Topic: The Rabbi Who Raised A Billion Dollars  Guest: Rabbi Meyer H. May &nbsp;  Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp;   Rabbi Meyer H. May is the Executive Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museums of Tolerance, having joined the Center in the fall of 1978, its second year.   As Executive Director for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi May has traveled throughout the world meeting with heads of state and leading government officials, as well as some of the most prominent corporate leaders and philanthropists of our time. As the chief development officer of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi May and his team have raised well over $1 billion in support of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and its multi-faceted divisions. Specifically,&nbsp;Rabbi May directs the Center’s capital expansion campaigns and its annual $28 million international fund-raising campaigns. He is currently guiding the $290 million capital campaign and $50 million endowment to build the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. Rabbi May also supervises the Center’s regional offices and all Simon Wiesenthal Center special events, coordinates major gift fund-raising with the Center’s membership development and online campaigns and oversees its highly successful planned giving program. Rabbi May also heads the Center’s legislative effort, which to-date, has resulted in more than $139 million in Federal, State and City appropriations to the Center and its Museums of Tolerance. He is currently focusing on the Center’s long-term endowment and on further capitalizing the Center’s Academy-Award® winning Moriah Films media division. Rabbi May is past-President of the Rabbinical Council of California and serves on a number of non-profit boards; among them Artscroll’s Mesorah Heritage Foundation and the Canadian and United Kingdom Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Raised on the East Coast, Rabbi May graduated in 1976 from Nova University with an M.S. in guidance and counseling. He was ordained in New York in 1977 by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. In the Spring of 1978, Rabbi May received his Officer’s Commission and served as a U.S. Army Chaplain (Reserves). Rabbi May is married to the former Shulamith Filler, a renowned educator in Los Angeles; and together they have seven children, thirty-eight terrific (and spoiled) grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren!   &nbsp;  In this exciting interview, we cover:              &nbsp;   1. Art Scroll &amp; Rabbi Zlotowitz 2. The Sun &amp; The Moon 3. Statesmanship with Integrity 4. Raising Money for 'Other' Causes 5. Game-Changers/SWC Museum in Israel 6. Health &amp; Exercise 7. Finding the Elusive Work/Family Balance&nbsp; 8. Not Believing&nbsp;the Hype And so much more!

Topic: The Rabbi Who Raised A Billion Dollars

Topic: From Disney to a Torah Life                              Guest:&nbsp;Saul Blinkoff &nbsp;  Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp;  Saul began his career as an animator for the WALT DISNEY STUDIOS working on the hit films Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, & Tarzan. He made his directorial debut with the hip action-adventure series Spy Groove&nbsp;for MTV. Shortly thereafter, he re-joined DISNEY, directing the films Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo & Kronk's New Groove-&nbsp;starring Eartha Kitt & David Spade. Saul also consulted in development on the DISNEY films: Tinkerbell, Fox and The Hound II, Brother Bear II, Cinderella III, and Dumbo II.&nbsp; Saul has directed high profile commercials for clients such as Best Buy, Dunkin' Donuts, ESPN, Subway, Mercedes Benz, EA Sports&nbsp;& Build-A-Bear and has consulted for animation studios internationally in London, Tel Aviv,&nbsp;Toronto, Seoul, Dublin, Vancouver & China.&nbsp;Saul was a Director on the smash hit DISNEY show Doc McStuffins, Supervising Director on The Numberlys&nbsp;and Consulting Producer on The Stinky & Dirty Show; both&nbsp;for AMAZON.&nbsp; For NETFLIX, Saul was Consulting Director on the hit show Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and was Supervising Director on Llama Llama starring Jennifer Garner. Currently,&nbsp;Saul is the Supervising Producer on the DREAMWORKS hit show Madagascar: A Little Wild on HULU/PEACOCK. Saul speaks around the world sharing practical tools for success, meaning and fulfillment in all aspects of life! He also hosts the inspirational weekly podcast; Life of AWESOME! Saul lives in Los Angeles with his wife Marion and their four children. &nbsp; In this fascinating episode, we cover:              1. Growing Up on Long Island 2. Wanting to be an Animator 3. The Lion King&nbsp; 4. The Challenges of a life in LA/Hollywood 5. R' Noach Weinberg and the Power of Aish 6. Being a Seeker of Truth/Wanting things Badly 7. Framing Challenges-Even Jeff Bezos has Them And much more!

Topic: From Disney to a Torah Life

Topic:&nbsp; A Big-Hearted Brain Surgeon                  &nbsp; Guest: Dr. Howard Weiner  &nbsp;  Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp; 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: A Big-Hearted Brain Surgeon

