intro: The struggle no one talks about
🕒 (02:15) – Torah’s perspective on male-female dynamics and attraction
🕒 (06:10) – The modern world: Facing the sexual revolution and digital temptations
🕒 (10:30) – Guilt as a cop-out vs. guilt as motivation
🕒 (14:00) – Strengthening from within: Why learning with depth is the best protection
🕒 (17:45) – The importance of playfulness in Torah, marriage, and Avodas Hashem
🕒 (21:40) – Practical steps: What you can start doing today

In this conversation, Rav Daniel Hershkowitz shares his unique journey as a Rabbi who also held leaderships positions in govenment, academia, and politics. We discuss the balance and integration between his various roles. The conversation touches on:

Contact Us

To submit guest suggestions, questions or other ideas for Shovavim episodes, email me at ⁠[email protected]⁠

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Additional Content is also available at ⁠shtarktank.org⁠

Rav Daniel Hershkowitz has built a career that bridges the worlds of Torah and public service. With a PhD in mathematics from the Technion, he has held significant academic roles, including serving as President of Bar-Ilan University. He has also contributed to Israel’s public sector as Minister of Science and Technology and as Commissioner for the Civil Service, where he oversaw the work of hundreds of thousands of government employees.

Alongside his professional achievements, Rav Hershkowitz has been the Rav of Haifa’s Ahuza neighborhood for many years, a role he carries out as a volunteer. His approach to life combines Torah values with practical leadership, and his experiences offer a unique perspective on integrating faith, learning, and service.

00:00 Introduction

01:13 Integrating Scientific Excellence and Torah

09:13 Unique Experiences in the Rabbinate

13:51 The Importance of Balance in Life

20:42 The Role of College Education in a Changing World

24:35 Transitioning from Academia to Politics

28:27 The Complexities of Civil Service

35:44 Jewish Unity and Societal Harmony

38:55 Lightning Round

In this episode of Shtark Tank, host Yaakov Wolff interviews Allen Pfeiffer, a managing director at Kroll and part-time professor at Sy Syms School of Business. They discuss the challenges and opportunities of balancing a professional career with Torah values, the importance of authenticity in the workplace, and the dilemmas faced by professionals in maintaining their Jewish identity. Alan shares personal stories and insights on navigating these challenges, offering advice for young professionals on finding a career that aligns with their values and passions. The conversation also touches on the significance of mentorship and maintaining a commitment to learning throughout life, as well as the personal journey of Aliyah.

To submit guest suggestions, questions or other ideas for Shovavim episodes, email me at [email protected]

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Additional Content is also available at shtarktank.org

In this episode we sit down with Steve Glanz, whose journey from the fast-paced world of tech to the thoughtful halls of the Beis Medrash is nothing short of a roller coaster. Steve shares his unique story of taking risks in the Israeli tech scene, founding a startup, and achieving a successful buyout that many entrepreneurs only dream of. But his path wasn't all smooth sailing—Steve opens up about the struggles that followed, including a failed venture, burnout, and ultimately, a shift to a more fulfilling chapter as a Rebbe in Yeshivat Mevasseret.

Through his candid reflections, Steve provides invaluable guidance for young men preparing to navigate life after yeshiva. He emphasizes the importance of community, setting clear boundaries at work, and maintaining a strong foundation of learning. His practical advice is grounded in his own experiences of balancing career aspirations with a commitment to Torah values. Whether you're striving for success in the workplace or seeking inspiration to stay connected to your roots, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Bio

Rav Steve Glanz is a Rebbe at Yeshivat Mevaseret. He previously held a number of senior positions in the Israeli tech scene, including founder and CEO of Crosswise, SVP at Vringo, and more. He can be reached at [email protected]

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Chapters

00:00 From Executive to Entrepreneur: The Leap

06:28 Navigating Post-Exit Life: What Comes Next?

15:43 Transitioning to Teaching: A New Path

22:42 Preparing for Life Beyond Yeshiva: Key Insights