Transcript [00:00] Rabbi Simmon Jacobson, how much money do [00:02] you make every year? [00:06] [laughter] [00:07] >> It's a great question. Um, you don't [00:09] want to know [00:11] cuz everyone thinks I'm a millionaire, [00:14] even a billionaire. Let me see. [00:17] Probably make uh between everything half [00:21] a million dollars a year. [00:22] >> I didn't think the rabbit was going to [00:23] answer it. [00:24] >> That's why I answered cuz I knew you [00:26] didn't think I would answer it. I would [00:28] have bet against the rabbi answering. [00:31] >> Yeah. [00:31] >> Why are we so afraid to talk about [00:33] money? [00:33] >> Well, let me just tell you how I [00:35] calculated. [00:35] >> Okay. Okay. [00:36] >> I didn't think the rabbi would offer [00:38] that either. [00:38] >> No, I'll tell you how I calculate. I run [00:40] an organization called the meaningful [00:42] life center, which is a nonprofit and uh [00:45] driven primarily funded by donations. [00:48] I'm the main fundraiser. So, I don't [00:50] take any commission or anything. I got a [00:52] salary but uh no way I control the [00:55] destiny of the finances you know and I [00:58] always lived by what I needed. I never [01:00] was driven. I'm not money hungry guy [01:02] like you know some people money they [01:04] need to make money for me when I started [01:06] my career I was making $250 a week maybe [01:10] for me and my wife we were mapping mammu [01:12] as they say we were fine to cover our [01:15] costs but as the organization grew got [01:18] bigger donors we're doing more programs [01:21] so that's one way I get my salary but I [01:24] also do speaking engagements I have [01:26] books that I've written so I have to [01:29] calculate it cuz I don't have like uh [01:31] it's not my salary is not half a million [01:33] dollars. It's more in the maybe $150,000 [01:36] or something, but but the combining [01:39] everything that's how I calculated it. [01:41] >> Why is it so taboo? And should it still [01:44] be taboo? There's a snee aspect to it. [01:48] We keep private or would more talk about [01:54] money transparency around it. Would that [01:56] be healthy for our society? I must tell [01:58] you it's excellent question because I [02:00] I've heard almost every question. This [02:02] is one I've never addressed but I think [02:05] it really gets to the deep psychology of [02:07] people of their fears and insecurity. [02:09] Let's be honest, money for many people [02:11] is their security and I have money in [02:13] the bank so I know whatever happens a [02:15] rainy day I can cover my expenses. For [02:18] Jews especially always have that uh war [02:22] chest. You never know, you know, things [02:24] that happen in Europe, God forbid, you [02:27] may need money to escape, move to [02:29] Israel. So, there's it's very much [02:31] connected with survival. I think the [02:33] reason it's so taboo is primarily, and [02:36] I'll just tell you something that [02:37] happened a few weeks ago. I was I met a [02:39] uh very wealthy person. He's a [02:40] billionaire and we're friendly. I don't [02:44] get much money from him. Let's just make [02:45] that clear. But we're friends. And he [02:48] said to me something interesting. He [02:49] says, "I spend more time [02:52] hiding my money and making my money. I [02:55] said, "Why?" He says, "Because it [02:57] changes people's way of looking at you. [02:59] When you have a lot of money, your [03:01] family expects gifts. [03:04] Your immediate family, your cousins, [03:06] suddenly your friends. You don't know if [03:08] they're really your friends. Maybe [03:09] they're just friendly because you have [03:10] money." Cuz money has that allure and it [03:13] distorts everything. And I really have [03:16] to make, you know, try to hide it that [03:18] people shouldn't know how much I have [03:20] because if they know how much I have, [03:22] why can't I give a $10 million gift to [03:24] charity and all the charities? So, it [03:28] made me think about what you're asking. [03:30] You know, I think poor people don't have [03:31] a problem [laughter] sharing. No, they [03:33] may because of shame. No one's going to [03:36] say, "I can't. I'm in debt." But I think [03:39] it touches upon the very pride and shame [03:42] of people. So for those that are very [03:44] wealthy, it's like hiding it because [03:46] they don't want people to take advantage [03:48] of them. And uh so it's top secret. Top [03:52] secret. I remember at a wedding, I [03:54] remember we were dancing and there were [03:55] two very wealthy people and I they slept [03:57] me into the dance and three of us I [04:00] don't know why I was there but one of [04:02] them says to the other he was drunk. He [04:04] says if people knew how much we had so I [04:07] saw the fear. I'm think that's one [04:09] factor. You know, people don't want [04:11] people to know what they have. And then [04:14] there's the other side, like I said, you [04:15] know, there are people that live beyond [04:16] their means. They're driving expensive [04:18] cars, but if you look at their uh [04:21] balance sheet, they don't have the [04:23] money. So, they're living in debt. You [04:25] know, credit cards. I know people are [04:26] millions of dollars in credit and debt [04:30] and they hope for the best. And I think [04:32] it also gets into the illusions and [04:35] delusions. You know, many people feel [04:37] I'm just about to make a fortune. So [04:39] they'll already they'll spread [04:40] themselves thin and then it may not work [04:43] out. I think you're dealing with really [04:45] a lot of psychological fears and [04:47] insecurity that just bound up with how [04:49] we measure our value. You know you you [04:52] talk about a sadic let's say you know [04:54] really righteous a person who's really [04:56] connected to Hashem. You ask him how [04:58] much he's making he won't have a problem [04:59] at all to answer because it's not how he [05:02] values himself. It's not how he [05:03] identifies himself. But I think most [05:05] people do identify themselves by the [05:07] money. It's your status. you know where [05:09] you belong. Especially today, God has [05:11] blessed many Jews with [05:14] thank God with ash and it puts you into [05:17] another club, you know, where you go on [05:19] vacation, [05:21] cars or homes you own. So, it's so much [05:24] connected to identity. And I think when [05:26] Jews lived more in, I guess, in poverty, [05:29] we didn't have these issues. But I still [05:31] think it's a blessing. But like all [05:34] blessings, that's why I think it's a [05:36] very good question. And I think most [05:37] people will not answer. [05:39] >> I noticed when the when the rabbi was [05:42] talking about his income, [05:45] the rabbi somewhat diversified. You have [05:47] the books, you have the salary, um [05:51] perhaps speaking engagements. [05:53] How important is that to you personally [05:56] as you went through your career to have [05:59] different sources of income? As I said, [06:02] when I when I got married, and thank God [06:05] my wife is like myself. She was not like [06:06] someone that needed luxuries and [06:09] accessories and so on. I always felt [06:11] responsible. I'm not looking to live a [06:14] life of a porper, but we were very [06:16] happy. We had a thank god it was a [06:19] subsidized apartment rent-wise. I loved [06:22] my work. Like my work was my really [06:24] labor of love. I'll explain what my work [06:26] was. I worked for Labava. I was writing [06:29] his talks and the pleasure and uh [06:32] satisfaction I got from that was worth [06:34] more than any money but still you didn't [06:37] have to live. So as a bacher as a [06:39] student I wasn't being paid but as I got [06:42] married you know you should pay rent [06:44] certain basic expenses so we were very [06:48] satisfied with just you know we we had a [06:51] shoestring budget as they say very very [06:54] little and I didn't really have a plan I [06:56] mean I think back whether I was [06:58] responsible or irresponsible to be [07:00] honest it was more like a almost like a [07:02] yeshivish cola attitude you know god [07:05] will provide do what you got to [07:08] But I'm not I'm not an idiot. It's not [07:09] like I didn't understand fiscal [07:11] responsibility. But I just didn't feel [07:13] the the need to drive. Like it wasn't [07:16] like, oh, let me make my first million, [07:17] 2 million, then I can go to Israel every [07:19] year. I can vacation. I'll have money to [07:22] buy a house. We actually bought a home [07:24] the first year we were married. And I [07:26] didn't have a penny to buy it. I had to [07:27] put it on my parents' name at the little [07:31] scrs. And God was helpful. It was what [07:33] we call beginner's luck. God was [07:35] helpful. I can't tell you. It was a [07:36] miracle, but it was literally because I [07:38] didn't have a I didn't have a [07:40] calculation. I just said to my wife, [07:42] "We're staying here in Crown Heights. [07:44] Let's buy a home. Why do we have to [07:45] rent?" It was a just a pure instinct. [07:48] And I remember homes then were talking [07:50] about 1983. So home was uh $85,000, [07:56] which is nothing today. But I remember [07:57] my father telling me, "I got my house [07:59] for $25,000 in 1970." [08:02] So I said t the house the prices are not [08:05] going