Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Topic: The Art of Philanthropy   Guest: Shawna Goodman-Sone   Bio:   Shawna Goodman-Sone obtained a BA in Art History from McGill University and was awarded the McGill Scarlet Key for outstanding leadership and positive impact. She graduated from the Natural Gourmet Cooking School and the Institute of Culinary Education, both in New York City. Upon graduation, she has given classes, catered and cooked for clients in New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal and Israel. She acted as editor of the cookbook, Panache: Montreal’s Flair for Kosher Cooking, a project of the Auxiliary of the Sir Mortimer B. David Jewish General Hospital. Shawna is currently living in Ra’anana, Israel combining her love for food and philanthropy in creating classes that celebrate Israel’s abundance while raising awareness of local charitable organizations. She is a Board member of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the Jewish Funders Network and Gvahim which supports the integration of new arrivals in Israel.  She is also the Chairman o

Topic: An Unstoppable Drive   Guest: Adam Neuman    Bio:   Adam Neuman serves the Big Ten Conference as Chief of Staff, Strategy and Operations & Deputy General Counsel as a member of the conference's Senior Leadership Team. Neuman serves as a strategic aide to both the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors (COP/C) and the Big Ten Conference Commissioner in creating a movement of leadership in sports, academics and social responsibility throughout intercollegiate sports. Neuman joined the Big Ten Conference in January 2020 and played a strategic role in helping the conference navigate the most complex times in its 125-year history by assuming a leadership role in helping the conference navigate a global health pandemic. Neuman helped establish the Taskforce for Emerging Infectious Diseases and played a key role in the negotiations and implementation of a comprehensive COVID-19 testing program to help student-athletes, coaches and staff return to competition safely. His previous legal experience

Topic: Lessons from a CEO   Guest: Bruce Schanzer   Bio:   Bruce Schanzer is Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Erez Asset Management, LLC, a fund manager focused on real estate investment opportunities in both public and private capital markets. Prior to forming Erez in August 2022, Mr. Schanzer was President, CEO and a director of Cedar Realty Trust (NYSE: CDR), a real estate investment trust focused on the ownership, operation, and redevelopment of grocery-anchored shopping centers in the Washington, DC to Boston corridor.    Before joining Cedar in 2011, he held real estate investment banking positions at Goldman Sachs & Co and at Merrill Lynch. Prior thereto, Schanzer worked as a real estate attorney in New York. He received an M.B.A. in finance and accounting from the University of Chicago (now known as the Booth School of Business); a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he also served as a member of the Law Review; and a B.A from Yeshiva College, where he is currently a member

Topic: What is a Chief Heart Officer?   Guest: Claude Silver   Claude Silver’s life’s purpose is to be of joyful service and unlock emotional optimism in all. Cultivating Emotional Optimism is the most effective tool in revealing the greatness that resides within people. The key lies in the heart. Claude is the first-ever Chief Heart Officer. She takes her calling seriously and it has led her down a path of working with and working for close to 1,000 employees at VaynerMedia to integrate heart into their professional lives and become the best version of themselves and best leaders they can be. There has never been a better time to concentrate on bringing humanity, emotional intelligence, equity, and diversity into the workplace; cultivating cultures, connections and communication-this is what will take teams to the next level of success in all areas of business, and it all begins and ends with heart. As a motivational speaker, thought leader and industry trend setter, Claude focus on teaching people and orga

Bonus Episode: Commemorating the 6th Yahrzeit of  Hagaon HaRav Moshe Shapiro zt'l   Guest:    Rabbi Yechezkel Hartman    Rabbi Hartman has been delivering Shiurim and lectures on a variety of Torah Topics for the past 15 years. He studied in Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim, and was a close Talmid of Rav Moshe Shapira zt’l. Rabbi Hartman's Shiurim include a daily Daf Yomi and Short Machshava on the Daf, and a weekly Practical halacha shiur, Parsha B'Iyun shiur, as well as his renowned Machshava on the Parsha/Yom Tov Shiur, based on the teachings of his Rebbi.  Rabbi Hartman is the author of Sefer Ma’ane Yechezkel on Chumash and (soon to be published) Shiurei Rav Moshe Shapira on Agados of Raba Bar Bar Chanah, as well as several periodic publications.  He holds an MBA from Columbia University and works in real estate.   In this episode:   1) Meeting R' Moshe as a child 2) Seeing the Forest from the Trees 3) My Father's Rebbe 4) Shidduchim Insights 5) Sharing Torah with one & all 6) Desiring/Asking for Gre

