70 to 1 by Aaron Levitats

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend and popular Jewish singer, Choni Goldman. This episode is being released on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the beginning of the month where the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai on Shavuot. One of the core themes of Shavuot is the idea of a marriage between Hashem and the Jewish people, with the Torah serving as the Ketubah and Mt. Sinai as the chuppah. 

In this episode, I speak with my wonderful wife, Paula. Being released on Rosh Hodesh Iyar in the middle of the counting of the Omer, in this episode, Paula and I dive deep into many core themes of Iyar and the Omer including continual spirutal growth, being open to change, discipline and boundaries, the often mis-understood role of Women in Judaism, finding our core values, and much more. 

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Alec Kremins. Originally from New York, Alec currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife. Being released on Rosh Hodesh Nissan, in this episode, Alec and I dive deep into many core themes of Nissan and Passover including Ahavas Yisrael, hope, Jewish unity, and returning to the land of Israel. In this conversation, Alec shares many profound insights on how to live a more mindful Judaism, see the good in others, the Torah approach to entrepreneurship, and finding meaning and purpose in life. 

In this episode, I speak with Rabbi Shlomo Buxbaum. Rabbi Buxbaum is a passionate Jewish educator, author, motivational speaker, life-coach, and musician committed to helping people of all walks of life discover meaning, direction, inspiration and joy in their life. He lectures on a wide range of topics including daily spirituality, love and relationships, law and ethics, Kabbalah/mysticism, Jewish mindfulness and more, encouraging each and every individual to discover their unique potential and to always find the joy in their Judaism. 

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Matt Mann. After studying mathematics at Cornell, Matt's curiosity took him to Lake Tahoe, Nevada to work for a startup and explore the beautiful Mountain West. Matt's journey ultimately took him to New York City and then to Jerusalem, where he currently is living learning Torah full-time. 

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Yaakov Carno. Originally from South Africa, Yaakov currently lives in Jerusalem with his wife and daughter. Yaakov's journey within Torah has seen many iterations, growing up in a Torah observant family, spending his teenage years operating outside Torah observance, and ultimately returning to Torah observance with a renewed and re-inspired perspective. In this conversation, Yaakov and I dive deep on his perspective on the role of emotion and intellect, Jewish law, pursuing truth.

When you think of meditation, do you also think of Judaism? Or, perhaps, more eastern spiritual practices? 

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Isaac Rosenheim. Originally from Miami, Florida, Isaac currently lives in Jerusalem spending his days growing in his Torah learning at Machon Shlomo, a Torah learning institution focused on growth-oriented Jewish men that grew up outside the traditional Torah world. Isaac's journey within Torah leaped forward when a brief stopover in Israel before planned months-long backpacking trip through Southeast Asia to explore meditation, martial arts, and spiritual practices lead him to Aish HaTorah. That trip never happened because he found what he was looking for in Southeast Asia in Israel instead.

In this episode, I speak with my dear friend Uri Eckmann. This episode is being released during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva, the 10 days of Teshuva from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur. 

In this  episode, I speak with my dear friend Menajem Benchimol. Originally from Calli, Colombia, Menajem has lived in Miami, China, New York, and now Israel. Growing up the son a Chabad shluchim (emissaries) in Colombia, Menajem has had many unique experiences that shape his Jewish identity and worldview. In this episode, we go deep on Menajem's childhood struggles, the comfort and connection he finds in Chassidut - the inner-dimension of Torah - as well as some perspectives on Torah and business. Menajem also shares the power of using trauma as a springboard for growth, as he has modeled following the tragic passing of his brother, Sholem Z'L, in a biking accident he witnessed in 2020.

In this opening episode, I speak to my close friend Noah Ifergan. Noah and I met while we both living in Washington D.C. Noah is originally from Canada, went to university in Canada where he studied applied mathematics and engineering, lived in Washington D.C., backpacked Asia, Australia and New Zealand for an extended period of time, and now finds himself learning Torah in Israel. Noah is a total go-getting and adventure seeker (check out his travel blog The Pursuit of Adventure), and is genuinely one of the most thoughtful and honest people I know. We discuss this instinct for adventure and how he has grappled reconciling that with his Jewish identity, evolving beliefs, and traditional Torah observance. 

Welcome to the 70:1 podcast, the podcast where we explore the many expressions of Jewish peoplehood by speaking to dedicated Jews living a growth-oriented, and unique Jewish life.