down. Sounds to me that's what we [08:07] have to do but it was a lot relatively [08:10] and I and as I said to get a mortgage so [08:13] I had to get my father's name on it my [08:16] parents and I remember we borrowed some [08:18] money from a cousin and God helped I [08:21] didn't even have to put down a down [08:22] payment because the lawyers got into a [08:25] fight of the down payment. Should it go [08:28] in escrow in the buyer's account or in [08:30] the seller's account? So the broker came [08:33] around and said, "You know what? You [08:34] give it to your lawyer half 5,000. I'll [08:37] give 5,000 on your behalf to the seller [08:40] and when you get your mortgage, you'll [08:42] pay it back." So my lawyer said, "Okay, [08:44] I don't need your money." So I didn't [08:45] even have to pull. So it was like a lot [08:48] of interesting twists and turns. I'm [08:49] just giving you my mindset. So we bought [08:52] the house. I had tenants. So it not I [08:56] was even making money on it. Few hundred [08:58] a month. It wasn't a lot. And then a few [09:00] years later, we moved in. We refinanced [09:02] a few times. So I didn't have really a [09:05] plan. I just knew I'm responsible. I I [09:08] knew that I'm an adult. I'm going to [09:09] take care of my wife and my family. [09:11] Whatever it takes. God would bless us [09:13] with 20 children. I'll have to deal with [09:15] it. But I didn't really I didn't have a [09:17] financial plan to be very honest. No, we [09:20] got some life insurance and then [09:21] [clears throat] [09:22] not because I understood what it was. [09:24] People said you get life insurance. So [09:26] we had life insurance. It was a [09:27] combination of amuna and a little [09:30] planning but my organization grew and as [09:33] it grew it grew in influence and I [09:35] really had access to people and I I did [09:38] want to succeed in my work and you can't [09:40] succeed without inim you know in in you [09:44] don't have uh you don't have money you [09:47] can't really expand your work. So the [09:49] work really compelled me to raise more [09:51] as a raise more after hire poor people [09:54] and commensurate to that my salary went [09:56] up not crazy as again I wasn't looking [09:59] to milk my organization I'm the one [10:01] that's raising the money you know so I [10:04] never had the plan but then once things [10:06] grew I was able to like you said [10:09] diversify different ways and even today [10:12] to be very honest I've never said this [10:14] in public but I'll say it I have [10:16] connections pretty high level [10:17] connections I have people who really [10:19] have a lot of money. If I went on a real [10:21] fundraising aggressive, I could raise a [10:23] lot of money, but I still I don't like [10:26] fundraising. I only do what I have to [10:29] do, you know, because that's why people [10:30] think cuz I do have connect. I mean, I I [10:32] I have a name. I have access. I'm not [10:34] saying that to toot my horn. I'm just [10:36] being honest, but I don't like doing it. [10:39] So, I do it as much as necessary. You [10:42] know, thank God our I have a good team. [10:43] I have 12 people working for us. We [10:46] never been late on one paycheck. I'm not [10:48] in debt, you know, very responsible, [10:50] really responsible, transparent, don't [10:52] do any stick, you know, honest. I'm just [10:55] being straight and um and I'm very proud [10:58] of that. But I think to myself, you [11:00] know, I probably should hire someone who [11:02] can be a real aggressive fundraiser. [11:04] That's my thinking. But it becomes I'm [11:07] like a what can I tell you? I'm more of [11:08] a a dreamer. You know, idealists are not [11:11] so good. Says, what's it? you know some [11:16] people are uh smart business people I I [11:19] I understand the logic of it but [11:22] actually execution is anyway I didn't [11:25] really come to this is like almost like [11:28] like I feel like therapy here [11:30] >> if uh if I'm a therapist then that's new [11:33] but uh [11:33] >> a money therapist [11:34] >> I don't collect co-pays so you're you're [11:36] good [11:37] >> so so speaking of of the wealthy you [11:40] know what comes to mind is is Elon Musk [11:43] and he recently posted how money doesn't [11:46] equal happiness, which we spoke about in [11:49] our first episode. But is is wealth and [11:53] and the exposure to wealth and and and [11:57] fancy living, is it more accessible, [12:00] viewable in today's times? And is that [12:02] impacting us in a potentially negative [12:05] way? And the answer to both is yes. But [12:08] I'll explain cuz let's make it clear. [12:11] Judaism sees wealth as a a blessing. [12:16] Says [12:17] God's blessing makes you wealthy. Wealth [12:20] is considered a virtue. It's not like [12:22] some other religions or faiths that say [12:24] the meek or the poor will inherit the [12:27] earth. We believe that wealth is a [12:28] blessing. You know, Moshenu was wealthy. [12:31] The Jews with their wealth, they built a [12:33] mishk. They built a temple, a sanctuary [12:36] for Hashem. And we believe you're [12:38] wealthy. you have obligation to give [12:40] zaka charity. Um, so wealth is a [12:43] blessing. That's a qu no question. Like [12:46] every blessing. If it's misused or [12:48] abused, it can become a noose around [12:51] your neck. I can tell you hundreds of [12:53] cases where families don't talk to each [12:55] other because of their wealth. I mean, [12:57] was it worth it? And I'll ask them, was [12:59] it worth making the money when your own [13:01] son and daughter don't talk to you? And [13:04] be honest, some people don't even have [13:05] aren't able to say no. Some say, I don't [13:07] know. I'm not so sure. So, I look at [13:10] money as a drug. It can be maybe the [13:12] biggest drug of all because it doesn't [13:14] seem destructive. Not like heroin or uh [13:18] or alcohol, you know, it doesn't have [13:20] that effect, but it's a drug because [13:22] people get attached to it. And many [13:24] people their value is based on how much [13:27] money they're making or how much money [13:29] they want to make. And that's where the [13:31] end justifies the means where money is [13:33] just the means. And then it becomes like [13:35] listen, the Agel Haz is called the [13:37] golden calf for a reason. It's gold. So [13:40] even though it may not be a physical [13:42] golden calf the other we can worship [13:44] gold and we do many times. So that's why [13:48] money needs to be balanced with amuna [13:51] where the Torah says for example [13:54] a person should never say I'm self-made [13:57] it's God's blessings that did it [13:59] absolutely be wealthy so I think with [14:02] the growth of prosperity and freedom [14:03] especially for Jews you know we're no [14:05] longer living in the we're no longer [14:08] oppressed as we were we have we control [14:11] our destiny [14:12] United States and Israel you have very [14:14] wealthy Jews and also in the Hish the F [14:18] community has grown and thank God we're [14:21] not running for our lives so we can take [14:24] time to build our wealth but you have to [14:27] know the risks that are involved if it [14:29] becomes an end in itself it becomes that [14:31] golden calf you know I think it's a good [14:34] lipmus that you asked if someone can't [14:36] answer how how wealthy they are um I'm [14:39] not saying for the IRS or stuff like [14:42] that it probably means that wealth is a [14:45] uh something they're ashamed of in some [14:47] way. In other words, it's not something [14:48] that they are uh but I I but I [14:51] understand there's a confidentiality. I [14:53] don't think everybody has to tell people [14:55] how much money they're making cuz [14:57] there's also jealousy and resentments [14:59] and stuff like that. And let's be [15:01] honest, if you owning a company and [15:03] you're making a lot a lot of money and [15:05] your workers are not making so much, you [15:08] don't want them to know how much you're [15:09] making because they're working for you. [15:11] in a way uh I don't want to call it a [15:14] certain type of it's not slavery because [15:18] we're not abusing them but is wealth [15:21] really being shared if the company [15:22] really makes a big profit are you [15:24] sharing it with all your employees so [15:26] there are those that have that [15:28] benevolence and those that don't I'm [15:30] just giving you examples [15:32] so in answering your question I think uh [15:35] great wealth creates more responsibility [15:36] and also more risks I mean I go back to [15:39] the family thing it breaks my heart when [15:41] I see that where uh families don't talk [15:44] to each other [15:46] that's over money you know I remember [15:48] when I was a child and the first time I [15:50] read about the great depression and I [15:53] remember reading that people were [15:54] throwing themselves out of windows they [15:56] were committing suicide because um [15:58] basically caused them to be destitute I [16:01] remember asking my father I said but [16:03] they have a life they have family why [16:05] would they take their life so he said [16:06] for some people their money is their [16:08] life more valuable and I as a child that [16:12] right away disturbed me and I think that [16:14] in some ways can create that type of [16:17] distortion. So the the wealthier