    Topic: The Year in Review/2022 Guest: Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen (solo)   Bio:    Rabbi Cohen is the host of the JPP. He's a fundraiser, someone deeply committed to philanthropy and making a positive game-changing impact on the world.   In this episode we explore:   1. Top 5 Episodes from the 2022 Season 2. Fake it Until You Make-It 3. Persistence v. Annoyance 4. Passion for the Cause 5. Leveraging in Times of Plenty 6. Crossing Lines/Boundaries

Topic: Thoughtful Philanthropy   Guest: Emily Kane Miller   Bio:    Emily is the founder and CEO of Ethos Giving. Equal parts head and heart, Emily has spent her career working for social change. With deep experience in government, advocacy, nonprofit, corporate, and philanthropic work, Emily has a unique ability to envision and steward philanthropic contributions that maximize benefit and value for all.   Previously, she served as Vice President of Philanthropy & Community Affairs at The Wonderful Company. Emily led the organization’s award-winning philanthropic efforts, which ranged from paradigm-changing, place-based work, to branded community giving programs, to transformative institutional contributions.     Emily was formerly legal counsel and Director for Government Affairs at Wonderful, where she worked on a host of issues pertaining to regulatory, governmental, and philanthropic affairs—including agriculture, food law, education, affordable housing and nutrition—at the

Topic:  Fundraising Tips from a Master   Guest: Dan Forman   Bio:    Dan Forman is currently Senior Philanthropic Advisor at Yeshiva University and previously served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement from 1995-2016. During his tenure as Vice President, Dan directed two comprehensive campaigns that generated more than $1.6 billion for YU and its Schools. Prior to YU, Dan was Executive Director of the 1986-1995 CapItal Campaign at NY UJA-FEDERATION which generated $1.2 billion as well as directed the principal gifts department of its Annual Campaign raising $80 million per annum. Dan was also Executive Director of UJA-FEDERATION’S Westchester Division as well as Jewish Community Centers in Mt. Vernon, NY and Boston, Mass.   Dan has taught strategic planning and fundraising at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, YU’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, The New School, Brandeis University, Marymount College, and Leslie College. He also currently provides philanthro

Topic:  A Big-Hearted Brain Surgeon   Guest: Dr. Howard Weiner   Bio:    Dr. Weiner is Chief of Neurosurgery at Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Weiner has become one of the country’s leading pediatric epilepsy surgeons, attracting patients from across the United States and abroad because of his innovative approach. Over the last 20 years, he has become a recognized national and international leader in the surgical treatment of childhood epilepsy, and has been a pioneer in advancing the care of children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, for which he is considered one of the world’s leading experts. His expertise also includes the operative treatment of childhood brain tumors, spasticity, hydrocephalus, congenital malformations, tethered cord, chiari malformation, craniosynostosis, and spina bifida. In this episode we explore: 1. The 5am Club 2. Finding Balance in a Frenetic World 3. Mentorship 4. Family as the Priority 5. What is Perfection? 6. Work Hard/Be Nice and much more!

Topic:  Meeting Up   Guest: David Siegel   Bio:    David Siegel is the CEO of Meetup, the largest platform for finding and building local community. He has over 20 years of experience as a technology and digital media executive leading organizations through innovative product development, rapid revenue growth, and digital traffic acceleration. Prior to joining Meetup, David was CEO of Investopedia and before that, President of Seeking Alpha.  David holds a BA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University where he teaches strategic planning and entrepreneurship. He hosts the podcast Keep Connected, which is dedicated to the power of community. David’s book, Decide & Conquer, (HarperCollins) lays out the framework for decision-making that leaders can use to ensure organizational and personal success. In this episode we explore: 1. No Regrets 2. Work Ethic 3. Work/Life Balance 4. CEO skill-set 5. Secrets of Men

