Meet the Rabbi of Social Media | How Rabbi Raps Built 2M+ Followers

Ready to roll? >> Ready to rock and roll. >> I'm excited today. Do you remember when we first met? No. >> I do. Can I paint the scene? It was the Harris Casino, Atlantic City. There was a Jewish business network. >> I'm a Kabad rabbi in Atlantic City. The guy who in charge, he told me, "Come check it out." And I'm walking around and I see a tall chair and a young kid looking fellow sitting on top of the chair like a like a mel. >> Dude, you think it's not a throne? It's like, who's this guy sitting on a throne? And then I think you recognized me. >> I did recognize you. >> And then I walked over to you and we smooed and I said, "Yeah, yeah, good energy. I like this guy." >> Vice versa. >> Okay. >> Right back at you. Um, okay. So, let's let's start. Welcome back to another episode of the What It Takes Podcast. My name is Tilly Krauss. Today, we're in a new studio in Lakewood. We're here for the day. Uh, our guest today, I'm very excited. I want to introduce you to Rabbi Araham Rapaort, otherwise known to the rest of the world as Rabbi Raps. Rabbi Raps is a congressional rabbi, speaker, and content creator who's built a massive digital presence. By the way, if any of this is not true, feel free to like let it with over 500,000 followers across multiple platforms, bringing Torah, meaning, and inspiration to people in a way that feels real, relevant, and human. Today, we're talking about his journey from his background and rabbitic path to stepping into the world of social media, the responsibility that comes with the influence, and what he's learned about leadership, impact, and staying authentic in a very public space. Whether you're a creator, leader, or someone trying to figure out how to make a difference in today's world, this conversation has a lot to offer. Welcome to the podcast. >> Thank you. It's a pleasure to be on board. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'm >> very right. Where did you get that from? >> This is a mix of doing a lot of research. >> Me, my assistant, and AI. >> I'm like, I got to meet this guy. [music] >> Let's take it back from the beginning. You're Labavich. >> Yeah. How did you end up? Where you from? Where'd you grow up? >> Atlantic City, New Jersey. >> That's where you grew up. >> 198 something, early 80s. My parents were sent by the Lava Cherva to open a kabat house in Atlantic City area. >> So that's where you grew up. >> I grew up there. >> Didn't even grow up in Kron Heights. >> No. And then I went to Lakewood. We're in Lakewood right now. I am a Lakewood success story. >> They just haven't seen my name, my picture on the wall there with all the good, but I'm sure they're working on it. They want to get a good shot, you know. >> Yeah. >> Um, so you grew up in Atlantic City. >> Yeah. >> When did you become the rabbi there? >> So I learned in Lakewood. I learned in the Lava Shisha later on after my bar mitzvah. I went on to South Africa as they do. They send you around the world. >> Who sends and who decides where? >> So when you finish yeshiva, before you do, and most people do in Kabad, you go for one or two years somewhere. And >> do you decide on your own? they sort of look at you and they say where would we be a good fit like the hat you know the there's like a conversation between the han hala and the different communities so uh there was a yeshiva in South Africa they needed certain type of personalities and I made the cut and it was a great year >> so it's like a lot of puzzle piece matching up >> yeah yeah and we had we had one year to really like work in a community you transition from being a student to sort of being like a leader in in a community I ran the day camps there. And uh >> so you're learning adulthood very young. >> Yeah. But you're [clears throat] you're put in I think it's very important. You're put in a leadership position. >> I love that. >> And you and I think as a a religious young religious Jew, it reframes everything. Like when I was in yeshiva, it was always us and what the rabbis said, right? But then they put you in a semi-position of leadership. >> You're like, "What does you're the rabbi saying? >> Now what would I say?" >> And it it's just a paradigm shift. I think it was very powerful. And I think a lot of kabad people even though they don't go into the rabinet or they don't become today not everyone does uh it's very very important. >> Yeah. >> Not everybody becomes because they don't want to or there's not enough room. >> I think it's just to find the to find the right place the right fit. It's not it's not easy. >> You get a letter in the mail saying you're going to Australia or South Africa. >> No. Like you mean when you like >> when you're going out. My family was running the kabad and they needed help and I came actually part-time to help in Atlantic City and I ended up becoming full-time Shia >> here in Atlantic City. >> Right. Exactly. You know what I had? >> I had a film company. That's Yeah. That the first thing I did >> I did promotional videos for nonprofits. >> How'd you you just bought a camera and started playing around with it? >> I loved creating content before content was a thing. In all the overnight camps, I was the guy who made the the videos. All my bar mitzvah money. I got a camcorder. Um I I love making videos and like when I finished Yeshiva, I got asked, "Oh, can you make a video for the yeshiva?" And I did. And then another organization called me and that that's what I did for the first few years. >> How do you start charging? Like were you nervous to say? >> I remember the first time I I charged like real money. It was so exciting. >> How much was it? >> It was $2,000. >> For what? for like and then and the yeshiva that hired me was like that's all because the going rate at that time was the thousand dollars a minute of of produced video >> and I was like you know to me that was you know it was >> how much work was it what was the project >> it wasn't work I loved I love till today I love creating it wasn't work >> what was the project like >> it was yeshiva and I went and interviewed the the parents the rebies the donors yeah that that's what it was and I I told the story >> you know And then I I became the guy who did all the I traveled the world and started telling the story of all these uhim and they're amazing like where they live and and what inspires them and and I was like and and meanwhile I sort of moved to Atlantic City to help my parents part-time. They needed help there. I was like I want to