Choosing Soul Over Status: Beri Weber’s Journey of Faith and Music

Do you want to hear something crazy? When I'm on the stage on a house concert or in front of thousands of people and I sing, I am on my island. >> None of your business, Oshi. None of your business, Michael. It's the None of Your Business podcast hosted by Michael and Oshi. >> Welcome back everybody to another amazing episode of the None of Your Business Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Greenfield. With me, of course, is co-host Oshi Schwarz. And we are sponsored by Prime Source. We are produced by Prime Source. So, thank you for the Prime Source production team. Thank you to all our subscribers, our listeners, our feedback. No matter what it is, we are loving it. We are doing amazing work, Oshi. And we are growing. And speaking of growth, we are here with someone who helped me grow in life. And I'll explain that in a moment. Re Weber. Welcome to the program. >> Hi, welcome. Thank you for having me. >> I really appreciate you being here. Uh Barry, I don't know if you remember, but uh I'm sure you get that a lot. You don't remember me? >> Yeah, I get it all the time. And I I'm a guy who don't remember which is very very difficult. Probably my most difficult uh my most difficult thing when it comes to you know being in public like oh not again he's challenging me again. Do you remember me? I'm like like it could be my customer. I could lose a job. It could be somebody who would be offended and so on. And it's like I just see so many faces every day. And it's, you know, some people have that talent where they're like, "Picture, store it." Not me. >> Right. Right. >> You just play along. You just pretend. >> I try my best. >> But some people you don't remember. Try try to remember. >> Yeah. But you know, you know what the problem is? That some people say, "What do you mean you don't remember me?" And I start really feeling bad like, "Wow." Like it's probably like I met him yesterday and I forgot. Like I'm like so off. And then after 10 minutes schleing and this he's like what do you mean? You were like I we met 12 years ago. like duh for that I had to feel bad because I met you 12 years ago >> Barry 10 years ago I met you I think it was a little more than 10 years ago and uh it was by Heshi Kimman's house and we were doing a fundraiser for some organization and we heard a song we were all chilling walking around smoozing and there was a there was someone who looked very like you know put together with a beautiful voice and we were listening in the background suddenly came on a song rebin that's uh that's when we heard it for the first time >> 10 years ago >> yeah it was over 10 years ago when we heard it before you produced it before you came out with it >> ah before it came out. >> Yeah. You were singing it before it came out. >> Oh, wow. >> I think so. Right. Does that make sense? Yeah. So, uh, so we all like we stopped what we were doing and it was like magical. I I'll never forget it was like Nali Hashi. We were all around. What's what's going on here? Suddenly it was all quiet and we started moving slowly towards you and we all started getting mesmerized by the song. It was just I think it was the first time in a very long time that I heard a singer take a song and just play around with it through his nama. That's what I felt like. >> Wow. >> And and it was just it was such a major connection to me then. >> And then of course I started going to wedding after wedding and I and I hear the the most famous I'm on my way. I'm so curious before we start is that something that you coined is something that you picked up on that whole process of I'm on my way. I grew up my father was fan. Uh I I so I grew up listening to his music although most I would say probably 95% of my environment felt that it's wrong to listen to his music. I even got once uh as a kid in 8th grade I got I I was punished because I had a like a tape a cassette of you brought it in. It was a day trip, but I was like, you listen to his music, laugh back. You know, like he wanted to degrade me for that. >> That's terrible. >> Uh, let's go back a little. We >> We could probably think of many worse things in life, >> right? For a school to reprimand a student because he has a schlomra CD. That's like >> I mean, >> it just boils my blood. It just it's really angry. And you know, a lot of people like, you know, have that moment. This is why people go off the direct, right? This this is one of those reasons. Well, in their defense, >> reason number 182 on the list, this is it. >> Well, in their defense, none of them trying to defend anyone. Just to put in perspective, you know, certain cultures have certain values. And when you're in a culture and you act differently in order for it to make you aware that you know this is not appropriate and so on, they would give you a consequence. You know every every school has different uh uh tolerance levels and so on so on happens to be wasn't wasn't against the rules of the particular this particular teacher this particular Muhammad he was like a very f from f from guy >> for him he probably like lost himself he's like all I've heard my whole life is that is not you know he's not you know the most uh decent guy to to be able to listen to and so on maybe because of that you know I'm so obsessed with now. I don't know but is definitely my my uh my rebu can hear you now. >> Yeah. >> So so how did that that thing come to play in the I'm on my way thing. How did that happen? I don't remember exactly how it started but I guess I was trying to be creative once and I felt like you know it was probably like a spiritual wedding or something and uh I probably like just was being free and creative and just did that because used to sing it and I felt like before you sing before there's the before you know when you bring together you know we need we need a house right? Yeah. These these couple the couple is building a house and Hashem doesn't have a house. >> So we're saying Hashem, don't worry. We're on our way. It's it's in our head. >> Wow. >> So um exactly when it started. >> That's beautiful actually. >> I don't know. >> It's okay. Tell us a little bit about your background. Who are you? Where you from? What's your name? Is it Barry? Is there another name? Is it >> Where did you grow up? Tell me about your family. Where where are your parents from? Do you have siblings? Just tell me as much as you can in terms of your your background and your upbringing and just a little bit about who you are. Right. So, let's try to make it simple. I grew up in Williamsburg. My family, the reason my family was uh brought up in the Popa community is because my grandfather, my father's father was a brother-in-law with a Pereirab. >> Wow. >> So, we're like uh family. >> Not the PERO. the puparu that you say that you know that >> there's like a joke about that right >> joke like >> right a sat wanted to keep >> he doesn't know educate that guy >> he's modern orthodox he doesn't uh >> besides the trauma that my that that my rabbit you know punished me for having I have another trauma I grew up in in popa and pupa because it was a you know side by side with smear smear and winsburg wanted to have the dominance so anybody body that was in their way would be dealt with a different way. bells sounds trying not to be negative but you know it's just my youth >> right >> and then popo was labeled poet >> so you like pop it you don't matter you know >> wow >> lots of politics Michael when it comes to okay >> different especially within Williamsburg which like you said was dominated by Smer like they had the identity of Williamsburg was smer but there were others that are trying to like stake their claim a little bit you know make their mark >> okay so So you grew up as a pooper. >> I grew up as a pooper and um so I by default I was in the yeshiva and then once I outgrew the yeshiva I went to >> Oh I was there for 3 years. >> Wow. >> Really really opened my eyes. Really changed my life. Just like you found out there's a thing for Ben Thomas film. I found out that there's Jews in the world. I thought this is only Wersburg. >> I mean, not that. >> So, you grew up sheltered. You grew up very enclosed in your community. >> It happens to be my father wasn't a close-minded person, was very open-minded. Didn't uh shelter us very much unless it was something that was wrong according to and so on. I grew up very happy. He he was there for us. He was, you know, he was uh was dealing. And when I was 18, he trusted me to go in Israel. I mean, today it's a style everybody goes to Israel, but back then it wasn't so popular. Everybody goes to Israel. You kind of need to be a little open-minded, you know, a little free spirited to allow you your kid to go somewhere. I know that I know in your world and today even in my world it's it's it's the standard but back then it was I remember when I came back you know and and somebody taught me how to to play guitar I was the only kidish guy who walked around with with their guitar it it was like >> I mean you have them even back then that played instruments >> was that something that wasn't >> there were only two only two one was Joel Brah Olivam saxophone and one was Yankee Cina >> guitar >> but both of them were kind of more of like a I would say mo I don't know modern but they were considered not not someone who is what like they wouldn't you're going to laugh for me because you don't understand the culture but like they were they were cut they were shaving their beards they were like >> into their uh you know into their um fitness And right >> like I'm just giving an example. I'm not saying necessarily that that was the case. >> It's it's like a certain type of guy like >> when you grow up in that you're expected to >> not be in touch with the worldly things you know. >> Wow. >> They were a little more out of the box. So until 18 you did you sing at all like that? >> So I grew up I I mean my family my family they all know how to sing. And again back in the days you have to understand that the evolution of singing. I mean in the p in the last 10 20 years changed so much. Um it was it it wasn't like a okay thing or a thing to be a singer. It was okay. So you so technically you kind of didn't make it in the business world or you didn't become a so you're like >> doing that like >> it was considered second class you know >> it was kind of like second class >> when I uh when I was a uh when I started off my life with my family the moistas over here could not handle that there's a singer they they I had issues with they didn't accept me in the mistas I was for two years running from place to place to place to place to place except my children and their only issue was the fact that I'm a singer. >> It wasn't I mean that was the era of Leipish Meltzer. You know Leip Meltzer he did controversial things. He went on a on a concert and wearing a brown suit instead of a black suit. You know it's like it's like opening the eyes of everyone. It's not so long ago but you know but right >> but this is how the world changed today. It's it's okay. Today it's a world of social media. It's a way that we see everything and so on. YouTube didn't exist then 20 years ago. >> For sure. So I'm curious. So you you got a guitar, >> you start to play, start to >> So okay, so as a as a child, I was singing. >> Yeah. >> But it wasn't the thing that every child who knows how to sing becomes automatically a >> sensation and a wonder child. You know, >> I knew how to sing. I even sang on albums. I sang on Mad David's album. I sang on >> What' you sing? >> Well, >> do you remember it? >> I remember it. >> What is it? Do I would I know? >> It's called Nagginina base Alba. It's one of his albums. >> Okay. >> Yeah. It's it's like a collection album of uh >> So, as a kid, you sang with him. >> Yeah. >> So, how did they even know about you? How' they know you existed? >> So, how they knew? So, I guess even by weddings, there wasn't it wasn't a style like every wedding didn't have a singer. >> Somebody knew how to sing. They would take a mic. It didn't have any effects. It wasn't professional. So, I remember by my brother's wedding, I like to sing. So, I sang on the mic. I was the entire wedding that can you imagine going to a wedding you see a child singing on the mic a 10-year-old singing an entire wedding like it's weird >> but that's what I did then so it was known that I know how to sing it was a cousin's wedding I would go with two other cousins and sing on the mic and then I guess someone oh it was JJ Freed >> JJ Freed JJ >> we know JJ Freed >> do we live in >> Toner >> he lives in okay plug for toner quest >> JJ Freed was then like a hacker he was like involved with MBD and all the Jewish superstars. >> I have to say this. I'm sorry. JJ, I love you. He told me once he had one time he was showing me his hair in his ears and I'm like, "Uh, Aki, you have a lot of hearing ear." He goes, "I never cut it because the vibrations help me hear music. So when I sing and I make music, it helps me." >> JJ, love you. Cut the hair. >> But uh, so he got you into it, which is interesting. Okay. So, so throughout your journey when did you >> So JJ was someone who understands >> sound and whatever as you said >> vibrations >> I don't know but um yeah so he kind of was involved he put he was involved with Suki and Ding when they produced albums and so on so he was kind of like the go-to guy when it came to talent or whatever I guess uh he >> he made the connection >> he saw and he like this is this job of a producer. He sees something, you know, we all see talent, you know, we just get entertained. A producer, his brain works differently. He's like, "Oo, let's make a business out of it. Let's fix it. Let's, you know, and I guess, you know, he saw something. He he said, "Okay, I could use this voice on this album." So, he used me for many albums. I sang on MBD's album, Mendy Wigan, MBD's Brother, um, Unison Schwartz. I did their u kinder classics first kinder classics I did moisture goldman b of machnala bab of albums and so on. So, but I wasn't like a front runner. I wasn't like um I wasn't the I call it the you know today every kid who knows how to sing becomes a he has to say kadesh. He has to go on the mic whether you like it or not. But um so so I knew how to sing and like I had an inner belief that uh you know that I can probably sing better than others. So when I was in Israel and I went to the uh the shook leading to the kisel and there was like guitars for sale and the guy just blocked my path. Uh you want to buy this guitar? So I write I said no but he wouldn't let me go and then you know then we bargained for you know 50 shekel. I bought my guitar and I had a guitar. So now I have to learn how to play it and then I you know I started playing. So that's when I once I started playing I started composing. So I got into the zone you know. I got into the zone. When I got married I I when I when I got married um I wasn't considering being a singer. Um it was just I was in in construction and then uh >> that was your first job? Construction. >> Yeah. I right away got into construction. >> Wow. I do I did uh uh railings, woodwork, >> really >> installed railings. Yeah. >> And uh and then in 2008, you know, there was the the the crash, you know, there was there was no there was no work, no jobs, and I had a lot of time on myself. I was I was home basically like most of the time. Um I was newly married two years after my wedding maybe. Um, and my wife told me that her friend's husband at night she he goes to Kitle and when he finishes this he goes at night he goes to a studio and he sings choir and they get paid I think it was $12 an hour or so on. I'm like wait a minute I'm the professional worker who gets up 6:00 in the morning and I I get $10 an hour and he gets $12 just for singing. Hook me up. So I went I went and um and there was a guitar there. So I started playing and the guy was like, "Huh? A regular is playing guitar? No way. You're like a celebrity." >> That was the beginning of the end. >> Wow. >> Uh next day I brought my Nana guitar. He was like, "Huh? Nana? Like a regular guy? You're not crazy and you have a Nana guitar?" So he right away called up his friend which is Naftalishnit. Napalishnit was three months after you know he got he got married and he always dreamt of being a producer. He's like I think we have a good chak over here. There's a guy he has a has a unique voice. I heard him. He knows how to play. It's more than just another singer and you want to produce maybe you want to want to meet the guy. And so it happened and so I started working with Schnitzler and uh yeah the rest is history. >> Wow. Speaking of history then what was your first album? What was your first uh >> So we started so we started off with the single. We put out a single which I don't think it was the style to put out singles. I mean today because there's you know there's social media and there's there's um uh platforms online platforms you can just put out whatever you want. You could put out a voice note a podcast or whatever. Back then everything was printed, you know. It was it was it was a CD. >> So what do you mean a single? What? Like >> why I put out a CD just for one song? >> Like I Yeah, I couldn't put out a CD for one song and online who like it was very it wasn't very >> the distribution digitally changed the game, >> you know, that you can do these kinds of things back then. Do you remember what the first one? I mean, >> it was Bikim Bimi. I put out a music video to it, too, which was also like eye opening. Like it wasn't like doing a official music video wasn't I think it was like maybe >> maybe two three videos before me like just like H put together something for Lipa and so on, but it was it wasn't definitely it wasn't like anybody who puts out a song puts out a music video. So, this was like a little different. I raised the eyebrows of people like, "Oh, something new, something fresh. And I'm assuming that's probably the reason why, you know, these schools were afraid. Like, where are you heading? Like, what is next? Hollywood. >> We don't want that in our schools, you know, like. So, all right. I'm not dealing with you. Try someone else. >> Wow. Okay. So, that was the beginning. You know, we we do something in the beginning of our podcast that's called Chad GPT says what about you. >> Okay. >> And uh you're like, whoa. Okay. What's coming? So, I want to tell you, I mean, we know you, the world knows you. I'm assuming most of our listeners know you, but you know, I I read through it and I was like, "Okay, this doesn't this this episode doesn't require perhaps one of those chat, but it's something in here that that I was like looking at and I was like, "Okay, I know I know he's a very involved in music and I'll just tell you quickly in case you ever chat yourself." >> Uh, yeah. Like it's like it's like a bio, right? >> Yeah. Did you ever actually do it on yourself to see what is what the world say about you? >> If not me, then it was my children. I don't know. Um, the first thing it says is before the stages, the spotlight in weddings, he was already showing up for kids who were falling through the cracks quietly, consistently, and without Instagram applause. >> Now, how do they know that? >> I don't know. I I I don't know. So, I'm curious what that is. I I do know that I've uh you know, Tuvia, who's one of my friends, uh introduced me to you a long time ago and you came on our pontoon boat and you brought a couple of bakim with you, >> but that that was already after. >> I didn't even know what that was. I couldn't understand. We didn't really then, but I must ask you what does that mean? Where is give me that background of you and >> Okay. So well obviously you know everything has in the root something that you know that that eventually allows for it to show certain fruits. So if this is my being, if this is my reality now, obviously there's something in my root that so as I was a yeshiva, I always would rather pick a kusa, someone who I could be their mentor in a sense. But then when I was in Israel, I found out about a uh yeshiva that was on a farm next to Bamesh. Uh these were for like for kids that came from broken homes like uh orphans or or kids that they just come from families that you know the father and mother wouldn't get along or whatever like just dysfunctional >> dysfunctional backgrounds >> and uh this guy had like he had a house they rented a house with them and basically kept them occupied the whole day just by being farmers in a sense. So you know there would be they you know they they they would do their teenager stuff or whatever like it wasn't there were there were no smartphones maybe there was I don't even remember no maybe they were smart but like they had they their gamings and their computers and so on >> but the mo and they but most time they they would do creative stuff like planting being busy with animals and uh so I uh signed up to be involved over there. So I would go every night I would go there and um just take make so basically uh shadow them be like be >> like a big brother program >> right so I would I would sleep there I would when I finished yeshiva like around 4:00 in the afternoon I would take a ride to get to that place I would spend there the whole night and wake them up in the morning then go back in the morningish so basically I you know I was their entertainment I was basically took care of them so So that was really my first uh introduction to something to that to that to that extreme. So probably this is what Chad GB I don't think I ever spoke about this. Maybe I did. I guess I did because how would Chad GP know about that? So >> or someone else spoke about it >> about you. Yeah. >> Right. Right. >> So that was your your first eye opening to the world of dysfunction and and family and boys that have challenges >> and mentoring. >> And mentoring as well. >> Yes. because I would sit with them and I would I would my guitar >> you know I would uh your ch we would take donkeys at night every night we had uh a lot of donkeys >> everybody would sit on donkey would walk out like to like half hour like outside like on mountain top we'd sit down like watch under the stars and we would put a fire and sing you know like >> nice >> yeah that was and and of course when you know this happened everybody felt like very intimately >> uh vulnerable to be able to share here and so on and so on. And I didn't have any experience in uh psychology or of you know of how to deal with emotional issues and so on. But I just used my common sense to you know just to act appropriately I would say and you know and then just to be a listening ear and so on >> and provide friendship >> and uh love and support. That's typically what people most of the time. >> What did you learn from that from that whole you know time that you were doing this? I'll be very honest with you. You know, I see it every day. But I mean Shiva there's there's a lot of knowledge that is being uh that is that is being um gifted to them and and I always when I like I'm when I I get to think like like how much how much of how much of that does really do they really absorb like they're 16 17 year olds like their mind does not function the way like somebody who had life experiences and so on you know I'm not talking about somebody who's smart or not smarter but I'm talking even like life experiences allows you to observe certain understanding of certain realities and so on so you know you know I can share and some professionals could share their professional experiences and opinions and guidance and so on but it's only how much you could absorb that's how much you get so I think at that point