Our Man In Trenton - Avi Schnall | The Tachlis Daily Podcast - Episode 1

[Music] You're listening to the TA's daily podcast. Avi, welcome. It's so good to be here. >> Abby, a lot of people know you in the Lakewood area or in the New Jersey area. Take us back. Tell us a little bit about your life, where you grew up. Who's Avi? >> That's a very loaded question, Snail. you know like with my life you know border raiser flappers went to yeshiva tamiba then I went to Baltimore yeshiva then I was in Springfield for a little bit then I went to Philly was in Philly in Philadelphia yes you want to get the hold all the steps >> yeah I went there to a little bit if you want to delve on any of that went there to I came back to got married Shama and here we are today. >> Incredible. >> I I skipped about, you know, 40 years in between that being that's basically the story. >> It's a good start. >> So you said you grew up in Flatbush and you went to Yeshiva in Baltimore. How did that happen? >> Well, so it was antihima high school. >> Why Why'd you go there? There's not enough Yesh. I wasn't doing any more regions. I was done with the regions. >> Amazing. >> Regions was not my thing. >> Amazing. >> I said anywhere but anywhere but Brooklyn. We did a little homework on you. >> Oh wow. >> And we know that you spent a few years in Akim. >> Two summers in Akim. >> Two summers. Great summers. >> How many years ago is that? >> This is a long time ago. At least probably 22 years ago. >> Wow. >> You know who was with me in camp? >> Who was with you? >> Krisher. >> Shout out to Shmei Krisher. >> But Shmeely wasn't like one of my friends over there. You know, he was very like he was like from the cool guys, >> you know. Sh was like one of the he was he was an older counselor. He was there for a few years before me. I was like a new guy, you know. It was like there was a certain schultz you had over there. >> So you had to like stay stay alive. >> I had to be careful. I was intimidated by him, you know. He was intimidating. >> And then you spent a few years in Ura also. >> Sure. About seven years in Ura. >> What did you do in >> I still I still go back. >> Really? >> I go back every year that I that I get invited. go back and >> sometimes sometimes for >> what was I as when I was there for those years >> so I started off as a division head in the I was there the second year of the zone when it was still called still called boy zone now it's the zone boys division the zone girls division now was called boy zone and girl zone so we had boys was one campus it was one half the girls one half the boys it was nothing like it looks like today abs it was completely different It's a brand new it was wasn't just a new camp. It was a new concept. It was an entirely new concept of kirv camping. There were other kov camps but ur was a whole is a very unique approach. Mahalak was very unique and um it was it was unbelievable. I'm saying it was it was I was there for seven years. >> Wow. >> Single. I came back married. My kids were there for a few years. >> How did you get to >> a fluke? Total fluke. I was working in re mifa as a madra the first half in the massa program and there was someone there by Garfinkle who was the head counselor of the zone the second half and this is this was t this is ura of of old it was a week before the camp was starting and they didn't have a division and he said ai what's your plans for the second half so I didn't have a I didn't have a clear path and I was in BMG wasn't sure what I was going to do with the second have. So he says, "Why don't you come to Uran? You'll be a division header head staff." So it sounded interesting. So you know, let's give it a shot. >> Nice. >> And that's it. >> The rest is history. >> Rest is history. >> Wow. And do you feel like spending those summers in Ura gave you some kind of background and cure like when you speak to let's say not yet from people today like how to speak to them, how to deal with them? Ur the experience of Uru was was huge not just in the k part if you think about it the average yeshiva it's beautiful they learned they can do what they're supposed to be doing very few times does yeshiv have the opportunity to have anas that he's responsible for something so yeah every yeshiva has the gaba and has that guy but most guys don't have those opportunities so uru was like my first real opportunity in life that was given an aras. You're you have a division. You're the division. It was a new camp. We didn't really know what we were doing. We were sort of learning on the job, but you but you were responsible for it. You were responsible. There was I think 60 or 70 kids in my division. I had counselors working underneath me. We were responsible. We went on trips. I was the only senior staff member there. It was my responsibility. If a kid got lost, I was the guy that the owner of the park would go to. It was it was the first real experience of having a pure responsibility. You're in charge. Make it work. So yeah, of course it was K as well and how to, you know, be able to communicate and be able to work with people, but it was much more than just that. It was much more than just that. You mentioned Bakram having um responsibility. I forgot what the program is called now. Oh, seed. seed is when bakram go out they go out to different communities. >> Yeah. >> And it's not the same as having you know a bunk under you but you're going out you're learning with the balabat of the people. >> It's a different respon it's a responsibility. I mean that you have to make sure you're making >> right >> you're not managing anything. You're not you're not you're not you're not operating anything. You're going and there's a relevant community usually that gives you a place to stay which is a it's a beautiful program but it's very different than this. This is a very unique thing that in general I have to have a pet peeve of mine that Baham today are not going back to camp to be counselors. Just one of my things. >> Let's delve on it. >> We can talk about it. >> What? What? What do you mean by that? >> Because it's a lost opportunity. >> You feel like Baham today aren't interested in it. >> No, I don't know what it is, but I feel it's a shame because they're losing that opportunity. A Baka goes to a camp, a massive camp, and they're great. Mi I love MFi camps. They're amazing. Great. Wonderful. Not Maki or any Mississippi camp. Right. But they're missing that opportunity of being a counselor in camp. In your counselor in camp, you're forced to learn a so you have to get up in the morning. You have to wake up your bunk. You have to do curfew. You have to be an activity. You you're a if there's a fight in the bunk, you have to figure how to work it out. If there's a kid that's homesick, you have to help that kid out. By the you have an is for 12 kids >> 100%. >> So during this should be learning and doing nothing else. 100% they should be doing nothing else. I'm never gonna you're never going to hear me advocate that middleman should be doing other things. It's an opportunity, >> right? >> It's a huge opportunity. Not you shouldn't of course you should learn and they learn and this there's all these opportunities but like we're losing that piece of learning that that that that ability to learn. Where else are they going to learn it? >> Right. I once I remember hearing that for campers a camper could gain more in those few weeks in the summer than a whole 10 months in yeshiva. >> Absolutely. >> So there >> that's not ideal. We're not talking about what the ideal should be. >> Of course. No, you >> need to Yeshiva and you should learn 100%. >> But there's that there's that what I gained in camp is huge. I went to C monk for 12 years. >> Wow. >> Big cat monk guy. I can even sing you. I'm not going to do it now, but I can probably sing you >> almost every color war song that I that I was on. Some guys could do both both teams that I can't do, but I can do I can do my color songs. You >> see him on you. >> Okay, but not just that. You're in camp. You're exposed to exposed to >> also Ben counselor's fun, excitement, what color war is is a major opportunity. You know, you know what competition is. You learn how to compete and yet still be a guy's friend. These are these are life lessons that that people will need forever and it's just it's a shame that there's not okay again I'm not you know one to say anything but just my in my little small mind it's by me >> why we're not pushing more to go to camps and be counselors and doing not too >> it became also a fat to go on on these road trips right so you're missing being a coun >> you're missing a real a real opportunity in life it's a huge opportunity Yeah. >> So, let's segue into a gura cuz >> sure that came next. >> Aishn and a synonymous. So, how did that happen? >> Another fluke. >> Your life is full of flukes. >> Full but that everyone's life is full of flukes. That's Hashem guides us. Everything is totally but this is happens to me. Yeah. There two big things in my