Footsteps of Greatness

1

What the Rebbe Says as he Gets Out of Bed

Aug 2, 2026

2:57

He skipped the same brachah every morning. Day after day, the chassidim watched in disbelief. Had the Rebbe forgotten—or was something far deeper happening? His answer reveals a fiery love for being a Yid that couldn't wait until he reached shul.

2

Ever Saw Hashem on a Train?

Jul 27, 2026

2:54

When everything seemed safe, disaster struck in an instant. A chilling story from the Brisker Rav reveals the unexpected weapon that carried him through—and the daily mindset that can transform fear into unwavering faith.

3

The Downtrodden Apartment

Jul 22, 2026

6:24

A simple basement. A powerful visitor. One unexpected response that left the room speechless.Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld revealed why he refused to live in comfort while the Shechinah remained in exile.

4

Sharing in the Wedding

Jul 20, 2026

5:42

A wedding. A heartbreaking absence. Then, a knock at the door.One extraordinary act of boundless love transformed grief into belonging. A story that redefines what it means to truly care for another Jew—and challenges us to love without limits.

5

When Your Contract is Not Renewed

Jul 8, 2026

5:13

Success. Power. A career at the very top. Then one phone call changes everything. Instead of collapsing, one unexpected response reveals a timeless perspective on faith, resilience, and trusting that every setback has its purpose.

6

Who Polished Rav Elyashiv's Shoes?

Jun 29, 2026

1:27

A single moment.A simple pair of shoes. When someone tried to take this mitzvah away from Rav Elyashiv, his response revealed a profound secret about preparing for Shabbos.

7

The Whiskey Miracle

Jun 7, 2026

3:45

A tax collector. An impossible deadline. Three knocks at the door.As the deadline closes in and prison seems inevitable, one man remains completely calm. The Baal Shem Tov watches in disbelief—until a last-minute turn of events reveals what true bitachon really looks like.A powerful story about waiting for Hashem's yeshuah when there seems to be no way out.

8

The Vishnitzer Rebbe and the Sick Limping Girl

May 31, 2026

13:35

A forgotten act of kindness. A dying woman. A Rebbe with a secret from thirty years earlier. And one impossible command that would change everything in an instant.

9

Chumash Found in the Dumpster

May 21, 2026

2:24

A torn Chumash pulled from a garbage dump. A curious boy. A mother who saw potential where no one else did. From that single moment emerged Rabbi Avigdor Miller — one of the most brilliant Torah minds of the last century. A stirring reminder that greatness can begin in the most unexpected places, and that one small act of encouragement can shape generations.

10

The Brisker Rav Turned Down Millions

May 17, 2026

3:32

A moving insight from The Brisker Rav on what true bitachon really means. When offered full financial support for the famed Brisk Yeshiva, the Brisker Rav refused — fearing that financial security would weaken his constant reliance on Hashem. A powerful lesson that bitachon isn’t only for difficult moments, but a lifelong connection to the Ribbono Shel Olam.

11

The Key to His Greatness

May 14, 2026

2:12

A powerful story about the hidden כוח of a parent’s tefillos. In this episode, a remarkable ma’aseh involving Rabbi Avigdor Miller and the grandfather of Rabbi Elimelech Biderman reveals the heartfelt tears, desperate prayers, and unwavering dedication behind raising children with true Yiras Shamayim.

12

Ripping Up the Stamp

May 10, 2026

2:37

A torn postage stamp.A puzzled Rebbetzin.And a hidden act of honesty that revealed the greatness of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky.What could make someone destroy a stamp… every single time he hand-delivered a letter himself?

13

1st Class Shlepper

May 1, 2026

2:51

A man who lost everything finally finds his way into first class—held together by points, pride, and a fragile sense of worth. For a brief moment, he feels elevated… untouchable.Then one quiet comment cuts through it all.Opportunities are placed in our hands every day… the question is whether we’re truly rising to meet them.

14

Why Rav Shteinman Sent Them Home

Mar 23, 2026

4:27

A boy on the brink of his bar mitzvah clutches his tefillin, boarding a flight for a moment he’ll never forget—until everything suddenly stops.A call. A pause. A shocking instruction from Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman: turn around.No explanation. Just trust.What follows isn’t the story they expected—but it may be the one that matters far more. A quiet, powerful lesson about where real growth actually happens… and the choices that define a person for life.

