Ep. 31 What a Shliach Is - with Rabbi Mendel Lipskar

Ep. 31 What a Shliach Is - with Rabbi Mendel Lipskar

For this episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down with Rabbi Mendel Lipskar, head shliach to South Africa for more than fifty years, for a rich conversation about what it truly means to be a shliach.   Rabbi Lipskar takes us back to the beginning of his shlichus, sharing the stories and guidance from the Rebbe that shaped his life's mission. Along the way, he reflects on building Jewish life in S.A. from the ground up, navigating financial crises, leading through both extraordinary growth and difficult challenges, and building a thriving network of shluchim while fostering unity, trust, and long-term collaboration.   But more than anything, this conversation is about the inner life of a shliach: staying connected to the Rebbe, remaining humble, persevering through setbacks, and never losing sight of the privilege and responsibility of carrying the Rebbe's mission.   Whether you've been on shlichus for five years or fifty, Rabbi Lipsker's timeless wisdom offers encouragement, perspective, and a renewed appreciation for the incredible zechus of being a shliach.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit!   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers [https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers]    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com [http://www.coachingbytzviki.com]   If you would like to share some feedback you can reach me via email at: hello@coachingbytzviki.com [hello@coachingbytzviki.com]   Or via WhatsApp: 808-499-5850     Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Ep. 30 Time Is Your Best Friend with Rabbi Yitzi Steiner

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Yitzi Steiner, shliach at the University of Minnesota, for a rich and honest conversation about campus shlichus, fundraising, family life, personal growth, and learning what really matters with time.   A major theme of the conversation is simple but powerful: time is your best friend. In building relationships, raising support, and finding your own way, things often take longer than we want — but patience, persistence, and consistency can open doors that pressure never could.   Along the way, Rabbi Steiner shares practical wisdom on following up without giving up, asking for introductions more effectively, delegating what drains your headspace, creating healthy boundaries for family, and helping other shluchim whenever possible.   This is a grounded, thoughtful, and deeply practical conversation for anyone building a shlichus, and for life in general.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit.   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers [https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers]    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com [http://www.coachingbytzviki.com]   If you would like to share some feedback you can email me at: hello@coachingbytzviki.com [hello@coachingbytzviki.com]   Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Ep. 29 What Are We Here For? With Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Chaim Shaul Bruk, shliach to Bozeman, Montana, for a bold, honest, and deeply refreshing conversation about staying focused on the true mission of shlichus.   Nineteen years after moving to Montana, Rabbi Bruk reflects on building Jewish life across one of America’s largest states, with one of its smallest Jewish populations — from his early Merkos Shlichus trips, to creating a statewide network of shluchim, to reaching Yidden scattered across vast distances.   But at the heart of this conversation is a much bigger question: What are we here for?   With honesty, humor, and a lot of clarity, Rabbi Bruk challenges us to cut through the noise — comparison, politics, social media, public recognition, and distraction — and return to the ikar: bringing people to the Rebbe, learning and teaching Chassidus, reaching one more Yid, uplifting one more person, and living with the mission in a real way.   Along the way, he speaks openly about family, boundaries, chinuch, marriage, debt, inner work, and the danger of letting shlichus become defined by outside measures instead of inner purpose.   This is a powerful conversation about remembering what matters, staying grounded in the Rebbe’s mission, and asking ourselves honestly: What are we really here for?   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit.   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers [https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers]    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com [http://www.coachingbytzviki.com]   If you would like to share some feedback you can email me at: hello@coachingbytzviki.com [hello@coachingbytzviki.com]   Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Ep. 28 The Courage to Go First — with Rabbi Menachem Caytak

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Menachem Caytak, shliach to Troy, Michigan, for a powerful conversation about building a community before it was obvious to anyone else.   Still in his first seven years on shlichus, Rabbi Caytak shares how he began building Jewish life in Troy one door and one relationship at a time — with persistence, grit, and a willingness to keep showing up.   Again and again, what stands out is his courage to go first: to see and speak a vision before it was fully visible, to talk about a Jewish center before there was a center, to look for a building before the money was there, and to keep creating keilim before he knew exactly how the brachos would come.   Along the way, he shares story after story of open Hashgacha Protis and remarkable miracles: unexpected donors, impossible opportunities, and doors opening in ways he never could have planned.   He also speaks about the power of writing a weekly duch to the Rebbe, as well as beginning the day with learning Rambam.   This episode is an inspiring reminder that hatzlocho is built through both emunah and action — the courage to go first, the discipline to keep showing up, and the full bitachon that when we create the keilim, Hashem fills them with bracha.   ---   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit.   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers [https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers]    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com [http://www.coachingbytzviki.com]   If you would like to share some feedback you can email me at: hello@coachingbytzviki.com [hello@coachingbytzviki.com]   Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Fundraising Special: From Constant Pressure to Clear Strategy with Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

In this special episode of Wisdom from the Field, I sit down once again with Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman to explore a practical and highly organized approach to annual fundraising.   We discuss the shift from constant year-round fundraising pressure toward a more structured annual campaign model — including donor strategy, major gifts, ambassadors, campaign planning, and how presenting your moised with greater clarity and confidence can change the way people respond.   This conversation is especially relevant for shluchim and nonprofit leaders looking to create a more sustainable, focused, and effective fundraising process.   —   You can reach Rabbi Schusterman via:   WhatsApp: 404-931-6449 Email: eliyahu@elijahthenonprofit.com [eliyahu@elijahthenonprofit.com]   —   If this episode was meaningful, please share it with someone who might benefit.   For ongoing insights on fundraising, leadership, and the inner work of shlichus, join my email list here: https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers [https://mailchi.mp/c0f254880cc4/new-subscribers]    To learn more about my work with shluchim, visit: www.coachingbytzviki.com [http://www.coachingbytzviki.com/]   Follow on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook