What began in a family garage during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into one of Los Angeles's most inspiring volunteer movements. In this episode of Search for Meaning, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback sits down with Yossi Segelman, founder of Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA), to explore how a simple act of kindness became an extraordinary force for good. In 2020, Yossi and his wife, Chaya, began assembling snack boxes for hospital workers and first responders. Soon, they were preparing meals for people experiencing food insecurity. Today, OBKLA has welcomed some 80,000 volunteers, prepared more than 700,000 meals, and inspired similar kitchens across the country. But for Yossi, the numbers tell only part of the story. Guided by four principles—Meals, Love, Unity, and Community—OBKLA brings people of different faiths, backgrounds, and generations together to prepare fresh, nutritious kosher meals for anyone in need. Along the way, volunteers discover something equally nourishing: connection, purpose, and the joy of doing good together. Rabbi Yoshi and Yossi discuss the Jewish values that animate OBKLA's work, the remarkable story of Holocaust survivor Margaret Feder, whose memory lives on through the kitchen, and the unexpected ways that preparing meals together can build bridges in an increasingly divided world. They also reflect on a recent gathering of volunteers from Stephen Wise Temple and Greater Zion Church Family in Compton, who came together to prepare 900 meals in a single evening. For Yossi, who spent decades in the jewelry business before finding his calling in community service, the work has transformed his understanding of success. Every volunteer represents a world of possibility, and every meal is an opportunity to honor another human being. It's a conversation about gratitude, generosity, Jewish identity, and the extraordinary ripple effects of a simple mitzvah. Because sometimes the most meaningful way to change the world is one meal at a time. Want to get involved? Experience the joy of volunteering at OBKLA! Whether you come on your own, with family and friends, or with colleagues, you'll help prepare delicious meals for Angelenos in need while building connections with others. Visit www.obkla.org to learn more, or sign up for a volunteer session.
