Jewish Money Matters

B”H Today we’re diving into a thrilling story – one of ambition, bold moves, devastating setbacks, and ultimately, profound lessons about wealth, faith, and what really matters. My guest is Rabbi Irwin Katsof, former fundraiser for Aish HaTorah, now investor, entrepreneur, and president of Trademissions.org. He’s also the author of several books, including the one we’ll be talking about today, Living Dangerously: My Struggle to Get Rich Without Losing My Soul. Rabbi Katsof shares with raw honesty what it was like to leave behind a wildly successful 20 plus-year career in Jewish outreach to try to “make it big” on Wall Street. We talk about the allure of wealth, the mistakes that led to overextension, the tension between ambition and faith, and the moments of humility that brought him back to center. We also touch on the lessons of bitachon, the impact of upbringing on our money stories, the dangers of chasing status symbols, and ultimately, what it really means to live a life of meaning, connection, and success. This one is vulnerable, relatable, and full of wisdom for anyone who’s ever wrestled with money, ambition, and purpose – frankly for all of us. Here’s Rabbi Irwin Katsof.   The post 446: The Struggle to Get Rich Without Losing Your Soul with Rabbi Irwin Katsof appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Ever asked yourself that question. My guest today had a unique relationship with fear – it was her most familiar feeling. She was wired from an early age to be fearful of … well everything. After years of searching, she learned to replace fear with faith, with purpose. My guest today is the one and only Michal Oshman, author of What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid: Creating a Meaningful Life in Uncertain Times. She started her career as an officer in the Israeli army, became the Head of Company Culture at TikTok and an International Leadership Development Executive at Facebook. She is a TEDx speaker and believes in ‘replacing fear with purpose.’ Michal and I talk about her journey with fear, and what she found in Judaism that – after a long search in many other disciplines – actually helped her replace her fears with purpose. If you’ve been afraid of entrepreneurship, of asking for money, of going on your own, or plain afraid of making money – perhaps that means asking for a raise at work – listen carefully to Michal’s advice. If you’re looking for a job, or doing a job that pays you more, but doesn’t feel in alignment with your mission… or, if you’re struggling with motherhood and career, please pay attention. We talk about all those things. Michal has great advice for those starting in their careers, as well as for those of us already in the thick of it. But we don’t just talk about careers and making a livelihood, we also talk about the way she grew up as it relates to money. You know I like going there. This is a very open, vulnerable and I hope relatable conversation. Michal is approachable, honest and I know you’re going to love her. Here’s the wise and beautiful Michal Oshman. Get the book What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid HERE. Download Yael’s 10-Day Marriage Reset HERE. The post 445: From Fear to Faith with Michal Oshman, Author of What Would You Do If you Weren’t Afraid appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Download Yael’s Free Debt Repayment Tracker HERE Today on Jewish Money Matters, Yael answers listener’s question on: Taking a loan against a 401K, or refinancing one’s home to tackle$115,000 in credit card debt. Is Maaser paid from before or after taxes? And, can one use Maaser funds to pay for daughters’ Jewish education?   The post 444: Ask Yael — Can I use Maaser funds to pay for  my daughter’s Jewish education? appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H We’re just coming out of Tisha B’Av, when we mourned for the Temple. Today, we can shift from mourning to yearning — to anticipation, to active participation in the rebuilding of said Temple and in Moshiach’s coming. And to help us step fully into that mindset, I’m joined by Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, author of The Future: A Guide to the Jewish Messiah, Israel, and the End of Days. Rabbi Hajioff is going to pull back the curtain and take us deep into one of the most fundamental – yet surprisingly overlooked – topics in Judaism: Moshiach. Rabbi Hajioff, is a full time faculty member of Stern College for Women at Yeshiva University. His very popular credited courses include courses on Jewish Philosophy, Mashiach, Jewish holidays, Shabbat and many others. He received the “Professor of the Year” award in Judaic Studies from the senior year students at Stern. 
