He Changed Thousands of Lives. He Still Thinks He Should Do More | Jeff Seidel

I think the only time I watch movies is when I'm on the airplane. That's where I saw it was on the airplane like maybe several months ago I watched it. >> Really? Oh, so you got >> I've no patience. I've no I have absolutely no patience. >> I like that you're still watching movies actually. That's good. Lots to talk about. Movies, music, you know, anything. You made a comment before. And you said that if you can impact one person, is that do you really mean that? Like is that is that really like a thing for you? Like >> Yeah, I let me I'll give you an example. I look at every my I don't think my workers do or other rabbis do. Other individuals do I should say. But if I have an event the other night. The other night I have for the students NFL football. So I bring all the students even though the program tells them to stay away from me and warns them they I don't break any rules, they still come. And my goal is to get these kids closer cuz they're very far away closer to Judaism closer to get them on the on the track. So so what happened? Some guy out of nowhere some guy out of nowhere a gentleman a young fellow says to me with a yarmulke on his head, I'd like to start putting on tefillin. In the middle of the you know, in the middle of the Giants game or whoever what it was ever playing you know, the Raiders or you know, whatever the team was playing. So that I you know, I sit on the side and the guy has like you know, he must have like a couple beers already and you know, and we're talking about it and we got him a pair of tefillin and he's starting to put them on, you know, not at a minyan I'm assuming but once once it once a day. And I also look at it that he's on a program. He starts putting on tefillin a little bit it might do a little domino. >> Right. >> My that's what my my head is always focused like that. >> Domino domino. Yeah, my head is focused that if I don't get these kids this semester this year, I'm going to get them another time. Right. These kids These young people are going to call me again. Cuz they know I'm going to help them. They couple kids already on the on these programs call me already for jobs or different sort of internships or help them out in different in different other areas. Okay, now they're calling me not their program. Um so cuz I assume these kids are going to call me like like it always happens anyway. In a couple of years along the way, they're they're going to come back to Israel or they're going to be in Europe. They're going to call me up. I want to go for a Pesach seder, Jeff. I'm sitting in you know, Copenhagen. I'm going to help them out or they'll be in they'll be studying a semester abroad in Europe. And I go there. I go and sometimes there's less kids in Israel now at the universities. I do a little bit of programs in Europe for the Americans that are studying in Europe. So, >> How many hours a night do you sleep? I'm just curious. >> I mean I got to sleep. How many hours a night do you sleep? Probably four. Four hours a night? Yeah. When I was a kid, they only have When I was a kid, I used to sleep three hours a night. You're kidding. Honest guy. Wow. That's pretty amazing. And you have an adrenaline from somewhere. Something's keeping you going like I want to help I Yeah, I want to help Klal Yisrael. I It's It's I'm on an auto Someone says, "Jeff, you're on automatic go." Automatic go. And and I am thinking of retiring soon eventually in a year. People look at me and say, "You are not retiring." >> How many times have you said you're looking to retire? >> Well, sometimes when I get up in the morning, I get to four four four and a half hours sleep, let's say, and I can sometimes that I either can't move. I say, "I got to I got to I got to retire or something." But then once the day gets in the groove, >> I asked a lot of people in my audience to ask me questions before interviewing you, and I got so many great questions. For example, what's your favorite rock band? Rolling Stones. What's your favorite >> Start me up, I'll never stop. >> [laughter] >> There you go, Shani. That's the >> And and I got somebody religious to the Rolling Stones. How did that happen? Well, I'm a fanatic about them. I probably know them more or better I used to than I know the Gemara, which is a shame, which is a very big shame. And I'm I'm at the Kotel. This is like, you know, like maybe 10, 15 years ago. An Israeli guy comes out in the Kotel, and you know, I walk up to everybody. He had a Rolling Stones t-shirt on. And so and and, you know, my Hebrew's not so good. So, he know he knew English. He was very um had very very little background, very very little. And he didn't he didn't even have like a bar mitzvah at the Kotel. You know, a lot of young Israelis have that. And we started talking about the Rolling Stones, and he thought that he can outdo me at them. And then I took him up to my house, him and his girlfriend and another friend. And um we made Havdalah. It was it was Saturday, you know, late Saturday night, you know. We made Havdalah, and then he saw all my like Rolling Stones stuff on the walls by I got in my house and my other stuff, and his his eyes like dropped out. You know what I mean? >> So, you connected to him. >> Very much. >> On that level. >> And we're still we're still very close friends. >> That's amazing. I I so many other questions, but before I do that, let me just start the program. So, first of all, welcome back everybody to another incredible growth-oriented episode of the None of Your Business Podcast. I'm your host Michael Greenfield. L'chaim to Jeff Seidel, who's here with us. Such an honor and a privilege that you're here. Thank you for everything you've been doing for all these How old are you? >> How old do you think I am? >> 65. >> 60 I'm almost 69. >> 69. >> Yeah. my gosh. Okay, cuz I remember being here 14 years old. And uh I'm aging myself. I'm almost 50. And you you were doing what you were doing then. And I have so many things I want to talk to you about and ask you about what changed, what's different, what was then versus what's now, and all these different Do you ever take your tie off? >> [laughter] >> Not really You know what? I don't want to laugh. Um where was I? I was in Tel Aviv, and I went to one of the clubs that night, also. It was a Saturday night cuz all the kids go to the club, you know, and I and I they all told me, "Jeff, you got to come tonight. We're all going to be there." I didn't wear my tie this summer. Maybe it was just so hot. >> That was the first time you're saying that you could remember. >> Yeah, I mean I would be maybe a little embarrassed without my tie on for a picture. [laughter] >> It's like not your image anymore. You It Listen, it's a You have a look. You definitely have a look. Those shoes, by the way, which were super cool. I I That's like a staple of yours as well. You know, you have like >> I mean, who would Who would have thought a pair of shoes would become a a symbol of Kiruv, outreach, or an identity? >> Uh that's what you >> I have people like, you know, look at me, then they look down, "Oh, it's you." >> So, I'm not making this up. This is something known. Um so, like I was mentioning, everybody, thank you so much. I hope everyone had a wonderful, beautiful holiday. Uh we've been off for a couple of weeks. So, um thank you so much to the Prime Source Production team and to everyone behind uh listening and subscribing and commenting. We We had a Sukkot. We were here in Israel. So, we had 1 week off. Can you imagine? We do this >> No, I can't Yeah, I can't imagine. >> We do this every single week and uh over 2 years already. And uh thank God we've been Like you said earlier, when we were off camera, making an impact on one person and the domino effect that it has is just is just amazing. I I I really want to get right into it, but before I start, I have this thing that's uh what ChatGPT says about you. All right? What Chat Come on. Stop it. You know what ChatGPT is, right? >> No. >> Come on. Claude, ChatGPT, AI. >> Okay, got you. >> Okay. Okay, you're spending a lot of time at the Kotel, I see. Good for you. So, have you ever wondered what the internet has to say about you? I'm going to tell you. Jeff Seidel got a master's in psychology and then spent 40 years treating Jews for free. They call him the hunter. Kotel campuses, even nightclubs, wherever there's a Jew who doesn't know they need Jeff yet. Thousands say he changed their lives, but when one man spends a lifetime changing everybody else's story, you start wondering about the part of his own story nobody talks about. That's really what I'm here to do today. I really want to understand who you are. What's your story? What's your background? Where are you from? Loosen your tie a little bit. >> Okay, I'll loosen it a little. >> You know, take make another l'chaim with me. >> Okay, I I can pour. >> [laughter] >> I really just like I want to know where were you born? >> I feel like a drunk. Which, you know, then you really think I'm really like, you know. >> You know what? It's uh it's a good way to start. >> in Chicago, Skokie, Illinois. >> Okay, that's a good start. You know, um who are your parents? Where did you grow up from? How did you >> I I grew up I grew up in a traditional house. Where my father Ziger only bracha put tefillin on his from what I understand his the year before I was born, my grandfather passed away. And my grandmother was European. And she had more of my father. And they kept kosher in the house always. I remember watching my grandmother salt chickens in the house, you know. Um he had to go and say Kaddish for his father. That's where he started putting tefillin on. >> Wow. Where was your father from? Where was he born? >> Like we're from Chicago, Skokie, Chicago. >> A real American family. >> Yeah. >> Got it. So, you know, someone who's as powerful as you that has an on button, literally with an only an off button for 4 hours a night, um I I discovered through these interviews with people that there's so much of your relationship with your family growing up and who you are, your parents, your siblings, etc. Then make who you are today. Give me something that you've How did you become who you became from what you grew up with? What was a part of your, you know, childhood that made you realize I want to do something different? And just take me back to that if that's okay. >> Well, so the synagogue, the shul, was always very much part of our family. You know, Friday night to Saturday night, let's say. And I you know, I would go to shul. And I and I first I could not understand why people would drive to shul when the rabbi would tell them not to. And there was like I remember that as a, you know, and I just I would just absorb the whole shul, the synagogue. And my father also we we'd go all the time on Saturday. And my father was also somebody who was always very, very helpful. So it's always very helpful to people. That's a He was a big influence on me. His honesty. I think I remember one time that he took by accident like a pack of gum. This is years ago when gum was like 5 cents. And he went back to the store and paid for it, right? That you know, I remember that. Um I was just always getting more and more involved in in Judaism. One of the big influences and you're not You might not believe this, was the black power movement. >> Mhm. Love to hear how. Okay. >> At that time with the black power movement, I remember it was in, you know, what, '65, '67, whatever it was that time. And then they wanted to make sure they had straight They had afros, not hair like white like whites have. And they would go into their black history, who they were. And I remember and I have a If you ever go to my office, I have a um poster um a picture of the Olympics. I think it was I think it was 1968 with Mexico with the blacks There's three people on a podium, you know, first second place, the track runners were black power individuals. Two of them was Two of them One was a white man, and they had their fist up. And I asked my dad, and I asked everybody, "Where's the Jewish power? Where's the Jewish pride? Why don't we have it, and they got it?" >> Wow. How old are you then? Do you remember? Like what you were like a kid, a teenager? >> 10 years nine, 10 years old. >> Like a really, really young. >> Yeah. >> Wow. So you started thinking about this when you were quite young. >> Yeah. I mean, I I definitely follow sports a real lot and also, you know, but why don't we have Jewish pride, Jewish power? You know, the Jewish people. And even at 