life which is Uro which is a big part of my life. It still is and a good total flukes. I was working in in in in Ura the summer in the camps. I was looking for a job and ura besides her being a summer camp they do a lot of events throughout the year up in camp to do y stuff >> for sure. So I was there for simple tire one year and the chairman of the agura New Jersey board his name is Ral Zucker tire guy his wife works in the girls camp and he was also invited to come for some and we spent together and we got to know each other >> first time meeting him >> I knew him from camp I never really got to know him well we spent the whole together we got to know each other we had a lot of good late night schmus when you're in Uru and you camp you know you get you sit a lot. >> Okay. >> You know, some of the older guys by the hoffus when the bak are going around, you know, after the first, you know, by the time the gets a little rough for some of the older guys. So, we would sit down and we choose by the hakus, you know, like we got to know each other and after Y was over, I get a call from his office that Ralph wants to meet with you. Okay. You're looking for a job. I'm open to opportunities and I think I have something else for you. Dood is looking to hire somebody. >> Wow. >> Now I I I went to an interview. It was in bell works but bell works was still a shout. There was nothing in bell works then. This is 12 years ago. >> This is Ralph Ralph was involved then. >> Was Yeah. was this is his Yeah. >> Uhhuh. So we went to bell works and a meeting there with with Ralph the other chairman who name is Abdi Gross and Rabbi Kish and myself the four of us with a guy going for my interview and I told them like you know after like 10 minutes I said I just want you people to know I know nothing about politics like I'm not that guy I know that Governor Christie is our governor I know man because he comes through Khaneka and that's it. >> Think that was your politics. >> This is it world. >> That's it. I and I don't even know what they do even I can't even tell you like you know I I wasn't that guy >> right >> and they all laughed. They said no one knows anything. You learn on the job. >> You learn on the job. You're going to get trained. It'll be a learning curve. As long as you have the right tools you'll make it work. I was I had another option at the moment. It sounded exciting. Sounded interesting. It happens to be that as a kid I was raised in a big agoda house. My grandfather was a big agotist. So as a kid my grandfather used to take me to the conventions but there was a long space from that till this. So yeah, as a kid I had all those memories of of the old auda days to the extent my we sat on the same tables by the credentials like we were really on the inner ins of the >> nimish >> any any specific stories or points you want to >> a lot of stories >> something that you want to share with us >> from those days >> I was a little kid so I didn't everything that was going on I remember once at the table cuz it was like a serious moment so I knew like this this looks good. You know, there was a there was a discussion going on. I don't know what it was about. I I I still kick myself till today for like not you know eaves dropping better to know what it was about. But it was a very serious it was a heavy conversation. It was my grandfather and were discussing something and whatever the Indian was and my grandfather asked what's her belly going to say about it and said I don't think he's excited about the idea said they were not start it's it's it's a non-starter >> was was rebellious f considered like the >> he was >> he was the man I know measure but he He definitely was a he was a prominent man. He was very very strong voice >> and like you saw it was a serious thing and like that was it like if not in favor it's over. >> It felt like that was like a >> it was like I was like wow I just because was like in my our eyes you like idoliz and to see like the the the humility of like if rebellion is not in favor it's it's it's not it's over. thought it's a non discussion. That was a that's like a memory that sticks out, you know, very very strongly. >> Wow. >> But um so it was it was an attractive thing because I had like the kiss of the ankus, you know what I'm saying? Like I remember as a little kid I do the conventions and you know hearing the story so it was like exciting but I really knew I really didn't know what it was about. >> Interesting. >> So it was a fluke. Hashem puts everyone in the place they're supposed to be. >> 100%. That's why we're here. For >> whatever reason it is. We may not find out till a few years from now, but right now we're supposed to be here. >> Wow. >> So, you spent a bunch of years at Aura and we got to know you as Aishna from the Agura New Jersey office. >> That's right. Very >> all those videos going around. It >> was a mouthful. A good American New Jersey office. It's like a long title. >> So, how long were you there precoid? I mean, how long did you spend at a gura before the co days? >> I have a feeling we're getting someplace with this co. >> No, we're not going anywhere. Like that's a funny like, you know, >> no, the reason I'm asking pre-co and after. >> No, I'll tell you why I'm asking is cuz I only got to know you >> by co >> by co meaning to say I heard of you. >> Yeah. >> But I started getting a shas to you because of all the >> the stuff, right? >> The videos and the voice notes and everything flying around. >> That's definitely true. So right by before co co was in 2020. That was about 4 years ago. So I was there for 11 probably 6 years before co. >> Mhm. >> Probably 6 7 years before co. >> Yeah. >> Wow. Wow. That's a long time. [Music] >> Planning that perfect date is never easy. Let us help ease the burden just a bit with the dating games gamach. The dating games Kamach offers the most common and popular dating games available on the market. And we have 10 locations throughout Jewish communities in the United States. And we are constantly growing. Reserving a dating game has never been easier. Simply log on to silkus.net/games or call, text, or WhatsApp us at 732-867155 to reserve a dating game today. [Music] And give me like a I guess we'll get to CO in a second, but give me a in those six years you got to see again you got to see Raban Das Tyra you also got to meet politicians. What was it like being in that position yet being off to to the gdm right to dy and to the older more established right you have zebel you have other people that obviously you're going to speak to and and you know when you have questions how to deal with stuff >> right >> at the same time you're making those decisions for your constituents right that's >> so I'll tell you like this regarding the national part of it definitely the first few years. Honestly, it wasn't so hard because they're so big. And I'm being honest with you, like they're just so like I'm I don't have I'm going to argue with them. Like you're sitting in a room. I was once I once presented Feinstein was there like like what am I going to say? What? What am I? It was you l It's It's intimidating like it's just so like being what they tell you. You're just not Yes. Like whatever you say. >> So you're coming, you're giving the facts, you ask the questions, whatever they say go >> and that's it. Like like what am I going it's it's it's simple so to speak. Obviously I'm making it sound like it's always so simple, >> right? >> But like definitely at the beginning was like whatever you say. Now what was a harder part is let's say the because there's a very big challenge everybody has we all have it in that when someone starts to be successful we start to get very full of ourselves >> that's that's what happens >> that's what happens that's what happens >> right >> so you you you know the music world a little bit right once the guy puts out a couple of CDs does a couple of concerts he's already >> he's a mand >> I'm I know I'm better than MBD I would have done that song if you would have done at Kage would have been 10 times better. Maybe not like probably not. You know, Mona knew what he was doing. Like >> stay in your place. >> Stay on your lane, >> right? >> So like, you know, you you when you're there, you have to constantly remind yourself like, >> you know, you're hobnob, you're rubbing shoulders, you got invited here, you by that meeting, you pulled off this bill, you got that done, you got that accomplishment. So I'm already the maven. I know. So when someone else comes and says I think you know differently we all had humble beginnings like it we all we all learned and we're still learning. So that's a bigger challenge meaning if we're really real about it we're talking >> this is what it's about. >> It's about tas when when a group of you saw tell you to do something you got to listen whether you understand or not unless you got other problems. You know what I'm saying? Like you're going to listen. How could you not listen? It's it's you're going to listen