do this. These are amazing people. when you say help. >> So the community needs um someone to run a Hebrew school, run a day camp, uh run Khaneka programs, you know, it's all it's all production, >> right? >> So it's sort of like what I was doing already. >> I didn't grow up in that world, so I'm I'm like curious to hear how that works. Like is there a school there now? >> No. >> What happened? >> There's no school. My I came to Lakewood every day. >> No, when when you were doing in Atlantic City to help your parents, you said >> Oh, no. There's a school on Sundays for kids that are from to get a little bit of >> Judaism. >> Got it. So, it wasn't really it was a part-time thing. Your parents were also doing it like >> No, that's that's their that's their life. >> What does their day-to-day look like >> now? >> Yeah. >> Um, you run a community. You have uh thousands of people who look at you as their spiritual leader. Okay. And even though they're not necessarily religious, this one's has someone getting married, someone passed away, they need a rabbi, they they they're need a barabat mitzvah. Um, we have regular classes, adult education. And today it's marketed very well done by the JLI, the Jewish Learning Institute. So most Kabat houses don't come up with their own material. They're like they're presenting very professional put together classes. So I mean it's a full and that's what I do right now. I run the organization. My parents are very involved, but like the day-to-day running of the organiz, the fundraising, the the events, that's what I do. That's my full That's my real job. People know me as Rabbi Rap. >> No, it's your full-time job. Well, I think everything is a real job, >> right? >> Um, when did that when did you get married in all of this? >> So, >> start when did life start hitting you? Like build a family? >> I I graduate I gota everyone in Kabad gets. It's like it's a right of passage. >> Okay. But not everyone becomes a kabad rabbi, >> right? >> I became I got smika the next day. I rented a a a office in Brooklyn and I opened my studio. >> I remember my father was laughing. He said, "I know you're going to do stuff." I didn't realize the next day you already rented a place. Boom. >> Right. And I started studio. I started creating uh promotional videos specifically for the Jewish world. >> Okay. >> For the nonprofit. >> And about a year and a half later, I got married. Uh my wife Masha from Florida, Miami Beach. >> Okay. >> One uh beach family to another beach family. >> Very much so. >> I didn't hang out on the beach a lot. Just >> here. It's a little colder. >> Yeah, it's a little colder. >> Jersey. >> And um we moved to Atlantic City and I started helping my parents on the side and that became my full-time position. >> Well, your wife was open to moving to a quiet town. >> Yeah. Yeah. She liked it. >> She's from Miami. >> Miami Beach. >> So, she's busy there. >> Yeah. Well, we're very busy, too. We're in a beach town. So, it's really not Atlantic City. It's called Ventner. It's a little beach town. Three, four months a year. It's crazy busy. And the rest of the year is just regular busy, >> you know. Got it. And um your kids are in Lakewood. >> Lakewood. >> And you go to veterary for shop? >> I'm there every day. >> Okay. >> And uh >> How many kids come to school? >> So, we for eight years we drove every day. Three, three and a half hours in the car >> total. >> Yeah. So like an hour and a half each way. >> Yeah. And >> sacrifice for I hope more people learn like wow >> it's the hardest part about being everything about being a is fun and and awesome. Of course there's challenges but is the hardest thing and we have it easy. We have Lakewood an hour and 15 minutes away. That's >> describe challen like people living in remote areas Nepal. >> Oh food friends for their kids. >> What about how how are the kids? There's a lot of challenge but is the greatest one. >> So what are they doing for the around the world? >> So they have an amazing cutting edge online school. We didn't do it because it comes with a sacrifice. Your kids don't have social. For us the sacrifice was the driving. We'd rather they go to Lakewood and they they had great um >> Wow. >> You know, friends and community. >> Um an hour and a I can't wrap my head around that. >> Yeah. But no, now we have a place in Manchester and we we stay there stay got >> a couple nights a week. I do the schleing back and forth >> still every day. >> No, I don't come every day. >> Um, what would you say is probably So in the world people wouldn't look at you as a rabbi. >> Really? >> I don't think so. You're not wearing the becka >> hat, you know, with the fur things going with the silver umbrella stick. >> Um, but what does your day-to-day look like? Like what would you say is the hardest part of your day-to-day? >> I really enjoy what I do. I I got to tell you. Um it's it's uh Okay. So, every day I have programs that I I have a school for kids. I have programs >> daily school or Sunday? >> Sunday. >> Okay. >> I have um a teen program another day a week and I have now a youth director that takes care of that. I have adult education. I have um to I'm a fundraiser so I have to run a whole organization and control and and oversee a staff and that's a lot of stress. We have several locations. We have an old church that we bought. It's a really cool building that's now a shul and then a few years later we bought the second one. >> So we have two churches that are now shuls. >> Do you know Rabbi Schmuck from Arvim? Is the name ever ring a bell? >> Name rings a bell. >> So Arm is an is an organization that helps with teens at risk. Rabbi Schmol very special man. He moved to Hillburn which is near my small little town. He also just bought a church that he's going to convert into a shaw. >> Yeah, >> that was I I was there. 