Making Torah Accessible to All

Hello everyone and welcome to the Oh, you podcast. Hello everyone and welcome to the OU podcast. Today we are very lucky to have with us Rabbi, >> not yet Asher Tesser who I think we're going to give you a promotion. We're going to call you the Zar of all Torah. >> Sure. How does that work? >> Great. >> Sounds good. Okay. And of course, uh, not just well known for all of your work around here at the OU, but social media all over the place. You're you're, you know, you're a superstar in your own right. And so, we're lucky to have you with us today. >> Thanks for being here. We start with the hardest question. Who are you? >> Um, Ash Tasser, as you said, I'm 29. I live in Manchester, New Jersey, which until four years ago, even though growing up in Lakewood, which is 20 minutes away from Lakewood, I didn't know existed. >> Yeah. I And also, until I prepared for this, >> I didn't know that Manchester was a place outside of the United Kingdom. So, >> Exactly. >> Does that get confusing from time to time? >> It does. Yeah. I have to always say Manchester, New Jersey. >> Got it. >> Or you could like pause and say Manchester. >> Yeah. Your accent sounds >> exactly right. >> Yeah. >> Gets confusing. >> Okay. But so it's not liquid. >> Not liquid, but it's pretty much liquid people that couldn't afford Lakewood anymore. >> Okay. >> Or to find a space >> as someday you'll be able to move back to Lakewood. You're from Lakewood originally. >> So I grew up in Lakewood. Before it was uh 45 minutes from one side to the other. It was like 10. Um >> can is that because your car got worse? Like why did it >> because of traffic? >> Traffic. Got it. Okay. >> Grew up in Lakewood. I'm the oldest of four boys and now I'm with you. >> That's it. That's the whole story. >> The whole story. >> Nothing happened in between. >> Went to school. Uh >> where'd you go to school? >> So YTT in Lakewood was actually down the block for me. So it's very convenient. >> Okay. >> Uh then I went to base Penas also in Lakewood. Then I ventured outside Lakewood to Muny. >> Wow. Why did you leave Lakewood at that point? >> It was time to move on. So I was in my for three years. It's actually a good story. And then I went to >> actually a good story is usually when people tell the story. >> Okay. Sure. Yeah. So Rabbi Schuade who's now my boss. >> Yeah. >> I got to know him in Yeshiva in Israel. So I'm very happy that Rabbi Schwed's episode came out before this one. So we all know that Rabbi Schweed was a rebi in Yeshiva and Mi. So I was there >> and that's how we got to know each other for the first time. >> Amazing. Then I went to the mirror in Israel. Loved it. Came back to learn in Lakewood. >> How long were you in the mirror? >> A year and a half. >> Okay. >> Came back to learn in Lakewood. And then after I got married, I chose I came here. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Got married six months before co >> and Yeah. >> Okay. You spent some time in base measures, >> correct? which is also in Lakewood. Lakewood. >> Yeah. And >> I see that's going to be a central theme. >> Yeah. I mean, it's we're gonna we're definitely going to surpass Rabbi Schwed for the mentions of Lakewood in in in this year. [snorts] >> And you um is that considered college >> by Lakewood people? Yeah. Did you get like a a degree over there? >> I got a degree in Yeshiva Mansi. >> Okay. Um definitely finished it I think in Lakewood but it wasn't like a top priority. >> I got it. I got it. So where did you learn you wanted to do a career in technology and IT so where did you learn all this stuff that you are clearly very skilled at? >> It's funny because when I was looking for a job I went to a job recruiter and we had a interview and she asked like a few questions like what do I want to do? What am I good at? I started off that I think I want to do it. Then at the end of the interview, she's like, "You're too creative for it. I have the perfect job for you." And she she had Rabu's uh job description. >> So Oh, so it wasn't him knowing you from there. It was a coincidence. >> A coincidence. Yeah. Or it's not coincidence. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Um that's pretty amazing. >> Yes. >> Where did I know computers from? >> Yeah. Ever since I remember I've been playing with them. Like in fourth grade we were learning PowerPoint. Yes. Some liquidity teach PowerPoint. >> Wow. >> So I remember being I was good at it. I was good at creating it. And this one guy that sat next to me by computer class that was really into science. So I told him I was like I know nothing about this about about science. I know how to create a PowerPoint presentation. Let's work together. And we ended up winning the winning the competition. >> Fourth fourth grade. >> Fourth grade. >> Okay. >> But a prodigy and we moved on from there. >> Amazing. Beautiful. And so what is it you know that you do here? Just describe for people. Right. So you're >> very involved in >> all of the alls. Right. So like what's your role? >> It's basically broken into three things. There's the users, meaning every email, every WhatsApp that comes in, um, question, comment, complaint, all comes through me and then I outsource it or send it off to the appropriate departments in the >> How many can that be in a day? >> On a good day or a bad day? >> I'm assum I'm assuming a good day is when there aren't so many. >> Right. Exactly. We're averaging I would say around 15 on a good day and it could be I think the most I counted in one day was 250. >> So something had to have not gone well that day. >> We updated our app and people did not like the new >> Got it. >> the new look. But they got used to it. So we learned from here. Just give us a chance and it works. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And so you started when it was just Aldaf, right? >> Aldaf was I think eight months old and they were already like working on an all para concept but it wasn't. >> And so you've helped launch all para and what else? >> Mishna Jr. Allen. >> So Alishna Jr. you had a particular >> hand in in developing the idea, right? So, >> we were launching Omishna. Just to backtrack, we put out a video when oldaf turned a year old. We said, "Send us your messages or how old changed your life." And we got this text from a kid named Charlie Brada. Um, who said, "Hi," >> who I met a couple years ago at NCSY col. Yeah. >> Oh, yes. He's still involved. >> Yeah. So, he reached out on WhatsApp and says, "Hi, I'm 13 years old. Um, I've been learning I've been learning with Rabbi Leewoods, I believe." And I give a Domi shirt to a bunch of my friends. So, we went down to him. We did a whole video. You could check it out. And then when Mishnomi was launching, I was like, "It's five minutes a day. Not that complicated to do. Why don't we get kids involved in it? So I reached out to Charlie. I was like, "How about we bring this to your school?" He's like, "Why just my school? Let's bring it to all of my friends schools." So that year, Misha Jr. was launched. I think I still have a picture of Rabbi Simon Taylor, Rabbi Schedu, and myself in Braavos just like sketching out an idea of how Misha Jr. going to work with what type of merch we're going to get, what type of prizes, what the schedule's going to be. Great. And it launched. It was unbelievable. >> And then the first year I think was nine schools in TAC, five towns, and one in Bokeh, Cats and Bokeh. Um the next year, I believe, was 15 schools. And now Rabbi Averson, Mayor Averson took it over and blow it up. It's 30 schools I believe. >> Amazing. Yeah. >> 30 schools. How many kids are are involved altogether? >> I'm not sure. >> Not sure. But it started with one. >> Yeah. >> And now 30 schools. >> Okay. >> Pretty amazing. But you had a history of something that you did when you were growing up that made you want to be more involved in something that would attract younger participants. >> So I was always a camp guy. I was always that guy by color that everyone else hated color and I loved it for the competition aspect for songs for for everything. >> So you were the ruach guy and the sports guy. >> No, definitely not the sports guy. Yeah, I think you could tell. Yeah. So >> what do you mean? I would assume you were the basketball guy and hockey. >> Exactly. I play hockey. Um so I was always a camp guy before I went to Israel. Um, I switched camps from Camp Banim, which is in the Pocono Mountains, to URA's the zone campus, which is Cur. And during the I had a great year there, a great summer. And they have something called Chillzone, which is what I call a subanim without the Avis, which is in all in around the United States. They have in Israel for older kids, and they have, I think, in Canada also. >> Okay. And I was asked to start together with a friend of mine a new division in Philly. What's my connection with Philly? Is my father is a >> You're asking your I don't even have to be here. You're asking yourself the questions. It worked out well. >> So my father teaches in a cure school in Philly. So I knew a lot of the places. I knew a lot of the kids. I knew some parents there. I said, "Great, we'll do it in Philly." So every matzah shabas I used to go with 15 guys from Lakewood. I used to used to go every month to shabas there. Um it started with I think the first week we had five kids. The next week we had one kid show up. We're like devastated. And I called the I call the director. I'm like