Shtark Tank

Yaakov Wolff
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If you are a Ben Torah in the workforce, this is the podcast for you! Make sure to check out ShtarkTank.org for more meaningful content. You can access bonus content and community events through our quiet Whatsapp Group https://chat.whatsapp.com/B5jEcBP5umZAHWk2ILBWTS Feel free to reach out with feedback, or just to say hi: yaakovwolff@gmail.com

  1. Do Your Job: Avoid Guilt, Keep Striving | Advice from Alei Shur ft. Rav Dovid Gottlieb

    7 HR AGO

    Do Your Job: Avoid Guilt, Keep Striving | Advice from Alei Shur ft. Rav Dovid Gottlieb

    What if the most “frum” thing you can do at work… is simply doing your job well? In this episode, I’m joined by Rav Dovid Gottlieb for a sharp, practical conversation built around a powerful piece from Rav Shlomo Wolbe (Alei Shur)—with guidance that every working Ben Torah needs. Soon after, we take these ideas into one of the hottest and most real-life arenas right now: religious soldiers in the IDF, and the tension of doing what’s right while still missing the beis medrash, the minyan, and the Yom Tov experience. The takeaway applies to soldiers and professionals: avoid guilt, stay honest about what you’re missing, and keep striving. In this episode: The Midrash about Chanuch the cobbler: how “every stitch” can be holy when your goal is to help people Rav Wolbe’s big idea: there’s no such thing as truly “secular” work when you bring the right kavana The “Do Your Job” principle: why learning/davening at the wrong time can become a mitzvah haba’ah b’aveirah The soldier/workforce parallel: no guilt when you’re doing what Hashem needs from you now—while still feeling the loss of what you’re missing Balancing the three jobs: family, parnassah, and Torah (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all formula) A powerful closing charge from Rav Wolbe: Hashem hasn’t given up on you—keep striving to grow in Torah “Latent awareness”: how Torah stays with you even when you’re fully focused on your mission To support Religous IDF soliers click here and support Tzalash. If you want to help us grow Shtark Tank, make sure to hit subscribe and leave a 5 star review, thanks!

    52 min
  2. Flying the World, Finishing Shas | Yossi (Joseph) Landes

    9 FEB

    Flying the World, Finishing Shas | Yossi (Joseph) Landes

    In this episode, I sit down with Yossi (Joseph) Landes—President and co-founder of Nerdio (a unicorn), and a 23-year veteran of Microsoft. But this conversation isn’t mainly about startups. It’s about growing in Gemara when you don’t see yourself as “the best learner,” and building a life where Torah stays at the center—through airports, moves abroad, pressure, and big responsibility. We talk about: “I might be the worst learner in the whole yeshiva.” And how that humility became fuel—not a stop sign. Daf Yomi as identity: train rides, flights, gates, and “downtime” that turns into real learning time. Awe for talmidei chachamim: the pictures on his desk, and what they remind him of when work gets loud. Lessons from Satya Nadella + lessons from yeshiva—especially the mindset of being a learn-it-all, not a know-it-all. What it takes to stay frum while living around the world—plus huge hakaras hatov to Chabad for making that possible. “Truth is found in the field”: how empathy, listening, and outside-in thinking shaped his leadership style. The long game: building a unicorn company, and still saying, “When I’m done, I want to learn full time.” If you appreciate Shtark Tank, please make sure to subscribe and leave a 5-star review!

    54 min
  3. Super Bowl, Sports, and Serving Hashem | An Honest Conversation ft. Rav Moshe Benovitz

    2 FEB

    Super Bowl, Sports, and Serving Hashem | An Honest Conversation ft. Rav Moshe Benovitz

    Super Bowl week is here, and as Bnei Torah, we can't avoid asking a hard question: what is sports doing to our time, our headspace, and our Avodas Hashem? In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sit down with Rav Moshe Benovitz (Director of NCSY Kollel) for a real, nuanced conversation about loving sports without losing yourself in it—including the famous story of a Super Bowl night in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavne where he made a deep decision to skip the game. We talk about: When sports is healthy… and when it starts to take over “Must-see TV,” compulsion, and where to draw the line Sports as a “religious” experience (arenas as temples) What Torah educators and marketers can learn from the NFL’s pull Community, purpose, and building a mission-driven life A fun detour into Bill Simmons and why sports can create real connection

    52 min
  4. Abie Rotenberg | The Freedom to Sing [From the Archives]

    26 JAN

    Abie Rotenberg | The Freedom to Sing [From the Archives]

    For Parashat Beshalach / Shabbat Shirah, we’re pulling a fan-favorite from the archives: a wide-ranging conversation with Jewish music legend Abie Rotenberg — songwriter of classics like Acheinu, Mama Rochel, and Na’ar Hayiti. But this episode isn’t only about music. A.B. shares how building a serious career in business gave him something rare in the music world: freedom. Freedom to write at his own pace, choose what to release, and never treat music like a paycheck. We also get into: His path from chinuch to the family import business (and what that transition really felt like) Why he sees songwriting as a real form of chinuch — and how melodies can open up the words of tefillah and pesukim The story and intent behind Marvelous Middos Machine, and the very real dilemmas of teaching values through songs Reflections on Acheinu returning to the world in a painful new way His Torah writing (sfarim on Eliyahu Hanavi and Rabbi Akiva) — plus a surprising third book: a baseball novel built for kiruv Baseball, balance, and the line between a healthy outlet and a distraction Subscribe if you’re enjoying the show — it helps more than you think.