30 or 40 foot ceilings, glass painted. >> You have to understand why what's so special. >> It's over 100 years old that building. >> The building's gorgeous by us. But more >> if you want to open a I'm sure Lakewood struggles with the zoning over here as well. You want to open a school, you want to open a Shaw, right? >> You need a certain amount of parking spaces. You need zoning. It's it could be years before you get it and you may not even get it. >> If you buy a building that was already used for prayer, >> place of prayer >> right now it's complicated. >> What are the differences? >> Because it's like um certain denominations are more complicated for a Jewish person to buy because of a visor. I'm not going to get into that, but you need to speak to Arav. In our case, it worked out. It was an Episcopalian. They're like the the reform of the Catholicism movement. I don't know much about that world. Wow. So I guess it depends what type of church would be okay for it to turn into >> it's easier. It's less less complicated. >> And once the sh is once the church is bought to turn it to convert into a shaw. What's the process then? >> First we have to get rid of the shade. I'm just kidding. >> Um >> go into the attic. >> It was nothing. We took >> pot and pan b. >> We took down the the images that were there and we put up mus. >> That's it. Nothing else that um >> in our case it was very simple. There wasn't even much to change. >> Right. Yeah. >> But but we were able to just move into the building and operate, >> right? >> I didn't even need a co. >> It's a house of prayer. >> Yeah. House of prayer to that. The way the city looks at it. So if you try to build a a yeshiva today, a shul, it's a nightmare. It take years to get the zoning. And >> I just want to give a quick shout out to our sponsor of this episode, Dabble. So, if you ever wanted to sign your kids up for lessons of any sort, whether it be voice lessons, drumming lessons, piano lessons, you know, there there's the very strict schedules, the driving the back and forth, and you're spending crazy money on these one-on-one lessons. So, my friends at Dabble solved exactly that problem. So, it's an all-in-one platform where kids and teens can learn things from art, music, singing, photography, cooking. You can learn how to make sourdough. You can learn how to sing. You can learn to play guitar. They have a course on wa wilderness and even money management which is a great course especially for teens. You know what the best part? Without commuting to an instructor and without paying crazy money upfront. And you know what? It's $25 a month for the entire platform. Not just one course. All the courses just for 25 bucks a month. Those courses are about an hour to an hour and a half. Super interesting. These courses are meant to take the kids from off the screen into real life. And you know what's exciting? We were able to snag for all our listeners a code for 20% off whether you want to sign up for a monthly subscription or an annual. The code is tk. Check them out. Justdabble.com. That's jus s a bbbl.com. There's no e. Just dabble.com. Go check them out. How's the town in there? >> That's beautiful. >> No, but the the politicians, are they nice? The zoning? >> Wonderful. Yeah, we're very close with the mayor, with the commissioners, with the police chief, with the fire chief. It's a little town and >> Mr. Mr. politician over here. >> Everyone No, I'm not a politician, but like everyone gets along. >> Do they call you also Rabbi Raps or Abraham or Aram or Rabbi? >> They call me Rabbi. Some of them follow me online. >> Okay. >> So, I do get called Rabbi Raps. I got pulled over by a police officer. Um, and oh, Rabbi Raps. I was like, you follow me? Yes, I see you on TikTok. I was like, okay, does that mean I get a ticket? He said, yeah. I'm kidding. I didn't get a ticket. >> Don't blast her here. He might get in trouble. [laughter] Um, that's very cool. Inner. >> Yeah. >> Wow. Um, when did social media happen? >> So, >> I think you're the only rabbi that does social media. >> There are others and for a while I might have been the largest. There are others that are doing really well and I'm really proud of them and I think every >> every know each other. You guys know each other? >> Yeah, I know most of the bigger Jewish creators today. Uh, we've worked together. But, okay. So what happens is COVID hits. All right. I don't know what happened in Lakewood or Muny, but we had to close our shel uh for definitely a couple weeks and I needed to connect with my community. So I took out my phone and I made a video of me locking the shaw and a message of hope and I put it on Facebook and I realized that I got a lot of reaction. I never really made content for myself before then. Um, and I started making more videos for my community and I got a lot of feedback, a lot of emails, a lot of messages. And I remember my sister who's much younger than me said, you know, Facebook's for old people. So, uh, after I got over that, [laughter] um, I said, "What's in?" She said, "Instagram." I didn't even have an account, Instagram. So I said I realized that this is so powerful social media that you could create a video and speak to people and then other people who weren't in my community start asking questions. I said I I have to understand this better. Co I had a lot of time. I decided to double down and understand what is social media, what is the algorithm, what works. Um and I started really for my own community creating content and then eventually it became uh >> it's contagious. it became much bigger than my community and and today thank God I have the ability to speak to many people and here >> you study the algorithm can you share a little bit about that like give me an example >> so the algorithm changes the algorithm >> different platforms also >> yeah the what worked uh five years ago four years ago is not working today you have to be on on top of it >> um there were a there were like a lot of things that people did that work that don't necessarily work like today uh you know like one of the tricks people did that I blew up a lot of videos with. You make a very short video >> and um you you write something uh controversial as a as a hook. Okay. >> And then you write explain it in the caption, right? >> So I have a video that went viral where I'm lighting a manora with a cigar. I didn't plan it. I was at an event. So I don't smoke cigars. Someone gave me I looked at the minor. I was like, "Oh, great idea." I took my camera bump. Millions and millions of views went out. Right. But that the the theory behind why it worked was because the video was 4 seconds and it says, "Can you light a uh your cigar with a monora, right?" >> Yeah. >> And then people like, >> you know, they went in the captions and I made sure to write a really long caption and the video plays over, you know, 20 times. Algorithm doesn't know what's happening. There's a video. It's being played by every person 20 times. >> Is that your best performing piece of content? >> No. But today that doesn't work anymore. It doesn't. the algorithm doesn't push it anymore. They want actually long form is short form was in for a while. Now long form is giving is being given more value. You have to >> but