my brain didn't work in a uh I mean it definitely didn't work the way it works now. But uh I I was was just like like a more of like a robot like just doing my thing like I wasn't like with uh you know okay maybe it was but I definitely don't remember like that I was like for me like life lessons and it was like very deep and like very meaningful. I was just like >> I wasn't strategic or calculated. >> I consider myself like as a hippie like I can do that. I'm kidish, a guy who can just chill out on a farm and not be afraid of animals and uh you know just ride on a donkey and be there for kids who are not kidish and so on and so on. I just for me it was like a it was like a trip. It was like a journey. It was like a you know like an outskirt. >> Best way to live. That's the best. >> It's like a it's a certain you know I didn't I didn't >> unburdened. >> Yeah. It wasn't like a growth. I mean now if I look back at it, it was definitely something that you know that you know it just you know it gives me perspectives on certain things and so on. I grow from it now. >> Yeah. >> But back then I didn't feel necessarily that you know this is what gives me life tips or so on. It was for me like a form of entertainment >> or like an outlet for me to be able to do what I did make me feel good and so on. >> So so fast forward a little bit uh this yeshiva that you're involved with. I mean, so Ushi, what what you don't know about our relationship is that we met each other a few weeks ago. First of all, I met him in the beginning. I have to say this, uh, cuz it's just fun to talk about. When we started off our podcast, I had made five phone calls to different people asking them to come on or what their thoughts are. And one of them was to this uh, holy soul over here. And uh, he tells me, listen, he what you basically said to me was everybody likes to start things. Everybody likes to start things. when you have it and you're doing it for more than a year and you have enough subscribers that are actually making impact on this world, call me. And then I met him in the shook a few months ago and I I had the opportunity to meet your whole family and I said, "Remember that discussion? We're there." Oshi and I got there, so I need you to come on. And then a few weeks ago, we met when you were I came to a meeting by Yissi Churn's house and uh Barry was there with a few people and they were discussing opening up a yeshiva uh for boys that don't fit in. And it was at the same time that I started this journey of opening of reopening up a school in Muny for high school for girls that was shutting down mid year. And we were both looking at each other and I was like, let's divide and conquer. you go ahead and take care of the boys that need that and I'll go ahead and take care of and Barashem I have to say a month later our school our opening house is now and uh you know we're doing fantastic it's the new oros rav >> and yeshiva is also running >> and the yeshiva is also running so we partnered with each other in that moment >> today we finished the first week >> wow >> yeah I mean I've I've done yeshiv I mean I've done this yes is yeshiva in the past and and I just reopened >> because there was a lot of challenges whatever I I don't think I should go into it but the point was that I I got pushed by my Reba Jama Morgan Stern. He was like that's definitely the reason why I did it. But before I was going to jump in again and restart mean to say I was involved the entire time since I started 10 years ago till now I was constantly involved in different ways like um you know I was uh until today you know the left teen center the left Toyota yeshiva whatever they have there in good day and I'm still involved and I was there yesterday and I still talk to them and I you know and I help out you know what I could but running the whole program you like financially and being the, you know, the the responsible guy that I didn't do for two years and now I just had a whole new group of boys that just came forward whatever we can get into it how it happened but Lea said the the nail on the coffin less I mean in a good way the you know what made it happen was technically easy turns um that support we were looking for partners and support like I knew from experience exactly what could help something and what could make it collapse because I've been through both and um I the last thing that we wanted to have on top of everything being in place we needed uh a uh support from people who are have wide shoulders and Yes is one of them. Uh thank you Hashem he was ask him right away to be there for whatever he could help and so on and you were there to witness it. So we went there and uh you said right away absolutely and um you also jumped in. You said right away I'm I'm here to help. you know, I know what I could help, what I can't help. But I'm like, any help? You know, we we have a lot of people who always say, "Oh, wow. I want to, you know, they say in Yiddish doesn't hurt. Promise and to love doesn't hurt, right?" But it does hurt when somebody promises you and you rely on the person and then >> they don't come through. >> Yeah. >> That's why during the building of this, I just want to mention Rabbi Center. Uh God bless you Rabi Center and your whole family and all the Raanim and all the community board members that helped restart this school in the middle of a year. He taught me one thing very very important when I was going around to create a collective board and everyone's like what am I going to do? What what do you want from me? And Rabbi Center said a great great idea. He said do what's in your ability to do >> right? >> And it was so smart because then it's like okay a calm feeling like I you're not asking me to do something I can't do. Ask me to do something I could do. Mhm. >> And we created Thank God. And we both finished our first week this week, by the way. So much stuff to Yeah. This week was the end of the first week of the school. Yeah. Kazak. >> Look at you guys taking over the world. >> I had also a hard week by the way. For the record, I just want to say that I, you know, I was in the office the whole week. >> Tell us. By the way, she gets >> I I worked. Okay. >> Actually, you could say that you get part of >> No, no, no. I'll be honest. I've been following Michael's journey in the last month and it's probably going on maybe a little bit longer than that, maybe a couple of months, >> but it's been a arduous, it's been a rocky road. >> And you know, public service, there's really no gratification in it. >> Uh, everybody just throws stones at you. >> That's why there's all these these blessings for people who do call me. There's tons of blessings. Why? >> Yeah. Because not only they don't recognize you, they >> they get upset at you. >> Say it. Say it. Say it. >> It's just, you know, today in yeshiva, you know, we we kind of like we we expect sometimes we don't that, you know, it's it's it's just boys that that they don't see the world. You know, they're just starting their life. And you know, you give them everything you got. You give them, you know, love and you show them, you know, that we're here for you and everything. and and then you would expect like I give you my whole heart, give me a little of your heart. And sometimes you see somebody like he's just struggling, right? But that's that's why they're here because we're here to slowly slowly, you know, untiten this these tight scrolls that they put there to protect themselves. So today we finished one week. I finished this year and I'm like, "Okay guys, um I want to ask everyone here, they should I know there's a lot of complaints and I'm sure there's a lot of jokes that you guys want to do and certain things that is needed. It's the first week, you know, certain things. I want to hear from everybody before we start one positive thing that they like about the place." And um the guy first humorously says uh the first positive thing that I like is that uh something I don't remember it was something like this bulb is room is not working. So so I see the guy sitting beside me one of the main over here he's starting to boil and he's like so you're saying that you don't like this place so so so do you think we can change it or you think that you don't belong here? I'm like, sh >> take it easy. >> Easy tiger. >> Easy tiger. You know, this guy is just uh >> It's hard though because you pour your heart and soul into things. You put a lot of effort in and you don't get that reciprocation and to show that they're grateful. It it does hurt, you know, but that's the beauty and the power of unconditional love, right? Parents have that for children. They don't expect anything in return. They want to do it because they want to give the love, right? But I want to go back to Michael for a second because in the last two months he's been pouring his heart and soul into this mission which I actually looked at this as why do you have to be the guy to step up and to take charge and to take the entire burden on yourself and there's like 50 60 other parents in the school. Where's everybody else? Why isn't there a meeting? Why doesn't everybody show up and everybody take a chunk of responsibility and let's divvy up the responsibilities? Right? Let's let's chop up, slice and dice what everybody's gonna do. No, no, no. It was literally and everybody else was just watching passively as he was doing it because they're like, "Oh, wow. Look at this guy. He's taking the load for everybody else, you know, we'll we'll be along for the ride." But no one was really contributing much. And Michael wasn't deterred by that. You really went out and just made it happen. Got the right people involved. But it wasn't just what he did, it was how he did it. And I heard feedback from a lot of the people that you've been meeting with, how impressed they were with how organized you were, how detailed you were, and how you cared so much about doing it and with the hashkafa in the right way. And not just continuing what they had till now, doing it even better. You were taking an opportunity, something where it was falling apart and not just salvaging it, not just keeping the pieces together, but using this time to say, you know what, let's go an extra 10 miles an hour >> and let's go even above and beyond, which was amazing. He's accomplishing two birds with one stone and uh the first week is done. It's in the books. It's a lot to be proud of. I'm I'm really really impressed with what you did, Michael. >> Thank you. >> You deserve a lot of accolades. I want you to know, Barry, before I started, I had to get permission from my literally from my family, from my business partners, from my friends. I said, "I'm I'm going away for a month. I'm going to be working on this 20 hours a day." >> So, I called us and I called uh Mishi. And >> don't forget, you promised me 10%. Michael >> said to them, >> he did. It's not a joke. He promised me 10% of all of this that he got for this entire thing. >> I get 10%. >> People kept asking me, "How can you do this?" You even asked me when we first walked in, how are you doing this? I said, "I have good partners. I have people that stand behind me and they understand. He was he was he he was coming up to me all bubbly. I'm like, "Don't be bubbly around me. I'm exhausted." >> Yeah. >> Like, >> "Yeah, >> but that's Michael, by the way. He could be so like uh stressed and have a million things going. He's still smiling. He still has positive energy. He could still have a good time with him, which is, you know, if I'm in a bad mood, everybody around me knows it. Everybody knows it. Like, you know, >> I want I'd love to thank you, Ashi. I love you. I appreciate it. And for everyone involved, thank you. Kudos to you." And uh B Yakovos Ra. the first high school that's hanging its hat on the philosophies of Raersh which is Torah leading the way and everything else behind it should follow her. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Wow. >> It's a beautiful thing and uh it's it's honestly it's like it's called Torah and people think that means the way you behave and that's not what it is a way of life. >> So therefore all the teachers have to be Jewish. Uh it's part of the process. We want to integrate science with Torah. We want to integrate math with Torah and teaching these girls that when you get older, you can have a path for yourself. And uh >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> Isn't that so much like the schools >> perhaps? >> I I Yeah. I don't know. I I see. I don't know anything about like >> behind the scene. No. Wow. Even even the even I don't know behind the scenes like what is happens to be that my children grew up my boys learned in which until today I think is the best not because I'm like and so on I just they they were always open and they're very open to just to to make sure that they give the best for their children versus most um Moses And everything has its flaws. But uh I'm saying for me it was this this was the best being that I'm also that type of person who is you know evolving and growing and open for I'm not looking to lock myself into when it comes to to Yiddish G. I'm not looking to be oh only want to go on this path ink and there's a lot of path I like to integrate >> and to enhance and to add um I think and and so over there I was a little involved like you know whenever there was like peromatic issues um things started collap to collapse I always you know jumped in and was one of the people who tried to make sure that it it it survives and it thrives lives eventually and over there. So I was a little aware of you know that I remember they went to Rayi to Raari for training which is not something that most would do. They wouldn't go to a particular guy that has a method of how to deal with uh and so on. They would follow a certain I don't know how it works because I don't know there but there's a certain traditional and so on but it doesn't go with a method. I think today it's more in that teachers and malam go for training and so on but >> good >> but but but but my kids when they were young wasn't uh a thing so I would love to hear I don't it doesn't have to be on the podcast but I would love to hear more about the repumpion for her because I remember there's there's one ver that I that that always buglate me that was always uh that you know really >> resonated yeah always resonated that the reason why grew up to be what he was was because and it could sound a little controversial like that. The reason was because Yitak put him in the same school of Yakov. If would have although we see a little differently but this is what says that if would have gave him that outlet in aem um where his training or his growth would be designed something for him in particular then he wouldn't always look oh look my brother is making it I'm not you know he would feel like >> then it would be like but we do see that Yakov wanted to bless Asov. So he told him to go and hunt which was his thing which which means he did uh >> support him >> support his thing and make him feel good about it and therefore reward him for it. Yeah. >> So, >> but but but this is definitely an idea that >> alco you know when when you want to help a child, you have to be sensitive to his, >> you know, to his capabilities and to see, you know, not to put him in a, you know, in a certain >> in a box. It's all subjective. You got to customize to what they need, to what your child needs. Yeah. Well, I just I I don't want to hijack this. I want to learn a lot more. No, I really want to get to like very Weber into like the fun and cool parts about you. But before I do that, I do want to give one shout out, Michael, because you know, we're talking about this partnership. You know, you're out there and helping the world. I want to give a shout out to a certain individual, if I may. >> Go for it. >> One of our clients, US Health, I'm going to announce it, okay? And their purchase director is Usher Mandelbam. And he's a young kid. This is his first uh purchasing job. and uh I'm helping him through and I'm trying to you know to guide him and support him you know in his in his mission and he has wonderful u bosses like the owners of this group are really great people uh big fans of you know how they operate and what they're doing u but you could tell that he is just motivated and invested in not just learning but learning in the right way and he's always asking the right questions and he's always just interested in how do we increase the quality how do we really do it in a way that it's not just about saving money But I'm doing things in a professional manner that's going to have a good outcome for the organization, for the buildings, for the patients, and it's giving me a little bit of. So, shout out to Usher. Just want you to know that, you know, you're giving an old man a little bit of again. So, really appreciate you. All right, we're back. Let's get back to the program. >> By the way, I I think the concept that you're saying that is meaningful to me and what we learned through the podcast of meeting people and talking is intentional. And that's what that's what resonates with what you're saying is doing things with intention and knowing that this is what you're doing. This is the point. >> And another thing I learned along the way of being a board member and starting things is >> we have opinions. We don't have agendas. >> So important because and and everyone who joined the board, I said the same thing. You can have opinions, but you can't have agendas. What where we're heading is who's going to guide that? The rabbitical board that was created and we're here to support them. So that system, thank God, is going really, really well. >> Beautiful. >> Yeah. Uh I I'd love to know be I'm sorry. We're going to stay spiritual another two minutes if you don't mind. >> With me, you're going to be spiritual forever. Sorry. This >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> I didn't know this side of you. It was not I was not aware that this is your mo like this. >> I'm a spiritual junkie. >> I enjoy it. I just like it makes sense to me. Other other than that doesn't make sense. >> So you mentioned something. You mentioned Ravichay >> Rimayer. This is a name I've heard so many times already in the past. >> By the way, I'm sorry. Sorry. Yeah, some people have the wrong idea of being spir people relate spiritual being spiritual with being or being Jewish or being I think spiritual is versus tangible you know it's it's it's you're creative you're spiritual versus you know being a 9 to-ive job which is not spiritual in that sense spiritual means like everything is a lesson. It It's It's a It's a way of thinking. It's It's not necessarily Yiddish versus Goish. Know what I'm saying? I mean, say this. >> Yeah. Okay. I think I understand what you're saying. >> Yeah. Like Like a is spiritual. >> Mhm. >> Like if if if they're singing, singing is being spiritual. You're you're creative. >> So connecting to the universe, >> emotions is spiritual. >> Connecting to nature, things like that. >> Can you correct them or or or just clarify for a second? How are you spiritual throughout your day? give us examples. What is like I I like what you're saying. >> Well, well, my brain works in a creative way. Meaning to say that when you tell me something, I hear those words, but I don't stop there. I'm like, why is he saying that? What does he really mean? Not because I'm paranoid, just because I'm creative. I I I take these words and I I make a piece of art of it. I enter I go into the depth of it. I look at the colors of it. I'm artist. I I have a very hard time paying my bills because it's very physical to me. It's like being realistic. My my being realistic is only for me that because I have to survive in a realistic world. But really, I'm in the art of it. >> Okay. >> When I come in here, I I see the production here. I I don't know how to explain it but it's artistic way of thinking. >> So although I mean a lot of times I have to be very down to earth and show up at certain places at certain times and to hear the customer for what he says or for what he she says or to be a little down to earth. But a lot of times I re I rely on my spirit on my on my trip on my on my sixth sense. My sixth sense. I I'll explain it to you as as we go on. Like >> No, I think I understand what you're saying. You're like you you try to remove yourself from the materialistic equation. >> No, I'm not. I'm just I am removed by default >> by Okay, that's what that's what I mean. You are removing yourself from that and you're you're seeing how to the growth aspects of things, right? You're seeing what to take from it, what to learn from it. I see it in a little deeper creative way. I don't know how to define it. I I call it being spiritual. Meaning to say the spiritual world makes to me more sense than the non-spiritual world. >> Mhm. So if I gave you a choice to sing at a wedding tomorrow night where it's a very meaningful wedding and uh it's going to be a lot of people an emotional wedding, you know, because there's a story behind it. The two people that are getting married, you know, and they're paying you $3,000 versus a wedding that is just a high-end lavish wedding. A bunch of snobs are going to be there, a bunch of elite people. They're paying you 30 grand. Are you saying that you would rather sing at that $3,000 job? >> I would rather, but I can't make this decision based on my emotions because like that I would lose my family in a second. >> You understand your obligation? There is a line in the sand where your spirituality takes a backseat. >> I have to use my brain to be realistic to reality and I have to pay my bills. I have to take care of my my values. I have to support my people that I care for. Okay. So, I want to make that decision. >> But really, I would Yeah. If if if if my if somebody would take care of my financials in my world, I would 100% choose I I would rather want to sing every night. And not every night because it's not possible, but I would rather, you know, a lot of times it happens. People are like, "Oh, can you give me a discount?" Technically, I don't care. I don't like when I make with $2,000 less, $3,000, it does not touch me in a second. It's just that I don't want people to take advantage, >> right? >> I don't want to I don't want to lose my pants. I don't But >> you deal with that directly. People call you. >> No. No. So, so you see, therefore, I have somebody who runs a >> You have an agent who does that. >> I have agent does that because I I I really don't like I do not feel comfortable after a wedding to go over to a and talk to him about dollars. It takes me out of the zone. I was just here. I created a vibe of happiness. I created the relationship for me. This is like blocking the relationship. For me, this is like >> Yeah. >> What I'm saying? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, it's a very important. >> So, when I'm talking spiritual, I'm talking about that sense. >> Yeah. Yeah. That makes >> We're about to go back to you. So, you said Rach. I'm going back to that because I've heard his name many times and I have a lot of friends that are big fans. Can you just tell me a little bit about who he is? >> Wow. I'll tell you what, I think of him too much in order for me to have the to describe him, but I'll tell you something that you would like to hear probably. So, he was just a random kid that grew up in a random family, which means that he doesn't have any rabbitical uh DNA in his blood. His father used to be a diamond. he had a lot of money then like like at some point he lost all his money. Um but when he grew up he grew up in a rich house and u he once said that that the way he he thought himself how to guard his eyes. Um, by the way, I just heard last week someone told me he's close with again, you know, with someone who I mean, just like you said, you didn't. So, there was this uh this iconic guy who said that I never knew that um guarding the eyes is is a thing. And this today they have these this organization of uh what's it called? They had they put out these videos uh >> something. And he's like, "Wow, see I never knew that it's a thing, you know, but I guess in their school it wasn't a thing to teach like a to guard eyes." But anyways, um said that the way he thought himself of how to guard his eyes was because his father had mirrors in his house. Mirrors is like a modern thing like aides house wouldn't look in the mirror. There's this thing that says if you look in the mirror it wakes up your your evil inclination your that's the thing but but by so he would he was a little child and he would go around his eyes and not look like he was guarding his eyes. So he had this niche this this thing in his brain when he was a young child just to be extreme in a way which led him to be where he was where he is right now. He's uh mean to say he's a he was a kid that grew up with a nice haircut like he didn't have like these pies that I have you know and uh it wasn't ultra from type of house it was more of like a open-minded modern house but he pushed himself pushed push push pushed himself >> and until today he's pushing himself >> I know he's a major inspiration for a lot of people >> and he's a he's a tali he's just a tali he's someone who's who's someone who's bought bottle to the he's bottled to the universe like you can just step on him and like he's not like that coveter like this is my seat don't like he would give aways I have many friends that when they were bo in yes in Israel and they would go over to his house just and they say I don't he would he would cook them a omelette he would make them an omelette and there was two things he knew how to do omelette and pizza like he would make them a pizza and omelette like very humble guy you know and uh but he's a Saudi Saudi >> so right now he's He's a rv and he has a shul like is that that the makeup of >> so he he used to uh he used to be just in a coil part of mabalam he was always infat infatuated with kabala >> okay >> when even when it was a ber and kabala I don't know most communities but in communities where we grew up kabala was taboo it's like it's not meant for only for someone who is already 40 years old or something whatever and dress and kabala both of them were looked down upon. Oh, he's breast liver like uh like he's tripping. Um especially in the places where he grew up which was Europe more like everything is like very formal and polished and like no craziness you know and uh but he was always infatuated with these sidur that have all these shameless the sidari and sidash until today he ds in that but always would say that people would come and complain these ber is going around with the Sheamus thing and it's not appropriate. He would say like allow him. He's allowed to, you know. >> Wow. Wow. >> But uh he was always very into it. He pushed himself. He's just a guy. He's a tal. What is a tal is someone who is not afraid to fall. Somebody who is just focused in the business. Who is who is the biggest guy? Somebody who's not afraid of challenges. somebody who just breaks through every challenge and just drives on 100 miles an hour and does not look back, just goes forward and avoids Hashem. This is what he does. He's just pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing and he's not pushing anybody at the same time. He allows, you know, these people who we call secondass or people who who are usually not looked up upon. He encourages that and he's my is just pushing and pushing and pushing. I wanted to go Kaneka and uh I wanted to go in Oman. I wasn't there this year. Rashana I wanted to go there for Kaneka. He went there. So I called him up. I'm like am I invited? Can I come? He's like is your yeshiva open yet? I'm like no but we're like almost almost there. He's like I'll have you in mind open your yeshiva. I got you. Like whatever you think of doing there I'll I'll you know I'll do that. and he was just pushing me and pushing and pushing me. For >> for for those listening, uh the yeshiva that you have is meant for who? >> These are meant for boys that technically can't are being thrown out or had to leave because they didn't feel that they get them or it's very hard to like categorize such a type of boys. boys who didn't make it in mainstream yeshivas and they're currently on the street without a yeshiva and they still would like to be in a yeshiva environment. A lot of boys are burnt out and they're likem not going to go in to fail again and they don't even get give it a chance. >> And as I understand it, these are kids from all over the world. >> These are the these are kids from everywhere. >> Everywhere. But more backgrounds though. >> Yeah. This this is what I could you know like facilitate >> I could facilitate >> that's what he relates to. That's what I relate to and that's what I feel I could. >> So if somebody wants to find out more or get involved or support it, what do they do? Who would they >> could they reach out to me? Reach out to you. >> I mean, this can be the first type of school like this. I mean, you're talking about for in the environment, right, that culture for the boys that didn't fit the mold and didn't do well in the system and now they're sort of out of options, they go to a school like this, right, to try to rebuild them and try to reshape them, right? to stay the course but in a sort of a different style right this is the first time such a thing existed it can't be I imagine that there's a lot of schools >> the uniqueness of what I of what I provide absolutely show me okay there's Brazil right you've heard of Brazil I've heard of him I don't know much about so he's a singer technically that has yeshiva but he's not a singer has yeshiva he's yeshiva that is is also a singer being that yashash is Ya is not somebody who's very hush of a guy that they don't feel threatened of. That's that's that's very unique. >> Got it. So what you're doing is a little bit of a spin here. It's not so much this concept that's new. It's this model with you at the helm of it. That is that secret source. Right. That's different. >> Right. Right away. It makes them feel calmer. >> Oh. And the staff that I have are not people who have certain agendas of oh this is how the school should run this. They're just people with good hearts. Yeah. They just want to adopt to make to create an environment. >> Got it. >> This is also again now understand I don't I don't want to be like oh I figured it out and I got the best thing and the point is that of course I'm sure there is out there something similar to this. >> Yeah. But it's not something that is there's a lot of it. I know there's um I know there's yeshivas in Israel similar to this. I know that uh there's in Lakewood uh similar to this like Eaton town and there is leftoid over here. But again, every everybody caters to a different type of like I I wouldn't recommend someone who's struggling with chabas to be in the same yeshiva environment of someone who who doesn't struggle with chabas >> and I don't recommend someone who struggles with his social uh issues with someone who doesn't struggle with issues. So that's why people don't realize it's important to create an environment for all types of >> uh so so it's not like that I'm the only guy who outside of the regular system there there are there are there are yeshivas who are >> created for ADD for kids with ADD um there are there are yeshivas who who are created for kids who are uh totally like throwing away their religion like they don't go they don't they they don't keep chabas and they they don't put fill in and you know it's amazing and when I technically open it it was just a group of boys who didn't have they didn't they didn't have a yeshiva and so I technically opened and created a system around their their struggles their you know that group >> and then as time was going on as new boys came to me without knowing what this is and you know their struggles shifted in a different direction has changed the vibe and the staff according to there that I don't think there is I don't think there is a chameleon rashiva who is okay and willing to shift shape and colors according to now me I'm also human and I can also handle what I can handle as I said I can only cater to boys because I don't connect to the culture of that because I wasn't brought up that way so I don't know exactly you know, how does it handle that? >> Yeah. >> So, I'm I'm I'm also not a chamele total chameleon, >> right? >> But in my in my community, there isn't something. >> What a nice what a nice thing. So nice. I mean, you're singing, bringing smiles in people's faces, then as if that's not enough, you're also shaping the future for these young boys that are lost and need some direction, >> right? And you're doing it in a way that's palatable for them, in a way that they could find joy in it. Right. >> Right. And you're showing them, look, take me as an example. I'm just like you guys. I went through the same system as you, the same upbringing as you. And look, I turned out pretty okay, and I'm and I'm happy. And there's a way to have life and still be functional in society. You don't have to change. You don't have to become something else. You can still be you and you could still have a wonderful life that has so much to offer. Right. That's sort of what you're showing them by example, which which is amazing. So, so, so it's I'm not technically telling them that, but subconsciously this is what they're feeling. It's like, >> you know, this is something that I could look up to. >> This doesn't bring me any trauma and issues like I don't relate my failures with this type of behavior. So, let me try to look into this option. And that's that's where they feel encouraged. >> Yeah, for sure. So just for just just so you understand like so let's say I sat down with the boys and we started learning a a particular thing that I I felt that I'm I'm good at to be able to give it over to them and let's say it was Gumar and I started learning and I see that like I'm pushing a wall like it's not working then at some point I'm like who from who from this group does not know how to read Hebrew and 75 5% of these boys are raising hands. >> How's that possible? What does that mean? >> They failed. >> They grew up in regular firm homes. >> I wonder why they failed because they did not get the proper >> What do you mean fail? That's not failing. That's just completely missing the boat. Are you telling me that they never learned as a 8-year-old, as a 10-year-old, how to read? >> Yes. So, what I did is, guys, Gamarra closed. We're starting a new program next week, and I right away have to call professionals. Raetti. >> Exactly. I >> I would think you would know this beforehand. Like how did you discover this right then when you were starting to learn with them and you're like wait a second they can't even read. >> I cannot I cannot take in these boys sending them this strict contract that most first of all >> you take anybody. So you're not really >> why would I point out right away before I meet them their issues and their struggles. Why would >> not issues I'm saying to discover to do like an assessment of where they are, where they're holding like you know what this board >> doing an assessment if I'm anyways going to deal with it, >> right? You're saying you're taking anybody you're doing it all but I'm surprised that 75% of them couldn't even read. That shows that this is a rampant issue that could be happening. This is not >> Yes. >> It wasn't one boy or two boys that like 75% of them just couldn't