the bigger challenge is that as the years go on and bar had a lot of a lot of successes now I know but I'll tell you something when when I started there have been a lakewood we use the word ask because it had to come out at some point there's been a lot of lakewood for many years before me there was shankovski there >> right >> who who is who is he's the king >> right >> there's bay lifenstein Manil there this there's there's there there's a whole list of people there's all I start listing more names but those are saying you're saying and then I come in who am I telling them >> remember Shankalovki many times you would invite me to meetings and I'll say a what do you say >> and you're like me >> no so I was if you're living in dim you're like oh gosh I'll say like >> right >> but when you think about it like that's how it's like you know what it meant for a guy like Gowski to ask me my opinion >> right he's like what we say we call in this generation the OG of us. He's the guy. >> I remember I remember once my my meeting with with with Aron Cutler in his house >> and I said an opinion I said Abby I hear maybe like I hear that that could be something like I don't know how easy it is for us to listen to a to a 23-y old guy or 22-y old guy that I have an opinion but we have to that's part of our job. We have to be able to listen to people's opinions. >> Interesting. And it doesn't mean that everyone knows everything, >> right? But you listen, >> but we have to hear opinions because >> I was also that 23-y old guy at some point, >> right? >> So, you got to start it off. >> Wow. Okay. So, let's segue into co a little bit. Just a little bit. You were mentioning that basically the buck stops by last ter by the obviously was differences of opinion. We could say in town versus out of town. >> Yeah, that was very complicated. with a lot of fancy word usages that I never heard of like Ava and all these different things that that happened. Could you give me a little background behind the scenes like a taste of what was going on then? >> I I'll tell you this. I want to tell you this. I think that what the shame is that many people forgot what was really going on in co there's a braha and a of forgetting things, right? It's a braha because if we remember everything we did wrong in our lives and would be in our brain all day long, we would be able to function. So we forget what we what we've done. It's a braha because that's we move on. The call is that we forget sometimes important things. The world forgot what the first five months of co was. CO was long. It was it was from PM time. >> March 17, 2020. >> That's right. Right. PM time. >> Right. And it went to Pes it eased off the summer and then it came back with a vengeance. So there were the two let's say shifts waves of >> the first major wave. >> The first no one knew what was going on. People were literally dropping dead >> right into truck. They want to come back. >> Hey, we ran out of cars. We >> we forget that. Like we got shut down. We needed to get shut down. You know, we we got shut down. We were terrified. We were leaving our houses. >> I spoke to a cell member then. He's like, "We do not have ambulances." >> Right. They didn't really people were literally dying, >> you know, every day. Every day we open up our our phones after Shabas that first pes that say to them that that everyone went home. >> And I think then I I think everyone agreed then you had to go home cuz people were literally dying. It was a pa that was going on and then it eased up and then what happened was people got restless >> of course >> and then the question was home with the kids how do you write and then and that was very for a lot of people was really really hard and especially in our kahila we don't have internet we don't have movies we don't have television we don't have radio what are kids doing all day long and yeah the phone with it did work it didn't work especially I I I I thought about it I live in a single family house I thought to myself like you mentioned the family living in Shiva apartments with seven kids. What are they what are they doing? >> Go out of their mind. >> Go out of mind for sure. >> The husband, the younger man is home cuz he can't go to yeshiva. He's trying to on the phone. The mother's trying to take care of seven kids that are going crazy and they're in an apartment and and can't officially play outside social distancing which was a it was a like we forget it was a real thing at the beginning. The question is how far did that go? And then it came the summer came sh we did all the tents. You remember the tents learning outside and 20 outside this outside. But we we we were working with people. They came the summer and then was the second wave. The challenge the second wave was the was so burnt out and they were terrified to go back in. So then came what do you do? What do you do? And it it was just it was a very hard call for because people already forgot what pes I remember sukis people forgot what pesos right meaning that's you're talking about for lakewood cuz out of town they were going straight through >> correct >> they they and from the good's perspective there was a big challenge >> when you say gdylum you mean the >> perspective >> there's there's liquid >> or even Brooklyn >> and Brooklyn and then there's the rest of the world >> right >> so there were conversations like so so lakewood was more let's say more lenient so to speak but raham that were in Detroit or Minneapolis or Atlanta there were many people there that were very you know worried about co what does the rob do and and and they were looking to the matas for guidance which they gave them ultimately which was given by the matas but the in town was like what's going on over here >> we did this already >> we did this already we're done we're not doing this again it's It's a very hard balance. So that's that's the ana and then you have to have the you know the the faith and they recognize there's there's a difference of communities but you saw there were there's there's many and they were coming to tells us that's what we're going to do and they needed that support there were many many there were many that were calling up said I need you as my backbone I'm in a kil I'm I'm I'm in Rhode Island or whatever it was I'm just picking random cities by way All right. >> I noticed you didn't mention Pay or Baltimore or Cleveland. >> Of course not. >> Okay. So, different out of town places. I need you to tell me that my shoe can't open. So, when I say it can't open, I'm >> I need a back. I need a back, right? I'm by myself. I'm I'm alone in this, you know, out of town place. >> I I need you. Right. >> And but and and but that culture so to speak was not the culture of the in town which was a very difficult kufa. So it's a hard balance. And what are you going to say? Lea does this >> right >> and and Minneapolis does that and Baltimore forget about it >> and them saying we start splitting up cities. >> So so they they felt that this is what they had to do and that's what they did. >> Wow. >> Was it was a very hard ka it was a very complicated kufa >> right? It was like Kur coming out Shabas. >> Shabas was very very hard. >> Porch mñana and not porch mñana. >> Yeah, it was very very very it was very hard. It was very very difficult. >> Wow. Wow. Wow. >> Also no one >> we're not getting into the whole like like everyone talking about the ego kufa when there was when there was a man for that and he shut it all down >> right >> for like a long time. >> There's also there were no WhatsApp groups. >> Correct. But there was a right that's made a lot easier. >> He shut the place down. It was shut down. The whole kilo was shut down. >> But they also didn't have all the songs that were being put out. There's no idea Never break coming out during the That's true. That's true. >> It was it was a very complicated very complicated kuf from from from our from my angle. Let's say of the activist angle, it was it was difficult because without pushing one way pushing the other way, it was hard and and no one's ever you never satisfy everybody. So I got blamed for shutting down the Shivas. I got thanked for opening up the Shivas which show how you looked at it. You know that's that's part of the business. >> Okay. So >> that's how it goes >> when you're in public service public life you you can't please everyone right the saying goes >> if everyone if everyone loves what you're doing then you're doing something wrong. If everyone hates what you're doing >> if you want to satisfy everybody sell ice cream >> right? Okay. >> You might not have the right flavor. >> Don't drive an ice cream truck. You have all the flavors. You want to be make you want to be a people's please. >> Some people don't like ice cream trucks, but okay. >> You can't please everyone. But >> even ice cream trucks can't. >> There you go. So, do you feel like this co thing propelled you to like the next step in in your career sort of to say meaning to say let me let