13 years old, and I went to public school, at 13 years old, as I was getting more into it. And I thank my both my parents They allowed it. I I I had my bar mitzvah on a Sunday, not a Shabbos, cuz I didn't want people driving to my bar mitzvah. >> Hm. Wow. You know, you're reminding me of something that's very It's a topic that's brought up a lot. And I want to get back into your, you know, background and so on, but I'm going to throw this at you right now because it's just It's in my head. I'm thinking about it. And it's very apropos to parents wanting their kids to do certain things and kids wanting to do other things. >> Right. >> I'm noticing a lot where kids are going to Israel, >> Mhm. >> and they're studying, and a lot of parents want them to come back. And it's a struggle I see sometimes between parents and children where they would say, "No, no, you got to come back. We don't want you to be in Israel." And I see you as someone who influences so many people in returning to Judaism, have you ever pissed off a parent? >> Oh, many times. I think I once had a parent one time and some of the cults, I think I once had one on my neck. Honest God. I'm I'm being very serious. I helped I helped this young young this young son out a real lot. I mean, with all these people I always emphasize that you have to respect your parents. And I'm being very serious. That they who they are who they are. And they want you and they really want the best for you. And the best for what they feel the best for you is their values. I'm not saying their values are wrong or bad. But it does not mean when you come home that you kick in the television or you burn the dishes. Now, I unfortunately some kids young people are a little bit eccentric or you know, and they they do they do dumb things or they say things to their parents that are that you don't say to them. >> Okay, give me an example. >> It's like they have to realize their parents have little are not in the same page they're on. I can't walk up to somebody any and on the on the bus, on the train and start telling him something different. Even if they're Orthodox, I can't say to him something, "Well, you know, I think you know, being Ortho- you're being Orthodox or you're this and that that you you're and you're Hasidim or whatever you are, they do the wrong thing." He doesn't want to hear that. >> Right. Right. Okay, that makes sense. All right, I appreciate that perspective. So, let's go back. So, you're 13, you're growing up, you're seeing something needs to happen. >> then then at 13, so then I went to I went to high school I went to religious high school, Ida Crown Jewish Academy. I left I was instead of public school, I went to Ida Crown. And um you know, I could I don't sit I don't sit still too well. Okay, I can I can tell you that now. Right? I'm always like, you know, bouncing around doing things. So, and I'd get, you know, like I do a lot of projects in in school. I had the school make phone calls years ago to Soviet Jews in Russia. And I the I remember that one cost a lot of money to make a phone call. Now, it's you know, it's a it's a two two pennies. Years ago cost a lot of money and we'd call Soviet Jews up in Russia. And we had we had one of the rabbis from the Holocaust. He knew Yiddish. And we had a list of Russians or whatever you know, who knew Yiddish and he would call them and speak to them and give them chizuk, encouragement. You know, or then when the or there was a one of the wars broke out when the '70s, I'd go out for like uh Mogen David Adom and raise money for them on the street with canisters and uh I went to Nazi rallies in Chicago. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> What was that like? What was that like? >> Coming out of a coming out of a movie. It was actually it was something. To this day I remember it. >> Can you can you elaborate? >> Yeah. So, I was I think I was in high school like 15 or so. And I hitched a ride from Skokie to like part of Chicago. Where it was a bus. I think it was the JDL that went. I don't remember I don't and I don't even know how I even heard about it. Right? I really don't even remember how I heard about it. And I I hitched a ride, you know, and I got a ride there. We went on a bus to the Polish area. And there was a pseudo-Nazi organization where one of the head Nazi gentleman he had like Jewish blood in him. His last name I think was Cohen. He was not halachically Jewish for sure. Okay, so he must have ran this offshoot of the Nazi party. We drove by cuz we were the protest in the park. You see the building there and outside were two Nazis guarding it wearing arm bands and brown uniforms and hats. You see the big Nazi flags in front of in front of the building there. To this day I remember that right away. And then we went in the park. We were protesting in the back. In the front were all the people of the neighborhood, mostly Poles. Mostly mostly Polish people. And they got up they came up there and and they spoke their Nazi propaganda, and they were cheering them on, the people. >> Wow, so I I'm imagining watching all this and growing up is influencing you, right? To go out there and do the outreach that you had so much in your mind when you were 8 years old. So, what transition? Take me to how you ended up in Israel, in the old city, standing by the wall. I'd love to know the famous question that you generally ask in a different context is, "Who was your first?" How did that happen? >> My first person I I don't even know. >> [laughter] >> Like take me back to how I mean did you meet your wife first? >> I don't want you to laugh. So, so everybody like all my friends all went away to college. Okay. And I stayed back. Cuz I probably didn't go I didn't go too much to high school. >> Right. >> So I went to school. I went to you know a normal a normal a neighborhood university. I got my degree in 3 years. I went for my master's degree in psychology. Cuz I was going to be a psychologist. >> [snorts] >> I got my master's thesis at 20 years old published in a psych journal. Um and then I went for my doctorate in psychology. And like the first summer they had a psychology convention here in Israel. So I went. First time ever on an airplane. So I always worked and always did things. I came to Israel and I very much What's there not to like? You know, I enjoyed it here very much. And I went back and I said, you know, took a semester. I said, I really want to get back to Israel. And and and learn a little more about Judaism cuz I don't I didn't learn too much in high school. Not Not that it Not that it was a high school's fault. I'm not I'm not I don't want you know. And then I came back and then I went I went, you know, to the old city and I went to Aish HaTorah. And I What I enjoyed about Aish HaTorah was that they want to help people out which I didn't see many other yeshivas doing that. They other yeshivas had different directions, okay? And um I noticed the rabbis were very easygoing and very much more personable. Not as like a status in America. They're a little bit more I guess status I remember years ago. And then, you know, boys would come into age and they really didn't know what what's going on and some most people were not helping them out. I started to help them out a little bit. You know, and then I started going more down to the Western Wall and I probably cuz I couldn't sit still. I probably couldn't sit still. That's why I went. Um and and talk to kids and get them kids involved and then it all just you know, they go to university and they try to kick me off and, you know, people didn't like that in America so they helped me out. They still don't like me these places after all these years. What What do they not like about what you're doing? I don't know. I can't figure it out. I really They tell They tell the kids to this day most of them. it it it hurts me. It really does. To stay away from me. Then I'll make you religious. And and the kids don't under kids like me. They they don't understand why. Maybe I'm like a Robin Hood. I don't know. You know what I mean? >> Well, let me let me ask you this. Do you feel that you're calling to uh speak to young adults and uh I I don't want to use the the the terminology. I want you to say it. Are you looked upon perhaps by people that you're a missionary? >> Uh brainwashing as opposed to >> So, they used to used to How do you look at it and how are they >> Years years and years ago they used to call like the different Ba'al Teshuvah yeshivas places where they brainwash you. And maybe I guess myself also and other rabbis used to work in the field. For just no no better word. I think they and they have stopped that. Because if you look at the definition of brainwashing or a cult they say we're a cult. You know, Orthodox Judaism or you know a cult you can't leave. A cult you can't leave. If you go to any of these Ba'al Teshuvah yeshivas even to this day or to those days if you say I'm leaving, I'm going back to America, they might try to convince you to stay. Right? You know, cuz they they're worried that if you go back to America, you might not have any Judaism or it'll wear off. But they didn't they never they don't hold your passport. >> Right. >> They don't Okay. Uh I think I think they had no better words to do it or in their own frustration they would use those >> So, how do you How do you identify yourself as what? >> I don't know. Doing what I should be doing. That's why when people want That's why when yourself or other people want to interview me and talk to me, I'm not sure why. I really don't know why. I'm doing what what has to be done or what should be done. I I I I- I- Isn't it obvious? Isn't it Maybe I'm wrong. Isn't it obvious that people might need a place for a Shabbat dinner? Isn't it and you're obligated to help that person out? I mean here in the studio, let's say. You'll You'll have You had somebody here, maybe a worker or whatever it is. I would have talked to them if they if they were not religious or whatever it is. Well, I could help them, but isn't that obvious? It It amazes me. >> you look at it as it's obvious as if somebody's falling and you have to pick them up. That's what it sounds like. >> Yeah. >> Right? >> For me, yeah. >> Right. That's It's so natural to you by now and that's why I was trying to figure out like where it came from and I'm getting a little bit of a flavor where it came from, but you're you're in Aish Tora. You're not married yet, right? So >> Right, but then I got married. >> And then you got married. >> Yeah. >> I'd love to know how this affected your family and like, for example, first question I have for you with thinking about family is do you bring people back to your house as well? >> Oh, yeah. Right after I got married. >> So that's part of the process. >> I got married right after Purim and the first Seder I had guests. >> That's it. It was a normal right? Like it was just a Your wife knew this was coming. >> My wife still does it. >> Okay. >> [laughter] >> My wife helps, yes. >> Well, yeah, they help. Now, here's how it works. Here's how it really works. Okay. And it took me a long time to figure it out. If you're not brought up into it, it's not part of you. I was I I wasn't I was brought up in it, but I guess I was. I was brought up in a house of helping people out. My father was very helpful everybody. I remember even you know, you'll even when he passed away So I was you know, after the Shiva I'm in the house still and I think it was snowing out. I'm snowing and I'm getting the car like out of the garage in Chicago. And the neighbor, this big black guy says to me, I heard about your father passed away. He used to always help me shovel my help me shovel my snow out of my garage. My old man must have been 85 years old and he but he was helping people out. You understand? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It's definitely in your DNA. >> So I had I asked the girl asked the girl one time. She was going for classes and everything and she was going back to Australia and she was part of one of these Zionistic [snorts] movement programs they have here. And I said to her, you know, you've been doing so well. I want to give you a couple of rabbis. And she took couple of rabbis to contact when you go back to to Australia. I said, by the way, what are you going to do when you go back? Oh, I'm going to work for the movement and help out the movement. It was like Habonim Dror or one of these Sure. socialist movements. I said, what are you talking about? Out of sight, out of mind. She says, no, you don't understand, Jeff. I grew up in the movement. So it's part of me. I'm part of you know, whatever it was Habonim Dror or or Maccabi or Yeah. you know, Bnei Akiva whatever it was and that's part of me. So I'm going to be part and help out the movement. So that's why also Chabad I feel is very successful. Part of them they grew they grew up with that. >> Right. >> So I happen thank God to grow up a little bit also with helping out. So my wife knew >> exactly what she was getting into. >> Yeah, she grew up with this. >> It was a team effort, I guess. >> She She grew up where her father would speak for Chabad and go out every other weekend and speak for them. The Rebbe The Rebbe himself personally sent out her father. >> Wow. >> To speak to She grew up every other weekend and go out and speak at college campuses. >> You know, um there's a lot to unfold here in terms of who you are as a person. You're looking at it as a very natural thing. This is who I am. I don't know what you're talking about. Why do you want to interview me? Um we haven't even gotten to the juiciest part of how many thousands of people you've affected. And you know, you say that if you affect one person, it's a domino effect. Let's go back to your thesis for a second. You went through that really, really quickly. Uh you you studied psychology. What What did you gain out of it? What was your thesis about? If you don't mind, just give me a little bit >> Psychosomatic symptoms of stress. And I want to tell you, when I when I wrote that master's thesis, and you had to type it up. There was no computers then. And you had to hand in your thesis on this like thesis paper or something. You couldn't make a mistake. You made a mistake, you had to do it again. >> Right. >> that. No white outs, no nothing. >> So what was it? What was it? Did it last? Did that thesis last with you? Is that Is that become who you are? What was that thesis about if you can >> Just symptoms of stress. >> Symptoms of stress? >> Yeah. Like you know, if something >> What did you discover? >> That everybody when people take get different stress, it affects part of their body. People go jogging to get the stress out. Right? People People go like go to the gym and work out. They do a lot of different things to get it out of their system. >> Interesting. So the concept of how stress affects your physical body. >> Yeah. >> And and you've you've experienced and practiced something with regards to that your entire life after doing that thesis? >> No, I get phone calls sometimes about it. >> Really? >> People call me. Yeah, out of nowhere. I read your thesis. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> So the what What's the one thing you got out of that thesis in terms of what you can give to the world, right? Cuz I'm not reading it. So, what can you tell me from that thesis that I can learn from? You know, take me back to what you had intended. >> That you had that you should the one honestly It was very hard to write. It was very very hard. I remember that. You know, I spent long I spent long hours. Not that I spent long hours doing all these not to give up. Keep on keep on at what you believe in. At that point in my life, I believed in that. I believed I want to be I I wanted to be a psychologist. And I tell people I tell some students all the time if you got to take some of these crummy courses that you don't you don't enjoy or they're not it it Look at the end goal. I look at the end goal what you got to do. If it means that I have to stand outside for hours to talk to one kid, I do it. Cuz I it's the end goal I always look at sometimes. And I don't mind you know doing many things just cuz I want to get that goal. >> Right. And your end goal being? >> Yeah. I think I am, yeah. >> Your your end goal I'm asking you. >> Oh, my end goal? >> Your end goal being what? If you had to put it in one sentence. >> I want you to become more observant, to be more pro-Israel, but but to get more of a sense more of a sense who you are as a Jew. That's a psycholo- who you are as a Jew. Okay, cuz it in psychology in order to be a happy person you have to know who you are. And that takes time. It took me years and I still don't know who I am. I'm still trying to figure it out sometimes, right? But then you know who you are and you know where you're going, what direction you want to be in. >> Explain what you mean by who you are. I I I'd like to learn from this. You know, you you you're saying I should live a life of >> Everybody like you said, everybody has a lot inside of them, who they are. >> Sure. >> Okay. So who you What kind of person are you? Who you are. You got to sometimes we have inside of us uh you know a lot of negativity. And it's up and through maybe jogging and other physical activities or or obviously going to therapy and talking with somebody, you wind up getting it out of you and you get a clarity inside of you who you are. >> Mhm. >> Okay, it takes time. I remember I remember also you know, I would I happen to like going to the gym and exercising. Okay? And you get some of that stress out of you. And it helps you. >> You you were saying a minute ago you're still finding out who you are. So, it's hard to then work on being happy if you're always constantly finding out who you are. >> Yeah, but I want to accomplish more. >> But if I so okay, that's >> Also also also, you know, I say that a little bit as a joke, but in life we go through different stages in life. And I'm ready now with the 60 I'm at the senior I'm almost at the senior level now. I mean I'm taking care of these college kids right now. Who now their parents tell them to come and see me. I remember when I was at Hebrew U or at Tel Aviv University or I was on this program. And I'm s- and I'm still older than them. I'm like that age gap. You know, it used to be when I was 25 27 29 and those kids were 21 22 was a little bit more easier closer. >> Sure. >> Now I'm like now I can be all I'm older than their parents. >> I want to go through >> act younger than their parents. >> [laughter] >> In some ways. Um I I want to go through the process of what you do Friday night. I want to go through your schedule if you don't mind. So >> Friday night? >> Yeah, Friday starts, right? So for a typical person, you know >> Friday night starts you got to I need to prepare for Friday night. >> When do you start preparing for Friday night is my question? >> Sunday morning. >> Come on. >> Yeah. >> Really? >> I get like about a hundred requests a week. >> Wow. >> It's it's not Okay, so years ago years ago you come down to the Kotel and I get you meals. >> Okay. >> Okay. Not anymore. >> Okay. >> I did gentleman last night. I did a barbecue last night on the army base for the soldiers, right? I do a lot of army bases and I bring groups to the bases and talk with the soldiers. And I brought actually this happened to be this older group. And this gentleman says that was in 1985 and you were I was in Hebrew U, Jeff. And I would go down to the Kotel all the time you give me you give me Shabbat meals. >> So >> Now it's different. Now you you can apply online, go to getshabbat.com. And then I also I read who you are. Okay? And you'll say to me I'm staying in Nachlaot. Here I I have family people right now applied online 2 3 days ago, Australians. A couple. They're staying at Agrippas Street. So I got them places Friday night. They told me they're coming down to the Kotel anyway, which is surprising. Not everybody comes to the Kotel. But I still I got them a place I got them I got them their places already. >> I see. So you're using technology to your advantage today and it's a little different than it used to be in terms of bumping into people actually at the Kotel. For >> I still bump into them. >> Yes. >> I still bump into them. >> So then take me back before the technology. When you started it 20 years >> I get there I get there >> you would say you would make phone we'd make phone calls during the week. >> Yeah. >> Build up your Rolodex so to speak. >> Yeah. >> How many people are hosting meals for example? >> I I got a whole list. I got a whole list. You know, now I got them listed as like >> How long is that list? How many people were talking how many how many families back then when you started when you were at your height? >> About 75 families. >> So you have around 75 >> And I had I had a lot of people in Sanhedria Muchevet. >> Sure, different areas of Jerusalem. >> I had Mea I had a lot of families in Mea Shearim, English speaking families, Malcha, Givat Shaul, Arzei HaBira. >> Sure. >> Old City. Rehavia. >> All right, so >> That it. >> That was it. >> Yeah, so you have 75 families who are covering, let's say, a 2-mi walking radius of the old city. >> Right. >> And you go down armed with this booklet, like it How did you do it? >> have a little my little in my hand. >> Little in your hand. >> Right. >> You have every family have a >> little cards, a card, you know, like little square little square cards like that. We have the families' name on it and the address. >> Mhm. >> And then then you all come down. Uh you two guys, you're going to go to family X and you're going to go to Y. And then if if they live like in Mea Shearim, I have to turn around and find somebody going to Mea Shearim with the address of that young person on the card. >> And does it happen often that you get stuck with people that you just couldn't fit in meals anywhere and then you took them home or you had nowhere to put them? Like how did that work? >> Very rarely. I'm always I I mean Look, even now, I don't want to the land the summertime I come home 10:00 at night. Even now. Getting meals for keeping getting meals for people here and there. So, I would knock on Years ago, I said knock on doors in the Jewish Quarter. So, you get if I'm stuck. But now the Jewish Quarter has changed it's geographics, what do you call it? That's right. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And there's less people in the Old City taking guests in the Jew- in the Jewish Quarter now. >> Interesting. So, and I'm curious, you take anybody, right? So, anybody who comes in, modern, not religious, religious. >> Anybody. >> Does it bother you if people are taking advantage of the system? Like, oh, I'll just come to the kosher to my last supper for a meal. Like, how do you feel about that when those kind of things happen? >> Um it bothers me if the person is a returnee and shows up at 9:30 at night when I'm trying to go home. And I say to him or her, I told you what time to come. I told you to call me ahead of time and I'll get you I'm happy to I'm happy to get you a meal. But why do you got to put me out? That's not menschkeit. Menschkeit means more. And it's not nice where I have to let overpower that family. That's not polite. That's not We would not We would not grow up for that. There's no mitzvah of Shabbat doing that to put stress on any family. >> Right. Well, speaking of family, what about putting stress on your own family coming home at 10:00 at night? How does that work? How do you balance that family values that you have in terms of >> And now there I mean now there's nobody at home but me and my wife. >> Well, you know what? >> Okay, but my wife is used to it, right? But but >> Rumor has it your family is doing amazing, but I'm curious how >> I will tell you I will tell you uh I probably did take a bit of a toll. I mean I I remember that we would um have dinner and come home late. And then with my children, their friends would come over when they were they already finished their meal and we were like in the middle of the meal. >> Right. >> You know, that sort of thing. >> So I'm curious >> And and I when my daughters are home, my daughters were married so they're nurses in the hospital. And sometimes they come on Shabbos specifically so my wife can help out with the husband with the kids as they go to work all night in the hospital. And my daughters have said to me "Please come home earlier tonight cuz I have to go to work and I want to take a nap. I want to sleep before." And I try you know, to run home. >> So and and it doesn't always happen because >> It doesn't happen. But but today a lot You know, today a lot a lot of these young people, especially in the Shiva world there are I don't feel as guilty as I used to. There are many places in let's say Mea Shearim or other areas there is open houses you call them and these fellows all know where to go. They all know that they can hang out at the Kotel and look around and and then pop in, you know, in Mea Shearim or other areas to get a meal. >> Yeah, I get that. I I I want to stick to your family the family discussion, that that dynamic. Uh it's