read, >> right? >> That's insane, >> right? And by the way, if he wasn't doing what he's doing and making this platform available and then creating this environment, they'd be on the streets at a certain point doing during god knows what. >> They were on the streets. Everybody from mysha was on the streets. >> Unbelievable. It's really, really >> everybody. I had certain boys who were just shoved in into certain yeshivas that was called yeshivas, but it was just people that tried to care >> and they just neglected them. They were and they were like, you know, I've I've done the worst. I've I've been exposed to everything that a 16-year-old boy shouldn't be exposed to, but I came from that place and that's where I do not want to go. >> Mhm. >> Like I give me a chance. >> Yeah. >> And I'm like, great. >> Amazing. >> Let's do this. >> You know, but I want to ask something right on this topic because I have noticed as we're this podcast is developing, your mind really uh works very quickly and you keep getting distracted. like you'll talk about one topic and then you'll talk you'll bring in a a story you just remember then another one and then another one like you can go on for for a long time it's fantastic like you have so much information that's stored up in your brain >> right so I I have that issue and but somehow when I give it when I talk to the boys and I just go from topic to topic to topic to topic to topic somehow always tells me somehow you always managed to tie everything up >> you circle back >> but that that's a talent that Hashem gave me as as an artist which I you know everything obviously you know this the reason why I went from this topic to this topic so as an artist I see it as a picture so everything is like intertwined like it's like a picture it's like >> yeah and I've seen it here I've seen how you've gone you veered off a few times but you always come right back to and you tie it all in which is you know very interesting so you you clearly have that creative mind you're obviously someone who thinks differently and uh you've done things a cut above what just the mainstream Jewish person growing up like by the way we grew up similar to you. we didn't grow up, >> but at the end of the day they real grew up from and I think there's a lot of similarities in that, right? And uh very few people can say that they've sang in front of hundreds of thousands of people. They've put out records. Um their face is, you know, plastered around town. You're known all over the place. I'd be very surprised if you walked into a room full of people and 80% of them didn't know who you are. So, you know, that's got to carry a lot of weight for you. That's that can't be easy. It's fun, but it's fun for the first, you know, 5, 10 minutes. Eventually, it becomes a drag. It becomes a burden to have to deal with that type of consequence, you know. So, do you enjoy that? Do you like this part? Do you hate it? You're somewhere in the middle. How do you deal with it? >> I hate it. >> You hate it. >> Hate it. >> Everything about it, there isn't any part of it that you like >> because you do seem like a very uh subtle, more, you know, to the softer, quieter side. So, you know, for me, I would love I love the limelight. >> I mean, put me on an island. >> Yeah. >> With nature and I'll I'll I'll be in heaven. >> That's crazy. That's just crazy that you are that kind of personality. Yet, everything that you're doing is a total confliction to that. You are you are not by any means behind the scenes. >> You want to hear something crazy? When I'm on the stage on a house concert or in front of thousands of people and I sing, I am on my island. >> So you don't get nervous. >> I know. >> You're totally zoned out. You're checked out. You're like in your own world. >> I'm like in my own world. >> That's a nice ability to be able to do that. >> Yeah. >> That's got to be a certain trick to it. Like an art form to be able to do that. Most people get sucked into the, you know, to the moment and they get caught up what's going on. and they get all nervous >> even though it's not as meaningful for you. Let's go to where Oshi wanted to go before. So, first of all, what's the biggest crowd you've ever sang to? >> So, anything that has to do with memorizing stuff that happened in the past, you're not going to get a very accurate answer. >> That's okay. >> So, I'm going to think what's the biggest crowd that I said >> approximately, you know, a live crowd. >> A live crowd. Biggest crowd >> above 10,000. >> Let me think. Oman is not 10,000. H. >> H is not 10,000. A >> few thousand, right? >> Yeah. And Israel, I've done I've done concerts in Israel that were 10,000 people. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Was it just you or was it a group of people? >> No, it wasn't a solo barrier concert. >> Have you ever done those? >> I I I did it maybe twice. >> Yeah. >> Like just a Barry concert. >> What kind of singer do you consider yourself? Are you like a soul singer? Do you consider yourself to be a jazz, uh, blues, folksy, pop? Like what? Do you do a little bit of everything? >> Being being, you know, the environment that I grew up, you know, all these names that you just mentioned is something that was totally not in my conscious or in my education. And the only way I would find out is by like listening to non-Jewish music or to educate myself. >> Do you even know what genres I was just talking about? >> By now I know. >> By now you must know. I've bumped into, you know, here and there. And >> this is your industry, >> right? >> You got to have the jargon. >> So, so, but but it's not in my blood. So, if I would have to say, you know, what my soul is, like what type of I would say soul. >> Soul. Okay. >> Uh, yeah. Okay. But, but necessarily, >> you know, what I have to do in order to get my dough, >> you know, >> you do what it takes. You sing anything. anything uh >> any non-Jewish uh singers that you sort of uh resonate with, connect to, you feel like that's sort of your style, your vibe? >> Uh do you listen to non-Jewish music? >> So I don't officially. >> Mhm. >> Um although I can't say that I never listen to, you know, to, you know, because I was, you know, introduced to it and so on. >> But uh >> it's for research and development purposes. You have >> No, no, not even that. like mean to say like I never had a like a song list of Jewish music but >> like remember when I when I was in Shivamir there was one guy who was into a certain artist called >> Eminem >> I was shady >> okay >> so he would listen to that >> and you know I I wasn't going to be that annoying guy who >> turn it off cuz I was you know was open-minded so >> I Eminem was in uh >> so that's like hip-hop that's rap you know >> you know but Um, but did I ever get into rap? No, >> not rap. Is there somebody you appreciate like a Billy Joel, an Elvis Presley? >> Michael Jackson was >> Michael Jackson, >> you know. I think Michael Jackson is beyond genius. >> I think what's his name? The Rasta guy. Uh, >> the what guy? >> What's his name? Um, >> sing it. >> Uh, no. >> Bob Marley. >> Bob Marley. Okay. >> He was a big >> There you go. Yeah. Yeah. He had a lot of soul. Okay. Spirit. Yeah, that makes sense. >> Spirit. I think he's >> Yeah. >> Um >> I don't know. Never listened to Billy Joel. Um I never listened to the Beatles. Uh never find like interest in that. Um >> so everything you come up with is entirely your own deep from within your soul. Like you don't take any inspirations from anyone else or from you have your own lane. You have your own >> You're doing your own thing, >> right? Yeah. >> Okay. Um, I'm very curious about this because I really think that this is something that's lacking in the uh Jewish arena. I do think that it's getting a little bit more like the thank you Hashem movement, right, with the types of songs that they put out. I think that they're sort of finding a little niche that's a little bit more modernized and compelling for the younger generation. And I love the fact that my kid uh his 8-year-old, he loves Thank you. And he loves their songs. Like he loves he loves also like um uh these Zusha. We love Zusha. Love I love Zusha, by the way. I'm I'm obsessed with Zusha. I love their songs. I think that it adds a whole new type of flavor that we didn't really have in our music for a long time. Yeah. It's more just jazz. It's not just >> No. No. It's that thing that was missing. >> That missing. Yeah. But I think like the EDM concept, right? They're bringing to that. But >> yeah, also but there what I think we're we're still missing is somewhat of the um like you mentioned earlier that you had a music video that you put out and that was like so such a taboo thing to do that was like so >> abnormal in our right but now it's like a very normal thing you see every song that people put out with a music video >> put out one year nobody >> right right so I think what's what's still missing is sort of that uh collection of um and I I think I was telling this to uh Yakov Langer when he was on our podcast is influencers is people going beyond just the music part is also to let people into their lives and to make you know everything about what they're doing and share it with the public and share with right now it's just like we have singers we have you know what people put on plays and every sort of their role what you know their lane but nobody it's just them let's follow them everything that they're doing and in the gish world in the non-Jewish world you have a ton of those people and you know not always are they you know portraying the best things, right? So, why can't we have someone who's a cool person, someone like you, right, who's very talented and I don't just want to see you sing. I want to see you with the boys that you're mentoring. I want to see that. I want to see you at home, how you interacting with your kids. Now, you may not want to show, that's fine. And maybe not even you, but somebody who's on the public stage to totally capitalize on this and to go a step above. I haven't seen that yet. And I think it's necessary and I think that it would be great for my son to be able to follow an influencer that's in our culture, in our circles versus potentially following, I don't know, God knows who, you know, that's out there in social media. Why don't we find those people, replace it for these children, so they have somebody to look up to or somebody look up to, somebody to follow. Do you understand what I'm saying? Are you with me? >> Yes. So the So >> really, he's the wrong guy. Everything. >> No. No. It's not the wrong guy. I'm >> Why is he the wrong guy? guy to talk about it. >> No, no. Meaning because you're an introvert, you were saying earlier >> and have a lot to tell. >> No, but I want to hear his theories. I want to hear his ideas. >> Being an introvert, not that I hate people. I love socializing. >> Yeah. No, no, no. But I'm saying camera has to follow you around. >> No, no. Let me tell Let me tell you something. >> Be me being introvert means to say >> that I'm okay being by myself. I could I could entertain myself, >> right? >> I don't need a >> huge talent. It's not running after the center. >> My gasoline is not by getting feedback from people. I get my own feedback in my brain. That's what I'm meant to say. I love socializing. I love characters. I love different people. I love different cultures. For me, it's very colorful, entertaining, and I love taking it into my world and analyzing it into my world. It's not like I'm not a people hater. I'm I'm fine being by myself. So, I don't I don't need to be in the public. That's that's one thing. But what we were saying, what I wanted to say is that the good thing about evolution and time is that everything that you just thought about or everything that you're fantasizing or hoping or dreaming is going to happen one day because if