it's clearly not working. And he's like, you know, give it one more week. Let's see what happens. The next week we had eight kids. Now it is seven years later. We have close to 60 participants. >> We're involved with their families. send them sukas love everything. So camp means a lot to me. >> So all Mishna launches, all Mishna Jr. launches and now in the last year you have a new >> all. >> Okay. >> And now we're working on all >> what's >> So we're trying to solve the problem of you go into a sha home unfortunately and you see a piece of paper and everyone's supposed to take down Mishnice. Um, the idea really came, it it wasn't my idea, but the real the idea really like grew real for me is that I had someone that lost a three-year-old son. And at CHVA, like I saw the piece of paper just getting like filled up and like people writing over other people's names or writing on top. There was no way to know. And at the end of there's no way to know if they actually learned it. um how to get in touch with them because if you could read people's handwriting that's a real talent. >> So what all seam comes to solve is that problem everything's digital. Um there's two steps to it is that you have to actually select what you're learning and then you get an email reminder um to complete it. Meaning that you have to actually mark that you completed it. So the person know that knows that's making the CM that they actually learned it. >> Yeah. um that should be launching soon. >> Who whose idea was I'll see him? >> Not mine, but >> I'll give you a guess. >> Rabbi Josh. Yes. [laughter] >> I don't know if I was the only one, but I had a similar similar situation where you you need a reminder. I I unfortunately I was in a few different situations all at the same time and I was taking on this and taking on that and you're getting emails sometimes and not always and when's it due and when does it have to be finished by and so on and so forth. So, it's just even sometimes confusing what you have to do. I wonder if we could connect it to an app that can track, you know, sort of like uh as somebody who maybe has done a defensive driving course, you can't actually go on to the next section until you've, you know, >> so we are launching it together with all Mishna. It's going to be fully fully integrated. It's a very nice website. Bring everything over also into the app. um when your CM is is due like there'll be a countdown clock 14 days left click here to continue everything's going to be inside all mission for starting and then all CM is launching with Gamara being able to track your gar but will be soon integrated with all as well >> amazing are you a user of any of the allsaf Mishna all para on Fridays um not yet Okay. We're starting a new year of Kitser. >> I'm uh I'm finishing my first year with Rabbi Elephant and also Rabbi Trump >> on Kitser. So, yes, >> we'll get you on board. >> Yes. >> Um >> but I I'll say that I do have a every morning that I learn with. I find that's the best way for me to learn. But on days that I miss, don't understand, there's between Revel Stapansky, Rab Resnik. >> Yeah, >> we got it all. >> Beautiful. >> And I use the calendar every day. >> So, keep track. >> Amazing. What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you? >> It's going to sound cliche, but getting married was definitely the most rewarding experience. I heard someone that was single asking like, "What what was the whatever? You get married? Okay, great. Um, like what what's it doing to you? I think it gives a sense of a Christ, a sense of responsibility that like you're not alone in the world. You're doing stuff together. You're you're living for someone else. So, I think that was probably the most priority. >> That's beautiful. You know, I think a lot of people think about marriage is what they're getting. >> So, it's interesting. It's beautiful to hear you say it. It's about what responsibility you take on for someone else. Beautiful idea. Um, >> my father's also a marriage therapist. >> Aha. Okay, good. >> Counselor, whatever. >> Got it. The Torah team is part of a larger team. >> Can you explain how that works? >> When I joined >> Yeah. >> I believe it was just Torah initiatives. >> Yeah. Then it grew to ultra which is part of community projects and partnerships which is women's initiative LSJ um I think David Bashkin is now part of us. >> So the department is called the department of community engagement. >> Oh >> sorry. >> Okay it's led it's led by >> Rabbi Yakob Glasser. >> Yes. >> And Rabbi Simon Taylor. Right. And it has a whole bunch of different >> correct >> sections to it. Of which Torah is >> obviously the main one, >> a very important one. Yes, we love all of our children equally. And Reena