me phrase it like this. There were a lot of hawk going around that Governor Murphy, he is on speed with a tells him what's happening in Lakewood, what is happening in Ocean County. Do you feel like that connection with the government with the governor like open doors for you? >> Totally. Could you could you could you tell me like how >> the governor also needed someone because it wasn't it wasn't I have to clarify there wasn't it I wasn't a oneman show meaning I I don't think five hours went by during co that I wasn't in touch within >> Wow I don't think five hours went by during those heavy cooks >> how was your sher lock in the house but for months you know don't talk to him get out of here but I I really don't think that 5 hours went by without having a conversational thing. >> We were by the Rashiva's porch, >> you know, which of >> the f of the lake rashas. >> So depends on the meaning, whatever, whatever. But we we were constantly talking every >> three four days another conversation about you know different things that were coming up. >> But what what happened was is that the governor felt that myself and committee and we were like they called the second team. They used to make jokes about us. I said I texted mayor so I knew you got the message like and vice versa like that's what it was. >> There was no there was no group between you. >> Okay. No, >> I hear. >> So So there was but but um what happened was is that it definitely they felt that we that they had a trust that you know it was Lake was the fourth largest town in New Jersey and we got hit the worst. We had the highest numbers. And did they at any point blame it on like the Jewish community, the Orthodox? >> The governor did not. The governor was very strong by >> that was more the news, the news. >> The news. So the news just wrote the numbers. You never saw a report this reported the Jews. It was Lakewood. Yeah, that's the fact. The fact is Lakewood was 30% higher than the rest of the state. What are you doing? That's the reality. >> And the reality also, if I could interject, is that that just our lifestyle? Of course, there's a reason why >> we have some mean we had >> I remind people I remind people the bottom line is that that sukus if you remember that after sukus the whole world was shut down you forget this piece burough park was shut Williamsburg was shut flat was shut Ben was shut down >> there was only people running to MC >> that was individual people but as a >> as a community >> from a community everyone was shut down every government shut down their shut it down >> the one place that was allowed to open up with 50,000 kids going to yes that was not interrupted one day from that second wave was Lakewood New Jersey. >> Wow. >> It was the only place we forget about like you were like oh it was so terrible. We had it better than anywhere else in the country in the world. >> Wow. >> The reason is because of that relationship cuz there was a certain trust and he knew that we were being honest with him. He knew that he could work with us and we worked with him and and we workable and because of that so from then the relationship continued to build upon that. So, of course, open up, you know, opportunities. It's always like that when things are going rosy. You go to a ka party, you go to this party, you're not building a real relationship. You're just you're just going to a party like everyone else goes to a party. You show up to Trenton. You don't show up to Trenton when there's a crisis. >> Did you did you did you have to go to Trenton a lot in your like earlier stages in a >> Was that part of like the job? >> You want to go to Trenton. You want to know what's going on. It's not about it's not that you need to go to know what's going to see you. >> Mhm. >> There are very few yamas. When I was in Trenton when I started there were three yamakas in Trenton. >> Myself, Josh Pazanski and the guy Avi Rishler. That's it. We were the literally the three only yamakas in Trenton. Today >> there's one yamak in besides the two politicians meaning from the activists from he's the only yam. Shout out he's amazing. >> He's the only Yamakuring advocate meaning lobbyist advocate. Got it. >> He's the only one. But I see walk around the so you're noticeable. You're there. You're part of the you're part of the scene, >> right? >> So I would go to some hearings and doesn't say anything else. They have no style community. There's a hearing on on on diesel trucks. I mean it could be anything. But you're there. You walk in that room. >> It shows them. It shows them that you care. >> You're active. You're interesting. You're the guy. They have the questions. Can I ask you a question? >> There's a bill about this. How does it affect your community? They they know who you are. You're a resource. We want to thank our sponsors from the Westwood offices. You have to come check it out. They have a beautiful lobby, amazing lounge areas, gorgeous offices, coffee, shul, everything that you might need for an office, beautiful gym, blazing fast Wi-Fi and great cover. Very diverse crowd of different businesses. The western offices, centrally located in Tom River, Route 17 by Route 9. Come check it out today. You can get your office for a beautiful, amazing business experience. >> Come get your office today. >> So, finally, this location is awesome. >> Yes, >> solid place. >> Shout out to Westwood. We're in Westwood. >> And this place is gorgeous, by the way. It's a nice place. So, whoever's watching this, they looking for office place even though it's not in my district cuz it's in Tom's River. >> We're in Tom's River, >> which is a little bit of a shame cuz I probably would move my district office here cuz the vibes are off the charts. >> You can't You can't >> They got to be the district. You you can't be out of >> No, I can't be in the district. >> So, let's talk about the latest thing that you know >> the latest thing. >> I mean, one of the latest things are is that now you work in Trenton. How did that happen? >> That wasn't such a fluke. >> We have a fluke. >> That actually had a that actually was, you know, a a progression, so to speak. It was it was for a few years we've been talking about you know having a you know going actually into Trenton and representing the Ka >> if you don't mind me interrupting when you say we >> mean the the theas and >> have been following >> the committee men like you saying >> for a long time we've been following this idea we were actually told many time by other politicians >> get someone >> got to get somebody in there now we have Senator Singer He's in the Senate. He's also the minority party. He gets a lot of stuff done, but he's very unique. >> When you say minority party, you mean Republican. >> As Republican, which happens to be in New Jersey, the minority party, but he's able to get stuff done cuz he's been there forever. He's the dean of the He's the longest serving senator. >> Wow. >> So, he has, you know, generational relationships basically. So, he's that's very unique. In the assembly, we were we were stuck a little bit. At the end of the day, for anything to happen, it's got to go through both the Senate and the Assembly. We live in New Jersey. There's one party that really controls most of the state. You know, there's there's three branches. There's three there's three stools of of the of the of the t of the of the chair. There's the governor, there's the Senate, and there's the Assembly. The Senate and the Assembly are strong Democratic controlled houses. And if you don't mind me asking, the Senate and the Assembly, that's all in Trenton. >> All in Trenton. >> The same building. >> Same building. >> And the governor in the same building. >> He he he comes to work every day in Trenton. >> I don't know where it's scheduled every day. I'm saying he has an office in he has his office is in Trenton. >> Where does Do you know where he lives? >> He happens to have a house in in Mammoth County where he lives. A beautiful house. And then there's a governor's mansion. >> Drum Thackit. And that's how you pronounce it by the way. >> Drum Thackit. >> Drum Thackit. Yes. Yes, I love >> the D or the T. >> The D drum >> whack it. >> So he lives in the governor's mansion. >> I think he actually does live in the governor's man. He actually stays in his house. But Christy, let's say he lived in the mansion. >> Interesting. >> Yeah. Some people do. Some people don't. It's an old house. It's a mansion. It's like >> saying if you have a nice house or anybody running to, >> right? >> You know what I'm saying? It's it's an old it's an old archaic kind of, you know, >> interesting >> kind of. It's a mansion. I remember there was a time that you toyed with the idea of running and you made maybe even made an announcement or the websites made an announcement Aishna's running and then it got shut down pretty rather quickly. >> Yeah. >> And then I don't know how much time frame there was maybe a few weeks or a few months and then Aishna is running again. What