you [16:20] are, you probably need more God than [16:21] ever. I want to take a minute because [16:24] there are families in Israel in dire [16:26] need of food, shelter, and so much more. [16:30] I want to tell you about an [16:31] organization. You know them. They're [16:33] making a real difference every single [16:35] day. Kabad. We spend a lot of time on [16:37] the show talking about money, how to [16:39] earn it, save it, invest it, and use it [16:40] wisely. But one of the greatest uses of [16:43] money is helping someone who simply [16:45] can't make ends meet. For more than 200 [16:48] years, yes, 200 years, KAB has been [16:51] supporting families across the great [16:53] country of Israel with food, emergency [16:55] financial assistance, critical help. [16:58] We're talking widows, orphans, people [16:59] going through incredibly difficult [17:01] times. They're on the ground. They know [17:03] the families personally many times and [17:05] they work quickly to get help where it's [17:07] needed most. The reality is that there [17:09] are parents who are working hard and [17:10] still struggling to put food on the [17:12] table or cover basic necessities with [17:14] dignity. And that's where your support [17:16] can make an immediate impact. If you're [17:18] in a position to help, whether it's a [17:20] large donation or even a small one, [17:22] every contribution matters. Visit [17:24] kolkabad.org/coser [17:25] money, the links in the show notes, and [17:27] give what you can. Thank you. Thank you [17:30] for helping families who truly need it. [17:33] You had mentioned to me that Elon Musk [17:35] said that wealth is going to be going [17:38] away. Is that true? [17:40] >> You quoted Elon Musk before. What did [17:42] you quote before? [17:43] >> In terms of, you know, people have these [17:45] infatuations with the wealthy people and [17:47] they hold on to everything they say and [17:49] they follow them. Oh yeah. Okay. You [17:51] know, Warren Buffett is certainly a [17:52] smart fellow, but [17:54] >> people become emotionally invested into [17:56] their lives and everything they say. And [17:58] is that is that healthy or should there [18:01] be some level of ignorance when it comes [18:03] to that? [18:04] >> Okay, so let's go to what Musk has said [18:05] about wealth that he feels yes and he [18:08] has credibility. He's only a [18:10] trillionaire, you know, and as it's [18:12] already been pointed out, a trillionaire [18:14] is not just a billionaire times a [18:16] billion. It's a whole different league. [18:19] You can't even imagine it. I have been [18:21] thinking about this a lot because it's [18:23] really about the times we're entering [18:25] right now where essentially wealth is [18:28] always defined by supply and demand. But [18:31] if the supply is endless like we don't [18:33] pay for oxygen, we don't pay for air to [18:36] breathe cuz it's plentiful. [18:38] But we pay for things that we can't [18:40] access easily. So it's interesting the [18:43] things we need most, we don't pay for [18:45] the very oxygen we breathe. Interesting. [18:47] Has anyone ever thought of an idea of [18:49] like monetizing that? [18:52] >> Don't give them ideas, Rabbi. [18:53] >> Okay. Hey, a water we do pay for to some [18:57] extent. Not quite the value of it. But [18:59] you know, so his argument is as AI and [19:03] as technology takes over. So first of [19:05] all, so much will be done for us [19:07] automatically. Like once upon a time we [19:10] spent 9 10 hours a day working in the [19:12] fields just to come home with a bushel [19:14] of potatoes or wheat or grain to eat. [19:17] Today we don't need that. So the [19:20] scarcity will disappear. So basically [19:23] necessities according to him and many [19:25] almost everyone is saying that [19:27] necessities will be so plentiful. Talk [19:29] about energy for example he's created [19:31] this Starlink. Starlink is going to [19:33] create basically remember when phone [19:35] service cost money long distance collect [19:39] calls it's non-existent anymore which [19:42] basically means that communication is [19:43] not going to cost any money cuz it'll [19:45] just be so accessible. Uh how they'll [19:49] monetize it we'll talk about that but so [19:52] if necessities are gone. So my thinking [19:54] is what about so so what's remains [19:57] beachfront property or luxuries things [19:59] we don't necessarily need but if you [20:01] want it you're going to need that's a [20:04] question I'm not I have to think about [20:05] that but it it echoes what the Rambam [20:09] writes my monities writes in chapter 11 [20:14] it says madanims [20:17] means the lights will be as plentiful [20:19] like dust like oxygen [20:22] once [20:23] All the delights will be as plentiful. [20:25] You can't charge for it. So the question [20:28] then is what are we going to do all day? [20:30] So I heard Musk in a Joe Rogan interview [20:33] and Rogan asked him this question. So [20:35] what are we going to do? So Rogan said [20:37] we'll probably play golf all day, you [20:40] know, and Musk said something [20:42] interesting. He said, "No, we'll be [20:44] getting in touch with the wisdom of the [20:45] universe." Those were his words. And the [20:48] Rambam continues, "What does the Rambam [20:50] say? that when we won't have to work for [20:54] money because the work will be done or [20:57] the needs that you have the resources [20:59] will be plentiful [21:05] that the business of the world will only [21:07] be to know God this is the calling it's [21:10] not it's not it's [21:15] basically what he's saying is that once [21:18] you don't measure your value by money [21:20] what is your value is connecting to God, [21:24] connecting to Torah, connecting to the [21:26] wisdom of the universe. But that's a [21:28] whole new mindset that today very few [21:32] people have. And I'm speaking even [21:34] shorter mitz, even religious people. [21:37] They do they money is the way we value [21:40] our worth. You know is not necessarily [21:44] how many people value someone. It's [21:46] beautiful, but it's not necessarily [21:48] going to buy you what you need. But it [21:51] wants money. So I think this is going to [21:52] be a challenge. When I hear Musk's [21:54] words, it's going to be a challenge. [21:55] What is really our true value? I think [21:58] about [22:01] Adam and Eve, Garden of Eden. Hashem is [22:04] providing everything they need. They [22:06] don't have to work. Says they're serving [22:09] and protecting. The med says 248 [22:13] mitzvah, 365, [22:18] which means by the sweat of your brow [22:20] you're going to work. Doesn't exist yet. [22:22] But then they eat from the tree of [22:24] knowledge. And God says now the birth of [22:26] the career. Now you have to work for [22:28] your living. Had you been connected to [22:31] me, you could have just been involved in [22:33] spiritual activities, learning Torah, [22:35] connecting to Hashem, connecting to your [22:38] family, love, and that would be the most [22:40] important thing in your life. But once [22:42] you ate from the tree of knowledge, [22:44] something changed. And for all of us, [22:47] this is regardless whether you're [22:48] secular, religious, Jewish, not Jewish, [22:51] what changed was that now you're going [22:53] to have to work. And that work is going [22:54] to produce money and that's how you're [22:57] going to measure value. So it's a [22:58] distortion that happened. Mashiach is [23:01] going back to that stage where money no [23:04] longer is the measure of value but soul [23:06] is. Now I think any healthy person will [23:09] tell you um I'd love to have money but [23:12] if I had to choose between love [23:15] of my children and money [23:18] of course I'd want to be with my [23:19] children because you're not taking your [23:21] money to the next world whereas your [23:23] family is that's your legacy. You know, [23:25] you ask a mutakov and they were wealthy [23:28] people. What was the most important [23:30] thing for them is that their children [23:31] should continue their [23:34] their value system. That's their legacy. [23:36] That Torah would live on. What was the [23:38] most important thing for Jews throughout [23:39] history? That the Torah and mitzvah [23:41] would continue the next generation. You [23:44] never hear that Jews were planning their [23:46] their wills and their inheritances. [23:49] Yeah, there's there's the laws of [23:51] inheritance. That was not the driving [23:54] force. was making sure that our our [23:57] connection to Hashem will continue and [23:59] that's what kept them alive. So it's [24:01] only recent that we have now this new [24:03] challenge where money has become such a [24:05] powerful thing. So I think this is a [24:07] great challenge and question to every [24:09] Jew especially those that are committed. [24:13] I was asking someone the other day I [24:15] said Shabas comes you're a person in [24:17] business tell me how much business do [24:20] you talk about on Shabas? this to be [24:22] honest most of my talks I go to school I [24:24] talk into everything is you know [24:27] obviously I'm not going to do work on [24:28] shabas but I talk about it you know then [24:31] Sunday we'll meet on Sunday we'll meet [24:33] on Monday so where once upon a time [24:36] shabas was meant to be not just keeping [24:38] shabas was