not, it wouldn't enter your brain, right? And and and because it entered your brain, you're speaking about it, somebody's going to hear about it and it's going to attract something that that should happen eventually. This is what I believe. But the fact is the in the Jewish culture especially in the dati culture the focus the the the focus of you know the the people that we look up to is based to based we are one nation. We are so amazing not because we're going to be amazing. It's because we were amazing and of course we are evolving to be amazing but because we have a what kept us together 2,000 years we have no country right we have nothing that kept us in one place it wasn't the language because Hebrew just came back it wasn't there for 2,000 years of course now we see things are reshaping and that's but for 200 years what kept us that we shouldn't disintegrate what what what and And us more of any nation we were fought at. We were tried to be destroyed. What kept us together? It was the toy. That that that ideology that the toy is giving you. how you should behave, how what you should do and you should do because you know those people who came to America for instance like those people who came because they ran away from Europe and they want their created themselves a you know a comfortable life over here and they had the struggle with Shabas keeping Shabas so on like I'm talking about in the 1940s and 19 before that and after that there was Shabas was a struggle there were certain people who were fish every week and we can't really fathom you know you know think think of a lifestyle where you cannot commit yourself to be in a job because you know that every week you have to quit and you have to try again every Sunday like what what type of life is that but some people did that but the people who couldn't people who who weren't you know meant or weren't strong enough to be able to to you know to fight those challenge they would do the best they could you know they would um keep their job they would try to walk to work instead of riding to work but they had to go to work. They needed to feed their family. Their little children, they couldn't stand looking at their children being hungrier. They they what we would call they weren't junkies. They they they couldn't just throw away their dreams just because okay, I'll try my best. So, they had a sheer shabas morning. They get up 6:00 go to shul davin had a sheer learning to do they they did something extra like coveravajas whatever I don't know what it was but it was probably like in order for them to like lose a little of their guilt but then they had to do the thing to survive they went now these these children they're they saw their father working on jabas which means not keeping shabas and but they also saw their father doing a suda 6:00 in the morning did they get 6:00 in the morning and do a no. They're like just I'll take the good part of it. I can work in sh you know and soak three generations later they have nothing to do to identify with Judaism besides you know little here and there like or have him star of David. Yeah. But this this is their Yiddish kite. What kept Yiddish thriving throughout all generations? You have to agree it was it was the toy the bdigdish was destroyed. That was the epitome of kal. That was like oh you see this is untouchable. This is God's building and then these Romans came and just said God's building you're nobody. What kept Kal together? It was the toy. So throughout generation if you want to look on an influencer somebody who should you should look at as a role model. Although there are some simple Jews that have you know uh how's it called mikmon mky moments and we still get inspired by simple Eden like me and you and you it is an inspiration that helps us in our life to enhance it but really what where we look up to are the scholars the people who lead the Torah who spread the toy and so on and so on and that's probably what it's meant for us in order for college to be together and that's probably what it's going to be but it definitely is going to evol 12 as we see today. Singers weren't a thing uh 80 years ago, right? We don't know of songs that were 300 years old. Can you sing me a song that is 300 years old? Can you sing me a song that is uh 40 400 years old? Come on. There was no singing back then. There wasn't that wasn't something that uh kept, you know, that wo uh Judaism together. So therefore there was no reason why you know a singer should be someone who should be a thing that you should look up to. But today >> singing is what is really giving us gasoline as you can see you know the young generation that's their it's their oxygen. >> They're reading it up. >> So you will find that people like me are going to be looked up to. >> Yeah. >> You know and look I have a yeshiva. I didn't I didn't decide one day I want to be asha. They were drawn to me and God is led that it should be that way, right? And because you think it's a cool idea, it will happen. It will happen one day. And as we can see on social media, there are influencers that are not dafka to scholars and it's going to happen more and more. It's just we come from a place where the right thing to do is to look up at a at a reba at a manic at a at a pois and so on and so on because this is what really you know held us together all these years. >> Yeah. >> But now we're right before Msiah. So things are starting to integrate a little bit. You know the things are >> Okay. So, you're saying that, you know, we have a little bit of this dynamic already, you know, with the the singers, you know, and it's led you to be able to give back in a really strong way with these other kids that you're >> that you're helping. >> Um, and look, I I think it's beautiful what you're what you're saying and I agree a lot. The one thing that really is tying us all together is the laws, right? It's not just our tradition, you know, the history. It's that we follow along the same path, right? The same guiding light, that same shining light. The Torres are shining light. Sure. But I got to sound the alarm here. And I've said this before. I got to pull the fire alarm, my friend, because uh there's a fire. It's only smoke right now, but there's a fire brewing. And I'm telling you that this is not going to cut it. It's just not going to cut it anymore because, you know, 30 years ago and prior to that, for thousands of years, you knew what was going on in your little town. Uh and then, you know, the Jewish people tried to really keep what was going on in their little tiny community, right? You didn't know what was going on in the world. and it was it wasn't so inviting and it wasn't so accessible. >> Now, as we're developing in the digital age, it's becoming way more accessible. >> So, whether we like it or not, the kids, the the youth, the younger generation, they're seeing both sides. They're seeing what their parents are giving them and what their teachers are giving them and all the beautiful things that, you know, our culture has to offer. And it's wonderful, but it's unavoidable. there's another evil force, whatever you want to call it, that's out there that's also drawing them in. And it's hard to look away. It's hard to look away. So, I would rather give them what's out there in a certain uh, you know, in a different way that I'm comfortable with and I would rather reposition it for them over here because if I don't, they're going to go looking for it elsewhere, right? So why not when I meant by this concept of finding you know guys like you to become full-time influencers to really showcase your entire life and make it like it's cool it's great you could have the most amazing life you could be a firm Jew and follow the Torah and follow everything and still succeed and do great things you know and these other people I don't want them looking even over there for some type of entertainment value that they might be getting that isn't going to serve them. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying is we need more of the uh, you know, media attention with Jewish things, right? Not just hearing about Israel all the time, you know, and how awful and evil, you know, Israel is, right? We we we actually should be putting some positive things, you know, and, you know, Jewish inventors, you know, Jewish philosophers, Jewish artists, right? Things like this that the kids could get behind. That's all. That's all I'm saying. And you're right. It is. It is, by the way, getting more and more like this. You're 100% right. from in the last 5 years, we've made leaps and bounds and really big strides in how how far we're going. >> It starts from is a world sensation. >> Yes. >> There's not a little town that doesn't have a >> I'm talking even the most >> the most brings a tear to my eye that you weren't able to listen to. And you know, Michael, it's really really I was able. >> You know how many times I've heard you say in this podcast? Probably five times, maybe more. Maybe seven, eight times. you know, like growing up, you know, by in our culture, you know, we weren't able to do this or it's not okay to do that. >> So many of these like it's not okay and don'ts and like you can't and like what a tough way to grow up. What a hard way to grow up. You know, Michael, do you know what I'm saying? What's up with that? Like you got to have a little bit more allowances and flexibility and like you said, you're doing this for your boys in your school >> is you're customizing things and you're adapting. Look, I'm not trying to be like the, you know, the serious guy in the room and I don't want to make you look like the liberal guy in the room. >> That's what's happening here, by the way. That's literally what's happening. I'm like becoming way more into one the other side and like >> perfect way to end the podcast. Go ahead. Let's hear it. But I think you would agree that there's certain things that you wouldn't expose your kids and depending on the age you know you know certain things that you could trust them with and certain things that you could you you feel that not then you'll find a different h a different household that they are more a little liberal to that and they would think that you're crazy for being so strict and so on so disciplined and so on. You have to understand that the reason why there were certain restrictions and so on is all of it is, you know, nobody wants to be mean to their children. Nobody wants to just be nasty and so on. >> Of course not. >> Everybody has a certain >> The road to hell is paved with good intentions, >> right? Exactly. If you put it that way, >> that's what happens. They think they're doing the right thing. You know, uh sports sports is something that's not okay in the uh communities. >> Absolutely. >> It's not okay. They shouldn't watch it. They shouldn't be playing it. Right? >> I think that's such a big miss. >> But the same thing goes, >> such a big miss. >> But but you see, because you only see it from your perspective. You don't see it from their perspective. >> I'm not trying to be here. You know, God's good lawyer over here or good lawyer, but there's definitely a rhyme and a reason for everything. And I think everybody should be happy or open-minded to just enhance their world according to what the tools that they have and according to >> are you accepted in the ultra music in the Marros of the world in like right now if you walk into Williamsburg shul into the main sh you walk in are people applauding you or are people somewhat like very neutral about you like what's the reaction to you? >> I'm not a hero. >> Okay. But are they are they distancing themselves? Like are you accepted in these in these communities >> right now? I Yeah, because you know I I walk their walk. I talk they talk. I mean there's no reason why they should feel like I'm Yeah. Why not? I mean if they have certain if