but during co I had the time to really understand it and and I realized that the reason why there's uh Instagram and Tik Tok in the world is so that people could get closer to Judaism and to God, >> not even Jews specifically. >> Yes. And that's my other project I teach. uh the seven laws of Noah to humanity called humans for Noah. >> For those not listening, elaborate a little bit about that. >> So I have a new account. So I have two different accounts, Rabbi Raps and then I have a new account called uh humans for Noah where I teach the seven laws of of Noah to humanity. And of course the the Jewish message is that you don't have to convert. We don't we don't push people to convert. Why? Hashem created every person with a tapid with a mission. A yid, a Jewish person connects to God through the 613, >> right, >> mitzvah. And a non-Jewish person fulfills their mission through the seven >> nohide laws. >> Noahhide laws. Noak is sadik. He walked with Hashem, >> right? >> He was he was righteous in his generation. So a non-Jewish person should do that. Now, what hit me was I get I get a lot of questions every day. I get hundreds of messages. Very hard to be on top of it. I have help for some of it. Um, the most common question I get is, "Rabbi, I want to convert. How do I convert to Judaism?" >> Okay? >> And even as a house, once in a while, people walk in and we always give the same answer. You're good the way you are. You don't have to convert. You chase them away. >> Okay? >> That's what most people do. We have this little card with seven laws we give them here. The person looks at the card. Okay? Don't commit adultery. I didn't do that today. Don't kill. I didn't do that today. Right? Right? And we send them away. And I just realized like why am I sending at this point thousands of people away who are sincere. They've left many different kinds of religion and they're looking for something and I'm sending them away with nothing. I started to learn the labba the talks and he spoke there's a whole book with all a collection of how many times he spoke about the importance of a Jewish person teaching the non-Jewish person about the seven laws of Noah if you're in business you have employees if you're traveling to go out of your way to to inspire people about the seven mitzvah and in my opinion it's not just seven mitzvah but it's a lifestyle it's a relationship with Hashem so I started started a a new channel. Well, first of all, I have a in my community a group of people that are not Jewish. Um, it started because I have a lot of women who are married to non-Jewish people. Their kids are yidden. They come to our bro. >> They have brisen. No, >> they don't need to. It's not one of the chevitzvas. >> No, the children are yidden. >> Today in America, most most hospitals give >> Yeah, it's not a brisk, but it's you know, >> if they want to do later, right? You know, there's there's >> delete that, >> right? But no, today that in Russia that's a thing. In Russia a lot of Bali chuva have to get brisome. >> Here it's less >> because the hospitals don't do >> no it's not >> but here it's like normal. >> Um but uh so I I got together all the husbands and I said [laughter] and a lot of them always want to convert. I said you don't need to convert. We started a class and now we have a community. >> But it's seven mitzvah. How elaborate and how many classes do you need? It's it's really 90s something mitzvah. >> What? >> Yeah. If you break it down >> share. >> Okay. So, one of them is not to worship idols, >> right? >> Okay. So, what's the flip side of that? To believe in Hashem, >> right? >> So, what's that mean? That means to have moments where you are grateful. A non-Jewish person could say maidani. >> He has an isama that comes back every morning to wake up in the morning and say, "Myani, thank you God for my soul." >> Right? So there's a there's a there's a a concept of >> whoa >> they have an isama >> every yeah right >> so so so how do I connect with god a a a could say on food >> do they know their banana >> no they have to choose they have to choose they have to say I believed in these laws and they have to and to do it right they go in front of a bin yeah the rambom writes a lot about this and they say I interesting. Okay, >> this is but no one's doing anything. We've not very few. >> You're not doing that. >> No, very few people. >> So people asked the the lavage rabba, why did you talk so much about Ben? >> Okay. >> And by the way, this has nothing to do with business right now, but we'll get into it. >> Uh and he said because historically if a Jew spoke to a non-Jew and told them how to live their life, they would have gotten killed. He says we live in a new time. So it's it's it's 90 mitzvah or more. >> Wow. It's fascinating. >> But that this came out of creating content for Jews. I I now realize that >> getting a lot of feedback from >> Wow. It's very interesting. You ever had a piece of content that you were very nervous to put out >> Toyota related? >> I was very nervous to put out content in the beginning. >> Why? Anti-semitism. >> No. No. That's the best thing for the algorithm. Um, >> put a put a watermelon or a Palestinian flag in the C. Boom. >> Like they someone writes oftentimes, "How come I get all this Jewish whatever garbage, right?" I said, "Because you can't comment on Jewish videos. [laughter] The algorithm doesn't know the difference. They send you." Right? >> That makes sense, >> right? Anti-semitism is horrible. It's very concerning. But I don't delete it generally. But in the beginning, how did you get over the fear of putting content up? Okay. >> Torah related or Judaism related? >> I was very concerned in the beginning. I did I was very conscious on camera. Like uh I I used to give great cl I thought they were great classes, but you put a camera up, I'd freeze up. Human nature. I was I was afraid I'm going to say something wrong. >> It's normal. >> And today I say things wrong every day. [laughter] >> It's very, very true. >> And then I get on the camera and I have a new piece of content. I said X and I was wrong. This is the truth. So >> I like that >> authenticity. >> That that's something helps people appreciate authenticity to be honest, to be vulnerable, not to talk about all your successes, to talk about your failures too, >> right? >> That's what people want. And so um it's something I had to grow into personally. >> What was it like in the beginning? Do you feel like you weren't very authentic? >> I wasn't sure. I wasn't sure who I was on camera. >> And when did it evolve? When did you realize, oh wow, I just need to be myself and I'll be fine. >> So what happened was I used to create content and I was hoping my my community once I decided to become Rabbi Raps, right? I was worried my community is going to say, "Oh, this rabbi is too frivolous. He's too light. He's too and maybe it's the wrong thing for me to do." Okay. >> So, like eventually I found out everyone was following anyway. [laughter] But but it was it was an interesting uh thing to find to find to be able to speak comfortably and honestly and you know how you do it. You just make a lot of videos >> and then you're able to do it. It it's not >> if you turn on the camera the first time, am I being too happy and I do being too serious? Am I being You have to just create a lot of content. >> What do you do? Have you gotten hate? >> Sure. >> How do you deal with it? >> I mean, >> ignore in the beginning. It's hard. Like, >> what kind of hate are we talking about? >> You tell me. >> Well, there's anti-semitism. >> Okay. >> Okay. And then there's people who judge what you say. I don't know. If you're a person that's very worried about what people say, you're not going to be a very good content creator. >> Fair. But in the beginning, were you worried or like was it hard in the beginning? Now you're used to it. I think once once you find your comfortable place and you're speaking authentically and uh you you're comfortable sharing it, it doesn't make a difference what people say. I mean, there's always going to be people criticizing. There's a lot of people live in a lot of fear. There a lot of worried. A lot of people are worried about what other people are going to say. >> Tell them to get a job. >> Yeah. They're worried about what other people think about them if and and the truth is it's just living in a prison. You know, we can't do that. >> Now, I have a question. Growing up in a more secluded ultraorththodox community, we grew up stay in your lane, be in your box, >> try not to get influenced by other cultures, other influences. >> Today, that's changed >> as an adult for me. No, not in the culture. For me, >> I've learned a little bit how to deal with um let's say you live in a neighborhood where you know the neighbors are mixed. Some are similar to you, some are not. Some are just different cultures. Eden, not Eden. But you grew up very much in a world that's not even close to you. Like now you're how many religious Jews are there in your neighborhood? >> Very few. Anyone who becomes from ends up moving away. You can't really live there. So h you have any advice how to be able to be a light upon others, influence [clears throat] others and not get influenced you, your kids. How do how do you deal with that? So it is a real concern in the religious world about the influences of the outside world and I know there's a very big movement to block away the world as much as possible. >> Um >> if we do that, how can we be a light upon the nations? I I personally have not been raised that way. >> This is what others are saying, >> you know. I I have not been raised that way. And I think that you we have to create very confident um uh children who love being Jewish, who know who they are, and we cannot hide the world from anyone anymore. Even if we get everyone to sign contracts that they there there's no internet in their whole city or whatever it is people will be exposed and unless we have people who are confident who love Yiddishkai who are proud of who they are who know who they are that's where the effort has to go of course we have to protect our children and ourselves >> advice for parents how to build up that confidence and being proud of being a Jew >> I think Yiddish guide has to be joyful I think that when We when our kids come home it's not like why aren't you doing this? It's like let's celebrate what you are doing. I'm so proud of you. It's got to be all love and joy. >> You grew up like that. >> I drew I grew up like that. Hiddes kite was absolutely joyful for me. >> I didn't. >> Interesting. >> Did you neither? >> Yeah. You know didn't grow up like you come home from school go do your homework now. That's what it was. It wasn't >> how was your day? >> Yeah. You had fun at recess. You played with friends. What'd you learn? >> Saying interesting stories by the Shabasa table. Right. It wasn't like that. >> My Shabas table growing up was the most entertaining, fun part of my week. >> We were dying to go play with the toys just to like leave. >> Well, I you have to understand living in Atlantic City, you have around your table all different kind of people. You have um you know secular couple, the mom's Jewish, the kid's Jewish, and the father's not Jewish sitting at your table. You have a couple satim that are in business and they needed a place to stay because of the convention Saturday night. Mat Shabas, they're sitting at your table. You have some Israelis. you have some right and then there was a guy who was just let out of jail so he had to go and he ended up at my shabas table whatever it was >> what's that like >> and to sit sit there and to see how everyone was brought together and my parents always radiating that joy of Yiddish like to me Yiddish has always been just like I'm excited to talk to you today about United Healthshare if you are spending thousands of dollars every single month on health insurance this is an alternative for the firm community. You should go check them out. It's not health insurance. It's a health share program. Me and my wife and our family, we switched over about two years ago. We've saved thousands of dollars. Our our premium or or the cost is $500 a month. They only use the word premium because whatever those terminology is meant more for health insurance, but for the first 10 listeners who are watching this video and going to sign up using code blackbird, you're going to get your third month free. So that's something I'm very excited to share with you guys. Make sure to go check them out. United Rafa Health Share. See you next time. >> How can you be sensitive to these other cultures all at the same time at the Shab's table? You have someone who the husband's not Jewish, the wife Jewish, and the wife and the child is. You have you have someone who just left prison. How can you like for me, I'd love to have more guests. >> I'm just and even to start doing maybe care of one day. I'm just nervous of not being able to answer questions. Well, >> you don't have to answer questions. >> What do I do? Why do you do >> listen to questions? >> You