Advertise on podcast: Jewish Philanthropy Podcast

Topic: Philanthropy in Challenging Times   Guest: Michael Bloch   Bio:    Michael Bloch was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company for 23 years where he worked with senior executives and boards of large corporations in more than 10 countries to accelerate their growth, leverage technology for competitive advantage, and transform their support functions.   In parallel, Michael has worked for over a decade with non-profit organizations, helping them define their strategy and implement growth initiatives. Over the years Michael worked on the employment of weaker populations, a new museum, immigration for highly skilled olim, food rescue, woman entrepreneurship, the integration of Haredim into high-tech, the scale-up of educational programs, etc.   Prior to McKinsey, Michael was a researcher at the University of California (Berkeley) and at New York University. Before that, he worked for Unicible (a Swiss outsourcer for the banking industry) where he managed business process redesign and software development projects.   Michael received an M.S. in Business Information Systems and a B.A. in Economics and Business Administration from Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. A citizen of Switzerland, France, and Israel, he is fluent in French, English, and Hebrew.    He is also the current CEO of Israel Impact Partners https://www.israel-impact.com/   Articles by Michael on Charitable Giving:                   https://www.jpost.com/opinion/smart-tzedakah-efficiently-effectively-professionalized-giving-opinion-662342 https://www.jpost.com/judaism/seven-processes-of-smart-tzedakah-that-you-can-do-664011   In this riveting episode we learn the nuts & bolts of how to practice impactful & effective philanthropy.

Topic: The JPP 2023 Year in Review   Rabbi Cohen highlights the top episodes of this past season.   Looking forward to 2024 on the JPP!  

Topic: A Concierge Rabbi   Guest: Rabbi Yehuda Albin   Bio:   Yehuda's story is genuinely remarkable.  He grew up as a Reform Jew in Scarsdale, NY, his father was a successful entrepreneur that ran a secular Jewish camp called Ken-Mont and Ken-Wood.  He became religious in Jerusalem, after graduating Bowdoin College with the highest honors.  Then he studied the Torah and the Talmud for nearly a decade in Jerusalem, before returning to the states, and moving to Chicago. In Chicago he established a Torah teaching and counseling practice, focused on successful business people and professionals. He has been doing this for 30 years wearing two different hats in the process.     Yehuda's experience, education, and wisdom, melding the best of two worlds, provide a unique perspective helping people manage business, family and every type of unique  problem.  His unique, spiritually based, approach to life is a fresh alternative to more traditional counselling and coaching.     To get a feel for Yehuda's engaging approach and command of subject matter, you can listen to him at  https://www.theemberfoundation.org/   In this episode, we discuss impacting people through personal relationships, deep torah study & philanthropy.

Topic: Israel at War #4: The Capitalist Kibbutz   Guest: Oded Hermoni   Bio:   General Partner & Co-Founder; J-Ventures, J-Angels In the past 15 years Oded has invested in many industries as a partner in Rhodium VC, J-Ventures and J-Angel. Most of the investments were in Silicon Valley NYC and Israel. Oded has been an Entrepreneur, Investor and experienced High Tech Executive and over 40 companies in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv as a board member, observer, founder, consultant, and manager. Investments include Face.com (FB) Outbrain, Hopstop ( Apple), Hexatier ( Huawei), Storedot, Compass ( Sage), Cabin, AFresh, Yieldmo, Yotpo, Zooz ( PayU), IMGN, MDGO, Phylagen, Macheye, Swiftmile, Home365, Physera. Oded Hermoni is a leader in connecting the American Jewish community and the many Israelis working in Silicon Valley. Jerusalem-born Oded began his career as a journalist covering the country’s flourishing technology sector. He soon took an active role in the technology sector himself by founding two start-up companies, one of which was acquired by Yellow Pages in 2006.  Oded became a leader of the high-tech industry in Israel, founding the country’s High Tech Industry Association, before he, his wife, Ravit, and their young son relocated to the Bay Area in 2011. Upon arrival, Oded found an already well-established Israeli community on the South Peninsula.   In this episode, we discuss being the child of a hero who died in the Yom Kippur war & how we can create greater connection amongst Jews throughout the world.