certain communities have certain naive and close-minded ways of thinking, yes, but it's okay. like, you know, this this is this is their life, you know, and and and you know, I only uh surround myself with with with with people or with communities that I feel look up to me or where I feel like I'm being heard or I can be positive and looked at and act so on. I think everybody should do that and uh I I don't think we need to be negative towards the I'm not talking about somebody's not somebody's evil. I'm not talking that sense and of course has to be awareness that people have to be more caring and more good and me be more selfless and more looking out for for the for the youth and everything is good but not everybody's capable of doing it. M you like what you do you have any visions of sometimes thinking you know maybe I do something a little bit more risque I do something a little bit more you care do are you mindful of that or is that just something that's natural to you and you like what you're doing you're not even thinking about anything else or are you limiting yourself because you're trying to fit into a certain >> I I'm definitely a politician when it comes to uh being making my environment and my fan base comfortable I would not act, you know, inappropriately to cause them uncomfortability. So, >> so you feel like you're representing and you're trying to >> not because I'm representing. I want them to like me. I want them to hire me. I want them to think positive of me. So, I would, you know, try to be a politician in that way, like to, you know, >> like if I'm in a bad mood, like let's say I was I was uh somebody put me down, right? Or somebody sucked the energy out of me, you know, he was wasting my time too much and putting me in a corn and so on. And then now suddenly you have to sing. You have to be in a good mood. Should I sing or should I be a politician? >> You got to be a puppet. >> I got to be a politician. >> Yeah. >> Right. I cannot disappoint my customer. I cannot disappoint my family. I cannot disappoint my people. >> I agree. But is that you is what I'm asking. Is that really really you? What we're Yes. What we're seeing, what we're seeing on stage, what we're hearing, you know, we're listening to your music. Is that really what you want and what you are or or this is what you are? >> No. Naturally, I'm I'm I'm in my in my headsp space. I'm just like in my creativity. I'm like just >> what's next? >> Great question. >> What's next? >> What's the dream? What's the uh evolution for Barry Weber? >> Oh, for Barry >> versus >> I thought you're going globally now. >> I am asking globally, but we can ask that as well. It's okay. It's okay. >> Well, that's a part we're all on this journey with you. What do you mean? We're all whatever you're going to be doing, we're all going to be observing. We're like we're on the train. We're watching, >> right? So, what's what's next for me individually? And then I'll go globally. >> Um, you know, I'll I'll try to go there. What's next for me? Uh re rebirth re renewal renewal. I just started from new the yeshiva. I'm putting out a new album and hopefully in a month or two for me it's renewal. It's like a whole new message. You know every every probably the next year or two you know the songs that I'm going to be singing is going to be based on my new album. Um and uh that if if you know if I have to put it in a word, it's probably renewal. It's like my my life just changed. I I committed myself to be every day in Yeshiva for many hours and to care for these chunk of boys to be their father and their mother and their everything. Um, and hopefully in my personal life as well, like once I'm in the zone to refresh my relationships with my children, with my family, my wife, and my parents and my kids, like while I'm while I'm in the Rolls-Royce, why not, you know, just like have all the perks, you know? Um, that's that's that's my personal life. What's next, Claudia Israel? I think unity because you know as we see that you know technology uh you know everybody's in everybody's face in a sense like it's like you can't hide anything anymore like it's pe people start by force being people by force are being vulnerable and real and you start like deciphering what's good what's bad what's evil what's appropriate what's not like things are happening like so fast so I think the only way way to survive is by accepting others by, you know, by saying, "Okay, I have that part of me. I could deal with it." I hope so. >> Love it. I love it, too. >> Okay. >> Uh, we always end our podcast with asking you who you would think would be a good guest sitting in that seat. Someone that you know, someone that, uh, you think would be someone that would add value to our listeners and to our >> Let me ask you this. Yeah. >> What do you really like want to like what do you want to hear from this? Do you want it like to be a colorful thing or you specifically like >> we both want different things. So you you want if you want you can ask us >> like it says none of none of which attracts you like you know something like the media like something negative then your business in blue >> like you you're weird that this is the psychology of this. >> I never broke it down the way you just did by the way. I'm sure Ellie Bos did when >> I never broke it down. I'm looking at this thing for I don't know over a year now. I never even like really thought about the fact that your business is in blue and that none of is is black and that's kind of how we I don't think that was was >> you guys are businessmen and that's why probably has the word business in it. You probably want to track business people, >> right? I mean we don't want to talk about business. >> No, we don't want to talk about business. >> We don't want to talk none of your I want to talk about you like I learned today about Barry. I have a whole different uh perspective on you. I had no idea that I didn't even consider you to be a singer anymore. >> I really don't like I that's not your essence. That's not who you are. >> It's pretty wild. You are really like now I get the spirituality part by the way. You were trying to explain it early in the beginning like I'm a spiritual person. Got nothing to do with religion. It's got nothing to do with it's strictly just a connection to just people >> and to just trying to get better together. I'll get better, you get better. Let's figure it out. Let's see how we can be happy together. That's all what it's about for you. And that's that's an amazing thing. >> I would have guests over my house, people who were, you know, behaving a certain way. And I would get feedback from my family like, what do you have in common with this guy? Like he's so not your speed. Like >> Yeah. >> And I would like I'm like, why? Why don't I have in common with this guy? And they're going to be like, you do A, B, and C and he does ABC. I'm like, wow, I didn't see that ABC. Like I I just saw something like I saw the the entertainment part of it or that part of it. It's like yes, God has I could call it gifted because you know it's I I think it's a positive thing. He's created me in a way that my brain sees, you know, a certain way, certain thing. And that's what attracts that. That's what allows me to be doing what I do, what I do, you know, to technically, if you think about it. I'm a guy that is in the 40s, you know, I'm a 40-year-old and these kids are 16 years old. It could be very rough, you know, to go down the 16-year-old brain, but I don't have to be in their brain. I don't have to walk there walk and talk that talk. I just have to connect two things that we have in common and boom. >> Yeah, >> that's it. So anyways, going back to uh my question is none of your business. What is the type of like entertainment or or colors that you want to have that in order for you to ask? Do you want me just to pick a random name? >> I like that you're asking that. It's generally growth oriented, meaning you could be an entertainer, you could be an CEO, and you could be a politician, but how are you growing? What are your challenges? Where are you from? What are you doing? And what's next? That's the concept. I mean, not your business. We could talk about your business for a minute, but the the the the growth aspect. >> So, I think we covered most of it, but uh whom I think like this popped in my brain that I think could like relate to the stuff that I'm saying. I could probably you would you would look at him as like if you look at me as a monkey like not not in a bad way, but like a certain character. I think that person would also have that element in himself is probably like uh Schlomma Gazen from Zusha. >> Did you interview him yet? >> No. >> Didn't we Is this Didn't he say he's coming out? >> He did. He did. Yeah. His uh his was is it his brother who was not his brother? His partner. >> Zakaria. >> Yeah. He just moved recently. >> Zush is just the name of the band which is >> sure exactly if it's brother. >> So they said they have to come together. We have to do a schedule where they come together. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. But >> you're right. That's a that's a good that's a good point. >> Spiritually I connect a lot with Schlommo. It's just I'm sure I'm connect with a lot of other people, but just this just just >> every time I see him I ask him to explain me uh line into Hillm. >> Oh yeah. >> And he always does. And uh >> yeah, he's very connected to Ra Pinson. You know Pinson is a very deep guy. >> Yeah. >> Sure. For sure. So he's one of your pick but we already have him on schedule so you'll have to go for another one. for another one. >> Yeah. I mean, uh, who would you like for if you start >> doesn't need to be a famous guy? >> No, it doesn't. He likes it when it's famous. But, uh, >> I'm a very materialistic person. I like, uh, you know, fun stuff. >> Put it this way. If you open the podcast tomorrow, who would be your first guest? >> Oh, I wouldn't go for fun. >> Who would you go for? >> I would go probably for a psychologist or for like a like a a deep thinker. >> Uh, probably. Is there someone in mind that you have like uh someone that >> Manis Freedman? >> Manis Friedman. Do you know him by chance? >> Yeah. >> Can you ask him to join? >> I could. >> I would love him. Yeah. He's uh >> Am I supposed to know who that is? >> Yes. We're not going to get into that now. >> Manny Friedman's father, >> the singer Benny Friedman. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um he's awesome. He puts out a lot of great content and he delivers it very clearly and I'm a big fan. So if you can bring him on that would be great. Yeah. You can ask them to join us. >> Awesome. >> Yeah, we usually ask the person to call now on the thing, but we're not gonna we're not going to push you to that level now, unless you're okay with it. >> Okay. >> So, call him. >> Oh, right now? >> Yeah, >> that's what you're saying. He usually wouldn't. >> Usually, I would say call the guy right now and ask him to join and let him come on. We'll have him do it >> live in real time. >> Thinking I should do that. >> That was That's why I was careful. >> If he's already thinking, yeah, >> we'll let it go. Let it go. We don't want it to be too uncomfortable. >> Not because I'm uncomfortable. Just because like I like I'm thinking why should I do that now? Why can I do it later? >> No, do it later. It's more It's more entertaining people watching. >> Thank you to all our listeners. Thank you to our subscribers. Thank you to all of our guests. Thank you, Hashem. And thank you for joining us. And thank you to the Prime Source production team. This was an incredible episode. I really appreciate getting to know you spiritually, musically, emotionally, and uh it it was amazing. I I really appreciate Thank you for the opportunity. >> Thank you. That's a wrap. >> That's a wrap.