also to be shabas mean that [24:42] like all your work has been done you [24:44] shouldn't be thinking about it alto [24:45] together but I I think I'm stating the [24:48] obvious but it should be stated because [24:50] this is not convers conversations most [24:52] people want to have. I think it's all [24:54] connected to that whole but I go back [24:56] money is still a blessing but like all [24:59] blessings it has to be harnessed [25:02] >> with the advent of AI someone mentioned [25:04] to me recently now that AI is doing more [25:07] things for people are they connecting to [25:10] God or are they allowing themselves to [25:13] do more work with their AI [25:16] >> you I think the answer is self-evident [25:18] it's the latter but it's like well they [25:20] always would say technology junk in junk [25:23] Like Rogan said, I like to play golf. [25:25] Now I have more time to play golf. I [25:27] like video games. I'll play more video [25:28] games. So I think, you know, I'll use [25:30] this the story in the Gmorra where the [25:34] four great sages go into the paradis [25:36] into the orchard [25:38] and they're having a spiritual [25:39] experience [25:41] and one dies, [25:44] one goes mad. Rab a boua he becomes an [25:49] apostate then only one raba says [25:54] not only he left in peace he also [25:55] entered it's all how you come in you [25:58] come in like you know I remember once [26:00] hearing someone toldb the rebba asked [26:03] him you know god blessed you are you [26:05] giving duck he says if I make more money [26:06] that's when I'll start giving the rebba [26:08] said to him someone who gives when they [26:10] have less [26:12] they'll give more when they have less if [26:14] they're not giving now they're not going [26:15] to give [26:16] And it's like saying, "Okay, once I make [26:18] my first billion, then I'll start giving [26:19] my charity. It's a mindset that all [26:22] begins who you are the outset, you know, [26:25] it's it's unconditional in that way." So [26:28] I think that's the way. So people who [26:30] live with money as being the center of [26:32] their lives. So they'll see AI not as [26:34] freeing me up. I have more time to study [26:36] Torah or connect to Hashem. I have more [26:38] time to make more money. And now I don't [26:41] have to do certain things because the AI [26:42] is doing it for me. But I think that's a [26:45] very good way to measure it as well. [26:47] >> Do you see robotic AI and AI handling [26:51] tasks as a clear sign of of something [26:55] messianic? [26:56] >> 100%. It's clearly remember remember [26:59] technology that we build. We didn't [27:01] create the techn you know God created in [27:05] this world just like electricity. It [27:07] just took time for us to discover it. [27:09] The ability to make to create AI is [27:12] coming from forces, energy forces that [27:14] are in existence and we're tapping into [27:17] them. So why would God create it? Well, [27:20] we know everything God created. [27:25] Everything he created for for himself, [27:27] for God's glory, for so there's no [27:31] question that everything in this world [27:32] is created [27:34] for godliness and therefore all these [27:37] machines are meant to free us in a way [27:40] like in Ghana where the work is being [27:42] done for us. And now how are you going [27:45] to use your free time not for nonsense [27:48] but for what really matters? You have [27:50] much more time. Now the challenge I [27:52] think is going to happen is we're so [27:54] used to a world where we measure [27:57] everything with money and work. How are [27:59] we going to adjust to this new reality? [28:01] That I think is going to be the biggest [28:02] challenge psychologically [28:05] 100%. I think that's going to create [28:06] tremendous trauma actually because [28:09] imagine imagine whatever it is you or [28:11] myself or anyone I've been doing [28:13] something so long and I measure [28:15] everything by how much money I'm [28:16] bringing in and suddenly someone tells [28:17] me all the money you need you have. What [28:20] am I going to do next year? How am I [28:22] going to suddenly readjust? And the [28:24] world is a materialistic world. Let's be [28:26] honest. You know, I uh I don't like to [28:29] say that negative things, but just [28:31] because someone is a committed Jew to [28:33] Torah mitz doesn't make mean they're not [28:35] materialistic. [28:37] It means it's almost like [28:38] compartmentalized. So, I think we're [28:40] going to go through that to me is going [28:41] to be the real revolution. You know, [28:43] everyone's talking about will a AI [28:44] replace us? I think AI is going to [28:47] challenge us to identify what do you [28:49] really stand for. [28:51] Tell you an interesting story. It's a [28:54] story with the thirdb. [28:57] So he his mother he was orphaned at a [29:00] young age because his mother gave her [29:01] life for her father who was the [29:03] balatanya [29:05] the great balata. [29:08] So his grandfather the alterba the [29:11] balatana took care of his grandson [29:16] as he grew a little older the alterba [29:18] one day says to him I'd like to give you [29:19] a mat a gift a certain body of knowledge [29:23] of Torah [29:25] and some said no I don't want a gift [29:28] because says you guide your matas [29:30] you know you have to coil you need to [29:34] exert yourself again [29:37] it's called nemed [29:40] is called bread of shame when you [29:41] receive a gift. [29:46] A person desires one measure through [29:49] their own effort more than nine measures [29:51] as a gift. Even though $9 million can [29:53] buy more than 1 million, but there's [29:55] something about it. You you you'll blow [29:57] it quicker as well. You didn't earn it. [29:59] And we see that, you know, you see [30:01] children of wealth, it's very different [30:02] than those that worked hard at it. [30:05] >> Lottery winners. [30:06] >> Yeah. Stuff like that. Yeah, take it for [30:08] granted. You misunderstand it or or even [30:10] for example, this is like what gambling [30:11] is about. You know, it's not really you [30:14] haven't worked for it. It's like you're [30:15] hoping that you're going to hit the [30:17] jackpot type of thing. So the basically [30:20] says, I want to earn it. I don't want it [30:22] as a gift. Okay. years later said he [30:27] regrets [30:29] that he didn't take the gift because he [30:31] realized Torah is infinite [30:36] had he taken that knowledge he could [30:37] have then said I'll use my effort to go [30:39] further like you know I would have used [30:42] that to cl that would help me climb the [30:43] first thousand ft now I can so I think [30:47] that's a big uh way a good rate way of [30:50] looking at the blessings of life that we [30:53] will always need to have effort. [30:56] But the question is, is your word going [30:57] to go in in exerting yourself in toiling [31:01] in the field or in your job or is the [31:04] word going to go in toiling in Torah? [31:06] You know, we know there's there's the [31:08] work of work, the effort of work, [31:11] there's the effort of prayer, and [31:13] there's the effort of Torah. So to me, [31:16] technology is all about freeing us up [31:18] from the more menial labor so we can be [31:21] involved in spiritual labor. That's why [31:23] it says when Msiah comes Shabas, it'll [31:26] be like Shabas all the time because the [31:28] work has been done for us. [31:32] There's no question in my mind that's [31:34] what it is. Whether we will understand [31:35] it that way, you know, right now AI is [31:37] looked at as great new way of [31:39] monetizing. We're going to create new [31:41] billionaires, you know, startups, that's [31:44] what everybody or it's going to help me, [31:45] my [31:47] personal assistant. I mean, every day [31:49] there's something new. When I began [31:52] hearing about it just a few years ago, I [31:54] said, "Wow, this is no question a gift [31:57] from above that is going to help us [31:59] usher in a whole new reality." But I [32:03] know the challenge. It's not going to be [32:04] easy. You know, you ever see uh those [32:09] films or stories like Shaw Shank [32:11] Redemption where he says, "I'm so used [32:14] to living in prison. I don't know if I [32:16] can make it outside of prison." Can you [32:17] imagine? We're also we're used to living [32:20] in a certain framework. I don't like to [32:22] quote anti-semmites but I'll quote Henry [32:24] Ford and they asked him how much market [32:26] research he did for the Model T car. He [32:30] said zero. He said I said why? He said [32:33] because if I were to ask people what [32:34] they want they say I want a faster [32:36] horse. Nobody would say I want a car or [32:39] an airplane. We always think of the [32:42] future as a better past. But it's not [32:45] true. That's why you know we say anim we [32:48] believe the Jews have always had a [32:49] vision of a different reality and I [32:52] think that reality is upon us. How's [32:54] that sound? [32:55] >> Is that where his comes from? going into [32:57] the forest to to remove your environment [33:00] and [33:01] >> in a way and you know today people call [33:03] it retreats or other things where they [33:06] unplug go into nature just to be present [33:09] or they you know this I think absolutely [33:12] but remember Judaism always encouraged [33:14] engaging with the world not aseticism [33:17] but was always about entering the world [33:19] and remaining above it we never were [33:22] asked to just be so-called aesthetic [33:24] just but leave civilization and go to a [33:27] mountain. But there were the sadikim [33:30] that did that. It says in it says in the [33:33] holy books that the reason the our [33:36] patriarchs were shepherds because they [33:38] didn't want to be part of Wall Street of [33:40] their time. A shepherd the sheep graze [33:42] and you can meditate. You can pray. [33:45] They're very uh conducive to spiritual [33:48] activity. It was Ysef. Joseph was the [33:51] first one that became the first Jewish [33:53] accountant. You know, as they say, he [33:55] worked for Patifer. He was he done did [33:57] his books [33:58] >> no college. [33:59] >> Yeah. And correct. And then he became [34:02] the first uh superpower. He's the one [34:04] that created you know the grain [34:06] industry. Grain was the commodity of the [34:08] time and he hoarded it during the years [34:11] of plenty and they remained only ones [34:13] that had it during the years of famine. [34:15] So he was a businessman. But the beauty [34:18] was that he retained his spiritual [34:20] integrity. that when Yakov when they f [34:24] when they met he realized that YF was [34:26] still the same Y he was still he [34:28] remembered the Torah they learned that [34:29] that's the challenge so to be a shepherd [34:33] is not that you're separating yourself [34:35] from the world but to be in business and [34:38] still maintain you know a beautiful is a [34:42] safer it asked the question the Talmud [34:45] says that of all the three prayers in [34:48] the day [34:50] should always be careful with Mina [34:52] because that's when Eloi was answered [34:55] during MK. So the question is Mina seems [34:58] to be the so-called the I don't want to [35:01] call the the least prayer but it doesn't [35:03] have in it. It's no prayer of it's a [35:05] middle of the day. It's a short prayer. [35:07] See more shak the morning prayer should [35:09] be the or the evening prayer and the has [35:12] a brilliant answer. He says because in [35:15] the morning when you pray or in the [35:16] evening when you pray that's before you [35:18] work and after work that's when it was [35:20] in those days but ma means you have to [35:22] rip yourself away from your work day and [35:25] that's the difficulty cuz you're so [35:26] immersed in your job and to still [35:28] remember that you have to pray that's [35:31] why it's special because it's it's like [35:34] like a paradox in a way. We spend a lot [35:36] of time on kosher money talking about [35:38] making smart decisions before your money [35:40] is already spent. And if you're building [35:42] something, here's a tip for you. Don't [35:45] pay an architect to learn your world on [35:48] your project. 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And oh, tell them your [37:15] friends at Kosher Money sent you. Let's [37:17] get back to the episode. One of the [37:19] business ideas I I've had recently that [37:22] I have not acted on was creating some [37:24] sort of retreat where you go and you [37:26] live as if it's the year 1900 removed [37:29] from distraction and you have to because [37:32] I do think that we don't appreciate or [37:35] many of us don't appreciate what we have [37:38] the medicine the access and and we not [37:43] forget but we we don't even begin to [37:46] think how lucky we are in this messianic [37:49] time. [37:50] >> Absolutely. You know, there's a there's [37:51] a verse that says [37:54] when Msiah comes will be the day will [37:57] come and [37:59] there'll be the sound of the great [38:00] chauffeur. But then the continues, the [38:03] verse continues and it says [38:07] that those lost in the land of Asher and [38:11] and those the downtrodden in Egypt, they [38:16] will return and to serve Hashem, serve [38:19] God on [38:21] the [38:24] to prostrate themselves on my holy [38:27] mountain. So the question is asked why [38:29] is here say they're lost and here it [38:32] says they're downtrodders [38:38] to generations of poverty [38:41] from the word mar oppression affliction [38:44] when Jews lived in poverty so they're [38:46] downtrodden they're demoralized [38:50] difficult as it was for the eg the Jews [38:52] in Egypt [38:54] Asher refers to the times of prosperity [38:57] success [38:59] with an alf means prosperity [39:02] and there it's much more than down you [39:04] get lost because once you have money and [39:06] once you have success you can lose your [39:09] identity you don't lose your identity in [39:11] poverty you get broken from it and [39:14] breaks your spirit but you can get lost [39:16] and suddenly money becomes the drug that [39:19] takes over I see it you know I don't I [39:22] don't want to be negative about things [39:24] but I see certain cultures and the in [39:27] the Jewish community when they get [39:29] involved with the pursuit of money [39:31] becomes an end in itself. [39:34] I don't want to say it doesn't kill your [39:35] soul but it definitely uh hijacks it big [39:39] time. I'm sure I don't have to [39:40] elaborate. You know, you meet people [39:42] that money becomes the center. [39:45] It's it's literally like that golden [39:47] calf we talked about which is very [39:49] respectable to to your credit in that [39:53] you have your center and you said you're [39:55] not an aggressive fundraiser. Many [39:57] people would be very lucky to have a [40:00] mindset not obviously you're looking to [40:03] grow but if you have a 100 you want 200 [40:06] but you've sort of tamed that [40:09] realizing or not which I think is is a [40:12] beautiful thing. [40:12] >> Yeah. Or it could be my own fear [40:14] fundraising you know fear of rejection. [40:17] I mean I'm being [40:18] >> we're doing therapy again [40:19] >> self-critical in a way. I sometimes [40:21] think, am I doing a disservice, you [40:23] know, just because I I love love love [40:25] teaching more than I love asking for [40:27] money. Let's be honest. When you sit [40:29] with someone, you have to ask for money. [40:30] It's it's not it's humiliating in a way. [40:32] I do it because I have to do it. And I [40:36] know it's my job. I'm not I'm not [40:38] embarrassed by that. But then I remember [40:41] one of the people that was coming to one [40:42] of my classes said to me, you know, you [40:44] never asked for money. You were the only [40:46] rabbi never asked for money. Now you [40:47] start ask for money. He was just like [40:48] another one of those. And I was very [40:51] like I was I was hurt by that. And but [40:54] it also awakened in me the need to [40:56] respond. So I said to her, I remember [40:58] this very vividly. I said to her, it was [41:00] in front of a few people. I said, "You [41:03] know something? It's a big mistake that [41:05] I never asked because I think I [41:08] cultivated and taught a bunch of people [41:09] how to be parasites. You just take and [41:12] take. I never taught you how to give cuz [41:14] I I was not comfortable asking. But I [41:17] never taught you how to give. So you're [41:19] putting it on me. I think you have to [41:21] all ask yourselves, did you learn how to [41:24] give? You know, and then I realized [41:26] something which came to me. I said, [41:27] interesting. [41:29] Who's the fundra biggest fundraiser in [41:31] all of history and Torah? [41:35] God didn't delegate. He could have said [41:36] Mosha is the teacher. He's the rabbi. He [41:39] brought the Torah to the world. Hire [41:41] someone else to raise the money. Just [41:43] like Bal was delegated to become the [41:45] architect. Why can't you find a good [41:47] fundraiser? But is the one that goes [41:51] the same person who gave the Torah now [41:53] is coming to you for a donation for [41:55] gold, silver, copper, [41:59] you know, silver, gold, you know, and [42:02] all the things. And I realized, you [42:04] know, why? Because if you're God's [42:07] messenger, bring the Torah, you're also [42:09] God's messenger to build the temple. And [42:11] yes, we need money. There's nothing to [42:12] be bashful about. That's the way of the [42:14] world. And it opened up something for [42:17] me. I still I says I still resist. I [42:20] have a voice over it. But I it opened up [42:22] a certain almost pride. It's still [42:24] difficult. Listen, not everything we do [42:27] is easy. But I understand the divine [42:29] aspect of it that yes. So the my [42:32] idealistic side sometimes says why don't [42:34] just people appreciate me and let them [42:35] just offer a little zaka. Why do I have [42:37] to ask them? But then I realized no [42:39] hashem made it that way. You have to [42:41] ask. And um it's also it's it's humbling [42:44] and that's that. [42:45] >> [laughter] [42:46] >> I'm glad we're talking about this. [42:48] >> Is part of what's holding you back from [42:50] going to a very nice billionaire and [42:53] asking them to help support it. Is part [42:56] of what what's holding you back that [42:58] you're now mashed to them that that you [43:02] owe them in some way and you're not able [43:04] to be your self in the relationship? [43:08] >> Actually, not at all. That's not at all [43:10] the concern because firstly I'm an [43:12] independent person and it's not it's [43:14] hard