Topic: Learning from a Master &nbsp;            Guest: Richard M. Joel &nbsp; Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp; Richard M. Joel became Yeshiva University’s fourth president on September 21, 2003, and was named Bravmann Family University Professor in April 2010. Over his&nbsp;tenure, President Joel built upon the illustrious tradition of this storied institution by placing a renewed emphasis on the student experience, academic excellence, Torah scholarship and communal involvement. Under his helm, Yeshiva University has built the Jacob and Dreizel Glueck Center for Jewish Study, established the Center for Jewish Future, established the Katz School of Graduate and Professional Studies, and developed programs in order to obtain an EMBA, Masters in Accounting, Masters in Quantitative Economics, Masters and PhD in Applied Mathematics, Masters in Marketing, and Masters in SLP. These initiatives have kept YU in the forefront of leading universities, along with expanding the use of technology by launching online education programs on the high school, college and graduate levels.&nbsp; With his characteristic charm and wit, President Joel can often be spotted around Yeshiva’s campuses engaging with students and learning about them; one of his great pleasures at Yeshiva is in serving on its faculty and teaching his weekly course. His devotion to the well-being of the students led to the establishing of new student life programs. Following his lead, the university has further developed a culture of warmth. President Joel is renowned as a charismatic leader and a captivating orator, and has traveled globally to dialogue with audiences on values-driven education, communal leadership, and Jewish identity. Just as Yeshiva University has embraced its role as the flagship institution of Modern Orthodoxy, President Joel has in many ways become more than a university president but a true spokesperson for the Jewish people.&nbsp; Growing up in Yonkers, NY, Joel earned his B.A. and J.D. from New York University where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar; he has received honorary doctorates from Boston Hebrew College and Gratz College. He also served as assistant district attorney and deputy chief of appeals in the Bronx, and Associate Dean and Professor of Law at YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. President Joel considers his greatest accomplishment marrying his best friend and partner, Esther, who holds a Ph.D. from Yeshiva’s Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Together, they have six children, all of whom attended Yeshiva University, and eleven grandchildren, who are the great joy of their lives.       In this insightful episode&nbsp;we learn about an amazing career serving the Jewish community.

Topic: Learning from a Master

Topic: Fundraising Strategy &nbsp;            Guest: Elizabeth Abel &nbsp; Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp; Elizabeth is a thought leader in philanthropy and expert in fundraising. She has led capital campaigns and development initiatives that have collectively raised nearly one billion dollars for education, healthcare, arts and culture, and advocacy organizations.  She is a Senior Vice President at CCS Fundraising, a global fundraising consulting firm for nonprofits. Since joining CCS in 2013, Elizabeth has partnered with institutions to plan and implement multi-million-to-billion-dollar campaigns. In this role, she provides counsel on strategic planning, major gifts fundraising, and board engagement. Elizabeth has directed campaign planning studies, served in interim development roles, and managed annual campaigns and special fundraising events.  Elizabeth is an Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches a fundraising course to graduate students in the Nonprofit Leadership Program. Elizabeth serves on the Board of the Nonprofit Leadership Program Alumni Association, and in 2020, she was inducted into the School of Social Policy and Practice Alumni Hall of Fame for her work with mission-driven organizations.  Elizabeth has been recognized by the New York Jewish Week as a "thought leader in Jewish philanthropy" in their 36 to Watch and by BELLA Magazine as a "Woman of Influence in Philanthropy." You can find Elizabeth offering her fundraising expertise at industry conferences, on nonprofit podcasts, and on social media platforms including LinkedIn and Instagram (@ElizabethBerniAbel). She lives in New York with her husband and their two daughters and is an avid hiker and tea drinker. &nbsp; *In this important episode&nbsp;we learn the skills necessary to become an impactful solicitor and steward of philanthropy.

Topic: Fundraising Strategy

Topic:A Thoughtful Leader &nbsp;            Guest: Arnon Kraft &nbsp; Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp; Arnon Kraft's most recent job was Chief Operating Officer at Payoneer, Inc.&nbsp; He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at Big 4 Strategic Consulting Ltd. from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, he worked at Microsoft Corp. as the GM-Partner Management &amp; Strategic Sourcing from 2012 to 2018. From 2008 to 2011, he held the position of Vice President-Operations at Modu Ltd. Prior to that he&nbsp;worked at SanDisk. Mr. Kraft obtained an MBA from Tel-Aviv University in 2000 and completed his undergraduate studies at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in 1996. &nbsp; *In this episode&nbsp;we learn the skills necessary to become an impactful manager and skillful worker plus how to multitask&nbsp;effectively.                                                                &nbsp;

Topic: A Thoughtful Leader

Topic: Leading in Challenging Times &nbsp;            Guest: Maayan Aviv &nbsp; Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp; Israel is facing multi-generational trauma.&nbsp;, based in Israel, is a non-profit organization founded 25 years ago. The organization specializes in the field of war-and-terror-related trauma, PTSD and resiliency-building among civil society. &nbsp; , supports the efforts in Israel. It also engages in innovative collaborations, partnering with US organizations who seek&nbsp;NATAL’s expertise in the field of trauma preparedness and recovery. For example, work is being done in Chicago and Ukraine. &nbsp; , was in the IDF, and has dedicated her life to Jewish non-profits.&nbsp;&nbsp;  &nbsp; *In this episode&nbsp;we learn about balance and how to manage those&nbsp;around us including board members &amp; volunteers. We also hear about having flexibility in leadership and managing expectations.                                                                      &nbsp;

Topic: Leading in Challenging Times

Topic: Looking Outwards &nbsp;                                                    Guest: Rabbi Erica Gerson &nbsp; Bio:&nbsp; &nbsp;    Rabbi Erica Gerson graduated from Amherst College, magna cum laude, and received both rabbinical ordination and a Masters in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Erica served as the inaugural Director of Jewish Life at JCP Downtown in Manhattan before relocating to NJ, where she taught in the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Rodeph Sholom School, a Reform Jewish day school. Erica is also a member of the international board of United Hatzalah of Israel. She and her husband are the co-founders of the Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L’Chaim Prize, an annual $500,000 award for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service. It is administered by the African Mission Healthcare Foundation, of which Mark is a co-founder.    *In this episode&nbsp;we hear a very unique perspective on Jewish philanthropy including donating significantly to non-Jewish causes and not diversifying too much.                                                                      &nbsp;

Dovid M. Cohen

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