15

When the General Says "March", you March

Mar 21, 2026

5:08

When grief and joy collide in a single night, what does a person do?Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky stands at a levayah, overcome with tears, unable to continue. Just hours later, he’s at a chasunah—dancing, singing, fully present.How is that even possible?A story that begins in heartbreak and turns into something unexpected reveals a powerful truth: a Yid isn’t defined by what they feel—but by how they respond.

16

The Shadchan Who Got Uninvited - Why We Drink on Purim

Mar 1, 2026

3:56

“Ad d’lo yada.”All year we remember too much—mistakes, failures, who we used to be.Two mechutanim almost lost a chasunah over petty fights. When it was finally back on, they asked the shadchan not to come. Seeing him would bring back the bad memories.Purim is that choice.For one night, we don’t let the past into the room. We drink. We dance. We let go.

17

The Chazon Ish’s Powerful Reminder - Hadar Kibluha Me’Ahavah

Mar 1, 2026

3:15

Purim isn’t just costumes and noise.It’s the day Chazal say we accepted the Torah again—this time willingly. Hadar kibluhah bimei Achashveirosh.A sweltering day in Bnei Brak. The beis medrash empty. The heat unbearable. They went to see the Chazon Ish—and found him learning as if nothing existed.“How?” they asked.His answer changes everything.Because the real battle of Purim isn’t outside. It’s in your head. And what you choose to let in decides who you become.

18

Which King do you Want to Be?

Feb 4, 2026

3:40

A king sent his servants to distant provinces and warned them: You’ll have power, pleasure, and endless distractions—but remember, you’re coming back. Each place was filled with treasure, and whatever they shipped home would be theirs forever.One king worked immediately, sending gems back each day. Another said, “Later,” and lost himself in entertainment. A third filled crates with souvenirs—beautiful, but worthless.One king understood. I wasn’t sent here to enjoy myself, but to prepare. He lived simply and shipped treasure nonstop.When they returned, only one was truly rich.The nimshal is obvious. This world is temporary. What we send ahead is what remains. As we head toward Rosh Hashanah, the question isn’t what we enjoyed—but what we shipped home.

19

A Pinch of Snuff

Feb 1, 2026

3:14

The Chafetz Chaim once saw people laughing in shul. They told him about the “meshugeneh of Raden” who had walked 24 miles to a fair and came back proudly holding one prize—a free pinch of snuff.“Don’t laugh,” said the Chafetz Chaim. “It’s not so far from you.”A neshamah travels from the Kisai HaKavod down to this world for one reason: to acquire eternity. If we go through a lifetime of struggle and return with nothing but a pinch of snuff—empty gains—who’s really the fool?Make sure what you bring back after 120 is worth the journey.

20

The Great Power of Tefillah

Jan 24, 2026

3:33

They once asked the Lelover Rebbetzin how she was zocheh to a son like the Lelover Rebbe—a kadosh mei’rechem, overflowing with yiras Shamayim. She said nothing special came to mind.Then she paused.There were moments when her husband would lock himself in a room and cry out “Yizku li banim u’vnei banim oskim baTorah u’vmitzvos”—with such raw desperation that he would bang his head against the wall and collapse from the tefillah.“Maybe,” she said quietly, “that was the zechus.”A haunting reminder of the koach of tefillah when it comes from the edge of the soul.

21

Once in a Lifetime

Jan 24, 2026

2:27

A famous ma’aseh from the Mir: in 1949, as the bochurim arrived in San Francisco after years of war, they rushed to see the breathtaking Golden Gate Bridge. One bochur stayed below deck, absorbed in learning. When told he was missing a once-in-a-lifetime sight, Rav Shmuel Birnbaum replied, “I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to see it—to stay immersed in the sugya.”For him, the real rarity wasn’t the bridge, but uninterrupted dveikus in Torah.