to be mishab at me even if so I'd [43:16] be kind to them and I definitely you [43:18] know if someone helps you [43:21] >> yeah that's for sure and you go out of [43:23] your way to help them because it's like [43:25] uh but I would I don't feel that it's [43:27] not my concern to be very honest [43:30] probably my biggest fear is sometimes [43:32] fear of success is when you succeed [43:34] let's say I I can able to get a grant of [43:37] $10 million Now I have to live up to it. [43:40] I have to, you know, because I I really [43:42] believe that. I It's nice to get the [43:44] money, but I you have to be accountable. [43:46] How do you spend it? Now, I know a lot [43:48] of non nonprofit organizations will say, [43:52] "We'll figure out, we'll find a way of [43:54] explain, but I don't believe that." You [43:56] know, to me, I I would tell a [43:57] billionaire probably, "Give me a million [43:59] dollars and let me prove [44:02] proof of concept, and if you like what [44:04] you see, you'll give me more." I really [44:06] would do that. I know it goes against [44:08] all logic. No fundraiser in the world [44:10] would say that if you can get 10 [44:11] million, why would you go for one, but I [44:13] feel very and I feel that's like my [44:15] probably my resistance because then I [44:17] have to really deliver cuz I think like [44:19] that. I think big. I think if someone's [44:21] going to give me a lot of money, I need [44:23] to make a real difference and not just [44:25] tell them it's it's all, you know, the [44:26] money was reused and I I I really [44:29] believe that. Like I'll tell you just [44:30] tell you my work. My work is very much [44:32] about being a bridge between Torah [44:35] knowledge and the world. So me the [44:37] measure of success is actually scaling. [44:40] If I reach five people, it's true. [44:42] Saving one soul saves the world. And I [44:44] understand that. But in my in my view, I [44:48] have to reach millions of people using [44:50] technology. If you really have a good [44:51] message, why are you reaching only 100 [44:53] people? Why a thousand? Why not [44:55] millions? So I look at myself and I say [44:58] if Apple and Google and all of them can [45:00] reach. So to me that would be that's my [45:02] biggest probably biggest challenge. Do I [45:04] have the the means to execute with such [45:08] such money? That's really, if you ask [45:10] me, really, probably my biggest uh fear, [45:13] which is not I don't find to be very u [45:16] admirable to be honest because it means [45:19] I'm I'm just undermining my own uh [45:21] cause, but we're being open, you know, [45:25] transparent. [45:26] >> Yeah. Some people have fear of success [45:28] because of imposttor syndrome that they [45:31] feel that they're not worthy to be [45:34] successful, which is more of an [45:36] identity. [45:36] >> No, that's doesn't bother me. So for me [45:39] it may also be cuz once you're thrust in [45:41] that position you'll also be under the [45:44] spotlight and do I want to be the am I [45:46] the living example of what a a Torah Jew [45:48] is? I think I'm not embarrassed of [45:51] myself but you know cuz then you're [45:53] really going to be but I I'm not [45:55] concerned I I honestly I don't have a [45:57] complete answer. It could also be your [45:59] comfort zone. You know I got into my [46:01] comfort zone. I like to teach. I'm [46:03] giving classes. No one's going to call [46:04] me a failure. I am successful in what I [46:06] do, but it's could be a lot more. Let's [46:09] put it that way. [46:10] >> I want to pause this episode for one [46:12] second. I want to tell you about someone [46:14] who a lot of people have come to trust [46:16] with big financial decisions. His name [46:19] Shyitz. You probably know him from the [46:21] mortgage world, but that's a fraction of [46:23] what actually does. Buying a home, [46:26] refinancing, looking at an investment [46:28] property, figuring out business [46:30] financing. Sometimes you just need [46:32] someone with experience to talk it and [46:34] think it through with you. Well, that's [46:35] Schmal. He has spent years helping [46:37] people understand their options and ask [46:40] the right questions before they sign [46:42] anything. Don't touch that pen without [46:44] speaking to Schmal. So, even if you're [46:46] not ready to move on something right [46:48] now, one conversation can save you real [46:51] money and a lot of stress later. You're [46:53] going to do all that research and then [46:54] find out at the last second that this is [46:56] not something for you. You could have [46:58] spoken to Schmool on day one. He is a [47:01] coach at LivingSmarter Jewish, which [47:03] many of you know him from there. But if [47:04] you have a financial question or you're [47:06] weighing your next move, go to [47:08] coach.com/lssj. [47:11] That's coach.com/lsj. [47:15] It's in the show notes. Schedule a [47:17] conversation and tell them Koshermoney [47:19] sent you. Everyone, including you, has a [47:22] money question. No matter where you're [47:23] holding in life, you deserve a real [47:25] answer. So don't sleep on this. It's my [47:28] tip to you, Coachel. You're welcome. You [47:32] mentioned reaching various countries. [47:34] What is an interesting country that uh [47:36] you've reached on the worldwide web? [47:38] >> The Arab Muslim countries is the most [47:40] interesting I would point out because [47:43] it's the last thing you'd believe. You [47:44] know, I I I've been doing videos [47:47] especially on YouTube for quite a few [47:49] years. [47:50] >> As a matter of fact, even before [47:51] YouTube, I was already [47:54] webc whatever. I mean the YouTube of [47:56] course took it to a whole other level. [47:58] Um but I was always technologically [48:00] savvy. I always understood it's a tool [48:03] for for this work for distributing you [48:06] know so we grew with it. I remember the [48:08] the dialup modems remember those webcams [48:11] on your camera that barely you know and [48:14] now I mean just the storage that YouTube [48:16] offered free storage of you know how [48:18] much money that would cost if you had to [48:20] pay for such bandwidth you know. So as [48:23] things grew and especially the last few [48:25] years, AI [48:27] opened up the opportunity of having all [48:31] these videos literally translated into [48:34] languages that are lip sync to your [48:36] voice and it's your voice. So we have an [48:40] engineer. He works in Silicon Valley. He [48:42] likes us and he came to us and said, [48:43] "You really have great content. Let me [48:45] help you get it out there." And he [48:47] showed us some of these videos. So I [48:49] said, "Wow, I see myself speaking in [48:51] Arabic. I I couldn't I burst out [48:53] laughing. [48:54] I thought it was like a comedy, you [48:56] know, me speaking that fluent Arabic and [48:59] lip sync that you could not tell. I [49:01] decided to send it to a friend in the [49:03] Emirates who speaks Arabic cuz I don't [49:05] understand. And he says to me, "When did [49:07] you learn Arabic?" I said, "Is it good? [49:09] It's excellent quality. It sounds like [49:12] you content is good." So I said, "Let's [49:16] go for it." Then I realized you know it [49:18] says in Torah that [49:22] it says in the beginning of the book of [49:24] Deuteronomy that [49:31] so Rashi says what means he explained it [49:34] well he translated into 70 languages. So [49:37] I immediately sent a memo to my like COO [49:41] in our company in our organization and I [49:43] said let's call it project 70 languages [49:46] because I don't think anyone's actually [49:48] ever translated Torah into 70 languages [49:50] conceptually you know we believe one day [49:53] but yeah we have the opportunity and we [49:56] did a little research it's not even 70 [49:58] languages I mean there's more than 70 [50:00] it's dialects more like 34 languages but [50:03] they have dialect Chinese itself has I [50:05] think 21 dialects [50:07] Arabic has 12 dialects. Egyptian Arabic [50:10] is different than Saudi Arabian Arabic. [50:12] I've just learned this all in the last [50:14] while. I started looking. So I said, [50:17] "Let's go." And we started putting out [50:19] these videos and I recorded I remember a [50:22] video two years ago. It was called my a [50:26] personal message to my Muslim cousins [50:29] and friends. I saw Yeshal is our you [50:33] know the two children Abraham. I decided [50:37] to put out a message five minutes where [50:40] I said what would your grandfather [50:42] Abraham say to you when you attack [50:44] Israel and Jews? That was my content but [50:48] I spoke in a pleasant way. You know I [50:50] didn't I didn't attack anyone. It wasn't [50:52] aggressive. And this video took off in [50:56] Arabic. Crazy. It went viral. And we saw [51:00] the countries on YouTube. You can see [51:01] which countries. And which countries? [51:03] The Emirates like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, [51:08] Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, [51:12] Jordan. You can see the countries. And I [51:16] started getting a lot of hate mail to be [51:17] honest. Not a lot but uh quite a few [51:20] people like you know just just pure uh [51:23] hate but I started getting tremendous [51:25] responses. is I get a call one day on my [51:28] cell phone [51:30] and the