He’s also the best selling author of two other books: Jew Got Questions and Will Jew Marry Me?  Today, we’ll explore what Moshiach really means – not just for the Jewish people, but for the entire world – the signs we might already be seeing, and most importantly, how we can be active participants in bringing this era closer. And if you’re wondering where your money fits into all of this… stay tuned. There is a lot you can do with your financial resources to help make this reality happen. Remember: Moshiach arrives in this physical world. Before you, G-d forbid, reject materiality, listen closely – you might find that you don’t need to give up what you have right now… except, maybe a mindset… The post 443: Moshiach Is Not a Fringe Topic with Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Download Yael’s Mindful Spending Plan at yaeltrusch.com/msp Today on Ask Yael, a listener asks what are the top 5 things Yael would want high school kids to know as they start making money and soon head out into the adult world. Also, Yael answers a listener who wants to know how to teach teenage kids to manage money when going out with friends. Plus, what is an adult sibling’s role when it comes to another adult sibling who is being financially irresponsible? The post 442: Ask Yael — Top 5 Things To Teach Your High School Child About Money appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Check out income eligibility per state HERE. Stay up to date on everything regarding the federal scholarship tax credit by visiting https://agudah.org/schoolchoice Yael Trusch is in conversation with Rabbi A.D. Motzen, National Director of Government Affairs for Agudath Israel of America, and Rabbi Shlomo Soroka, Director of Government Affairs for Agudath Israel of Illinois. They are discussing the newly permanent $1,700 federal scholarship tax credit that you quite literally can’t afford to ignore. You may have heard that the “Big Beautiful Bill” signed by President Trump on July 4th included a historic provision: a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for taxpayers who donate to educational scholarship granting organizations. What does this mean for you? Whether you already have children in Jewish day school or have been dreaming of giving them a Jewish education but found the cost out of reach — this episode is for you. We’re breaking down how this tax credit can dramatically reduce tuition, not just for your family, but for thousands of others — at no cost to the donor. In today’s conversation: What this federal tax credit is and isn’t  Who qualifies (spoiler: probably you — even if you’ve never qualified for financial aid before) How schools and parents can work together to make this a success And why this moment marks a paradigm shift in Jewish education funding If you’ve been skeptical or confused, I think you’ll walk away inspired, informed, and deeply grateful — to our guests, to the advocates who made this happen… and ultimately, to the One orchestrating it all from above. This is a tax conversation you’ll actually be glad you tuned into. The post 441: Game Changer for Jewish Education — The $1,700 Federal Tax Credit You Can’t Afford to Ignore appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Join Yael inside her weekly newsletter at yaeltrusch.com/newsletter In this episode of Ask Yael, Jewish Money Matters Podcast Host Yael Trusch responds to a listener who wants to know how to deal with her resentment she feels towards giving because her husband is a “big” giver. Another listener wants to know how to let her husband “lead” when she feels “forced” to work by the financial situation, even when it’s stressful and too much for her. And finally, a woman wants to know how to deal with the monthly deficit. That is their expenses are much higher than their income. The post 440: Ask Yael — Resenting charity because husband gives a lot of money away appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H In this episode of Ask Yael on Jewish Money Matters, Yael answers a listener who wants to understand if trust in G-d causes G-d’s abundance to flow, then how come there are people who don’t trust in G-d and have tremendous abundance? Also, what are the best free budgeting apps? And where do I invest my kids’ money? Tune in for a very comprehensive episode on all of these topics. Download Yael’s Mindful Spending Plan at yaeltrusch.com/msp Sign up for the Career Path Summit for Free at https://careerpathsummit.com   The post 439: Ask Yael — Where Should I Invest My Kids’ Money? appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Jamie Geller, Chief Communications Officer at Aish Global, joins Jewish Money Matters for a beautiful conversation that balances the practical and the spiritual. We delved into Jamie’s current role, financial challenges she’s faced, and the things she’s done that have helped her through them. We also talked about the masculine and feminine energy in a marriage and the risk of women taking on too much of a masculine energy, pushing men to take on a more feminine role and vice versa. Of course, we spoke about the number one way to combat antisemitism and the need to put more dollars into it. Here’s Jamie Geller. The post 438: Jamie Geller, Chief Communications Officer at Aish Global appeared first on Yael Trusch.

B”H Comedian and activist Esther Lev shares her inspiring journey of using humor to uplift her community, herself and more recently, even confront antisemitism. Esther Lev is a rising comedy star in Costa Rica, and the antisemitism in her home country is giving her the push to spread her wings outwards. How did she get started in comedy? How does she monetize it? What were some of the money lessons she learned growing up? From personal stories, all sprinkled with a heavy dose of humor, to the importance of spreading light through laughter, Esther reminds us how resilience and comedy can go hand in hand even in the darkest times. Here’s Esther Lev. The post 437: Laughing Through Adversity with Esther Lev appeared first on Yael Trusch.