22

The Miraculous Sprinkler Park | R' Don Jarashow

Nov 10, 2025

4:36

23

From Spills to Steps

May 8, 2025

3:23

A father buys a beautiful new Haggadah. His daughter spills wine all over it. Instead of reacting with anger or frustration, something deeper emerges. This episode explores how life’s unexpected “spills” can become powerful steps forward—if we let them.Music from #Uppbeat:https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/the-story-begins

24

The Secret to Greatness

Mar 13, 2025

2:34

25

In the Footsteps of the Chofetz Chaim

Mar 4, 2025

2:42

A baker was disheartened—before the war, people scrutinized every loaf, but now, in the midst of war, his business was thriving in a way he had never seen. Confused, he turned to the Chofetz Chaim, who revealed a powerful truth about human nature and the way we view our blessings.

26

In the Footsteps of Rav Shach

Feb 23, 2025

2:36

Criticism can feel like arrows, but Rav Shach saw it as a badge of honor. When a young rabbi complained about backlash, Rav Shach showed him a drawer full of attacks—letters he cherished, not discarded. “Some want their graves covered with books—I want mine covered with these.” A lesson in sacrifice, legacy, and the true battle for Torah.

27

In the Footsteps of Rav Shmuel Berenbaum

Jan 30, 2025

2:02

A ship of survivors nears freedom, but one bachur chooses learning over the greatest sight of his life. Why? Tune in to discover a lesson in focus and what truly matters.

28

In the Footsteps of Rav Chatzkel Abramsky

Jan 25, 2025

2:17

Barefoot in the icy wilderness of Siberia, Rav Chatzkel Abramsky faced impossible odds. Deprived of warmth and strength, he turned to Hashem with unwavering faith—and defied the limits of human endurance.

29

In the Footsteps of Rav Moshe Feinstein

Jan 18, 2025

2:32

The Bobover Rebbe saw greatness in Moshe, even when Moshe seemed far removed from holiness. He looked past the struggles and external failings, recognizing the pure, untarnished soul within. In this time of Shovavim, we’re reminded that no matter where we stand or how far we’ve strayed, the ground beneath us is holy. Remove the barriers, reconnect to your essence, and take the next step toward becoming the real you.

30

In the Footsteps of the Sanzer Rav

Jan 15, 2025

3:10

Harav Chaim Halberstam, the Sanzer Rav, endured the devastating loss of his young son and made the unusual decision to hold the levaya before Shacharis. What profound message did he reveal through this choice? Discover how the Divrei Chaim found gratitude and faith in the face of unimaginable pain.

31

In the Footsteps of Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz

Jan 8, 2025

3:51

Arrested by Soviet police and exiled to Siberia, Rav Baruch Ber’s talmidim sang with unwavering faith, unaware their deportation would become their salvation. Discover their inspiring story of bitachon and hidden miracles. Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/no-time-to-die

32

In the Footsteps of Rav Simcha Zissel of Kelm

Dec 29, 2024

3:33

The Kelm Yeshiva taught that greatness lies in every step of a mitzvah, not just the final result. Rav Simcha Zissel Brodie demonstrated this through his humble dedication to even the smallest tasks. This Chanukah, the menorah’s lights remind us that the preparation, effort, and process are just as holy as the glowing flames. Music: Warm Memories - Emotional Inspiring Piano by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

33

In the Footsteps of the Tolner Rebbe

Dec 25, 2024

3:52

When a young boy accidentally extinguished the Tolner Rebbe’s menorah, the room went silent. But the Rebbe’s response was unexpected. Instead of scolding, he thanked the boy, turning the moment into a lesson about effort and Hashem’s will. This Chanukah, we learn that the process—our efforts and kindness—matter more than the results.

34

In the Footsteps of Rav Zusha of Anipoli

Dec 19, 2024

2:55

Welcome to the In the Footsteps of Greatness podcast! In this first episode, we share the story of Reb Zusha of Anipoli, setting the tone for the journey ahead. His life reminds us that true greatness isn’t about imitating others but about discovering and embracing the greatness within ourselves. Join us as we explore inspiring stories of remarkable individuals, uncovering lessons on humility, faith, and personal growth to help you unlock your unique potential and walk your own path to greatness. Start your journey now.

Footsteps of Greatness

Footsteps of Greatness

More by Don Jarashow