What does it take to rebuild your confidence when yeshiva feels out of reach—and how can a second chance set you on a path to business automation and deep personal growth? In this episode of the Postville Yeshiva Alumni Podcast, Moshe Cohen shares his journey from Postville to mastering Amazon e-commerce automation and fostering authentic community connection. Guest Intro: Moshe Cohen is an Amazon repricing strategist and community leader based in Florida who specializes in building automated e-commerce systems and helping others navigate personal, financial, and spiritual challenges. Key Takeaways: The Power of a Second Chance: How being welcomed into Postville after injury and rejections gave Moshe the emotional safety and care he needed to take ownership of his life.Hacking Amazon Workflows: How Moshe created custom spreadsheet algorithms that reduced a 40-hour weekly repricing task down to just 10 minutes a day.Embracing Vulnerability: Why admitting you need help and letting go of the need to be perfect is the essential catalyst for real growth in learning and life.Building True Community: Lessons from serving on his shul board, supporting families through financial hardship, and building one-on-one relationships where people feel truly seen. Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Postville Yeshiva Alumni Podcast, leave a review, and share this conversation with fellow alumni!

Questions: How can we kill כנען? Can you use saliva for מים אחרונים? How does ר״י and ר״מ fit ? What is the difference between a שתוי and a שיכור? Why is 42 the answer of life? Why is it hard to wake up on time? Should there be cameras in the mikva? Why do we still die if אדם did תשובה? How do I become chasidic? Concepts: כנען מים אחרונים מחלוקת חזקיה ור אבהו בגמרא פסחים שתויי 🍷/שיכור רביעית יין 🍷 42 Sleep 🛌 Sleep apnea Cameras 🎥 אדם הראשון תשובה דרשות הר״ן חסידיש משפיע

What is the issue with wearing a tie? Do you have to wear socks? Is it better to be big or small according to תורה? Why did the רבי stop יחידות? What is the point of a רבי why can’t we just serve ה׳? What is in Area 51? Does the Vatican have anything of ours? If antis and mishechistim both want to do what the רבי wants why do they always fight, and who is correct? Why do the לויים need to do the סדר on פסח if they weren’t part of the slavery? Can someone buy a seltzer for your teacher and mark it down by my cousins name? Can I listen to a song with an AI woman voice? Is a song made up by AI considered none jewish music? Why did Chabad lose its traits?

Questions: Are you allowed to text and drive? Do you believe Moshiach is coming right now? Do you own your voice? Do you have to go to Mikva? Should I remove my tattoos? Why do we ask for לעקאח? Can a bochur wear shorts 🩳 for basketball?🏀 Concepts: דינא דמלכותא דינא בעל שבט הלוי -שמואל ווזנר אמונה בביאת המשיח Ai גניבת דעת USA vs 🇬🇧 ג הכנות לתפילה אסור לחבול בעצמו מנחת יצחק ר משה דיקשטיין כתב קעקוע עין הרע 🧿 Last mishna of peah Wheelchair in Walmart for bochrim הלל פ ומאטל טשארנאבל אידישע מאמע -תשובת הרשב״א צניעות