something that, you know, >> But the whole world of my children though. >> [laughter] >> A good answer. Good answer, but you know, look, ultimately when you look at things like that, your actual family and your household may be affected differently than that. And I'd like to learn from that. I'd like to understand what you learned from it, from the process. How potentially you would do things a little bit differently now. You know, as I'm getting older and I'm having my kids get older, I'm also noticing things that I could have done >> why I say I'm not there yet. Because we're in different stages in life, who we are. >> Yeah. But through the process of doing this for what, 40 years? >> Like 43 years. >> 40 plus years. Again, l'chaim to you and thank you for everything you're doing. Uh you know, again, on behalf of all of us, uh I have to tell you, I was in Tzfat once, by the way. Um I wasn't I wasn't prepared to share this story, but I I started in saying it's all set. I was in Tzfat a few years ago. Older, I was here by myself, you know, with a friend named Joe. And it was 5 minutes before Shabbat and we didn't have a meal in Tzfat. Just me and him. And he called you. >> He called me, yeah. >> He called you. And you hooked them up with somebody. A woman. A woman that was going to give us a meal. We couldn't find her address. We were so like, you know, exhausted trying to find her location. We found her location. We knocked on the door. Sure enough, like two special needs older people opened up, a dog coming out at us. The whole scenario was scary. We literally said, "Sorry, wrong address." We left and we like never looked back. First of all, I have to apologize to you and to this woman. You have to let me know who she is because I got to like let her know we left her hanging. And I'm sure this has happened to you in some regard in the past. But these are the kind of things that you go through as a person looking for a meal have gone through. So, I'm going back to your family and understanding the values. What are What are your family values that have affected you and your life that have taught you to do things differently? >> I mean I noticed that >> First of all, do you accept my apology? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. You think she does, too? Or do I have to ask her? >> I have an idea who I have an idea who >> You for sure know who I'm talking about. Come on. >> [laughter] >> Um he'll give me her number after I have to apologize. Um My my family's [clears throat] is they grew up that way. They grew up that in our household people secular Jews and religious Jews would always come over to the house even sometimes during the week or they grew up my office is in the Jewish quarter and they'd walk in and you know, say hello to me and I'd have a group of let's say Birthright kids or have a group of university kids sitting in my office and I'm talking to them or I'm giving them out free English prayer books which I have a special donor who has given us prayer books and other books and his name is on his name is on two of our buildings, Mr. Asher David Milstein who has really pumped us up if you want to say >> Beautiful. >> You know, um that's how my kids grew up. And and and that and now when I go to army bases, they're even they're more even more proud of me. And they they have people my my kids say that they're sitting in shul and a soldier walks up to them, you know, a married man, I saw your father the other night. He gave us a barbecue on the army base. Right? Or or their friends who were call them up, I just saw your father. >> Well, by the way, congratulations to you that you have that family values where your children see it and they admire it. I'm curious >> my my one son to be in the army, he would stay back on the weekends to have another soldier go home for Shabbat or he bring soldiers home for Shabbat to the family. >> It's amazing to me that they're seeing how you behave and your wife, of course, is behaving and they're emulating that and following in that footstep. How did you give them attention? How did you give How did you personalize your connection to your kids throughout this process? If you don't mind Let Let me learn from you as a person who always wants to do good and and people who are listening that want to do chesed and want to, you know, go on a hot solo call at 2:00 in the morning and leave the family in the middle of the Friday night meal or, you know, help someone with a with a flat tire, but you know, forget to pick up your kid who's waiting for you. >> No, that you can't do. >> So, how That's my question to you. How did you balance it and how did you provide that attention to your children? What can I learn from that? >> Well, first of all, my wife was totally totally behind me. That's one. >> Okay. >> That's very helpful. >> And and I canina I you know, brocha shem thank god, I'm blessed with a real aishes chayil. You know, she is all there with me the whole the whole time. >> That That's key. >> That That's one of the keys. A- And she would she would help me out always obviously in in the family how it goes. I mean, she In our house, it's like she knows how to keep the house going. She knows how to keep the the the the machine going while, let's say, I'm not there at certain times. She She's And she is like unbelievable at doing it. >> Amazing. >> Okay? >> Amazing. >> Uh we do have a thing where, like, let's say that I would always take care of the kids in the morning. That means even if I come home 3:00 in the morning from town, I'm there waking up the kids and getting them off to school cuz also sometimes she would go to work. She'd be at work. Okay? Um Yeah, I remember I I remember as I was getting older, it was getting harder to take care of the kids early in the morning. I used to like sleep on the couch and have them wake me up. So, this way they don't miss their own bus. >> So, they're waking you up for you to take care of them. I love that. >> Yeah, I mean >> That's how it is. >> Yeah, when I was a little younger, I'd get up, you know, I'd come home 3:00, 2:00, 3:00 in the morning. Right? And then take care of them and you know, wake up at 6:30 and get take care of them. >> Yeah, I'm I'm good. >> Now I Now I don't think I don't have to. >> Right. So, if I go to Tel Aviv and it's getting harder. >> I go to Tel Aviv and hang out and that's where the action is. Right now, the most of the action is in Tel Aviv. >> You're saying with the with the people that you want to be makarif, the people that you want to bring back. >> Yeah. >> They're [snorts] there. >> They're And so, where? I go with my wife. She's happy to go. We go and because that's where they're the only ones home now. And we'll go for like once every once every 5 weeks and I make a big Shabbat dinner in Tel Aviv. There for all the all the American students. And they all come. >> Beautiful. >> Yeah. And I also You have to understand I'm I'm a bit of a character. I'm not your typical Maybe I might not be your typical uh you know, straight guy, you know? I came up with this concept, you know, like pre-Shabbat l'chaims. >> Nice. >> Now How did it start? You already asked me and I I should have How do I prepare for Shabbat? >> Yes. >> It would get so stressful sometimes when you come down to the Western Wall with all these requests and and the list and there are not enough families in the list. Like after Tisha B'Av, they all went away. >> Hm. >> And I'm like down to a skeleton and I got all these kids and okay. So, I do a couple of shots before I come down. So, it developed into pre-Shabbat l'chaims. So, now I bring groups to my house. I have groups come and we do pre-Shabbat l'chaims. >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> So, you're starting to de-stress and decompress even before the Shabbat is coming so that you're able to Yeah, get those l'chaims going. Um so, let me let me first pour you more of a l'chaim. And while I while I get >> And you're going to have also, right? >> all >> But I can always drink alone. >> [laughter] >> Uh >> I will tell you I have cut I have as I get older to watch my weight, I've cut down. >> Okay. So, you're only doing two bottles an hour? >> [laughter] >> Shout out to Teperberg Wine, by the way. >> Okay. >> Delicious wines. Um I I love Israeli wines, and I'm going to be shouting them out a lot. So, a lot. Anybody wants to comment for any good bottle from Teperberg that they would recommend. >> to buy wine from me Israel than France? >> Definitely. So, uh you know, that's that's part of something I'm going to do. I also have a candle lit for leil nishmas anybody that uh you know, you want to have in mind or anybody that's that's watching uh that wants to have in mind. So, uh I did ask um you know, a part of the audience to uh come up with certain questions that they would have uh for you. So, I I I'm going to ask you a couple of questions if you don't mind. I turned them into like a rapid-fire list of questions if that's okay with you. >> I got to answer yes or no, or >> No. >> I can answer 1 2 3? >> Um you know what? You're getting up, you're speaking. So, this is this is the first question, and and I uh I'm going to paraphrase it based on uh the question that was asked. No speeches, no preparation, you're sitting in front of 20 people who are not Orthodox, not observant, what do you say? >> Shalom. I'm Jeff Seidel. I live in Israel. And my goal, my job, what I do is I want to help young Jewish people realize more of their Jewish roots, more of their Jewish heritage, who they are. When I say their Jewish heritage, I mean our Jewish heritage. >> Beautiful. Beautiful. By the way, I love that. That's just straight to the point. You You know, you're a natural, by the way, born salesman. I mean, essentially, you're you're Some would say you're selling a product or a service. I like to look at it as you're opening people's eyes. >> to love the product. >> Yes. Yes. >> That helps. I wanted to I wanted to tell you my wife One second. I told my wife I'm going to a podcast, right? Cuz she was She asked me what am I doing today, right? And she said, "What's he going to ask you?" I said, "What What do I know?" I said, "Should I get a prayer?" I said, "I never prepare anything, right? I don't." Okay. If I was giving a speech, I probably wouldn't prepare. And you could tell me 6 months ahead of time. You have to understand something. I'll never forget this. I'll never This is another like, you know, my wife reminded me of it today. I had to give a speech to young rabbis' wives who were preparing the Shabbos table. And you said a natural. Natural. Okay. So, they call me up, you know, and they want me to come and speak to them. I said, like, "About what?" "About running a Shabbos table for all these guests." All right. No problem. You tell me to do it. I'll help you out. I'll do it. I get there. And I This is wild, you know. This is like like 20 years ago. And all these ladies are looking at me. "Oh, it's Jeff Zeiger." "Oh, it's Jeff Zeiger." And I'm like, "Okay." Now, I'm supposed to give a little talk about how to conduct a Shabbat table. Okay? You cook the food. Make sure you cook the food. You set the table. You put the fork and knives on the right side. I I no idea to do that cuz I have never, you know, napkins. And Kiddush cup there. You make sure your husband knows how to read Hebrew a little bit. You make Kiddush. You wash your hands, and then you go. That's it. He says, "What else you want?" What else do you want? You got to be yourself. You got to relate and talk and be nice. Be nice to people. And accept them who they are. I I don't know everybody's story. I don't even whether it's a non-religious person or a frum person. How do I know why this person doesn't do that or whoever he is. I I I says, "That's it. That's what you got to do." Well, that that and and and nobody also ever wants to come to a Shabbat table for a debate. They're not looking for a debate. I don't You know, right? Oh. >> And and They [snorts] just want to have a come and have They want to have a nice time. >> There's a famous table on Rechov Yafo next to a cafe. >> Uh-huh. >> Like seven or eight old old Israeli men sit down, and they have signs. Come talk to us, but not politics. Come talk to us, but no debates. >> Right. >> And uh just get to know each other. And uh and you you profoundness you really bring that out in in everything that you do. And I I like the way you described it. Because you're just being natural, right? Just connect. You know, something that I've heard from many people when they go to Shabbat tables is that they don't like when