Topic: Israel at War #3: Raising Funds for the State of Israel   Guest: Howard L. Goldstein   Bio:   Howard is the Chair of the National & International Boards of Israel Bonds. He is senior partner at Citrin Cooperman, one of the nation's largest professional services firms. With more than 50 years of experience as a certified public accountant, Howard has broad knowledge in all tax strategies and planning for corporations, partnerships, individuals and start-up companies. Howard is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New Jersey Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and State of New Jersey Board of Certified Public Accountants.   In this episode we discuss the importance of Israel bonds at this critical juncture as well as the $1 billion plus raised for Israel since October 7th.

Topic: Israel at War #2: The Battle for our College Campuses   Guest: Daniel Lowy   Bio:   Daniel is a seasoned financial expert with a track record for identifying underperforming businesses and executing successful business turnarounds. He received his MBA in Finance & Entrepreneurial Management from The Wharton School and his Bachelor’s in Economics & Finance and Master’s in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Daniel has a broad range of executive and investment experience in the U.S. and international marketplace, with a particular focus on healthcare. He serves on the board of the Orthodox Union (OU) & CUNY graduate school of public health.   In this episode we discuss Daniel's letter to the President of U of Penn withdrawing his support due to blatant failures of the university to condemn antisemitism & failure to condemn the Hamas atrocities of 10/7.  This was in tandem with other noted philanthropists withdrawing support from the Ivy league.

Topic: Israel at War: How Can We Help?   Guest: Michal (Miki) Leon   Bio:   Miki is the CEO & Director of her family foundation in Israel.   In 'regular times' the foundation focuses on fortifying home-room teachers in Israel to ensure the education of the next generation of Israelis and to ensure nobody is forgotten.   In this episode we have a raw heart to heart conversation about recent events in Israel including using philanthropy as a tool to help on the front-lines and in the emergency crisis we find ourselves in.   Learn More at this link: https://lionff.com/

Topic: Technology & Philanthropy   Guest: Adam Nash   Bio:   Adam is the co-founder and CEO of Daffy.org, a not-for-profit community built around a new, modern platform for giving. He is a seasoned executive, investor, and advisor with a long career at companies like Apple, eBay, LinkedIn, Dropbox, and Wealthfront, where he was CEO. He is also an adjunct lecturer at Stanford, where he teaches “Personal Finance for Engineers”. In this episode we discuss:   1) Contradictions-Humility & Hubris 2) Impact of AI 3) Developing a Career: How to Grow 4) Tracking Charitable Giving 5) Helping to become the Ideal Philanthropic Version of Yourself  6) Coaching Personal Finance and so much more!

Topic: Family Offices & Societal Change    Guest: Daniel Goldman   Bio:   Daniel is the founder and Managing Partner at Goldrock Capital. Born in London, Daniel emigrated to Israel in 1992. He now lives in Beit Shemesh, where he was very involved in building and shaping the city. Daniel is active in many organizations that promote understanding and tolerance among all sectors of society. He lives with his wife and five children.   In this episode we discuss:   1) Growing up in New Castle 2) A thirty-year story of Rags to Riches 3) Helping High-Net Worth Families 4) Diverse Sources of Inspiration 5) Changing the sociological landscape in Israel 6) Difference between Tzedaka (Charity & Philanthropy) and so much more!Topic