In this episode of the Postville Yeshiva Alumni Podcast, we are joined by Shmuel Springer (often known simply as "Springer"), a Crown Heights native who attended Postville during what he describes as the "end of an era of insanity". Shmuel shares a raw and honest look at his journey from the "incubator" of Yeshiva to the challenges of the workforce and his eventual spiritual reawakening. Key highlights of this episode include: The Yeshiva "Incubator": Shmuel explains his concept of Yeshiva as an incubator—a perfect, controlled environment designed to provide bochurim with the necessary skills and information to eventually function in a "scary yet fun" world.From "Checking Boxes" to True Connection: Shmuel opens up about his period of leaving religious practice, explaining that for a time, his Yiddishkeit felt like a "mundane ritual". He describes his reawakening in California and how his experiences allowed him to return to a "more rounded and emotionally infused" life of faith.Culinary Roots in the Kitchen: Recalling his first commercial job in the food industry, Shmuel shares how he was the only student in his year to cook lunch from start to finish—a passion that began with over-excitedly chopping 15 onions and led to his current career in meat manufacturing and food product development in Florida.The "SPI" Philosophy: Shmuel discusses the importance of adding Specific Purposeful Intention (SPI) to religious rituals. He argues that without intention, a mitzvah is just a routine, but when the two are combined, it becomes a truly spiritual experience.Wild Postville Memories: From the dangerous thrill of BB gun fights on bicycles to borrowing the Shluchim’s van for a 4:00 AM Walmart run, Shmuel revisits the "insane" and creative ways students kept themselves entertained in the middle of Iowa.Lessons on Self-Work: Currently a husband and entrepreneur, Shmuel emphasizes that success in life isn't about the product or service you sell, but about working on yourself to become a "functioning human being". Join us for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation that explores culinary passion, the necessity of personal growth, and finding a meaningful path back to one's roots.

In this episode, we explore the profound mechanics of spiritual growth and the Chassidic way of life. We dive into the true definition of Tshuva, explaining why the essence of repentance is a sincere decision for the future rather than just regret or self-affliction. We also tackle the practical and spiritual questions of our community: how to find the right Mashpia, why every personality type has a place in Chassidus, and the ethical complexities of modern industries like cash advances. Finally, we discuss the importance of Emunah, teaching why questioning "what if" about our life circumstances is a mistake, as everything is precisely ordained by Hashem for our best interest. Questions: What is teshuvah? Is it okay for a bochur to be a mashpia for another bochur? Why did hashem create the female and male לויתן 🐋? If I come to Zal can I drive? Can I trim my mustache? Why did the rebbe barly mention גיהנם? I don’t see my self being chassidish with my personality? What are the rebbes instructions? What is cash advance? Why don’t the Shluchim give attention to bochrim? Do you say Hashems name by והוא רחום? Is it better to have your kids in a different yeshiva? Concepts: תשובה Hashem Dosent laugh 😆 עשה לך רב 🐋לויתן רבני חב״ד גיהנם גן עדן Prizes /mivtzas Cash advance ריבית Gmach התלמידי השלוחים דער וואלפער “What if” is אפיקורסות!

Questions: are you allowed to put a Sefer on your lap? What to do if there are two approaches by the rebbe? How long will the desire of ז״ל go until? Hashem wants us to fulfill his desire why can’t I fulfill mine? Are you allowed to listen to music in שלשת ימי הגבלה? Why do bochrim use Artscroll’s? Is it respectful to use a rebbe picture as a bookmark? Chachomim mixing there? Concepts: קדושת ספרים 📚 No contradictions משביעו רעב מרעיבו שבע אם כבנים אם כעבדים שלשת ימי הגבלה הרב יי ברוין שליט״א Artscroll יראה לי של הרמבם

Questions consisting: Why does the rambam say no eulogy for children? What is the deal with peyos? How do you get to 100 blessings on Shabbos? Why is tehillim called אהל יוסף יצחק? What do I do if I started שמו״ע and someone put a non moveable wall behind me? Question about a talis falling? Does someone bechezkas Moshiach need to be a tzadik gamur לפי תניא? Can we have an animal class on tmimim? Is there a inyan to make a hachlata to only listen to niggunim? How can you daven in Elul if the king is in the field? Do you have to ware a hat and jacket to be chasshidish? Concepts הספד פאת ראשך מספרים כעין תער My grandfather מאה ברכות בכל יום תקנת תהילים שאלת חכם חצי תשובה Rabbi gershi avtzon טלית שנפל בחזקת משיח ומשיח ודאי הוגה בתורת ועוסק במצוות צדיק גמור חסידישע ניגונים מחמיר על עצמו ומחמיר על אחרים מלך בשדה כלל ופרט המקיף פועל על הפנימיות חסידישש כפר חב״ד Berel levin