what happened? >> So I got to tell you this it's it's a it was a big move. It was a big move >> political move >> all around. It was a personal move. move. It was a move. It was a political move. It was a big move. And when I first did it, I check I got to check it out. Like there's like this this I saw the backlash coming in from different political people and the excitement. Am I really going to be able to pull this off? It's too much. Forget it. Drop it. >> But you hold on. you in your in your many years in Agura, I'm sure you had >> we discussed CO already so let's not talk about CO but even other things that you did or said I'm sure you got backlash for it. >> Sure. But this is a this is a this was a big move. >> Think this is next level. >> This is a big move cuz here if we lost it could have it could have been you know I don't detrimental but it was it was a big move. >> Laavdo like if Trump lost like it would be the end of America. >> It's tough. It was a big move. >> Wow. So then we we we waited a little bit longer and I I I went back to the the the um the the Raon advised me then about it and then I said I got discussed with the masses. I said there's nothing to talk about. The manus asked I'm there's not me and the masses had a whole meeting about it a long meeting about it and they felt that this >> were you at the meeting? >> I was not at the meeting. I was I was I was thrown out. >> It was a meeting here in the I go to the New Jersey office. I was there. They said go away. >> He said you were in the building. >> I was right in the office. It was >> where where is the go to office? >> It's on Cedar Bridge. >> He was right here and they had the meeting and it was a long meeting and >> when you say mantis you mean like >> it was the full mis saying David Goldberg >> was there. >> He came from Cleveland. >> Yeah. >> He come though he comes to for the mantis meetings. So there's a whole agenda. This was the first item on the agenda. >> How often do they have a a meeting? >> There's no set date when they have meetings. Whatever they decide the meeting so everyone meaning Miller is on the mantle now he comes in from Toronto >> so either he or they do it by zoom sometimes depends but not is there is there is there flies in for almost every meeting >> wow >> comes in for the meeting he's in Philadelphia >> you know comes in comes in Felman comes in for almost every meeting >> you know from Baltimore like yeah they they come in that's a drive David comes in like they come in >> wow >> now sometimes it's in New York sometimes It's in Lakewood depending where it is, but there's a full >> Those are the two options either New York or or Lakewood. >> Yeah. I mean, that's where most of the Mets members live where that's essentially located. >> Does it make sense that back in the day it was all like in their Manhattan and all this? >> Yeah, because then everyone lived in New York. >> Uhhuh. >> There was like one member from Lakewood. >> Wow. >> That was it. Everyone lived in New York. >> Right. Right. Right. Right. >> You know the question that was dude on East's house. >> That was the you know, everyone was there. >> Everyone was in New York. >> Wow. But um >> and is every I know we're going on a little tangent but is every meeting have like a scan from a good there as well or not necessarily sometimes just a good >> usually no it's only the time is there >> so why would you have been at that meeting >> because they were discussing me so I wanted to come say my thoughts >> you want you wanted you wanted to hear the h >> I also wanted you know what it was going to be you know the back and forth but it was a long it was a good hour and hour and a half discussion at least and they were making phone calls and they calling people. It was it was a thorough it was a real thorough shila to make sure that all the worries were were addressed or or understood. >> Could you name drop some Rabanam or that you like were speaking to personally about it or you'd rather not? Just curious. >> So all the whenever I have a shis I go to go to the other you know the two that we go to that I go to. So they they were already very well aware about the whole ins and out. >> Yeah. They knew the whole concept and um but now the Mets have to discuss it and I I was very clear and I told this to he was walking there. I said I just wanted to understand that unless this is unanimous. I'm not doing it like not I'm not doing like >> right >> I'm I'm very okay. I'm very okay staying by the it's working. It's good. This is a big shakeup. I mean from a personal from a personal life like >> my kids, my family, I'm I was you're always public in the now much more public because I'm now in the secular world >> by the guy >> but it's it's a much bigger thing like >> and after campaign and and it's going to be it's going to be it's going to be a big undertaking. >> I don't need this. If it's unanimous feeling that this is then I'll do it but it's got to be that everyone really feels this way. >> Wow. Otherwise, forget it. Like, it's it's just not it's not going to work. So, yeah, it was unanimous decision. They called me in and they said about make sure everyone gave me a braha. >> You went up to each other. >> I went up to every single one of us to get a bra. >> Did you call too? >> And um I'm He was on the phone. >> He was on the phone and um and uh and that was it. So, we did it. We jumped in. >> What did What did jumping in entail? >> It was wild. It was really wild. Campaigning was wild because this is something new. We were coming in as taking out an incumbent generally Lakewood village Republican so to speak. This is a from guy coming and doing this. No one ever had this job in New Jersey before in Lakewood before. >> Was part of the GDI's um I I guess agenda or >> the the way they told you was it that you're going to go Democrat? Was that like part of the >> That was the main part of not not the main that was a big part of the show. Of course. >> We're putting him in. He's got to win it. The way to win in New Jersey is Democrat. >> Well, not the way to win in Lakewood actually is Republican. No, >> I'm saying. >> But the way to actually make a difference, so to speak, is this is this is what we are. Meaning >> we can go talk a whole the sh of it. There's a lot of, you know, discussions about that. >> So, yeah, that was to go and and the letters that they put out was bold letters. Democratic Party was those there were those fake about us. >> Those yellow signs, >> those yellow signs and very very clear that was that was the purpose of this, >> right? >> You know, we we live in New Jersey and we got we got to figure how to get stuff done over here. >> And um no campaigning because wherever you went, can you imagine driving the N? The N was covered with my face with with the funny glasses and the Yamaka. >> What was with those glasses? >> Well, these are the glasses, by the way. >> But back then it it >> you know what it was? It worked. You saying cuz it wasn't your regular glasses. >> The ama. What's the It worked. Everyone's talking about it. That's >> who Whose idea was it? >> That was my idea. >> Really? >> They have to take credit for it was my idea. >> It just it was a whole new face. >> You had like this guy from Aura to this like what is this? >> Like what happened talking about? >> It was a shakeup. >> It was a shakeup. But like whenever you got billboards here you Oh, there's no free moments wherever you went. >> Did you guys clean up all those launch signs after you went? >> 100%. Absolutely. >> Just want to make sure. >> And they had permits and everything. Sure. >> Very good. >> Absolutely. >> Everything has to be kadas. >> Okay. So, >> campaigning just give us a little like window into into a day of campaigning. I remember speaking to you during that time. You're like a sn I'm running to open wine and then I have another meeting every night. We went to different places and and by the way I really >> I want to continue that by the way not as a campaigning but it's important to really get out there. >> We'll follow up with that. >> But I think I'm pretty accessible. I am a pretty accessible guy. Guys call me all the time with questions and all that kind of stuff. And I'm I live here. So I'm out there. Like I always say when when when a governor runs, they come to the grocery store. Every time I go to Gourmet Glad I'm campaigning, so to speak. Like I'm doing the same grocery store. I stop. You can't go with a mask on or something, >> right? I go to the pizza shop, I'm not campaigning. Like I'm doing the same thing that everyone else campaigns. Like that's >> the natural life of campaigning. >> But it was then it was it was also was a lot of questions. people wanted to know what are we doing and and it was just something new and and we all like new things. So it was a big shift and like is it real? Is it not real? What are you going to accomplish? Why and all the shar and this and that and and you have to go through and and you can't tell a person when when