people go around the table and they say, you know, you say something about yourself or say a dvar Torah or something. I actually don't mind it, to be honest with you. I'm curious what your thoughts are on that. It must come up. >> Okay, I'll tell you. First of all, I'll tell you one thing. Remember you told me about coming on time? Yeah. Okay. You got to be on time, cuz everybody's everybody's important, and their time is important. Okay. Now, the same person who taught me that, that was a fundraising. So I said to my friend It was an older gentleman. I don't want to put him in the same category as a friend, but it was my mentor. So I said to him, "I'm going to go fundraising." And in my house we never learned how to sing. I don't know many songs. And I'm this man from Jerusalem. I could not I can't carry a tune. I barely know Now I know songs. He told me "Just learn the first line and then they'll follow in." >> [laughter] >> Okay? It's a great tip. Well, the problem is okay. The problem is with some of these people that obviously is that if I have 10 people at my table Let's say okay. Let's say I bring 10 people to my table, eight people to my table who I know from the university. But let's say my wife doesn't know them. Okay? So we go along the table who we are. Tell me now, honestly, here's a What is wrong with this person saying, "Hi, my name is John Doe and I'm from Baltimore, Maryland and I'm going to go to University of Maryland." And the guy says the young girl says, "My name is, you know, Cindy Doe." What's wrong with that? >> Yeah? >> Nothing wrong with that. >> No, I agree. >> Okay? And because everybody wants it Everybody wants it I like I asked you before we started and you told me probably 10 times that I probably forgot. You know, where are you from? What do you do? People like to have a source. Now at the bar Torah you know, not everybody can say at the bar Torah. >> Right. So you're agreeing that's the limit, right? Just say whatever you want to say, right? >> Yeah. Maybe they Maybe they might not want to say anything. >> Right. Right. Did they Did they >> I mean, people come to a Shabbat meal. is that a test? Not exam. I mean, you really are supposed to, really honestly, in the real maybe I guess maybe the real European world, let's go to the real European world, you're supposed to be able to, it's very important, cuz I I'm very nervous about this, able to to sing or say a divar Torah. >> That's etiquette, you're saying? >> I think that's what it was years years ago. >> Okay, that's what people are nervous about, I guess. >> Right. >> believe >> I mean, yeah. >> Did you pick a Shalom Aleichem tune? Did you stick to one throughout your life? >> Yeah, I knew one song. I knew the Shalom Aleichem, they all do. They don't They don't need me >> Which one? Which one Which one is your song? >> I I There's a couple songs I >> You said you learned it. I want to >> K'var Bono Olam, whatever it >> Which one do you do? >> K'var Bono Olam I picked, and then also I would try, but I never would remember like one kind of standard divar Torah, but I always forget it, you know. >> [laughter] >> I I don't I don't want you to laugh. It's like >> I get it. Okay. Next question. >> You know, the the problem is the problem is, and I'm not joking, and I'm being very serious, problem is if you give a divar Torah, and the children or grandchildren know it better than you, >> Yeah, and they start asking you questions. Yeah, yeah. >> a problem. The same thing as bringing like same thing as bringing your wife Shabbat Shabbat flowers, and the guests bring better better ones than you. >> You're saying that's why you shouldn't give >> one of them. >> [laughter] >> But I Okay, so you heard it here first, guys. Jeff Seidel is saying if you're going to host people, don't ask to say a divar Torah. That's what I'm getting. >> to know who you're with. You have to know who you're with. >> Okay. True. >> Right, true. >> A bigger threat to the Jewish future, anti-Semitism or assimilation? >> Wow. Assimilation. >> Really? Can you tell me why? >> We have to know that we're Jewish and be proud that we're Jewish assimilation and become Jewish, and then they then we can fight us anti- anti-Semitism. >> Hm. >> If you lose all the Jews, what do you got left? >> Good point. >> What do you got left? And and I don't sleep nights. My wife will tell you, when we got married the first couple years I'd wake up in the middle of the night about this kid, that kid. She says, "Go to bed. Go to sleep." It to this day it still worries me. >> What part of it is worrying you? >> It doesn't bother you that kids are intermarrying? >> I I'll be honest with you as as someone >> got to eat me up alive. >> Okay, I'd like to hear about this cuz I I'll be very honest with you. I don't worry about it because I guess I don't know enough about it. I'm being honest with you. I just I don't know. >> bother you that a kid is dating a non-Jewish person? One second. It doesn't bother It doesn't bother you? You're going to be excited here now, okay? [clears throat] You know, it doesn't I apologize for saying you. >> No, no, don't worry about it. >> It eats me up alive. I was I was at the airport. I can tell you two stories. I said the And I And that's why I'm watching I say That's why it's a little bit I was at the airport. And I was in the lounge. I've been a lounge. There was a gentleman there, American gentleman. We're in America. And I'm You know, I talk to everybody. So I'm talking to him. He's Jewish. He might have seen my kippah. And he was the lawyer, the lawyer for the NHL hockey and baseball. You know, there was this He was on I guess I don't know if he did it full-time or part-time. Okay. And I I'm trying to watch [clears throat] I don't say what team he likes. I don't know. Okay? And he was deciding It's unbelievable. Uh, like I did this thing I I hit He was deciding if he should get tickets to go to opening night of his team's opening night, you know, first game, or to go to his family Pesach seder. A A man, adult. And I had to explain to him I said, "Listen, sir, you're talking to the wrong guy. I love baseball. I love baseball. Okay? You know, I had told him about Mickey Mantle and I used to sit outside Wrigley Field in Chicago and and see Roberto, my favorite player was Roberto Clemente and the Pirates and all that stuff. Okay, and I remember, you know, Brett at third base against the Yankees in that one series and it, you know, Kansas City I said, "But this is a Pesach Seder, sir. And there's And this is other There's other games you can go to." I said, "Don't you want to be with your family? Forget about Forget about everything else. Be with your family for a meal." I sit there over an hour talking to him. Okay? Another time 2 years ago, I was in Barcelona. After my Poland trip, I take students to Poland. Okay, and I went I went back to Barcelona with some of the students and I met other students cuz I don't I hate to miss opportunities. And I'm at the airport and the man who questions you, you know, going to Israel. I asked him, "Where are you going next week for Layl Seder, Pesach Seder?" He was going to like the Barcelona soccer game. >> You're asking the security guy, you're saying? >> Yeah, he's Jewish. >> I love this. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Cuz I said, "I'm happy to get you a Pesach Seder at night." >> Wow. That's thinking outside the box, by the way, how to connect with people. I love that. Love it. You're saying it's natural. >> I got you. It's natural. >> Yeah. >> I I I It's It's I just I can't help I I I can I can I >> Great. >> I can sit there and talk to anybody. Anybody. >> Great. That's great. No, but you're thinking about it as you're going through security. I'm just thinking about where did I put my coffee beans that I shouldn't get caught you know, >> Okay. So I I was very that he had no desire to go to a Pesach He's going to the soccer game, football soccer game. Now I feel bad. I feel terrible now. I did not ask him where's he going the second night of Pesach seder. He might have said he's going to work maybe maybe might have but I I should have asked him about the second night. Because it's two nights in your outside of Israel. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Now I feel bad. >> Now you feel bad. Wow, you're genuinely feeling bad right now about this. I'm I'm feeling your energy. You're actually feeling bad. >> I do, yeah. >> Wow. >> I could have went for something. >> This is a this is a random security guy that you never knew. You bumped into him once. You asked him the question. You got out of him the first night question and now you're bummed out that you didn't get an out of him the second night question. >> Yeah. >> Okay, you're you're you're either nuts or you're amazing. I don't know. You're crazy amazing. How about that? Yeah, I mean I'm humbled by by listening to what you're saying. It's really amazing. >> There's nothing else with my Israel. You know, I I honestly >> Let's let's get into this discussion a second. You're saying nothing like quality Israel assimilation is keeping you up at night. It's bothering you. What do you tell a guy who's coming to you and saying I fell in love? I fell in love. And if God is orchestrating the world and he's directing things to happen and he put this beautiful girl in front of me and helped me fall in love with her. >> a choice. You know that way. You have a choice. But you know, by that time it's by that time it's very difficult. He's already >> Were you able to ever do that? >> I've had that. I've had it very few cases. >> Right. >> But by that time it's already >> So you're saying you want to you want to pick up on >> you know >> You want to pick up on the fact when they're running home. >> Right. You want to pick up on the fact when they're dating. Okay. So let's go to that discussion for a second. So I'm a guy I'm you know, non-observant and I'm dating you know, women in the university >> And so I I >> Jeff, I'm Jewish. I'm Jewish. Leave me alone. I'm Jewish. I'm going to marry a girl. What's the difference? I'm Jewish. You know, maybe she'll convert one day. You know, come on. >> I've heard that many times. >> Yeah, okay. Right, you're right. >> Here I am at university and you're going to choose whoever You're not going to choose Whoever is good-looking a good-looking girl woman >> No, she's going to have that values. Come on. It's not Yeah, she >> and and and I have that and the parents parents like him. He likes them. >> Sure. So, what are you saying to me? >> I say, "But she's not Jewish." Hold on. If it doesn't matter to him that he's not going to have Jewish kids, then what are you going to talk to him about? Why should Think about that now. Right, you understand? >> I understand that. Why should it matter to me, though? Let's go in that direction. We're we're we're we're starting at a starting point. >> Well, because isn't the state of Israel or isn't the Jewish people It it might not be. It probably isn't. important to him or her or you know, I >> I'm I'm that person now. Let's just talk about it as if it's me. >> Okay. Okay. You're the man. >> I'm Jewish and it's important to me that my kids, you know, are living in Jewish traditions and values and I will have kids live in Jewish tradition and values, but they're also going to celebrate Christmas and you know, everything else. >> That's a contradiction. >> Well, we'll live >> what? You know, you know, I Well, there's a funny case by somebody who's going to convert Orthodox and they said to me, "But I'm going to take my kids to my parents on Xmas." I said, "You can't do that." I said, "You I says, go a week before to see your parents." Cuz it's it's still It it doesn't work. You're giving your kids schizophrenia. You're giving him schizophrenia and I then you're going to tell me, "Well, I want them to choose." >> Sure. >> Okay. I'm not looking for choosing. I'm looking for Jewish people. I'm looking for Jewish soldiers for Israel and for the Jewish people. >> How are you opening my eyes to that is what I'm trying to ask. What are you saying to me that's going to touch my heart? >> I want you my friend to look into and I'm happy to help you out to real to Judaism more. Okay, and not intellectually, but on a how it fills your heart and a spiritual level, what it does for you and for all of us. Cuz I I I'm a Jewish soldier. I believe in it very much. Okay, and I think you haven't given it a chance. Now, you might say to me you know, Jeff, I've been to confirmation classes. I go to the Hillel or I go to the Chabad on campus. What There's not much you can