Hirs, right, who is clearly both of our favorite employees at the at the OU. And should we get her on the podcast? >> Definitely. Okay. >> All right. Now is one of our favorite moments. Rapid fire questions. >> Excited. You ready? Practiced. >> You practiced. Okay, good. Let's go. What's your go-to safer? It's actually before every I look at it with liquid. >> What's your go-to Shabas food? >> Minute steak. I make a very good minute steak. >> Yeah. >> Okay. What is your best thank you Hashem moment? >> Something happened very recently. I was driving. So it was dark outside in the morning. I'm a morning guy. So I was driving to Shul in the morning and a deer came and almost totaled my car wasn't totaled and the cop told me that if it would have been a little differently um my car would have been totled and possibly I would have gotten hurt. So thank you. >> Okay for the podcast. >> Okay. >> You know >> amazing. What would you do if you weren't afraid? >> I'm afraid to try new things. I've gotten better at it, but I wasn't afraid. >> You came on a podcast. >> That was a big actually. Yeah, I could show how many emails. >> A lot of pushing. >> But Rifty Schwarz really gets a lot of credit for pushing me to to be up here. >> Okay, now we get to do something called turn the tables. You get to ask me a question. >> I was very nervous coming up here. And it doesn't seem like you ever get nervous speaking, like ever. I've seen you like 30 seconds before being told what to talk about and you just talk. How? >> So, um, >> do you get nervous first of all and like >> Yeah. Yes, I do. Uh, at times, especially like not always before, but sometimes I'm up there speaking and I'm like, this is not hitting, you know, and it's like, okay, >> that's worse, >> you know, like what do I say? and like how do I turn the tides, right? So, that is that is something I've been around lots of people who get really nervous beforehand. So, one of the things I work very hard on is like let me just, you know, practice something at least a few times in my head. So, I have like one good story, one good joke, one inspirational, you know, piece of Torah or wisdom, whatever it is. And if I can just get that one thing, >> then then I'll be good. And and then I try to simplify simplify things down. I I do get told often very very last minute like, "Oh, by the way, you're speaking. Oh, by the way, it's about this." >> Um I get especially nervous because I'm not great with names, Stephen. Um and you know, it's like then you got to get up and it's like, oh, you know, and congratulations on marrying >> I don't I don't I don't know your wife's future wife's name, right? Like, okay. Um, so like there there's there are certain specific things that that I get nervous about, but the more I can simplify and like just say, "Okay, I have three points, [snorts] a story, a Torah, an ending, you know, as long as I get to those things, I'll be I'll be okay." Um, it is interesting. The one of the great 20th century and 21st century philosophers, Jerry Seinfeld, um, >> I actually know that is. >> You know who you know that is. Okay. So he he pointed out that there was a study that found we talked about what you're afraid of that the thing people are most afraid of in the world is public speaking. The number one thing. The number two thing that they're afraid of is dying. Which means that at a funeral the guy giving the eulogy is more >> afraid >> afraid of speaking >> or would rather be down there than than doing what he was doing. Okay. So >> yeah. Got it. >> You know the joke. Yeah. Okay, good. >> But the the point is that um it comes with a lot a lot of practice and just, you know, trying to to simplify it. >> Yeah. >> And then making it look like you're not nervous. That also works too good at that. >> Yeah, it's good. You got to act, you know. >> So, uh >> yeah, that's a piece of it. We like to end off by asking you for a braha for all of the U. >> My accursive for the OU is that they really took me when I didn't have a real degree or real degree. Um, and Hashem I'm here close to five years and they really believed in me. So my bra to ou in general is keep believing in your staff, keep giving them the chance to succeed and you'll have good employees. >> It's a beautiful braha and we want to turn it back on you because clearly you also believed in us. You believed that this was a place where you could elevate us with your skills and your talents and your color war passion and you should keep bringing that to everybody you work with and across the U. When you walk by lots of people smile uh and now you're extending that beyond the OU and that braha that smile should keep flowing out to the entire world. Okay. Thank you. Good. >> That was good.