The Maggid Method

Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin is an American Orthodox rabbi, writer, adjunct professor, and host of the ultra popular 1840 podcast.

We covered a lot of ground in this conversation. 

First off, we talk about a love of both of ours - the craft of comedy - and the 2 ways that the mechanics of humor relate to communicating Torah messages. 

After this - we move in to structure - Dovid blew me away - and I’m not exaggerating - with a 3 step method that he uses for every talk, every class, every presentation - and it’s based on the mechanics of how a magic trick works. 

This was by far one of the coolest things I had ever heard before - that he could take this esoteric idea - it actually got made into a book and a movie called ‘The Prestige’ - and he turned it into a templated structure that he now applies to everything he communicates to audiences everywhere. 

Then we move even deeper into the forest - where we discuss the audience/speaker relationship - how you must love them and respect them as co-creators in your presentation, but never use them to get your needs met.

And then, rounding up Act III of this episode - we discuss the boundaries of vulnerability in leadership - and how important is it for a rabbi or other leader to put on a strong front for his congregation vs revealing to them his own struggles for the sake of being relatable to the people he’s trying to help grow.

And lastly - Dovid shares his top 3 pieces of advice for new congregational leaders - to set them up for professional and personal success. 

Follow Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin at https://18forty.org/

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich is Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom, in Lawrence NY.

His career began in Chinuch, not in Rabbanus - so when he found himself having to prepare and deliver Drashos - it was something he sweated over. 

But he soon hit his stride as Associate Rabbi at Congregation Beth Jacob in Atlanta, GA - where he discovered the power of a good story to capture his congregants' attention and drive his message home.

Thus began his practice of curating relatable stories - literally wherever he could find them. 

In this delightful episode of the Maggid Method - we discuss:

How to become sensitive to your speaking environment,

Visit Congregation Beth Sholom online at: https://www.bethsholomlawrence.org/

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen  served as a communal Rabbi for decades, at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn, NJ,  Young Israel of the West Side in Manhattan, and Congregation Ohr Torah in North Woodmere, NY.

But Rabbi Cohen is also a:

- lawyer,

- family counselor,

an author, speaker, podcaster, and an entrepreneur...

And he currently serves as Senior Relationship Officer at the Orthodox Union’s Yachad division.

But if there’s one thing that wearing all of these different hats has taught Rabbi Cohen, it’s the delicate art of balance.

In this enjoyable episode of the Maggid Method, Rabbi Cohen and I discuss: 

Visit Rabbi Cohen's website at: ⁠https://rabbidovidmcohen.com/⁠

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Shaul Robinson is the Senior Rabbi at Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York City.

Rabbi Robinson is unique in the sense that he entered the rabbinate without a preconceived notion of how a pulpit rabbi should speak.

Rabbi Robinson’s career began on campus, as an outreach professional, where he transformed lives through his informal conversation.  

And that tone and style of speaking has always been the ideal for him, even nowadays when he has to deliver more formal presentations. 

In this informative episode of the Maggid Method, we talk about:

- The golden standard you should aim for any time you get up to speak...

- The need for authenticity in presentation...

- And the mindset that everything you need to speak about on a given Shabbos can be found in the Parsha. 

We also talk about the hazard of inadvertently alienating a portion of your congregation with your message - and how to avoid doing it.

Follow Rabbi Robinson on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/shaul.robinson/

Follow Rabbi Robinson on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/RabbiLincolnSQ

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt is a rabbi, teacher, lecturer, and counselor. 

He served for more than thirty years as the Senior Rabbi of the Riverdale Jewish Center in the Bronx, NY. 

Rabbi Rosenblatt comes from an illustrious line of rabbinic figures. His grandfather, Rabbi Samuel Rosenblatt, was founding rabbi of the Beth Tefiloh congregation in Baltimore, MD. 

And Rabbi Rosenblatt is the great-grandson of celebrated cantor Reb Yossele Rosenblatt, who taught him the importance of developing a range in his repertoire. 

In this masterclass episode of the Maggid Method, we discuss everything sermon related - including:

And so much more!

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Shaanan Gelman is Senior Rabbi at Kehilat Chovevi Tzion in Skokie, IL. 

In one succinct sentence, Rabbi Gelman sums up the task at hand any time someone approaches the Drasha speaking slot:

Make the familiar unfamiliar - and the unfamiliar familiar.

He’s a rabbi adept at spotting transformative Drasha material - and is willing to wait as long as it takes until a particular Torah message comes to life for him 

Rabbi Gelman also places a high premium on great, personal stories to help illustrate Torah ideas - and is a master at curating them.

In this informative episode of the Maggid method, we discuss:

And...

Rabbi Gelman also shares one of the best, true stories I’ve ever heard, and how he created a life-changing Yom Kippur Drasha out of it.

Follow Rabbi Gelman's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@shaanangelman5450/featured

And his Torah podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/torahcast/id585319432

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Steven Weil is the Chief Executive Officer of the FIDF - the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces organization.