that guy that would meet me in this store and say I just I just push on understand I can't tell him I already answered that to 500 people go someone else >> you got to go with the guy >> to that guy this is his this is his moment he's asking me question I got to answer him with the same knock and the same passion that I answer every guy in the other store >> and you Taka need his vote also >> and I need this one also but he's not he's also person like I got it >> so it's it's it's going over and over but that's what it is that's part of the job of campaigning and if you believe in what you're doing which I was I was on a mission I had to you know was a mission from the from the said this is what we want you to do it's needed it's important do it so that's I'm doing it yeah it's tough but like that's it You you had the talking points down and you just were giving it over >> over and over again. And yeah, people hit back and but that's that's part of it. >> Working that good for 11 years through co you get used to that. >> Think about co was was >> totally tough on the skin for sure. Big time. >> Very much so. Very very much so. >> But that's it. You know that's it's it's it's it was definitely tough. It was definitely tough. It was a lot of work. It was draining also. I mean it was it's a lot of emotionally. I'm not an emotional kind of guy, but like at the end of the day, you just your wife came the day of election called me up and said, "Andy, listen to me. Shut your phone and go to sleep. There's nothing more you can do right now." >> You did what you could do. Did your status >> just go to sleep like there's you just your your brain is fried. You're going to go ma just shut your phone and go to sleep. Wake up in 4 hours. I mean, if I can see four hours, just go to sleep. I'm >> saying you did yours. >> There's nothing more to do, >> right? You're just going to make yourself like I I was I panked out. I was gone just on the for the roller coaster cuz it was early voting in the mailings and every day you're counting the hours. How many came in today? How many came in tomorrow? How many came in from Mammoth County? Oh no, they're harder. What's going to be? And you >> you're following all the numbers. >> You follow every number. Your whole brain is consumed, >> right? >> So, and every day new numbers are coming in. What does it mean? What's the trend? Does that mean tomorrow's going to be more? Tomorrow's going to be less. Oh, no. And you you're thinking every possibility how it can go wrong and it never stops cuz that's all that's on your mind. So it's it's it's >> wow >> it's it's a rough it's tough. It's tough. It was it was well worth it without a suffic people ask all the time like did you really feel is without a suffic we've been able to pull off and two because of this that there's no way we're able to do it without. Well, okay. So, that's one of my questions here is >> so what do you do for me? >> You're up for re-election. That's you. Sure. >> So, first of all, when are you going to start campaigning? You start right now. >> You're always campaigning. The day after elections, you start campaigning. >> No. So, right. That's 100%. By the way, on that point, the fact that you go to Gor Magla and you go to the pizza store and you go to Shu, you're accessible as a as a person. as a person >> meaning your average gish a politician he goes to work he goes home >> where's he seen not really seen meaning unless he's going to a party an event right >> and then they had to fit people >> you have to go there and you have to be invited right it's not as accessible that just >> that's the life of being a front politician >> okay so >> which I think is good by the way >> okay >> because it gives people an access people come to you all the time can I ask a quick question but then you have to listen to each guy's >> that's what we signed up Okay. Amazing. >> That's what it is. >> A man of the people. What's a day like in Trenton and the legislature? What is it that you're doing? What kind of bills have you passed? It's a load of questions, but what what stuff that you're working on that we could be like, "Wow." Okay. That's why we put like this. I'm going to give you the the more global answer, like the general answer, and that will bring it down to the the specifics. The global answer is that when we're when I go to Trenton, I go I don't go to Trenton every day. You know, you go and there's committee meetings, you go, there's voting sessions. That's when you go to Trenton. There's a local office here in Lakewood that we do most of the work in the office. I have a staff and the staff does a lot of the work as well. And then you go to Trenton for the committee meetings and for the voting sessions. >> So, how often would you say a week and >> depending on the month? Depending on the season, budget season more often, end of the year more often. You know, it really depends on what's going on at that moment. >> Do you drive yourself? >> I drive. I drive. I drive. I drive. Yeah, I drive. >> Yeah, I just want to know where you're holding in the in the ladder. >> I drive. I drive. I have a little sonata. We drive. It's very nice. >> Okay. >> And I get Yeah. >> What do you What do you listen to on the way to Trenton? You listen to anything? Music? Air >> to the to the podcast. >> Amazing. So, you're not there every day? Where's your office in Lakewood? >> Route 9. 500 River Avenue. Smack in the middle of the lake, which of the >> crunch in the kishkas. >> So, I never forget it. Never forget it. But I'll tell you what it is. what what the main purpose so to speak. >> Yeah. >> And it's it's going to sound a little interesting. The main purpose is building relationships. That's the main purpose cuz ultimately I can introduce a bill. Now, the bill has to get passed. People have to vote on that bill. >> You're coming up with the bills yourself. >> By them. Yeah. Now, my bills are made by people that call me up. People call me up all the time with, you know, needs and issues and I say, "Hey, like why is that the case? We should change the law for that. >> Oh, you know, ding. But >> that's why you're there. >> We can't just change the laws. Oh, so I can change the law. >> Pretty cool. But I also can't just change the law. There's a process. Got to introduce a bill. It's got to go to a committee. It's got to go to another committee. It's got to get voted on. >> When you introduce a bill, it means you're actually going to the floor and and staff talks to the clerk and they print a piece of paper to the system. None sees it. He gets it to the system. Meaning myself, you're >> saying is there's there's like a list >> thousands of bills that are introduced every year. >> Really? >> 80% of them never see the light of day. >> Wow. >> They're just introduced. They just get introduced. You have to you have to work. >> How do you push? How do you push it? >> That's the relationship building. You come to Trenton, you make sure you bump into this guy. You bump into that guy. You vote on someone else's bill. >> Someone else has a bill that you like. Can I be a co-sponsor to your bill? They appreciate it. You want co-sponsors on my bill. >> They hit you back. It's relationship building. That's really what it is. So, you're there to build relationships that when you need to get something done, >> you can get it done. >> Question. Have you had to vote on things that are contrary to our Torah life, to our beliefs? >> There have been votes that were things that were contrary to the Kila's um viewpoint and I did not vote on them. >> And that's like going against your own party typically. >> No, cuz it's all about relationships. Like I said before, >> really so you you work with Republicans. >> I know when this is coming up last working with Republicans, the Democratic party, there's a certain if you treat people with respect, they treat you with respect. >> That's how it goes. So there's a bill that's coming up for a vote. There's a bill that I know is coming up. I, you know, I'll give one example because it was a controversial bill was the um the Freedom to Read Act about library books and stuff like that. It was a very it was a complicated bill and before I did anything I spoke it over with and Berni and I felt it out from the community and there was no way I could vote on this bill. So I didn't just come into Trenton and press a red button. Ha, you know I'm not voting on your bill. Then you're just an idiot. So there's a process. I I called up the sponsor before they came to trans. I said hello there's Michelle. and Michelle, >> they do they all know you? >> Yeah, because I'm I'm one of two other Yamaha wearing people, so like there aren't that many of us there. >> Okay. >> Also, we flipped the receipt. So, like it was a big deal when when when I won. >> Seeing when you walked in there like, "Oh, that's the Jewish guy." >> It was a big deal. It was a very big deal when I won. Wasn't just the Jewish guy. It was that's the guy from Lakewood, >> number one. Number