have to >> you don't always have to have answers. >> No, I don't have the answers all the time. More important is to listen to the question and validate the question. If you have a kid that comes home with a question, tell them how that question is a great question. We love questions in Yiddish. No, but back to your question. Do you sing mirus when you have like people who are not religious by the table? >> Sure. We we had a lot of the English songs that like you sing in camps you know >> or what? >> Yeah. We would pass it around you know my you know we love those songs. >> His son lived in my neighborhood for a while. Um what was his name? >> Talas. Yeah. You know >> he's a friend of mine. Yeah. >> He's performed for us like at least three or four times. >> Great great nishama. So I think the the the the answer is that it depends how we look at another yid or another human being. If I see someone as different than me and I have to block them out otherwise they might going to taint me and my family. So then it's very hard to sit around the table with people that are different. But if we really know the truth the truth is everyone is a nama a spark of hashem as the says every single yid has a and it's not just words. If you really believe it and you sit around a group of people, it's the most beautiful thing in the world. Despite their differences, everyone's connected. And if you see them that way, if you see your kids that way, not at what they're doing and the mistakes that we're we have been designed to make mistakes. We're designed to We have a Yates. When we see someone make a mistake, we jump across the table says, "Look what you're doing." That's notesh. You know what a kadesh is? is when we look at a person's overcoming a struggle, doing the right thing despite the darkness, despite the ego, despite the loneliness, despite the confusion and and the kid comes and and does something right, you jump across the table and give them a hug and you say, "Wow, you are amazing." Because that's to do an aa we were wired from day one to do averis. Why are we so excited about a ver? Why does that, you know, get people yelling and screaming, you know? So, and and we have to bring this all back to social media because I know why I'm you you want me here because you want to talk about >> realistic questions. We're getting there. >> Okay. But let's talk about social media. And this is something I believe in very deeply. Every person has a tough has a purpose in this world. Every single person the universe has been waiting since the beginning of time since Adamarish for Tali to come and walk this earth. Yes. >> Okay. >> Because you have a set of skills and and and gifts from Hashem that give you your mission in this world. Your business is holy. It's not a means to an end. What you do, you're you're recruiting and bringing people together. That's part of your toughkit in this world and everyone has that and I feel that the beautiful thing about social media is it gives people the opportunity to find what that is and share it with the world >> versus non-conventional ways like just moving on about day-to-day life. >> I think so many people aren't successful in life because they don't think they have something special to give to the world. I think so many people don't feel comfortable sitting in your podcast because they think that they have nothing to offer. And it's so not true. Everyone does. And there's a fear. There's a fear that's holding us all back. There are people that could make a lot more money and they're simply not making the money because they don't believe they deserve it or they they can. And it's such a shame because there's no such thing as a person who's here by mistake. Hashem doesn't make mistakes. To find my purpose, my gift, and use it to change the world, to make the world a better place. It's a combination of my my toyra and my mitzvah, but my talents and my abilities. The things that have happened to me, even the bad things, can be used as fuel to make this world better. And where I find myself right now, those four four circles where they converge is my toughkit. And I think that it's so important for people to do to to believe in themselves. There are voices in the heads of the most successful people that are playing. They don't even hear them, but they playing. And they're voices of mediocrity, voices of hopelessness, voices of victimhood, voices that we heard from teachers, from parents, from friends, right? >> And they stop us. To find who I am is the greatest gift in the world. But to believe that I am one of a kind. And when you find that, you could create content and you could really fulfill, you could live very meaningfully. It's not easy though. How would you recommend somebody start? >> First, first first believe it. >> Did you believe it right away or you started believing it once you started seeing how it took off and how you can reach people in a certain way? Cuz what was your goal when you started? >> I'll tell you, I I was always a creative person growing up as a kid. I sang as a teenager. I made albums. I made music. I was a creative person. >> Sing. >> I don't know if I sing, but uh >> Do other people think that you sing? Um, not I'm not a singer per se, especially now with my cold. You know, by the way, you know, every kazin after they get down, they tell you I had a cold, right? Does every podcast say, "I have a cold." I've never had a kazin come to my show, do an a awesome performance. I'm like, that was great. It's like, yeah, but >> I'm recovering. >> I was on a plane two days ago. But um I think for me personally was to find to have the confidence to communicate my my authentic vision and view on Yiddish and how all that comes the confidence to say it to live it and not to be worried what about what every ism within Yiddish thinks about am I doing it like this that >> I was very worried about that. I think I lived in in in a um in a very restricted um version of myself for a long time. I kind of feel that social media for me has allowed me to um fully step into what I believe my gifts are to share share with the world. >> You know, it's interesting. I think as from Jews we grow up with this um what's the what's the English word for mida >> um >> characteristic >> characteristic attribute >> we we have this attribute or characteristics of of bashfulness of bisha busha being >> embarrassment >> I don't know if it's embarrassment being shy >> now some people have it less than others but what I've noticed in theish world it's more prevalent where people are afraid to get out there. For example, I have a team of recruiters. We have about 10 recruiters on the team. One of the things we do is on boarding say we recommend getting a headsh shot. Just like real estate brokers have their faces on every bus stop. Get a headshot. We'll put on the website. They'll put on your business cards. Put on LinkedIn, right? Give people an opportunity to build trust with your profile and get to know you eventually and see if you're the right fit, if you can help them or not. They don't even want to do that. They don't want to put their face out there. They think New York Times is going to do a whole write up and plast them on the front page. I'm like, that's not happening. is that's very very common. >> Would you agree, Jimmy? >> Would you say it's a false sense of modesty? >> Where does that come from? I don't I don't >> It's a You know what? >> Yeah. >> False sense of sneeze. But I see it also by the by the men, not just women. >> Mhm. >> They like, "Oh, I don't want to be on camera. I don't I'm embarrassed." >> Right. >> But off camera, they're very confident people. Just they're very nervous of a camera lens, photo, video, whatever it is. >> Any advice for putting themselves out there and getting over that hurdle? Um, that's a good question. I, you know, I think it's a a lot of soulsearching and you just got to do it >> with content also. You just got to do it. >> But then you you don't realize it can affect people have this like >> like, oh, you're on social media. Ah, sorry. That shows something. A lot of education needs to be. So, >> I don't know. I I just don't see the world that way. I think there's nothing more um uh nothing more honest and more beautiful than a person who is confident and knows who they are and is is comfortable sharing with it. And I I'll say that as a person that was not comfortable for a very long time. >> But you are creative. You're creative. >> I know. [clears throat] But I was always worried. I'm the rabbi in the shul. >> You have to have a how how does a rabbi what box do I have to fit in to make everyone happy so I'm going to be a good rabbi? I really struggled with that and and for me creating content which really just happened organically and I realized the importance of it over the years has allowed me to be I believe a much better um schlak and communicator and give shirim because people appreciate somebody who's not reading a script >> 100% >> and that's why chatbt is so cool now but soon everyone's could smell it and it's not going to help you as much. You still need the nama >> 100%. >> Right? So imagine living in a society that everything's scripted. It's such a shame. Hashem didn't make copies of people. We're not copies. We're so authentic. Every person is so >> to step into that is is not easy, but it's a a goal worthwhile pursuing. >> Very well said. Also like it's very similar. I think it's a very good skill to have just like public speaking is a good skill to have. >> Yeah. >> Being comfortable creating content is a very >> but public speaking doesn't just happen. Some people have more of a talent but the more you do it. >> But you got to practice. You got to >> more do it the better you are. You got to do it >> right. >> So content is very important today for businesses. >> Um >> you put your kids in your content. Is that something that you used to be nervous about? Like people say inhara what's the English word for that? >> Um yeah evil eye. >> Evil eye. Yeah. I I never thought of it as I and her. >> Um, >> but putting your kids, you have a massive following. >> There's a real concern. Look, I've gotten real threats against me and my family. I have my own person in the FBI. I have death threats. I have pictures in my house with with the craziest things tagged on my Look, it's real. It's not not real, >> but >> would you feel comfortable talking about that rather than >> if you want to, it's not important, >> right? Okay. But there the people the reason why people have problems with their children online um could be various things. One is you just said um what did you just say? Uh >> evil eye. >> Evil eye. I don't know. I I don't >> Okay. Superstition. >> I haven't heard that. That's superstitious. Um the other concern is uh that there are predators out there. Um it's definitely a concern, >> right? And that's why we have conversations. And a lot of people come to my kids and be like, "I know you." And and and they'll say, "I saw you did this and that." That doesn't mean they know you, >> right? >> They don't know you. Half a million people know you. Like, and my kids know that. Uh I don't know. My wife and I spoke about it. We've even been contacted by people. So, you have to be careful. We don't understand the the concern. We take precautions. We never post where we are if we're on vacation, >> right? Um, we uh always post uh a week later. I was just in Panama. Great experience. >> I only posted after I left. >> Okay. >> I don't want people to think my kids are somewhere home alone by themselves. Right. >> So people don't you have to take precautions, but I personally am not concerned about it. >> Going back to creating content, when did you realize like, oh wow, this is really hitting a lot of people? >> I remember when when I was just reaching a thousand people in a video and I was like, this is amazing. I could prepare a class in my community, have 30 people sit around the table, and I could walk away feeling like a million dollars. But one second, I just created a piece of content that reached a thousand people. And then I realized there's so many people that would never walk into a shul. I said, how could I not use this to inspire people, to connect people? By the way, the labavba used to be on cable television. That was the internet of its time. It was considered to be the most like unf from thing you could possibly. But there are people whose lives have changed because one day they were scanning through the channels through all the garbage, >> right? >> And all of a sudden the holy face of it was there and there was a message that spoke to them and them and their children and their grandchildrens their lives are not the same. Now the Reb didn't want us labavatur to have televisions in our house. we didn't but the tool was used there to to reach people >> and um and that's why I think in social media we have to be careful for my my kids don't have s social media but we as adults we could use it for whatever we're trying to accomplish whether it's business or Judaism. >> Um I have two more