return the caller ID says [51:32] Muhammad I got I don't think only [51:35] Muhammad I thought is this a prank call [51:37] you know like Muhammad I know it wasn't [51:40] the prophet Muhammad and I answer the [51:42] phone I remember it was Friday in my [51:44] house and I say hello yeah I'm Muhammad [51:49] I'm a doctor I live in South Florida I [51:52] was born invol [51:56] Palestine. I've been listening to your [51:58] videos for quite a few years. I really [52:00] love them. But lately, it was right [52:03] after October 7th when I did that video. [52:06] Um, lately you've become more militant. [52:09] He's saying to me on the call, I say, "I [52:12] become more militant. What happened to [52:14] October 7th is not, you know, I'm [52:16] responding." [52:17] He said, "No, but you're sounding more." [52:20] And he was very, he was very respectful [52:23] and we didn't agree, obviously. [52:26] you know, and I said to him, you justify [52:28] what happened. You know, we had this [52:29] real conversation. But bottom line is I [52:31] came to learn that there are people out [52:34] there that are listening. You never know [52:35] who. So, you can have a whole Arab world [52:38] listening. I'm not I'm not that [52:40] delusional to think I'm going to with a [52:42] few videos going to change the Muslim [52:44] world, but you never know who's [52:46] listening. And he kept on telling me, he [52:48] says to me, "You're very persuasive. I [52:50] don't agree with everything you say, but [52:51] you know how to present it, and you're [52:53] pleasant. you're not, you know, you're [52:55] not like because a lot of you can hear [52:58] out there a lot of people are very a lot [52:59] of venom and anger. So I realized [53:01] there's an opportunity. So now we've [53:04] chosen I think six languages that we do [53:06] it in Arabic, French, uh Spanish, maybe [53:10] Russian, German, and I think I'm not [53:13] sure Portuguese maybe. So and the Arabic [53:16] is very popular. Do you think a soft [53:18] tongue um delivering something softly [53:21] verbally resonates more in general? [53:24] Yeah, because it says, you know, [53:28] that should speak with [53:31] even if you have a strong argument to [53:33] make and you're and you're adamant, it [53:36] could be said, I think though the voices [53:38] that are sound loud and are yelling, [53:42] even if they have good points, it's [53:44] grading on your nerves and it's hard to [53:47] listen. And I think someone that speaks [53:49] a little more, I don't do it [53:50] deliberately. It's my style. It's not [53:52] like I worked on myself, you know? It's [53:54] my style. That's how I I like to make a [53:56] case. I don't like to I know a few times [53:58] I've been invited to CNN or even Fox and [54:02] they want you to yell. They told me [54:04] clearly, "We want blood. Are you ready [54:06] to call this guy an anti-semite, [54:08] you know?" So, I said, "I'll do it my [54:11] way. I'll I'll be firm. I'm not going to [54:14] be wishy-washy, [54:16] but I'm not a yeller. I'm not going to [54:18] start yelling on top, you know. Um, and [54:20] they and one of the producers told me, [54:22] "We need gladiators." I said, "Why?" He [54:25] said, "Because it's entertainment at the [54:26] end of the day. It's not news, it's [54:28] entertainment." So, I said, "I [54:29] understand, but I just I can't [54:31] compromise myself. I'm not going to call [54:32] someone an anti-semite unless I know [54:34] they're an anti-semite." You know, they [54:36] I could say what they said. It sounds [54:37] anti-semitic. I mean, it's just my [54:40] style. But it is there is I mean, you [54:42] see you see it clearly. Listen, they [54:44] have to compete. The media has to [54:46] compete. So, this become entertainment. [54:48] It is entertainment. No question about [54:50] it. And I'm not I'm not concerned. I I [54:53] can be some have my own entertainment [54:55] side to me, but you know, within my in [54:57] my way, my limits. I'm not going to [54:59] mention names, but you know, there are [55:00] people out there that are yellers and [55:01] screamers. You could have a discussion [55:03] on a Pierce Morgan where everybody's [55:05] yelling on top of each other. I don't [55:08] It's not about respect even. [55:09] >> That's not even entertaining. [55:10] >> Yeah. That just play, you know, it's [55:12] very grading on the nerves. And um when [55:15] a Candace Owens for example who is [55:17] speaking anti-semitic stuff but her [55:19] voice is pleasant it's very hard to she [55:22] just knows how to present. I'm not [55:24] defending her trust me but she so [55:27] there's a certain charm to that for sure [55:29] with in context of what we're [55:31] discussing. [55:34] Yeah I think that I'm not talking about [55:37] real haters real Nazis you're not going [55:39] to get through so quickly cuz they're [55:41] just unccapable of listening. But people [55:44] who are more, even if they've been [55:45] brainwashed, if the voice is pleasant [55:49] and you make a a persuasive argument and [55:51] they have some intelligence and they're [55:53] able to step back, yeah, you can you can [55:56] definitely open the conversation. [55:58] >> For someone that wants to see more of [56:00] your conversations, where can they find [56:02] Rally Simon Jacobson? [56:04] >> Well, the the best today is Simon [56:06] Jacobson.ai. [56:07] >> Oh, wow. [56:08] >> It's like on WhatsApp. You just go [56:10] there. You can type whatever you want. [56:11] It'll take you wherever you need to go. [56:12] You could ask this question, where could [56:14] I see more videos from you? So just [56:16] Simon Jacobson.ai [56:18] on YouTube. Just just search Simon [56:21] Jacobson or meaningful life center. It [56:24] comes up. I mean, I have hundreds of [56:25] thousands of subscribers and I have [56:27] literally thousands of videos. I'm out [56:29] there. It's it's just a quick today. [56:31] It's it's a [56:32] >> So the rabbi's replacing himself with [56:34] AI. [laughter] [56:36] >> I hope not. But I must say that some of [56:39] it is better than I am. [laughter] [56:41] Um because I've asked you know I've have [56:43] conversations with it um and uh I [56:46] wouldn't like to say replace I'll say [56:48] this I mentioned the story before as the [56:51] AI takes care of everything I've done [56:53] till now I can create new stuff but the [56:56] AI listen it's like it's like training [56:58] an intern and becomes like someone who's [57:01] your assistant that can like answer [57:02] questions that you would have answered [57:04] and it does a very good job I have to [57:06] say very and now it's been trained in [57:08] the beginning it was rougher now it's [57:10] already two that were doing this. So it [57:13] really well a lot of people use it for [57:15] therapy actually literally someone told [57:18] me that they spent hour and a half [57:20] having conversation about the a very [57:22] difficult marriage they have and they [57:24] said [57:25] >> careful right [57:26] >> well it's confidential so we don't have [57:28] you know access so people have their [57:29] privacy and yeah no the AI is very [57:33] trained also with a certain empathy the [57:35] AI is not like I know it all the AI will [57:38] say maybe at this point we should take a [57:40] pause or maybe you need to talk to [57:41] someone. It's not like [57:43] >> they shouldn't become too attached. [57:44] >> Exactly. And also certain things, you [57:46] know, AI can be um can you know, God [57:50] forbid there people who who hurt [57:52] themselves. So, no, we're very careful [57:54] with that and it's all with disclaimers [57:56] and everything. There's no it's not like [57:58] there's no but it is a tool like we just [58:00] re recently got an AI report that the AI [58:04] right now is doing the work of 69 [58:06] people. No, I need 69 assistants to [58:10] answer all that the AI is doing. I mean, [58:12] that's serious. [58:13] >> One more. You have one for every [58:14] language. [58:15] >> Yeah, exactly. So, I think it's a [58:18] tremendous tool, but with its limits and [58:20] and has to be I'm not afraid of it. You [58:22] know, people say, "How could you do it? [58:23] There's risks and so on." I see it as [58:26] again as purely an amplifier and it's [58:29] more than an amplifier. It actually can [58:30] address a lot of things. I think it's [58:33] very powerful and it can be used for [58:35] Torah and for Judaism and for spreading [58:38] a good message. [58:40] Absolutely. [58:41] >> Should we reveal to the audience that [58:43] you're just a hologram today? [58:46] >> You know what? Even better, let them [58:48] figure it out themselves. Am I or am I [58:50] not? How about you? [58:52] >> I don't know if I'm real some days. [58:55] Depends on the day. [58:56] >> Look, I sometimes think of it. Hashem [58:58] created the human being and he [59:00] downloaded his intelligence to us. So, [59:03] aren't we a form of artificial [59:04] intelligence? [59:05] >> No, we're we're we're real intelligence. [59:07] >> Okay. [59:08] >> Not artificial. [59:08] >> Yeah, but it's not. But it's Hashem [59:10] downloading, you know, I think about a [59:12] brain. You ever think how a brain works? [59:14] It's it's it's it's mindblow. [59:17] How does a brain work? You have a little [59:18] brain inside here that's processing. And [59:20] here we're having a