two. Number three is that's the guy that flipped the reddest seat in the state. >> And he didn't just flip by 100 votes. He he crushed it. He won by 13,000. They saw that the community came as a block. >> Exactly. That that's our kite. >> Well, >> so it was a lot of noise. It was a lot of noise about our victory. I say I always say our cuz it was was a kilo of victory, >> right? I mean, you needed each guy to come out. >> You need each guy to come out and that's because Oh, you see, you didn't really need my vote. No, we didn't need your vote. That like he missed the vote, >> right? >> Our victory wasn't that we just won the seat. The victory was >> we brought out 27,000 voters. That was the victory. >> Wow. So, if you weren't there, that's not 27,000 Hz. But I called up this lady name is Michelle, a nice person, very nice person, and and called her up. And you also have to remember something, and I say this all the time. I said, when we disagree with somebody, I I I give it a good example. There was a bill up for a vote in Shreton many years ago. It was called the Death with Dignity Act, assisted suicide, however, however you would coin it. >> Mhm. And I tell people, you have to understand, of course, we we're against that. But the guy that was the sponsor of this bill, I knew him pretty well, was a religious guy. In his mind, he was doing the greatest, most compassionate piece of legislation. He's helping people no longer suffer. >> You understand what I'm saying? >> Of our, >> right? But his perspective, like we're going to call him Russia, >> right? >> He's not a Russia. We have a different than he has and we feel it's wrong. >> Right. He wants to care for that person. >> But he's coming from a very good place. >> Right. >> So you have if you if you look at people from that lens then they understand like I I get where you're coming from. I can disagree with you. I can think you're wrong. I can ideologically disagree with you. But you're a person. I'm a person. We both want to help people. I feel I'm saving people from killing themselves. and you feel you're saving people from suffering. They're both good places. I think you're >> but you're able to explain your your >> because if you have that conversation then it's not an attack, >> right? >> So with this for example and I wasn't voting this is a few years ago that's why I learned this that's why I saw this like I I saw these people by the hearings and stuff. I was like they were coming from a good place >> right? >> So in this bill when I now became a legislator I I learned that lesson that these these these are good people. They come from good places a not always but most of the time. >> So I called her up and I said Michelle I went through your bill. I really went through it well. I discussed with many people in the community. I can't vote on the bill. Are you okay if I get a pass on the bill? Are you meaning are you okay if I get a pass? Can you give me a pass? A no problem. I'm so thankful you called me up. You did the right thing. >> Wow. >> That was it. >> That's all you called the speaker. I said Mr. Speaker, tomorrow's a voting session. Want to give you a heads up. I won't be able to vote on that bill. Are you okay with that? Abby, thank you so much for calling me. And that's it. You >> being a match goes a long way. >> Be a match. It goes a long way. >> 100%. >> So, there's been a few of those kinds of bills and every time I go to the sponsor, I say and they get it. They know they know Lakewood. They know that a religious community >> is not going to vote on certain piece of legislation, but it's how you do it. Do you get up and do you rank them out or do you say I get it? I get where you're coming from. I come from a different perspective, a different school of thought for us. We don't believe in that. I can't support it. I'm not. It's not a personal attack on you. >> Could you tell us about school choice? >> It's the best thing in the entire world. I mean, the best entire world. Tyra is the best. >> Tyra is the best. >> But school choice mean how it happens. It it ain't over by the way. First of all, right now we pivoted a little bit to the federal level, but under the new federal administration is a bill that we've been working on for many years from about four years, at least four years. A piece of legislation that's a it's a national piece. It's a $5 billion piece will be in every single state that has a insane amount of support. Over 70% of the Republican legislators, Congress and senators are co-sponsors and sponsors of this bill. >> Wow. And Trump is a huge school choice guy. >> Shout out to Donald. >> So yeah. So so right now like like the table set. >> Yeah. >> You put the pieces in place >> for many years. People like guys like Adakome for years they've been working on this and they were laughed at like this is never going to happen. Never going to never going to happen. Hashim has his way. You know Hashim has a trifecta. The support again it's not finished. It still needs more work because in these kinds of bills, every detail, every line can make a difference between working or not working. So, is it over? It's not over at all. Right now, New Jersey had a moment. We learned a lot from that experience. So, right now, we have a federal opportunity. If that doesn't work, we're right back to the state. Like, we're not we're not going anywhere. And on the contrary, what we learned from that New Jersey experience was we now know who our real supporters are going to be. We know that there are 14 members of the Democratic Party that put their name to a school choice bill. >> Wow. >> We know how many members that didn't have their name on it to be a we got to revive that bill. We got to we got to get something going. We know we have friends within the Democratic party, within the majority party that do believe in school choice. We have to we have to shred it. How how do we get this to the finish line? So if people say it's dead dead just on the contrary, it's more alive now than it ever was. We actually have members in the dem in the leadership of the Democratic party that put their name to this bill as sponsors and co-sponsors. That never happened before. >> Wow. >> So we're closer than ever. Are we close? We're not close. We're not done yet. >> Closer. >> But we're not we're not further away. >> Just quickly, what if you on on 30 seconds or less, what what is school choice? How what does that mean for your average person? That's not going to be a 30 seconds, >> 20 seconds. >> The real answer is, it's hard to say because there's there's so many different types of choose school choice programs. Simplistic, it'll be a program that'll be able to offer many, many, many families scholarships to help pay the tuitions. >> So, this is what we call in Lakewood tuition vouchers or >> so will be vouchers, will be scholarships. I'm going to get into the minutia of how exactly it's funded and >> credits and this buter. The bottom line is there will be a fund that'll be able to give many many many families scholarships or v like we call it >> vouch foradarm for yeshivas for >> for elementary and high school. >> Wow. >> And they may be $5,000 vouchers $6,000 >> for private schools also >> for for yeshivas. Sure. For what? That's that's the main >> wow >> objective. Well be it will be for public education as well meaning it's both. But yes, a a this federal piece that we're talking about is a is a is definitely for private schools. Absolutely. That's the whole idea of school choice that parents should be able to choose the school that's best for their child. >> Incredible. How do you deal with today's anti-semitism? A b explaining to guy I don't know shaking hands or just being around guy shaking hands with a female like how do you work that out when you're >> There's two separate questions. >> It is two separate questions. I threw it into one cuz we're trying to >> say this in in New Jersey. I got to tell you, I go to Trenton. I don't see it >> really. >> I really don't see it. It does. I don't have it. Like my my friends in New York like Kanye, these guys, they'll be sitting at the New York City Council, like literally five seats over from a rabid anti-semit, you know, >> they're screaming at them ceasefire and then come city right there, you know, free the hostages. Like they're literally in the same you don't have that. >> I don't have that in Jersey. >> Wow. I've yet to encounter any legislature legislator that has at at all even a drop of anti-semitism. They're all respectful that they're that very on on October 8th my phone was was buzzing with phone calls from from almost every member of the legislature. >> Wow. >> Just hey, what's going on? I'm just checking in on you. You have any family there? And for weeks afterwards, >> incredible. >> Like it's I I have not had that experience. Of course, there exists anti-semitism in the world. We know that. But it's a Facebook sign. >> Yeah. If you ask about Trenton, I have not had that experience at all in Trenton at all. >> I