Topic:  A Global Lawyer   Guest: Jeremy Lustman   Bio:    Jeremy Lustman helps lead DLA Piper's global Israel country group. Jeremy spends much of his time physically on the ground in Israel, where he has developed a strong international network of Israeli companies, investors, entrepreneurs, bankers, accountants and local lawyers. He currently coordinates and helps lead DLA Piper's development efforts and initiatives cultivating international business emanating from Israel, serves as a liaison for Israeli clients seeking legal guidance in non-Israeli jurisdictions where DLA Piper has a presence, and provides guidance to non-Israeli clients evaluating business relationships and strategic partners within Israel. Jeremy directly represents and oversees a significant number of key Israeli relationships that have touched upon more than 35 different international jurisdictions and more than 40 DLA Piper global offices. These clients cover virtually all sectors of the Israeli economy, including leading venture

Topic: Kindness on Every Level   Guest: Adele Goldberg   Bio:    Adele is the executive director of Friends of Yad Sarah, the U.S.-based support organization for Yad Sarah, the largest volunteer-staffed organization in Israel.   Yad Sarah provides a vital array of compassionate health and home care services for people of all ages. Its programs and services are dynamic and multi-faceted, from lending equipment - such as wheelchairs and oxygen machines - to caring for children and adults with disabilities.   Yad Sarah currently has 122 branches throughout Israel and is staffed by more than 7,000 volunteers who provide services for more than 800,000 individuals annually.   Yad Sarah’s annual operating budget is financed almost exclusively by donations. Adele works to secure contributions from US-based donors. Over the course of her nineteen-year career at Yad Sarah, Adele has raised more than $40 million to support Yad Sarah’s critical services.   Adele’s wisdom and insights have been featured in the Washing

Topic: Leveraging Impact   Guest: Na'ama Ore   Bio:    Na'ama Ore, is the CEO of SparkIL.    SparkIL is a new first-of-its-kind peer-to-peer lending platform where individuals can give interest-free loans to small businesses in Israel (see press release attached). As such, it's poised to change the face of the way small-gift donors contribute philanthropically in the Jewish world.   These small interest-free loans not only help struggling businesses get off the ground in a difficult economy, but in doing so, also pave the way for individual lenders to connect with Israelis on a personal level.   As a distinguished leader who previously served as regional director of the Israeli-American Council's Boston office, Ore explains how these small loans can be life-changing for those who live on the margins of Israeli society.    In this Episode we explore:   1. Impact of Family 2. Graceful Transitions 3. Always Growing 4. Women Supporting Women 5. Impact Investing/Grass-Roots Effort 6. Quantity & Quality 7.

Topic: Together Again: Reimagining the Relationships that Anchor Our Lives (Mosaica Press 2022) Guests: Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen in conversation with Greg Zuckerman of the WSJ on the launch of Rabbi Cohen's new book on relationships.   Bio:    Gregory Zuckerman (www.gregoryzuckerman.com) is a Special Writer at The Wall Street Journal, a 20-year veteran of the paper and a three-time winner of the Gerald Loeb award — the highest honor in business journalism. Greg is the author of The Frackers: The Outrageous Inside Story of the New Billionaire Wildcatters, a national bestseller named among the best books of 2014 by The Financial Times and Forbes Magazine, and The Greatest Trade Ever: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of How John Paulson Defied Wall Street and Made Financial History, a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller published December 2010. At the Journal, Greg writes about big financial firms, personalities and trades, hedge funds, the energy revolution and other investing and business topics. Gr

Topic: Transformative Leadership Guest: Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman   Bio:    Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman began his tenure as Yeshiva University’s fifth president in June 2017. Under his visionary leadership, Dr. Berman has laid the foundation for the next great era of Yeshiva University. Through a bold academic plan, he has articulated a new business model with investments in key areas such as science and technology, entrepreneurship and innovation, values and leadership and market ready graduates with great jobs and impactful careers. During his tenure, the university has introduced over 20 new graduate degrees in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, cyber security, physician assistant, biotech management, real estate management, special education, marriage and family therapy, MBA and Masters in Holocaust and Genocide Education. He spearheaded efforts to establish new academic centers such as the Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies. These efforts have produced significant g