    48 min
  5. Moe Mernick, Ben Lang and Michael Bloch | Growth in Torah and Business | LIVE in Tel Aviv

    19 JAN

    Moe Mernick, Ben Lang and Michael Bloch | Growth in Torah and Business | LIVE in Tel Aviv

    Is it possible to grow in Torah and business at the same time? Last week, I sat down with Moe Mernick, Ben Lang, and Michael Bloch to talk it through — live, in front of an energetic crowd of 50+ growth-oriented leaders, at the offices of DLA Piper Israel in Tel Aviv. The “excuse” for the gathering was Moe’s new book, Conversations with Jewish Business Leaders — and the conversation went way beyond the book. We discussed: What success really means (and why it can’t be one-size-fits-all) Why success isn’t about money — and how to build a life that actually feels aligned Meaning at work, mid-career “what am I doing with my life?” moments, and the idea of learn / earn / return How side projects can turn into real impact Staying strong in the lows: imposter syndrome, mentors, community, and keeping perspective Spiritual growth in the busy years: fixed learning times, realistic goals, balancing “heart” and “mind,” and accountability Order Conversations with Jewish Business Leaders here. Big thank you to the event hosts and sponsors: DLA Piper Israel and Yeshiva University Israel.

    40 min
  6. What Your Wife Really Needs | Shovavim Special ft. Aaron Zakowski

    12 JAN

    What Your Wife Really Needs | Shovavim Special ft. Aaron Zakowski

    In this Shovavim special, I sat down with marriage coach Aaron Zakowski for a direct and practical conversation about what it really means to be a Jewish husband and father in today’s world. We talk about: Why emotional safety matters as much as financial stability The mistake many men make when they try to “fix” instead of listen How long work hours affect marriage—and what actually helps Why your value as a Jewish man does not come from your paycheck What most chassan classes don’t prepare you for How marriage changes at different stages of life Stress, self-esteem, and why men need support too Creating closeness at home without needing more time in the day Resources Aaron on Instagram Beyond The Chassan Class (Webinar) Shalom Bayis Daily (Whatsapp Group) You can reach Aaron at Aaron.zakowski@gmail.com

    41 min
  7. The CEO Who Handwrites 1,000 Thank-You Notes | Laizer Kornwasser

    5 JAN

    The CEO Who Handwrites 1,000 Thank-You Notes | Laizer Kornwasser

    What does real success look like when you’re trying to stay grounded as a Ben Torah? In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sat down with Laizer Kornwasser — CEO of DrFirst, professor at Yeshiva University, and Chairman of NCSY — for a wide-ranging conversation about ambition, pressure, leadership, and the Torah ideas that shape how we show up at work and in life. Laizer shares stories from investment banking and the C-suite, including how he learned to earn his “seat at the table” through facts, results, and humility. We talk about drawing clear lines when work clashes with Shabbos, why most people aren’t cut out for investment banking, and how to define success in a way that protects your priorities. Then we shift into a deep dive on the Altar of Slabodka: Gadlus HaAdam, EQ vs IQ, gratitude, and the power of seeing each person as an individual with real potential. And yes — we get into the now-famous practice: why Laizer handwrites 1,000 New Year’s cards and sends personal thank-you messages one-by-one, and what it teaches about hakaras hatov, relationships, and leadership. In this episode, we cover: Why investment banking is “not cut out for most people” What “success” really means when you’re trying to grow in Yiddishkeit The importance of knowing your line in the sand (and not crossing it) A real story: a CEO tried to push Shabbos boundaries — and Laizer’s response “Facts, not emotion”: how to communicate with different personalities The Altar of Slabodka’s approach to building people, not just teaching Torah EQ as a Jewish leadership skill, not just a business buzzword Why Laizer sends personal thank-yous instead of mass messages Chesed that actually changes you (not just “check-writing”) If you got value from this episode, please take 10 seconds to subscribe and leave a 5-star rating — it helps more people find the show.

    43 min
  8. Your Questions about Aliyah, AI, Army and more!

    29/12/2025

    Your Questions about Aliyah, AI, Army and more!

    This week on Shtark Tank, we’re opening the mailbag to dive into the conversations, questions, and insights sparked by our recent episodes. We explore what it really means to be an eved Hashem , a professional , and a family man in a fast-paced world. In this episode, we discuss: The "Millstone" of Marriage: Does our Avodas Hashem fundamentally change once we have families? We look at the Gemara in Kiddushin about learning before vs. after marriage. Work as a "Calling": Is the idea of self-fulfillment at work a modern invention? We trace the sources from the Chovas HaLevavos to modern corporate culture. Savoring the Steak: Why we should treat a line of Gemara like a juicy steak and how to handle the stress of "not learning enough" in a vast sea of Torah. Torah as an Antidote: A deep dive into the Netziv on why the Torah critiques Yosef’s beauty and how geshmak learning is the ultimate protection against the yetzer hara. The AI Future: If AI takes over our jobs, will we actually have the focus to "study God" all day? The Aliyah Struggle: Facing the "rational" vs. "emotional" challenges of making the move to Israel. Support the Show:If you enjoyed this episode, please hit Subscribe and leave a 5-star review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!

    34 min
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About

If you are a Ben Torah in the workforce, this is the podcast for you! Make sure to check out ShtarkTank.org for more meaningful content. You can access bonus content and community events through our quiet Whatsapp Group https://chat.whatsapp.com/B5jEcBP5umZAHWk2ILBWTS Feel free to reach out with feedback, or just to say hi: yaakovwolff@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Yaakov Wolff
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Yaakov Wolff
  • Show Website
    Shtark Tank

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