tell a young young person. >> Okay, but if you see an opening is what I'm asking. >> I I'm always looking for openings. >> What's I'll see that opening. What is that What is that, you know, punchline? What is that eye-opening That's what I was saying earlier. I don't believe that what you're doing at all is God forbid brainwashing. I believe personally it's eye-opening. It's you're just bringing back people to who they are. That's the way I look at you. Um and I think the world looks at you that way except for obviously um very few. >> You got me worried now. I feel terrible about the guy in Barcelona. >> [laughter] >> Jeff, you're unbelievable. >> I told my wife tonight. >> You know, I I I apologize to your wife by the way if she's uh you know, you're you're going to be okay. God is going to give you other opportunities to make up for it and you're going to see this guy one day and he's going to tell you, "Guess what? I kept the second night." You know? >> I hope so. >> Okay, I hope I hope so, too. So, you know, let me ask you a question. You're with that guy now. What are you saying to him? What are you saying to him that you didn't say to him then? What What are you going to say to him? >> Before you Is he married or not? Is he not married? If he's married if he's married, then we got a problem. >> Right. >> First of First of all, he's married, then his children are Jewish. >> Right. >> So, not married. >> He's not married. I would say I would tell them, "Please, I'm not I'm not knocking. I'm assuming she's an excellent woman." And she's probably very much is. I would have her go speak to a couple good rabbis who are open to this idea. Okay? And and you can go and you should go with her. I want you both of you Cuz she has no background in Judaism. >> Right. >> no background in Judaism. She needs to If she's going to jump into this with you and have some Judaism, she's got to start to learn a little bit about it. >> So, you're saying that's a common thing to happen where the woman has to just end up converting? >> It It is. >> Yeah. >> But they don't convert in the Orthodox way. >> Right. So, you're saying it ends up being a challenge regardless, and it's not >> I I know I have I have a in the past couple years, I know a couple situations like that. >> Interesting. >> I mean, not people that I knew, but they told me >> You do recognize though that you yourself have affected hundreds if not thousands of people that are shomer Shabbos Torah mitzvahs today because of you and have children and grandchildren because >> be doing more. I tell you bottom line. I should I don't think I'll be doing more. >> Wow. >> I And I mean that very I mean that You can tell me You're only as good as your last at bat. I'll tell you honestly, I know to this day, every day and I If people want If people send all these questions in, they're They should daven that I have more strength, more energy to keep on going. >> Okay. >> I really mean that. >> Okay. >> I got to keep on I got I'm going on And and I I develop every day like I get more ideas what to do in my head to help out all of Israel. >> What are your hopes now for the future? And you know, in terms of what you can be doing more. What do you dream at night about in terms of >> Well, well, I would say if I had more money I would do more maybe more events. >> Tell me what that would mean for you if you had somebody that wrote you another million dollar check. >> Oh, baby. >> What's the largest >> That me up, I'll never stop. >> Well, you >> Yeah, that's the bottom line. >> You have someone that you mentioned before that his name is on a couple of buildings. So, I'm imagining they >> me out tremendously. >> Yeah. >> This gentleman and he's got me out of a lot of jams. >> Yeah. >> Okay, Mr. Milstein. >> Yeah, so kudos to you. >> And and I will pay you well so I'm one [snorts] of the reason why he comes by. He believe not only believes in me but before he put his name on the buildings I would invite I would invite him to come by. He'd come by at our center and come by without even telling me. And he saw people there. So, he know that I wasn't, you know, like >> Right. Fluffing it. >> saying that it was, you know, >> Yeah. I remember there was a cleaners in Brooklyn. Um I think it was called Top of the World on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn and they sold their cleaners to a Chinese uh family. And they said, "Yeah, yeah, come come uh you know what? Come in April. Come in April before Pesach." And they saw the streets filled with cars and they're like, "Wow, this place is going crazy." And they bought the company and then you know, >> [laughter] >> few months later it was turned into a restaurant. Uh um >> Kosher? >> Yeah, yeah, kosher. They sold it to a Jewish >> I'm and I'm always looking for new ideas. New ideas. >> Yeah, so so you're saying new ideas. What's a what's a new idea for example? Other than events. Events of course is great. >> Well, you have for example, I have the boys on on my football team now. >> Okay. Right? Okay. >> And I have to and I make sure that they study with the rabbi once a week. >> Nice. >> Okay? >> So, pair them up. >> Part of AEPi fraternity. Brings people in. I just started now uh this summer with a gentleman in in America, my friend Colby. We're partners. And we do birthright. >> Nice. >> birthright missions now. >> Oh. >> Okay. So, I had my first one, couple couple young people went to yeshivas, right? Thank God. You know. And now we're doing our next one in December, winter break time. And I'm happy to say, I mean, the the registration finishes tomorrow or the next day. We get We really We got a lot of people coming. >> Beautiful. So, events, pairing people up, those are the things that you're constantly thinking about. >> Listen. What I really also is that I'm going to you know, I have a Poland trip coming up. So, I have to take a lot of American students who are studying in Europe. >> Yeah. >> If you're If you're in Madrid, Copenhagen, France, >> And they can join that trip. >> Join us They join us through the Israeli people. >> Yeah, you've done a number of Poland trips, I imagine. >> I've been there 20 years. 20 25 years. >> Wow. What's What's the one thing that stands out that it taught you doing those trips? >> I just cry when I I've been there 20 25 years. I just stand there and just don't understand it. I I I I The Jewish people were killed, were massacred, slaughtered. I I think about it almost every day. I still think about it also also every day. And that might have been what also affected me when I was a kid, cuz I'm from that almost that generation. I had Holocaust survivors on my on my I didn't realize on my block in Skokie. Right? I mean, I remember I used to watch these different like Nazi movies, you know, on TV, and I remember they had a kid in the Warsaw Ghetto. He had a whole bunch of like He like a It was like a pregnant woman. See the Nazis taking the food away from him. Where was the Jewish pride, Jewish power? I'd ask. And and we need it today. But we need people to realize that they're Jewish and what it's about. Then they then they can get up there and fight anti-Semitism. What are you fighting for? >> Yeah. Yeah. That's >> And and and I I I I think every I and our all our different representatives around the world, I thank them so much for sticking up for Israel. It's I I You got me now you got me in a in a sad mode because we do need help around the world cuz God is God right now, I think I and I'm not a big philosopher, you know, I can really spell the word, has put this in the past 3 4 years in us. Once again, just how it says like on Pesach Seder night, every generation has enemies who who want to who want to kill us. And it hurts me terribly also. That's also why I go to Europe is that I have kids who are spending American kids are spending in Europe the whole semester, Jewish kids. I don't go there. Do I Do I go there on Rosh Hashanah in Madrid or I do my Poland trip. They have no Judaism the whole semester. Can you believe that? I I I'm like to this day I can't understand that. >> Right. >> So so I'm lucky and I want to get more people right now we ready right now through the Chabad Rabbi who is a friend of mine who at University of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel, we've got the dates for next He says, "Jeff, you got to get him now. Let's get him you know, so they can plan out their weekends. I want them to come on your cuz then they'll come for Pesach Seder many of them." Last year on my trip we had 35 students from Europe and then from Israel more. Half of them went for Pesach Seders. Can you imagine somebody I I I don't think you can imagine this. I a young person from any university, pick any one you want, however, cuz NYU, Maryland, and they go to Europe, a Jewish kid, he doesn't go to Pesach Seder? Can you imagine that? I I I just to this day I can't. >> Right. >> Okay? Or or I just did Madrid for Rosh Hashanah, and unfortunately, we got I got a lower turnout cuz Rosh Hashanah was an earlier in the semester. They got to let's say September 3rd, and Rosh Hashanah was September Many kids went to Ibiza for Rosh Hashanah. I I I mean, the year before we had a lot of kids. A lot I mean, we had a lot of kids this year also, but last year we had even more, and I remember I said to one girl, I I won't forget this. Very nice young girl. I says, "Baby, you'll come tomorrow night, second night for Rosh Hashanah?" I says, "Even if you didn't sign up, you come, and I'll get you in. You and your friends. I want you to come." I says, "I don't care what it cost, you don't you know my problem my my pleasure." Cuz that little money I pay for this young girl, that young boy, I'm not worried about it. I'm not worried about it cuz when I go to Shamayim, what it cost me, 50 bucks extra more a kid? I'll be happy to have that mitzvah for extra 50, 100, 500. I really am. She says, "I'm going to Canary Islands for the weekend. I'm not going to come." And she was a very, very nice girl. She's like, you know, studious. She went to a good school. This is what we're up against. >> What would you recommend someone like me that I do to bring power to Judaism? >> What do you want to do? It's your life. What Remember I said to you in the beginning I don't know if it was online or not on on on I said, I couldn't figure out why we're doing this podcast. Like like Okay. But this is your way, which is fine. Great. This is who you are. This is your way of helping out Israel. Your job is to make this podcast the best podcast in the world now. That's your job. Your job is to get more people involved. Get more speakers to get more get better people than me to speak. No, you know what? To get more interesting, attractive people to speak. I'm a character. I know that. That's why people listen to me. Okay? And and they might And that's why people are afraid of me. Cuz I cuz I don't I'll help anybody out. All hours of the night. You You called me before before um Shabbat 5 10 minutes beforehand, right? I took that picked the phone up. You look at my wife didn't pick the phone up. She might have said, "Doesn't he realize Shabbat comes every Friday night?" Okay, but do you understand? Okay? Your job is now, if [snorts] this is what you really like and this is your gig, which is great, to make it the best podcast and get it really out there around the whole world. And you want to And you have to decide if you want it for secular people or more Yeshiva people, religious people, which is for anybody. >> Right. Right. >> And we want the religious people I And I'm not one to really speak. I only hope that each one of us I I I should say for myself, my rabbi told me Give you give the muscle for yourself. That we just came out of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur. I hope we didn't blow it on Sukkot's time. And I'm not joking when I say that to you. I'm not joking. But we got to take our mitzvahs and our behavior one step higher. I didn't say go to the roof. A little little more. And I'm not And I'm being very In other words, in other words, if you learn, but you're learning to give over to other people. You're not learning for yourself. If some That's part of the problem I I watch out. I got a big mouth. You got to be Now you got to be going. You got to learn to get to out to other people. Okay? And and learn 5 minutes more maybe a day. I didn't say hours and or and learn what you want to learn. Learn what you're going to grow in. But then try to give it over maybe in your podcast or or all your other jobs. >> Right. So you're saying for for each person that's listening, they