have I have not bumped into anyone. Even let's say people that are coming in, advocates or lobbyists, >> have not had that problem at all. That's that's a simple answer. We're not shaking hands. It was a little bit uncomfortable the first few days cuz >> they never saw before, >> right? But after like the first time it was like everyone talks to each other like hey you know this guy sh doesn't shake hands >> saying it's it's a hawk. >> It became a little bit of a h but like that's what it is. So yes we constantly meet new people and you just you just do I I I believe that and I I've get the feeling of this that I've been told by legislators that I get to know that have told me like you know Avi you're doing what you got to do. You're doing you keep doing what you got to do. like this is the respect like yeah I'm a religious person I'm very proud of my religion and this is a custom in my religion you don't like it I feel you know that's it this is who I am I'm not going to you know break it or change >> and I think there's a certain respect that people have because of that >> that's I I haven't no one said oh you're not going to shake my hand like >> on the contrary like many people they shake out their hand and I say oh I'm so sorry they they like oh I'm like and they oh I'm so sorry Right? >> Like they're apologizing to me like you know and then mentally sometimes it goes more like I'm sorry I didn't mean to be disrespectful like it's fine like don't worry we're good it's okay they forget that's what it is >> on this point right sometimes um like you have that feeling like I'll d in the airport I put my fill and the whole place is staring at you you're on a pedestal so your ding is a little extra special than just going to show and ding with your crowd Is that how you feel when you're in Trenton that you're like you have to do like extra you have to you're out there people look at you have to like be a plus obvious I'm a fish in the fishbowl >> without a question I'm one of two there's two yamaku wearing guys in Trenton that's it >> wow >> I'm the first guy from Lakewood and even Lakewood's like a unique place you know Lakewood is this unknown like oh we have a guy from Lakewood here like what's it all about but Um, for sure there's a responsibility. >> You're a mag in the morning. >> A ma chair in the morning. Wow. >> How do you How do you >> I love that. >> How do you How do you >> I'm not a mag of guys of great guys. It's a It's an It's a And we learn in a ky now it's called it used to be Arsh with permission of the Arsh founders. They allowed us to change the name to our >> still under their under their umbrella because Basker Basker say was a member of the he was nif. >> Wow. >> So we named the ky after him >> that wow. >> So um that's you know and his two sons that learn the ky which is very he has two come and learn every morning in the ky that you know the k it's a very thing and it's it's amazing. This is this is incred the movement is is >> yeah it's incredible >> unreal. It's all over the world. >> It's all over the world. It's unreal. >> It's amazing. >> I'm out of magic chair. >> There's a couple of guys learning. >> Stop being such an honor. You're a mag. >> All right. >> Okay. What would be your like the main thing you would tell an aspiring young Ascan who hits you up, calls you up, WhatsApps you. A what should I be doing? What what what would be like your your your main thing that you would tell him? >> So I I >> or even a baka learning in Shiva. Oh, so I want to tell you like this. I was asked that question a few different magazines. I was interviewed over the years asked me that question. >> So I was recently interviewed for the bet the trio which is the magazine for kids. >> The kids one, right? >> The answer was kids and yeshiva should stay. That's my answer to them. Don't be don't be busy being asking >> 100%. >> You're in yeshiva now. That's what you're supposed to be doing. You're supposed to be in yeshiva and be a nice kid. >> All right. >> But an askin doesn't happen. You know an asking ask no. So let me let me rephrase it. I was flipping through some statuses and I see that a friend of mine who's my age is on a good emission in Washington right so I message him I'm like oh new on the block right as an example meaning I'm proud of him he's doing his thing his passion his calling if he would message you or call you and say where do I what's the next step what do I do what what would what would be your advice >> so he called >> he called and that's when he came to Washington that's the answer he called >> saying that was his >> the phone may make the move. You know, there's there's there's the truth really is there is no I I tell my good connection a few years ago to Gross who was the New Jersey chairman, >> right? >> Who was the guy that hired me together, >> right? And when you back to that point, you said that >> I know nothing. I was working in in Kov that was my was Kov, >> right? You learn. No, he said it by when he was the chair of the convention, he spoke and he said to me and asked him >> if someone that cleans up the Sedor by in >> I love it. >> That's what it is. That's what Yeshua not everybody not everybody's going to be the guy going to Washington. Some people don't want to go to Washington. >> Some people don't belong in Washington, right? >> Some people they'll do better helping their yeshiva make a dinner. >> There's so many opportunities for cast in our community. just clean the tablecloths like like you know what I'm saying like that's you can do like not everyone can do everything that's also but everyone can do something >> I had to call the other day for my kid >> and that's all I remember responded was a good friend of mine >> that's the biggest ask LCSW that's that guy's thing they like to be the guy that's his% >> everyone has their spot that talks to them and you want something else some people don't have it by the way they have a family a guy once told me I have a sh about going someplace should I go should I not go my kids it's a my family if I go here I was a whole thing I'm trying to so my island I look by is a so I was to meet a rebi and I still have a sh that's still my rebi my mufinski and I have discussed till day we learn every single week together and I asked him the sh I said you know I have an opportunity to go someplace it's not really the place for my my kids don't really it's not really appropriate for my children to be there but it's a big for the family where you know what so he says the biggest anyone can have is raising a family that's the biggest to be children to be benyra that's your number one >> wow >> so you want to charity starts at home like >> some They're not that they're not they're not they don't have the opportunities. You know what? >> You take out the garbage. I like I'm giving all at it's a real thing like not not everyone is not everybody is going to be Rab. There was one Rabbi Shah there's one Rabbi there's one of there's one of Neil Rosen. >> There's one of everyone. there cuz one of everyone that's so yeah of course even with there's a board and there's a but that's that's a minute part of so if you have that you feel >> for politics and it interests you yeah call us up we need people if you enjoy going to Trenton please call us we need more people if that's not your thing then find and if you don't have a thing you have a family you have or you have or you have parents or you have siblings the world is we're surround found there was opportunities to help people out and like it is those that want to help are the ones that help. >> All right. >> And that's how it works, >> right? Some some guys just to end it off the guys who fill up the coffee in SH. >> Absolutely. >> What would we do without them? >> There's a guy there's an example. >> There's a guy in Kyle or I don't want to say his name. He may be embarrassed. But there's a guy called he's not that he's not that polished, you know, a good >> Washington guy. He comes every single morning to the kit before anyone else is there and he fills up the coffee machines. >> Incredible. >> This guy is not an Askin. >> This guy is not holy. >> Of course, >> he's probably it's harder for him to fill the coffee is the coffee machine. There's no pictures. There's no glory. There's no I see you there. No one does that to him. They complain. Why was the coffee already on time? Why is it cold? It's it's too overwheld. That's all he gets, >> right? And he literally got every morning he takes out all the garbage. He puts it in the unsung this guy. This guy is not an Oskin. This guy's This guy is incredible. >> That's what it is. So he found his thing. He knows the machine. He enjoys it. That's his space. >> Incredible. >> What's What does Avi do? Aishn do chill. >> Can of cold polar seltzer. >> Yeah. And >> styrofoam cup and au tough it. Amazing. Thank you so much for joining. It was my a pleasure. >> Thank you. My pleasure. >> Keep doing what you're doing. >> Keep doing what you're doing. Amazing.