Prior to that, he served an 11 year stint as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union. 

And prior to that, Rabbi Weil served as a pulpit rabbi for 14 years - first at Young Israel of Oak Park, Michigan, and then at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills, CA.

Rabbi Weil has delivered invocations in front of governors and the President of the United States - so he definitely knows a thing or two about public speaking. 

But at heart, Rabbi Weil is a people person.

And people are at the center of everything he does - especially when he speaks.

In this insightful episode of the Maggid Method, Rabbi Weil describes the necessary mindset that a public speaker must adopt to craft a successful presentation. 

We talk about the fundamental difference between a lecture and a presentation.

We discuss a sure-fire way anyone can become a better speaker. 

And Rabbi Weil also reveals what’s an even more powerful skill to own than being a good speaker.

Visit the FIDF at https://www.fidf.org/ 

➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg served as spiritual leader of Beth Tfiloh Congregation in Baltimore, MD for 44 years. 

Dubbed “the Master of the Sermon”, Rabbi Wohlberg is famous for his inspiring & insightful sermons, read by thousands the world over.

While sometimes outspoken, Rabbi Wohlberg is also renowned for his warmth, his humor & his extraordinary pastoral concern for the members of his congregation.

A consummate professional - Rabbi Wohlberg commits to writing beforehand everything he’s going to say in the sermon.

But even though his sermon is scripted - he skillfully delivers it in a way that makes everyone in the room feel connected to him.

While he may seem larger than life from behind the pulpit - Rabbi Wohlberg’s congregants know that really - he is a down-to-earth, relatable, and caring friend that understands them - and that is the true secret of his success.

In this engaging episode of the Maggid Method, Rabbi Wohlberg gives us a rare glimpse into:

- His role models growing up,

- His early days in the rabbinate,

- And even his penchant for sports cars that has earned him some notoriety over the years.

Rabbi Wohlberg is the author of the books, "The Un-Haggadah: How to Keep the Conversation and Wine Flowing at Your Seder" and "Pulpit Power".

Follow Rabbi Wohlberg on Facebook and Twitter and view his weekly Parshah Preview video.

His latest book, What We Can REALLY Learn from the Rich and Famous: A Selection of Ponderings, Contemplations, and Inspirations, is available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMitchell+Wohlberg&s=relevancerank&text=Mitchell+Wohlberg&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

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Rabbi Rueben Poupko is Rabbi of Beth Israel Beth Aaron in Montreal, Canada.

His father was a rabbi, and his grandfather was a rabbi, too.

After 43 years, Rabbi Poupko recognizes very well the dilemma that pulpit rabbis face everytime they get up to speak.

So how does a rabbi go about keeping his congregation interested and engaged?

By being a lifelong learner - in terms of substance, and in terms of style.

Rabbi Poupko sees the role of a sermon as multifaceted - sometimes you’re there to teach, but sometimes you’re not teaching your congregation anything new - but giving expression to what’s in their hearts.

In this episode of the Maggid Method - we’re treated to over 4 decades worth of public speaking wisdom, rabbinic advice, and unbelievable true stories from a seasoned pulpit veteran who’s never written down a word of his sermons…

Like - 

- the best speaking tone for delivering a Drasha, 

- how to encourage better behavior,

- which order to speak at a funeral,

- and when to accept that -  some things will just never change.

I learned, laughed and even cried during my interview with Rabbi Rueben Poupko.

Visit Beth Israel Beth Aaron online at: https://www.shul.org/

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?

Rabbi Elliot Schrier is Senior Rabbi of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun - the largest Orthodox synagogue in Teaneck, NJ, boasting 6 different Minyanim on a given Shabbos morning.

But despite its size,  Rabbi Schrier still makes the time to connect with each of his members personally - through his daily routine of touch points.

Early into his career - Rabbi Schrier had the privilege of being mentored by one the great Darshanim of our generation, Rabbi Kenneth Hain, Senior Rabbi of Beth Shalom in Lawrence, NY.

This mindset - seeing the Drasha as a means of connection between rabbi and Kehillah - influences all aspects of how Rabbi Schrier crafts and delivers his Drashos.

Including how he structures the Drasha, and forgoing the use of notes - even though speaking from them might make him come across a more polished speaker

If you’re a speaker who’s looking to better connect to your audience through your presentation  - then this episode is for you. 

It’s jam packed with lots of useful strategies and techniques that you’ll want to put to practice right away, like:

- tips for making your Drasha more personable and relatable,

- how to ensure sure your speaking style is appropriate to the room (clip)

- and an ingenious way of structuring your Drasha to retain your audience’s attention.

Visit Congregation Bnai Yeshurun on the web here: https://www.bnaiyeshurun.org/

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➡️ Did you know there's method for cutting straight through to an audience’s heart, grabbing their attention - and holding it - and making a memorable impact with your presentation?