Meaningful People

In this powerful episode, David Lichtenstein opens up about wealth, success, failure, and what truly gives life meaning. From business setbacks and rebuilding, to philanthropy, community responsibility, and personal resilience, this conversation challenges how we define success and where our real value comes from. It's an honest look at money, pressure, ego, and purpose, through a deeply Jewish lens grounded in lived experience.   The discussion goes far beyond finances, touching on tzedakah, leadership, cancel culture, failure, healing from trauma, Israel, and the responsibility to speak about uncomfortable but necessary topics. This is a raw, thoughtful conversation about courage, clarity, and living with conviction, even when it's unpopular.     This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:     ► Colel Chabad Pushka App    The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful _______________________________________   ► Torah Umesorah     Torah Umesorah equips teachers and schools to help every child thrive, support this work and help strengthen Jewish education by donating today.   https://content.jcn.io/MeaningfulMinuteTU _______________________________________   ► 7th Heaven Chocolate   high-quality, dairy-free chocolate that's ethically sourced and seriously good.   use code MPPfree for free shipping https://www.7thheavenchocolate.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoryFUtu_BwTX2aYLCwtf8ykSbfR4dcurwUZAS8p_C2ftD7WyjNN _______________________________________   ► 7th Heaven Chocolate   high-quality, dairy-free chocolate that's ethically sourced and seriously good.   use code MPPfree for free shipping https://www.7thheavenchocolate.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoryFUtu_BwTX2aYLCwtf8ykSbfR4dcurwUZAS8p_C2ftD7WyjNN _______________________________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years! Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH ______________________________________   ► Town Appliance    Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp   https://www.townappliance.com https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  ______________________________________   ► Dream Raffle   Win a brand new and fully furnished $1,200,000 apartment in Yerushalayim!    Use Promo code MPP for $10 off and to receive double tickets! https://thedreamraffle.com/  _____________________________________   ► Pesach with Bordeaux   🌟 Pesach with Bordeaux 2026 is proudly partnered with Meaningful Minute to bring you amazing,inspiring and uplifting spiritual content this year!  🌟 Join us in Stamford, Connecticut for another spectacular, star-studded year ✨🍷 This year, experience true relaxation, where every detail is taken care of. 😌🌸 Rooms are filling quickly, don't wait!   📞 Call/Text: 347-699-6120 🌐 www.pesachwithbordeaux.com 💬 Chat with us on WhatsApp!  https://wa.me/13476996120       Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:32 Early life and background 3:47 "My father was wealthy without money" 4:57 Wealth as a shallow metric of success 6:52 Community, comparison, and status 8:35 The sequoia trees and interlocking roots 10:06 Tablecloths, envy, and social pressure 11:50 Maaser and "show me the data" 13:13 Who the real community heroes are 14:14 Are rabbeim underpaid? 16:09 Giving tzedakah responsibly 17:32 Giving with your body vs your wallet 18:43 The burning palace and human responsibility 21:26 Applause, self-worth, and identity 23:05 The "levaya rule" and ignoring pressure 26:52 Pressure on major donors 29:30 Speaking about abuse, suicide, and taboo topics 34:01 Cancel culture in the frum world 40:17 Media, Zionism, and controversial conversations 47:38 Losing everything and rebuilding through Torah 51:47 Turning failure into fuel 56:55 Teshuva, forgiveness, and accountability 1:00:26 Israel, yeshiva world, and survival 1:07:40 Rav Gustman story and defending life

What goes through a person's mind when they're told—before even stepping into the courtroom—that they've been sentenced to 27 years in prison? In this raw and deeply moving conversation, Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin takes us inside the moments that changed his life forever: hearing the sentence, choosing emunah over despair, surviving years behind bars, and ultimately witnessing a miracle no one expected. This is not just a story about prison or justice—it's a masterclass in faith under fire, resilience in the face of total powerlessness, and what it truly means to trust Hashem when there is no visible way out. From the courtroom to solitary confinement, from despair to unexpected freedom, Rubashkin shares how emunah transformed punishment into purpose—and why the greatest freedom begins long before the prison doors open. A story of darkness, light, and the strength to keep believing when everything says not to.   This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:   ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _______________________________________   ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _______________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com _______________________________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ______________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  ______________________________________ ► Dream Raffle Win a brand new and fully furnished $1,200,000 apartment in Yerushalayim!    Use Promo code MPP for $10 off and to receive double tickets!   https://thedreamraffle.com/  ______________________________________ ► Pesach with Bordeaux 🌟 Pesach with Bordeaux 2026 is proudly partnered with Meaningful Minute to bring you amazing,inspiring and uplifting spiritual content this year!  🌟 Join us in Stamford, Connecticut for another spectacular, star-studded year ✨🍷 This year—experience true *relaxation*, where every detail is taken care of. 😌🌸 Rooms are filling quickly — don't wait! 📞 Call/Text: 347-699-6120 🌐 www.pesachwithbordeaux.com 💬 Chat with us on WhatsApp!  https://wa.me/13476996120  

A Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach turned into a scene of terror.   In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit with a father and community leader who survived the Bondi Beach terror attack. His children were nearby. What he first thought were fireworks quickly became gunshots. Within moments, people were running, hiding, and falling.   He shares, in real time, what it was like to be there: – realizing the danger – hiding with his daughter – searching desperately for his son – trying to help the wounded while protecting his child   This conversation was recorded shortly after the attack, while the pain was still raw. It is honest, emotional, and unfiltered.   We also speak about what came next. Lighting the menorah that night. Explaining fear to children. Holding onto faith and responsibility when everything feels shaken.   This episode is not about headlines or politics. It's about survival, parenthood, community, and choosing light in the aftermath of terror.   Our hearts are with all those affected by this attack, including the family of Rabbi Elie Schlinger, a beloved husband, father, and community leader who was killed. A link to support the Schlinger family is included below, as mentioned in the episode.   If this story resonates, please consider sharing it.   Support the Schlinger family: https://www.charidy.com/elischlanger/613Help?utm_source=15mp

In this powerful and emotional conversation, Jewish music icon Yaakov Shwekey opens up about the evolution of Jewish music, the responsibility of an artist, and the deeply personal moments that shaped his life and career. From unforgettable camp memories and behind-the-scenes studio stories to the creation of his upcoming massive Shabbos project, Shwekey reflects on legacy, inspiration, and the transformative power of music. He shares raw stories about loss, fatherhood, kindness, and how music can lift broken hearts—from hospital rooms in Israel to Shabbos tables around the world. Music producer Donny Gross joins to give a rare inside look at the creative process behind their most ambitious project yet: a multi-hour Shabbos experience meant to reconnect families to song, tradition, and joy. If you love Jewish music, appreciate authenticity, or just need a dose of inspiration—this episode is for you.   This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors:   ► PZ Deals - Download the app and never pay full price again! https://app.pz.deals/install/mpp _______________________________________   ►Blooms Kosher   Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide.   https://bloomskosher.com   ______________________________________   ►Banana Blast Rentals   Bringing exciting entertainment for all your occasions. https://bananablasts.com https://wa.link/i4qlgh   _______________________________________ ► The Kichel Collection It's here just in time for Chanukah🥳 The Kichel Collection 5! Available at your favorite Judaica store  or get it here! 👇 Feldheim(20% off Chanukah Sale!): https://feldheim.com/the-kichel-collection-5   Amazon: https://a.co/d/7gGIVoJ   _______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _______________________________________   ► Lalechet     We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.    https://www.lalechet.com _______________________________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH   ______________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp     https://www.townappliance.com     https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp  ______________________________________   ►  ReKindle   This film presents the powerful, deeply personal accounts of two survivors of the Café Rimon double suicide bombing in Jerusalem. This documentary is a tribute to the lives lost, the resilience of those who survived, and the enduring human capacity to rebuild—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through Nochi Krohn's and Ovadia Waxler's story, viewers witness the lasting impact of terror and the extraordinary strength required to keep choosing life, day after day. Exclusively available via Meaningful Minute Plus: https://plus.meaningfulminute.org/programs/rekindle-black-firday-teaser-website-fd8c10

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rabbi Elchanan Shoff (Los Angeles, USA) and Rabbi Michal Weichbrod (Yehuda, Israel) for a rare, honest, and passionate conversation about one of the most charged topics in the Jewish world today: Do Jews belong in America—or is it time to move to Eretz Yisrael? Together, they dive into: 🇺🇸 The spiritual role of Jews in America 🇮🇱 The mitzvah and meaning of living in Israel 🧠 How to make decisions based on Torah, not fear 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Raising children, chinuch, army service, and communal responsibility 📜 What Chazal, Rishonim, and Gedolim really say about Aliyah 🔥 The tension between idealism and practical reality This is not a political debate. It's a deep, thoughtful exploration of Hashem's ratzon, Jewish destiny, and how to live a life of purpose in today's world. If you care about Klal Yisrael, if you've ever wondered about Aliyah, or if you just want to hear two sincere, passionate voices hash out a big question—this episode is for you.     This episode was made possible thanks to our sponsors: ►Blooms Kosher Bring you the best Kosher products worldwide. https://bloomskosher.com ______________________________________   ►Banana Blast Rentals   Bringing exciting entertainment for all your occasions. https://bananablasts.com https://wa.link/i4qlgh   _______________________________________ ► Colel Chabad Pushka App - The easiest way to give Tzedaka   https://pushkapp.cc/meaningful   _______________________________________   ►Givat Hashalva   Givat Hashalvah is a new, vibrant, Torah-centered community rising in Givat Ze'ev, only 20 minutes from the heart of Yerushalayim.   https://go.lyo.group/4rAkXCN   _______________________________________   ► Lalechet   We're a team of kosher travel experts, here to carry you off to your dream destination swiftly, safely, and seamlessly in an experience you will forever cherish.   https://www.lalechet.com _______________________________________   ►Rothenberg Law Firm   Personal Injury Law Firm For 50+ years!   Reach out Today for Free Case Evaluation   https://shorturl.at/JFKHH ______________________________________ ► Town Appliance - Visit the website or message them on WhatsApp   https://www.townappliance.com   https://bit.ly/Townappliance_whatsapp ______________________________________ ► ReKindle A new documentary exclusively on Meaningful Minute Plus   Coming Dec. 13th https://plus.meaningfulminute.org/programs/rekindle-black-firday-teaser-website-fd8c10