Shalhevet Unplugged

With the 12th Annual Glouberman Tournament on the horizon, Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi discuss an age-old feature of Jewish day schools: sports.Sports are a mainstay of Modern Orthodox communities — and even in more "Yeshivish" ones — but where is the line between a healthy engagement with sports and a misaligned obsession? (Basketball in particular dominates the calendar with yeshiva league tournaments and community games.)In this episode of Shalhevet Unplugged, we break down the pros and cons of a sports-centered culture and when a heartfelt passion can interfere with Jewish values.

The new Jewish year carries all sorts of emotions: hope, fear, excitement, anticipation. But aside from what the year promises us, what do we promise it?In this special episode, Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi are joined by Dr. Sheila Keiter to speak through the intensity of Yom Kippur — regret, compassion, forgiveness. This conversation about teshuva is filled not only with Torah but with personal reflections and ideas that connect our educators to this Day of Awe.Tune in for a candid conversation about preparing for Yom Kippur.

No one is immune from pre-school year jitters — not even rabbis. In their first back-to-school podcast, Rabbis Yagil Tsaidi and Ari Schwarzberg talk about their summer breaks, school year aspirations, and what lessons they’re bringing in as educators. From doppelgängers and ego, to divrei Torah and education, this episode welcomes you back to Shalhevet Unplugged — and the year ahead — with the candor and fun you know and love.

Educators and parents love to dissect the Jewish high school experience. But how often are actual high school students included in those conversations?In the season finale of Shalhevet Unplugged, Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi talk to Shalhevet seniors Sonya Katzin and Yakov Liberman about what it’s like to be a Jewish student today: the struggles, aspirations, unexpected experiences, and inside perspectives.Join us for a candid conversation about the four-year transformation from freshman to senior. 

Over 80 years since the Holocaust decimated European Jewry, educating our students about it has never been more important. But how should we teach about it? Is it about guilt? Mortality? Memory and history? Beyond that, how do we speak about Hashem and Yiddeshkeit in the shadow of the Shoah?Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi discuss Shalhevet's annual Senior Poland-Israel Experience — which begins with Europe's shetls, ghettos, and concentration camps, and ends at the Kotel in Jerusalem — and why setting an "agenda" is the wrong move.

A comedic video made the rounds on social media: a parody of "every" Zionist and Yeshivish rebbe talking on Yom Ha'atzmaut.The joke poked at the tension Jewish schools face over their relationship to the State of Israel, specifically: Should our schools be pushing aliyah and IDF service?As always, Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi speak about Zionism, living in the diaspora, and how to approach the question of living in the Jewish state. Tune in for a candid, unfiltered conversation about aliyah.

The challenge of engaging high school students in the rigor and commitment of Talmud Torah is nothing new, but as yeshivot in Israel explore new methods — and as rebbeim and teachers try to improve upon old ones — the question must be asked: Is there a right way to teach Gemara in high school? Rabbi Gabe Falk joins Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi to discuss what goes into formulating a Talmud Torah curriculum at various levels, and balancing Jewish values and student experience in the ever-changing pedagogy of Jewish schools.Tune in for a candid, unfiltered conversation about teaching Talmud Torah.

What's a teacher's role in their student's high school experience — and how does it differ from a parent's? Students' academic, social, and religious growth often falls under a microscope during their four years of high school. Sometimes, that scrutiny helps to support students stepping into adulthood. Other times, it creates undue stress that can derail a student's journey.Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi talk about how to understand the collaborative work of teachers and parents in helping students thrive — what does a good partnership look like? When should students be given more space? When is more involvement called for?Tune in for a candid, unfiltered conversation about facilitating the high school experience.

This is a classic question Jewish schools encounter whenever February rolls around, and the Super Bowl hype begins to bubble. But aside from the question itself, how should students think about these types of questions?Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi talk about Super Bowl halftime shows, secular culture, and what thoughtful Modern Orthodoxy can look like — how often do we think about our values? Our relationship to the secular world? When should we engage and when should we draw the line? Tune in for a candid conversation about perspectives in Jewish education amidst a modern and secular world.

What's it like teaching Jewish students? How does it differ from leading a school of Jewish students? Why move from teacher to Head of School?Rabbis Ari Schwarzberg and Yagil Tsaidi talk with Rabbi David Block — Shalhevet's Head of School — about his professional journey, the struggles of Jewish education, being the "boss" of your friends, and the beauty of teaching in every part of life.Tune in for a candid, unfiltered conversation about what it takes to run a Jewish school.