questions I think before we finish. Um, by the way, have you spoken to other about creating content? >> Sure. >> Like you're the impact you're having is tremendous. >> I I I uh counsel counsel I I give advice to all the time and more and more are using it and they're doing a great job and and they don't need to become a a worldrenowned name. That's not important. but within their community and and and and I tell the more important than giving a devar to don't give dvar toas. It's the worst content you could do. This week's para says next. Don't do that. Hey, >> right. You need a good hook. You got to get Show them how you're cleaning your house for Pesak. Show them how you're setting your your your Shabas table. How you how you light putting the candles so you light your wife could light the shabas and bring the holiness of chabas. Show them your life. No one ever became because of the dvarta. Never happened. But someone comes and sits at your shabas table and they see your children and what they learned and how they respect their parents and how the siblings get along and they say this is beautiful. So my advice to to people is don't don't teach Tyra online. I mean you could do that too. I have classes I do. Show Yiddish guide show real life. Show relationships. Show the way you you see the world you react. Give your perspective on things. Yeah. And a lot of them are doing a great job. I'm very impressed. >> That's amazing. Have you have you have you ever thought like have you built this audience and been able to monetize it in any way? I do monetize it a very little bit because there's a certain amount that comes in >> even sponsorships or >> I do very little of it and the simple reason is I don't have the time it I have a organization I run I have a job full-time job um I have a big budget to to to focus on I can't think about earning a livelihood on it. >> Wow. Um I think before the last question is what advice would you give for someone who wants to create content? Now I know you create a tremendous amount of content >> but you have figured out a way to prevent doom scrolling. >> Yeah. >> So I want to talk about that also because it's so easy like the platforms were literally built to keep you on there as long as possible till 3 4:00 in the morning. Boom boom scrolling and got a headache >> and you can't work the next day. You can't be there for your family. >> You wasted time. Yeah. >> Um, yeah. And it's very hard because it's meant it's addictive. It's very hard. >> Very addictive. >> My system now is um and I know you have people helping you create your content. I have um editor. I have someone who I have programs that I post to. I don't do it anymore. Someone posts to goes to seven different platforms. Uh >> what about the engagement commenting and responding? >> I set aside time to engage with the questions. I get a lot of real questions and I need to give people direction. Um, but I set aside time for it and I try to be as intentional about it as possible. I have a half hour. My goal is to answer whatever 30, 40 messages, whatever it is. Certain amount of messages are answered by other people at this point. >> Okay. >> Um, >> like DMs or comments or both? >> They're DMs. Yeah, comments I don't always respond to. >> It's a lot. >> Yeah, it's a it's a respon, but a DM is someone that went out of the way to message me directly. And a lot of times there are serious questions. Uh I I set aside time and I try to be intentional about it. And once in a while I find myself wasting time and and it just you have to be very careful. >> How do you get out of that like >> just you have to get out? You have to just that's it, you know. But I find because I'm not on the app so much, I don't do it as much. >> What about the creative side of it? Coming up with ideas for content like like you said, right? Hook. Whatever worked a few years ago doesn't work anymore. Understanding the algorithm. Someone who wants to start creating content today. So for platform they start so for me personally what I found is >> I'm not I'm not a script writer. >> Uh and that works for a lot of people. Uh the way I I see it everything is content. Whatever you're doing there's a message there. >> But you know that now did you know that? >> So in the beginning I used to tell stories and devartas and they were good but eventually you realize everything is >> that took practice. You realize >> yeah. So someone starting today, they're not going to realize that building a channel, >> start creating. So start with scripts if you have to start creating. Um and uh and make yourself a goal, three pieces of content a day. >> I know it sounds like a lot. >> Are you doing that? >> No, >> that's my goal. Yeah. >> Wow. It's a lot of content. >> Yeah, because your your people don't see your the algorithm only shows 5% of your people. >> The recording the content takes you how long? >> Second. Do you have a list of ideas? >> No studios. I'm not good with lists. >> No, but ideas. If you have a good idea while you're sitting in the shower, >> don't do it while you're in the shower. That that'll get a lot of clicks. But >> about writing it down. Do you don't have a running list? >> Is the best time by the way. Unbelievable. Dates could do. >> Oh, it's crazy. >> It's the best business concepts coming. >> And you business tip number 73. Dive in a lot. Unbelievable. a lot and have a notepad next to you. >> Yeah. >> Unbel Unbelievable. >> Yeah. >> Um but you don't have a running list of creative ideas that you come up with. >> No, I do. I have a a notepad. I write it down. >> Oh, >> yeah. Absolutely. But I'm more of like an on this fly type of person. >> I love it. >> Um it works for me, but other people are a lot more like, you know, >> boxy and organ like prepared. >> Right. Right. That there's different styles. >> 100%. >> Yeah. But the main thing is start first of all protect yourself. protect yourself from social media because it's not healthy. >> So, set up a system that works. Get someone else to get programs that'll Number two is um figure out what is your message. Is it for your business? Is it because something you want to share to the world? Work on that. It's going to evolve. You won't just have the answer. >> And number three, the most important thing, just create. Create. Keep on creating and you'll it'll it'll it'll all find its way out of you. >> Love that. >> Yeah. >> And I wish you a lot of a lot of success. >> Is that vodka? What a great episode. Thanks for watching. Hope you subscribe on YouTube and I'll see you next time.