do what they can do or whatever they want to do. >> they are as a person. >> Yeah. >> That's If you're getting part of the team, who you are on the team. >> Right. And and doing a little more, which is what your message is, I guess, in terms of what you're saying. Yeah. >> I mean I mean what what what what honestly And I don't Trust me, I can barely read all these books as far as they come out. What do we talk about in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? What is it all about? What? Do 10 days and then blow it on on Sukkot? And then go back to America and and and and >> What do you mean by blow it on Sukkot? It's the second time you said that. What are What are you referring to? >> I really don't want to say. You're going to You're going to >> Talk to me. That's That's what we're doing here. >> Um People wild parties. Simchat Beit HaShoeivah. I saw on the Instagrams or the other internet, whatever it is. It eats me up alive. They're they're parties till like 2:00 3:00 in the morning. I don't think that And And then they miss minyan in the morning. That's not what Hashem Hashem wants. I I maybe again, I'm I can't >> It's okay. I mean, you're you're a perspective >> I'm a little nothing compared to other different rabbis. Now, and I understand this is very important. I look at some of those young people, boys and girls. And I'm not saying they're together. I didn't say that. Please, I don't want And I know they have a lot of energy. And it was a great holiday for get all that to for them to get all that happy energy out. And I'm happy they're doing it here in New Jerusalem and not on the beach in Tel Aviv. And okay, I I'm telling you honestly. But we have to work on our middos, who we are. And we have to work on helping our klal Yisrael or our own everybody in our own seminary or own yeshiva. Okay, they didn't go out like I do. And and and hit up everybody and talk to everybody, walk on the street and look who's there. And I mean, I talk to everybody. It's a It's a problem. I mean, you know, >> We should all have that problem. It's a good problem. I I understand what you're saying. >> I talk to everybody. If I go exercise in the gym, I talk to people. I talk to the waiter. I I'll get them a book. I groups that I have groups that walk by my office on purpose. And I stick my head out and I give them maybe a a Israeli group. I have a couple of books in Hebrew. I give them out or Yeah. >> I'm going to ask you a question. Just I'm thinking about it now as we're talking. You're talking about Friday night Shabbos, you know, comes. You know, you you quoted what your wife would have said to me. Who's that person that you did not have or someone in history that you would love to have a Friday night dinner with? Just you >> Rabbi Akiva. >> Woah, that was quick. >> Oh, for sure. He's my idol. >> Really? >> Look what he gave. Look what he gave for the Jewish people. >> Explain that a little. >> For sure. Oh my god. Let me tell you. Someone said I don't When I'm in America, one of my donors said to me, "You never You don't call your wife, do you?" I said, "No, she doesn't expect me to call her. She knows I'm busy working." "Working?" He says, "You don't really force your body or anything?" "No, I'm just I got my job and I got an X amount of time." And then I said to him, "Look at Rabbi Akiva. He didn't talk to his wife for how many years? Over 20 years." >> [laughter] >> Good comparison there. >> And he died Kiddush Hashem. >> Look how he died. Oh my guys. >> All right. Could you tell me the story of Rabbi Akiva what you're referring to? Because I know a little bit, but >> Okay. Again Again and that I I'm what I know. >> Yeah, for what you know, sure. Please. >> [snorts] >> L'chaim. >> L'chaim. Here's a man, a gentleman, that started out late at 40 years old, late at life, learning about Judaism. And And it And apparently, his father-in-law, again, I can be corrected, was against it. He didn't want him to marry this marry this woman, and she believed in him. She believed in him. Now, very hard to learn things at 40 years old. When you're a young kid, you easier to learn, pick up things. And he became this great sage. And you tell me, what was one of the things that he said? >> V'ahavta l'reacha kamocha. >> He said it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Which is, again, for those who >> You should love You should love your fellow man as yourself. That's what he really And he knew the whole Gemara is him. I don't know this. It's based out of his students. He's the Gemara. He I didn't realize this till a couple years ago. It's He's He's His students are talked about Rabbi Nassi, all these other people. That's all his students. They all learned from him and they wrote it down. Now, he taught Torah. I cannot teach Torah. I still cannot. I I wish I could, but I I really can't. Okay? And he taught it under situations life or death. And then he was captured by the Romans. And they and they tortured him. They combed his body. You know. There is a Gamorah I I read the Gamorah on it. I really I'm apologize really cannot but I will tell you please someone can always correct me and they can write into you. It says that his students asked him while he was dying or something saying the Shema. That's it didn't happen. He would not interrupt saying the Shema Yisrael said. Wow. Okay. And then he was buried by a this is if I'm correct Elijah the Prophet. He was a Cohen. Do you know this? He was a Cohen Elijah the Prophet. How was he able to to to bury Rabbi Akiva? Cuz it's a tzaddik has no tumah. Wow. There's no Cohen tumah with Rabbi Akiva. I go to sometimes I go to his grave and I and I and I beg to give me some of his energy. >> Well, by the way, I have to tell you you really must love yourself. Because you really must love yourself. Because you really love others. So, you're doing great. I mean, there's someone that's you know, you're talking to everyone and you're you're loving everyone around you and you're showing that love and if I could just take a little bit of that energy, I I I already feel good about myself. So, and I appreciate what you're saying about Rabbi Akiva. That's a great pick. Really really great pick. Is there something specifically you would want to ask him? >> I wouldn't know what to ask him. I'd be such awe looking at him. It's like unbelievable. >> Yeah. >> For that I would I I Maybe I should maybe if I would if I if I had a little bit more in the head, I'd answer maybe some of the questions of the Gemara. You know, maybe I could ask him about one day Yom Tov, two day Yom Tov. I can I I mean that's I'm just doing I'm doing the Gemara right now or about the you know, it's different questions of the Gemara. >> Yeah. >> I'm just unbelievable. Is he's buried in Tiberias over there. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So sometimes if I sometimes when I go to army barbecues up north up by the the border on the way home I stop by his grave at like 2:00 in the morning. >> Wow. Wow, that must be meaningful for you then if that's uh So you you mentioned before mentor. Who was your rabbi? Who was your mentor? Who who drilled things into you as you were growing up? >> to Or Sameach. >> Sure. Okay. >> I went to Yeshiva Or Sameach. >> Was there any specific person that >> I I used to sit there in the shiur with Rabbi Pinter. Sit there and sit next to him. >> Was he smoking? >> Oh, yeah. We knew [laughter] he doesn't smoke anymore. >> I I remember him. >> He doesn't smoke anymore. We knew when the shiur started and when the shiur ended. And my wife would say, "The shiur has started when he put the cigarette down and and ended when he lit up." >> [laughter] >> But I sat there for years years and years. And the Torah that I know is is mostly from from him. And then I remember when I went back to Or Sameach to learn for smicha. He was giving a whole in shiur on smicha. And I used to go back to that shiur. Now it really meant more cuz I'm learning the halacha inside of the shiur. >> You went through the process of of of getting smicha? Like you that was >> Yeah, I'm an ordained rabbi. >> Come on, really? I didn't know. >> It's okay. >> Uh so we we got to call you rabbi then. What are we doing? Okay, Rabbi Jeff? We got Is it on your card? >> Why why why do you call me rabbi? Just call me Jeff. >> Well, listen, you know, I I have a thing about me when you learn when I learn something from you, you're my rabbi. So you're you walked in the room, you're already my rabbi. So but I didn't know that. I mean that's that's a big feat. I mean that's >> I I honestly, I will tell you I had a rabbi Spitz who sat in who was my Havruta, Meishie and he sat there and had patience with me. A lot of and I learned it twice actually. I went over it again. >> Wow. >> And I will tell you a credit to my wife, when I'd go home and tell her something she looked at me like I was nuts. Everybody knows that. She My wife is a little girl with kosher chickens, salt chickens also. >> Wow. >> She Yeah, I looked at her Of course we know that. >> Why did you want that to happen as part of your life? Is it because you want to >> That's a very good question. I think I I didn't need it. >> Yeah. >> At 48 years old, I became a rabbi. And I do feel that I'm more part of the chain of tradition of the Jewish people. The rabbi, I do feel that. I think also, um I guess my parents who came from that generation where you're like a doctor, a lawyer they loved my wife. She's an RN, a nurse. So I became So the rabbi. I really enjoyed learning it. I really enjoyed learning chulin very, very much. I and I learned it very hard. They They had me sit there my phone off for at least 3 hours a day. It's very important. 3 hours a day. And then sometimes I would stay at night and and do review. My wife did not mind at all. Try again. And I remember I picked the phone up to one of my workers or something. What are you still doing in your Yeshiva? I says, "What are you talking about?" I'm still doing in Yeshiva. Why not? Like like what kind of crazy question is that? Everybody should be in Yeshiva late at night learning. We were told We were told in Yeshiva that night seder ends when you fall asleep. And I believe that. I believe that I believe it to this to And that's why I feel also that some of these young boys who are here now who have a lot of energy they have to take a try to take advantage of the of the time and the energy they have now. They might not you know maybe in hindsight in 10 years from now they might say boy I should have learned more of this or that. >> Right. >> But I really pray and I hope these young fellows and young women >> Wow. >> really take advantage of that time cuz I I went back to learn it I went my wife I went back to learn it at 45 years old. >> You're a modern day Rabbi Akiva. >> I wish. >> Come on. >> I mean again my wife again at 25 I got married. So by 25 I think my wife pushed me out to go learn. I said learn it but then I stopped maybe at 32 and then I went later to learn. >> Let me ask you was there you know throughout your process first I'm curious was there anyone like famous that you ended up being makarev or that you ended up giving a meal to or like >> want to say. I don't know I yes yes >> Okay. >> Yes. But I I >> You could say what's on the wall over there. >> No one >> None of your business. >> None of your business podcast. >> And so you could say you could answer that when I ask it to you. Is there anyone famous? >> Yeah. >> Are you going to say you're going to say it's none of your business or are you going to give me an answer? >> I have different people that are different rabbis >> Yeah. >> in the world. >> Yeah. Are you going to pull the none of your business card out? >> there was one of the sages his grandson I helped out makarev them. I don't I I don't want to >> That's okay. I understand. You're saying enough. It's okay if you you don't want to I guess call out the family name for respect of the family that I understand. That's not uh >> Right. >> That's not a matter of anyone's business or not. It's privacy. >> is important. >> Yeah. No no okay. You know I do get that. I was just curious was was there one that stood out to you or one that Oh, I I have a couple that And and >> Any that stood out that you can share? >> and thank me. They even like like once a year and a year. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Do they thank you with a check? >> A few do. A few do. A few do with a check, yes. And that's important. >> Yes. >> And I'm saying because it allows me to continue what I'm doing. Without and it allows me also to continue less on the computer calling people up or or or emailing them for money. >> Right. >> If the If the check you know, if somebody honestly, if I call them up and wants to help me out and send the money right away, it's much easier for me me running after them. >> So, I'm curious, if someone comes to your Shabbat table and they fall in love with Judaism, they fall in love with Israel, but they don't change. Do you feel that you succeeded? >> They don't change? >> Yeah, nothing changes about them. They fall in love with it. They're in love. Beautiful. They have a you know, an all eternity of a love towards the country, but nothing changes. They don't marry Jewish. You're saying that's what it all boils down to, right? >> Yeah. I think I think right now Yeah. I had one of my workers one of my workers a couple years ago. I said to her I can't believe all these kids coming through. And these rabbis in America are asking me like why don't I send some of these kids refer them? And I'm always I do refer a lot of people. >> Yeah. >> She says, Jeff most of the kids you are working with are not even ready yet. You are working with kid young people that are just lower if you want to say. >> Right. >> That for many of these people if they marry a Jewish girl it's a major thing. I I I don't think you understand that. It To me, it's still hard to understand that. But, it's a it's a total reality. Today's people that I work with will date anybody. Anybody. And if they marry a Jewish person, it's it's an aliyah. It really is. >> Beautiful. I'm I'm happy to use this platform just to send the message to any of those people >> And I'm going to tell you now also, if your podcast speak to somebody who's listening at work, he has to make it available to help out that person. It whatever at at that person's level. And it might not be Shabbat dinner. I have to explain this to people. When a person, a college student, goes back to America, if he goes to college campuses, then they have Shabbat dinner. But, if he goes back to Miami, he's 27, goes back to New York, it might be a weekday activity that you have to push him uh encourage him to go to. Cuz he might go on Friday night. >> Right. >> I know you don't want to hear that, but that's the reality. >> Yeah, no, I get it. And we're going to have to wrap up soon. So, I'm going to do what I normally do towards the end of the interview, which is ask you if you have any questions for me. >> I'm asking the questions now? >> [laughter] >> You know what? I'll give you an opportunity. If you have any you have any questions you want to ask me. >> just I only hope that everybody I hope they're able to please emphasize that each one of us have to learn more and more what it is for our fellow person. >> So, this is more your message. Keep going. That's my That was my >> I I Why are we not doing it? Why are we not doing more? Why are we Whatever our skills are, whatever they are, why is each person not doing more? Okay? And and and and and then why does it maybe have to be the Chabad rabbi who does it? When I got married, I got married get my to my with the Lubavitch. And the rabbi told me, this is like 45 years ago, whatever, 43 years ago. He says, "Jeff, just because Chabad puts the filling on people does not mean that that you can't. Everybody can." >> Yeah. >> That that everybody can. Everybody can help everybody else. I mean, and and our act is very important. Our actions that we have can always affect somebody and you don't know it. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I have people walk into my office or say hello to me. I a Shabbat give me Shabbat dinner years ago. I'm looking at him. Okay, great. I'm sending my son now here to Israel to learn in a Yeshiva this year. Really? I I I honest I had a guy and don't laugh. He was from Montreal. Wearing a streimel. I have looking at him. He looked like a rebbe. >> Wow. >> "Jeff, I got my first Shabbat meal with you." So, that means that means that this young fellow came to your house Friday night, had a meal, and you're wondering, "What the hell happened? Jeff, what happened to that guy?" What do I know? Was it was it was it worth it? And I'll say to you, "How do I know?" I I And this is years ago when you had less computers. So, you know the guy would like go. Now, I can kind of follow up on them. And how do you know also? And I've had cases like this where a person comes for Shabbat or goes to a couple of classes doesn't always help him. He tells his friend I tell his friend. I had a guy one time and it was a girl, a woman, young lady at the university and I would give a class in the next room. She never came. I wish she would but she never came by the class. She did other things. And I was always very very nice to her. I provide extra food, I bring it in to her, you know, we gave out dinner. She told us, she was in Egypt and she told this guy, you're going to Egypt go with the Western Wall and see my friend Jeff Seidel. The guy's religious today. Do you understand? >> What a great story. >> How do I know? >> Wow. >> I I I >> Talk about coming out of Egypt. What a story. >> I I mean how do I know that you're nice to somebody at at at at at the at the cashier stand where you're or you're on the or you're you're on the airplane or you're waiting in line and you're not you're extra you're just nice please go ahead or how can I help you? I have some boys now what in the programs I'm helping him say Kaddish. Kaddish for a relative who passed away. How do I know that the boy next to side there or whoever's I'm it affects them and they'll go I had a boy one [clears throat] time I don't think he was that. He didn't leave so religious but he went afterward because of me to the Hillel at his university and met a firm girl and and they're firm today. And his son was just here with his Shiva learning. >> Wow. >> You got to use every opportunity. I don't know I just it for me it's a bit of a given. >> And listen, uh I appreciate that. >> I hope I'm not >> No, no, not at all. And and just to you know, you know, reviewing what we've discussed, you know, um today, which is something that I like to do >> I I you know, I I give out books in my office. From Mr. Milstein. How do I know where they're going to where they're going to land land? I had a I had one time a girl took a book. The rabbi told her, "Just take it. Take it." She thought it She was out of the airplane. She thought it was a story book. You know, she opened it up and read it. She came back, went to seminary. >> What book was it? >> The siddur. >> Oh. The book. >> She was She was I give I give out siddurim, I give out siddurim, I give out prayer books. She didn't know what it was. She was bored. She read it. And she came back. >> Oh, that's interesting. >> Or or if I give that siddur out or other books I have and I'm not joking now. And the person, unfortunately, let's say leaves it in the hotel or leaves it back at his at his program on the on the on the side there. Somebody else picks it up. >> Yeah, you never know. You absolutely never know. >> You never know. I gave I gave out Actually, I I got to find a paper. I gave out There was a Russian group yesterday. They walked by my office and the Russian tour guide likes me cuz I'm, you know, and these Russians were just here. I made aliyah. And so I grabbed them and some spoke English. I gave them Shabbat candles. And I gave a couple siddurim prayer books right there. Now, who knows where it's going to go? Maybe that's all that woman's going to know, look at that prayer book, and go and say Yiskor for her father or something like that on that day. I I had a girl in my house. Spanish girl in my house. They barely spoke English. And cuz I work with Spanish students, too. Took three Spanish girls to my house. And we're speaking broken English. We came ready to bench. This girl took out of her pocket to bench a Chabad bencher. See? What you don't know. You understand? And that Chabad rabbi that gave her that bencher, look at that. >> Wow. You know, I'm going to circle back to the beginning of our conversation and and and and [clears throat] I'm going to end with this with our with the thoughts of how amazing it is as parents, the effect that you can have on children with things that you're not even telling them. Just things that they see. >> You know, children look at you and me and everybody, hypocrisy. Someone told me that again last week. That that's what hurts them. You I'm not perfect. Trust me, I'm not perfect at all. Is that a young person, you know, he he looks at the parents and got to be judged. He notices the hypocrisy in them. >> Yeah. Yeah, 100% and that's what, you know, when we started discussing we're talking about your upbringing and the things that you didn't even know that you knew from your neighbor telling you about your dad in his 80s shoveling his walk. >> Yeah. >> You know, and and it's just it teaches me and anyone listening about the power of parenting and doing what's right and having that in your DNA for your children to pick up on. And uh you know, throughout the conversation hearing about the impact that that had on you from being a child and just learning about the power of being Jewish and the effect that it has on us as a Jewish people. And >> Power to the Jews. >> Power to the Jewish people. Rabbi Jeff Seidel power to the Jewish >> I want to tell you, the woman I'm jealous. I'm jealous. I saw this a month ago when Mondani went into Brooklyn into the bookstore. I'm jealous of that woman that got up there and and told him off. I said, I wish that was me. >> Wow. >> Jewish people. >> Yeah. >> Jewish people. >> Speaking of Jewish people, I'm not going to let you go before I ask you my final question, which is if I was to ask you who would be a good guest on the podcast to follow up after you, who would that be? >> Well, I'll tell you that later. I'll tell you that later. I don't want I I I have a couple ideas I have a couple ideas on my sleeve. I don't want to put anybody on the spot. >> That's the whole idea. You put them on the spot. >> In case they don't want In case they don't want to >> They could say no. >> Okay. I have For example, my neighbors who work a lot with the army. >> Who's that? >> The The Claimants. >> Okay. >> I have also Mr. Asher David Milstein. >> Beautiful. >> Who is the big who's become uh a big ball of sukkah. >> Beautiful. >> And is And a mensch And a mensch. And that that goes with it. You know, these are >> Okay, the Claimants, the Milsteins, who else you got? I think someone recommended me to ask you also about Fox. >> That's her. >> Then who's that? That's >> Fox is Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Claiman. >> Oh, Mrs. Fox is Claiman. And that's Is that from the Is that from the Fox stores in in Israel? >> I have no idea. >> That's a unique name. Look, regardless, you know, anyone that you're going to recommend to to to be in your seat is not going to, you know, come near our conversation. It's a whole different world, but I truly value anyone that you bring to me and I value the conversation that you've brought to me and to the world. Getting to know you, the rabbi in you, the power in you, and the power in us to, like you said in the conversation, just take your quality and just do a little more with that. Which is uh >> We have to grow Each one Each Each one of us have to Including myself. >> Yeah. >> Including myself. >> Yeah. >> And I've And I've been trying more and more to be a little more calmer, you know, a little less maybe less sometimes sarcastic with some people. To grow. >> Rabbi Pindrus would be proud of us. I was I wasn't sure, by the way. >> With me? >> No, no, not with you. But I wasn't sure for a couple of months. >> It didn't last? >> You know what it You know what it is? I just wanted to get a feel for Or Sameach. I went I went there for a few months and it was the best decision I ever made because in Yeshiva we're stuck learning Gemara, Gemara, Gemara and I wanted to take a step back and say, "What about Navi? What about Chumash? What about Seder?" And I went to Or Sameach for a few months and Rabbi Pindrus was my rabbi there for a few months and I had a great experience. So, shout out to Or Sameach, Aish HaTorah, the Kotel, the Old City, Jerusalem as a whole, to you and your family. Thank you to the Seidel family for everything you do and for allowing you to be who you are. And thank you for joining us today. I really appreciate it. It's been a pleasure and an honor. Hashem should give you the strength to keep going. You're never retiring. Mashiach will come first before you retire. >> Amen. God willing. >> That's a wrap. Thank you.