Topic: Breaking Barriers While Helping Others   Guest: Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin   Bio:   Michelle Greenberg-Kobrin is a Clinical Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School and the Founding Director of the Program on Leadership at the Heyman Center for Corporate Governance.  Professor Greenberg-Kobrin is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, where she served as Dean of Students for eleven years. She also holds an appointment at Columbia University's Teachers College in the Klingenstein Center for Independent School Leadership.  She teaches in the areas of transactional law, leadership, conflict resolution and negotiation, intellectual property law and educational governance.  She served as the Title IX Coordinator at Columbia Law School where she authored sexual harassment policies and oversaw the sexual respect initiative, training hundreds of students each year. Professor Greenberg-Kobrin also facilitates the Arev Fund, a grantmaking organization whose mission is to use and promote impactful female Jewish philanthropy to spur change, with a particular focus on the advancement of women.  Areas of interest include spiritual leadership, communal life, social justice, and education. Prior to her appointment at Columbia, she was an attorney in the corporate, securities, and financial Institutions group at Arnold & Porter. She received both her BA and her JD from Columbia University, and was a Bruriah Scholar at Midreshet Lindenbaum and a Torat Miriam fellow.  Professor Greenberg-Kobrin trains leaders around the world and lectures and consultants with various universities, organizations, Jewish day schools and private schools on a wide-range of issues, including leadership training, negotiation and conflict resolution, agunot, policy drafting and implementation, sexual assault and harassment prevention, crisis management, work/life balance, faculty development and training and women and Judaism. She serves on a number of not-for-profit boards and lives in Riverdale, New York with her husband. They are the parents of five children.   In this episode we discuss:   1) Hard Work 2) Memories from Columbia Law School class of 99' 3) Learning in Depth  4) Lessons in Parenting 5) Influencing Students  6) Start-Up Philanthropy 7) Never Saying No and so much more!

Topic: Overcoming Obstacles   Guest: Tamir Goodman   Bio:   Zone190 inventor Tamir Goodman, dubbed “The Jewish Jordan” by Sports Illustrated in 1999, is a former professional basketball player who has become a successful entrepreneur, coach, educator, and motivational speaker. During high school, Goodman was ranked among the top 25 recruits in the country, and he garnered attention after averaging 35.4 points per game his junior year, all while remaining faithful to his Orthodox Jewish upbringing. He achieved additional notoriety after being named MVP of the prestigious “Capital Classic All-Star Game,” an award won by players like Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James. Tamir went on to make history as the first Jewish basketball player to play D-I college and professional basketball, while faithfully wearing a yarmulke on the court and without playing on the Jewish Sabbath. In 2002, Goodman fulfilled his dream of moving to Israel, signing a three-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv and serving in the Israeli Defense Force, which is a requirement of all Israeli citizens. Goodman played in Israel and again in the U.S. until injuries forced his retirement in 2009. Since retiring, Goodman has established his reputation as a sought-after motivational speaker, coach, and educator. He has coached more than 3,000 basketball players around the world, and has partnered with Houston Rockets small-forward Omri Casspi on a series of basketball camps around the U.S. He is also the cofounder of Coolanu Israel, which strengthens ties to Israel through innovative seminars, sports programs and literature projects for athletes, college students, and coaches. In this episode we discuss: 1) Being a Kiddush Hashem 2) You can do Anything 3) Having a Coach & Mentor 4) What does G-d Want from me Today? 5) Inspired by Those who Overcome 6) Loving Life 7) The Ultimate Connector and so much more!

Topic: Becoming Elite   Guest: Mike Dube   Bio:   Mike Dube, co-founder and President of Elite Method, has an incredible passion for working with kids and teaching them the skills needed to be successful in life. He stresses character building as much as strength and skill building. Mike is also co-founder of DubeZone, where he served as the inspiration and master trainer to a large coaching staff. Mike is considered an expert coach for his unique ability to connect with and transform every child with whom he works. His energy and enthusiasm is infectious, and he spreads his positive message through volunteerism, motivational speaking, and the charity he co-founded, Sharing Seats, which has given away thousands of event and sporting tickets to children in need. "Coach Mike," as he is affectionately called, is an inspiration to many and is very much looking forward to continuing his passion in helping kids through the development of Elite Method.     In this episode we discuss:   1) Child of Divorce 2) A Passion for Helping Others 3) Giving is the Best Feeling 4) From Kids to CEO's 5) Time is our most precious commodity 6) Living an Inspirational & Meaningful Life 7) Sharing Seats & Gronk and so much more!