conversation. I to [59:22] me that's So, why can't we create some [59:25] type of replica like that? That's what [59:27] we're doing. We're creating um like a [59:29] brain. I mean, that's a whole other [59:32] discussion. Does AI have a soul? Can it [59:35] have relationships? [59:38] But I think almost anything we can do, [59:39] you could train it to do. Um and then [59:42] we're going to have to prove ourselves, [59:44] like I said earlier, [59:46] to rise to the occasion to be even [59:48] better. I always say this, if you think [59:50] you're a machine, these machines will [59:52] will be better. But if you know you're a [59:55] soul, not a machine, no, the machine [59:57] will not be able to replicate that. [60:00] Yeah. The interesting times we live in. [60:03] >> Rabbi Simon Jacobson, I cannot thank you [60:05] enough for joining us second time [60:07] around. If you are listening and you [60:09] haven't watched our our first [60:10] discussion, please uh take a look and [60:13] thank you again. [60:14] >> Thank you. It's a real honor to be here. [60:15] It was a great conversation. I didn't [60:18] imagine what direction it was going to [60:19] go, but that's how it works. It's great. [60:21] >> Thank you. [60:22] >> Thank you. [60:23] And that'll do it for the latest episode [60:25] of Kosher Money. [music] Yes, it's [60:26] Yakov, Ellie's brother. Ellie asked me [60:28] to chip in and do this a show because he [60:30] is getting set to travel for an upcoming [60:32] episode that may be a top five [60:34] legitimately unbelievable guest. By the [60:36] way, I think one of the things that [60:37] makes Robbie Simmon Jacobson [music] so [60:39] fascinating is his ability to take [60:41] something we deal with every single day, [60:43] like money, and make us think about it [60:45] in an entirely different way. We should [60:47] know by now that money is never just [60:49] about the dollars. Money for many means [60:51] security, [music] identity, how to see [60:53] ourselves, how we think other people see [60:55] us, and sometimes how much control we [60:57] believe we have [music] over our lives. [60:59] And I really appreciated how openly [61:01] Rabbi Jacobson approached this [61:03] conversation. The Rabbi [music] and [61:05] Ellie talked about why people are so [61:06] uncomfortable discussing what they earn, [61:08] why money can become addictive, and why [61:11] having financial success doesn't [61:12] necessarily mean you [music] figured out [61:14] what life is all about. And then there's [61:16] AI. We're living through a time when [61:18] technology is changing the way people [61:20] work, the way businesses operate, and [61:22] [music] potentially the way we think [61:23] about earning and living altogether. But [61:26] I love the bigger question Robbie [61:27] Jacobson [music] brings to the table. If [61:29] technology could do more and more of the [61:31] things that used to occupy our time, [61:33] what are we supposed to do with our [61:34] freedom? What actually gives our [music] [61:36] lives meaning? Because ultimately, [61:38] whether you have a little money or a lot [61:39] of money, whether you're building a [61:41] business or working a regular job, the [61:43] goal [music] can't simply be to [61:44] accumulate more. There has to be [61:46] something we're accumulating it for. And [61:48] I think that's a really important [61:50] reminder, especially in a world where [61:52] it's so easy to measure success by [61:53] [music] somebody else's bank account, [61:55] house, or lifestyle. A tremendous thank [61:58] you to Robbie Simon Jacobson for joining [61:59] us, for being so thoughtful and open, [62:01] and for giving us plenty to [music] [62:03] think about long after this conversation [62:05] ends. And of course, a thank you to our [62:07] incredible sponsors who help make kosher [62:09] money possible. [music] First, Kabat. [62:11] For more than 200 years, Kabat has been [62:13] helping families across Israel with [62:14] food, [music] financial assistance, and [62:16] other muchneeded resources. And when [62:18] we're talking about the purpose of [62:19] money, here's a [music] beautiful [62:20] example of using what we have to make [62:22] somebody else's life a little easier. [62:24] Visit cokabad.org/cosermoney [62:26] to learn [music] more and support their [62:28] incredible work. We also want to thank [62:30] Coach Shyitz of approved funding. A lot [62:33] of financial stress comes from making a [62:35] big decision before fully understanding [62:37] [music] the numbers. Whether you're [62:38] thinking about buying a home, [62:40] refinancing, purchasing an investment [62:42] property, [music] or exploring business [62:43] financing, Schmool can help you [62:45] understand your options. And sometimes [62:47] having the right person walk you through [62:49] those decisions can make all the [62:51] difference. Visit coach.com/lsj [music] [62:54] to schedule a conversation and tell them [62:56] the great folks at Kosher Money sent [62:58] you. A big thank you to [music] BF [62:59] Design. If you're building a home, a [63:01] nursing home, an assisted living [63:03] facility, a development, a school, a [63:04] shul, or [music] another commercial [63:06] space, that early planning matters a lot [63:08] more than people realize. BF Design [63:10] focuses on making projects practical, [63:11] [music] [63:12] buildable, and efficient from the very [63:14] beginning, helping clients avoid [63:16] expensive mistakes later [music] on. [63:17] They've planned over 50 million square [63:19] feet and work on projects across New [63:21] Jersey, Florida, and beyond. Check them [63:23] out at bfdesign.com and tell them Kosher [63:26] Money sent you. All of our sponsor links [63:28] are in the [music] show notes. Now, a [63:30] couple of resources that I really want [63:31] everyone watching to know about. First, [63:33] Living Smarter [music] Jewish. If you're [63:35] feeling overwhelmed by your finances, if [63:36] you're not sure where your money is [63:38] going or if [music] you simply want to [63:40] get more organized and make smarter [63:41] financial decisions, Living Smarter [63:43] Jewish is here to help. And this [music] [63:45] is Yakov talking. I personally tried [63:47] them out because I needed help. And I [63:49] went to them and they made things so [63:50] smooth and simple and easy [music] and [63:52] gave me that peace of mind. They offer [63:54] free financial coaching and guidance for [63:56] the from community with people who [63:57] understand the realities of Jewish [63:59] family living life. And I [music] always [64:00] say the best part is it is free 100%. [64:04] Actually, the best part is that it's [64:05] awesome. The second best part is that [64:07] it's free. You can visit living [64:08] smarterjwe.org and kosher debt [music] [64:10] help. If you're dealing with debt and [64:12] financial pressure, please don't feel [64:14] like you have to figure out everything [64:16] out on your own. Kosher Debt helps [64:17] provide honest, agenderee guidance to [64:20] people trying to understand their [64:21] [music] situation and find a responsible [64:23] way for it. There's no shame in asking [64:25] for help. Visit kosherd debt [64:26] helppelp.com. And [music] if you know [64:28] someone who could benefit from their [64:29] services, please share that resource [64:31] with them. Okay, giveaway time. We have [64:34] a winner of a $101 Amazon gift card. A [64:36] big congratulations to [music] TES406 [64:40] exclamation mark. You are a winner. [64:42] Please reach out to us so we can get you [64:44] your prize. You can send an email [64:46] [music] at high living.com. And for [64:48] everybody else, don't worry, we're doing [64:49] it again. We're giving away another $101 [64:52] Amazon gift card to someone [music] [64:53] watching this Robbie Sim Jacobson [64:55] episode. All you have to do is subscribe [64:56] to Coaster Money, like this video, and [64:58] leave a comment [music] below. Tell us [65:00] your biggest takeaway from this [65:01] conversation. Maybe it's something [65:02] Robbie Jacobson said about money and [65:04] identity. Maybe it's his perspective on [65:06] AI. Maybe it's a thought about wealth, [65:07] [music] purpose, or what you're actually [65:09] working toward. But you know what I'm [65:11] suggesting? This is not in our script [65:13] that we made up, but maybe it's [65:14] something you appreciate how Ellie [65:16] conducts [music] the kosher money [65:17] interviews. Maybe something nice about [65:19] Ellie or comment whatever you want. That [65:21] is up to you. Just make sure you're [65:22] [music] subscribed, you like the video, [65:24] and you leave that comment. And while [65:25] you're here, if there's somebody you [65:27] think that would benefit from hearing [65:28] this conversation, send it their way. We [65:31] always love hearing your suggestions for [65:32] [music] future guests. Visit [65:33] living.com/suggest [65:35] and tell us who you'd like to see on the [65:37] next kosher money. A huge thank you [65:39] again to Robbie Simmon Jacobson, to our [65:41] sponsors, to all of you who make this [65:43] show possible. And remember, money [65:45] [music] is an important tool, but the [65:46] real question is what kind of life [65:48] you're using that tool to build. I'll [65:50] see you when I see you. Bye-bye. [65:59] living.