Topic: Power with Heart: A Modern Hero Guest: Maj General Doron Almog   Bio:   Doron is the new Chairman-elect of the Jewish Agency.   A decorated soldier and international inclusion icon, Major General (Res.) Doron Almog battled the status quo for years to secure the best possible care for his son, Eran, who was born with severe autism and developmental delays.  Though Eran lost his battle with Castleman’s disease in 2007 at the age of 23, his memory fuels Doron’s continued commitment to securing the highest-level specialized care for Israel’s disability community and advancing disability inclusion, equity and access around the globe. In May 2016, Doron was awarded with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and contributions to society and the state at the closing event of Israel’s Independence Day activities.  The Israel Prize committee chose Doron for leading a revolution to advance the caring of Israel’s most vulnerable population and bringing about a crucial change i

Topic: Passion with Vision Guest: Bruce Pearl   Bio:   Bruce Pearl is an American college basketball coach, and the head coach of the Auburn Tigers men's basketball program. He previously served as the head coach at Tennessee, Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana. Pearl led Southern Indiana to a Division II national championship in 1995 and was named Division II Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He has won four conference championships and three conference tournament championships as a Division I head coach, and has made ten NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four. Pearl was named Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 2006 and was awarded the Adolph Rupp Cup in 2008. He also served as the head coach for the Maccabi USA men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2009 Maccabiah Games.   In this episode, we explore:   1. Israel as the Jewish Homeland 2. Teacher & Leader 3. My Hebrew Name 4. What I see That You Don't 5. B

Topic: Religion, Unity & Change Guest: Steve Sarowitz   Bio:    Steve founded Paylocity in 1997, with the goal to fill a gap in the marketplace by providing a solution with in-house technology supported by the service and liability protection of an outsourcing solution. Steve's vision, combined with his passion for software development, led to the first release of Paylocity's award winning SAAS platform in 2002. Prior to founding Paylocity, Steve worked at Robert F. White, which was then the nation's leading independent payroll service. He later managed two privately-held payroll companies. Steve’s 20 years of experience working in the industry with both large and small providers helped him mold Paylocity into a best-in-breed provider. A Sierra member since college, he takes environmental issues seriously. Aside from helping to develop a paperless payroll solution (Web Pay), Steve instituted a "Green Team" within the company. Additionally, prior to moving to its current c

Topic: Changing the Landscape of Women in Orthodoxy Guest: Ann Pava Ann Pava, President of Micah Philanthropies, is an activist, philanthropist, and thought leader. A natural community builder, Ann strives to embody the core Jewish values that animate her work, as expressed by the prophet Micah - “Only to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” As a philanthropist, Ann takes the lead in innovative giving while making all who participate feel counted, and treats all those they support as valued partners. As an activist, she has the unique ability to bring all types of people together, analyze challenges, and devise solutions. Ann believes that one of the strongest avenues to success for any organization is a strong lay and professional partnership. She is an articulate and passionate ambassador for the organizations and leaders she supports. A hallmark of her success over her career is her ability to inspire, mentor, and empower others, especially women, to lead and to make the worl

Topic: 'Vienna Waits for You' Guest: Rabbi Josh Blass  Rabbi Blass is a Mashgiach Ruchani at RIETS at Yeshiva University, where he has been serving for the last 17 years. He also recently completed serving 15 years as rabbi of Kehillas Beis Yehuda in Monsey, NY.  Rabbi Blass received his semikha from RIETS and a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School for Jewish Studies. He is now completing a Masters degree in Social Work with an eye toward private practice. Since receiving his ordination, Rabbi Blass has taught in a number of high schools, including MTA and Bruriah. In the year 2000, he became the Rav of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine where he worked for four years, before joining Kehillas Beis Yehuda. During his tenure in Monsey, Rabbi Blass has been involved in an advisory or leadership capacity with a number of organizations including Tomche Shabbos, Project Tikvah, the Chevra Kadisha, RCA Beis Din and others.  He is also very involved in the world of shidduchim an