Rabbi Menachem Penner is the Executive VP of the Rabbinical Council of America.

He’s the one person who’s name has come up more times on this podcast than anyone else’s as having been an influence - in regards to the mindset and the methodology behind giving a great Drasha.

So..needless to say, this episode of the Maggid Method is a pretty big event.

In today’s conversation, Rabbi Penner lays out the sky high stakes facing anyone who shares Divrei Torah in a public setting, every time they get up to speak…

We discuss the stark reality that you will NOT change most people’s lives by any one Drasha that you deliver, But why that’s actually a good thing…

Rabbi Penner also explains the one goal you should aim for with your Drashos - bring your congregation to the brink of change, so that when they’re ready - you’re the address they turn to.

We talk about the doldrums of the rabbinate - the nagging feeling that surfaces from time to time in every leaders mind that - maybe I’m not making a difference in people’s lives and that maybe I should have considered a different career path…

Next - we go into the nuts and bolts of Drasha preparation - beginning with the thesis statement - your ability to articulate what exactly you intend to talk about.

How to avoid losing trust and credibility in the eyes of your audience that results from what Rabbi Penner calls “the message basket” type of Drasha.

The counterintuitive approach that Rabbi Penner tries to instill in RIETS students approach to Drasha preparation.

How long you should spend looking for what to say, and how to know when you’ve found something....

Rabbi Penner’s opinion that a Drasha does not need to contain original Torah thoughts...

And how the children’s show Blue’s Clues provides the perfect Mashal for how you should approach your Drasha preparation.

_______

➡️ 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?