Kosher Money

Why does Orthodox Jewish life feel so expensive these days?

In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Rabbi Chaim Zvi Senter shares his perspective on money, family pressure, entitlement, resilience, emunah, and the rising cost of Jewish life.

From housing in Israel to tuition, kollel support, fundraising culture, and the pressure parents feel to keep up, Rabbi Senter offers clarity, warmth, and hard truth. Drawing on decades of life in Eretz Yisroel, he speaks candidly about what has changed, what hasn’t, & where many families are quietly struggling.

Why do so many parents feel overwhelmed by the financial expectations of frum life? Are children becoming entitled or are adults simply afraid to say no? Should every child be sent to learn in Israel, even when the cost is crushing? And what happens when tzedakah starts to feel more like gambling than giving?

Along the way, Rabbi Senter speaks about visiting children learning in Israel, raising emotionally healthy and resilient families, and how to strengthen emunah when money feels tight and the future feels uncertain.

He also addresses the cultural messages we are sending our children through the luxuries we normalize, the prizes we offer, and even the way we fundraise.

Let's not lose sight of what really matters!

Email: [email protected]

👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 111 ✬

► BF DESIGN – Welcome our newest advertiser to the Kosher Money family. BF Design is a studio and architectural services firm specializing in commercial, residential, multi-family, and healthcare projects. Their approach is simple: get the early stages right. From feasibility and codes to practical, efficient design, they help make sure your project can actually be built AND built well. With 50+ professionals, 20+ years of experience, and over 50 million square feet planned, BF Design brings smart planning and beautiful execution to every project. Visit https://bfdesign.com or reach out at 732.961.1202 or [email protected]

► GOLD STAR MECHANICAL – This is a trusted HVAC company located in the Five Towns, serving Long Island, and New York City. I know because I (Eli) used them! Super service and terrific work. They do repairs, installs, and preventative maintenance for everything from rooftop units to central air systems. New preventative maintenance customers can save 10% off their first year, with custom plans and pricing based on your building, number of units, and system needs. Mention my name when you call 516-246-5252 or email [email protected]. A really great team. Visit https://goldstarmechanical.com/ to learn more. Enjoy!

► BITBEAN – Your custom software solution with incredible talent at a fraction of the price it used to be. Learn more at https://bitbean.link/4edg53

► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: https://ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney

✬ Helpful Resources ✬

• Living Smarter Jewish brings free financial coaching to families: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/

• Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you’re in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/

• Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/

Follow Kosher Money on TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod

Visit our website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/

Call-in Hotline: USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088

WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513

#KosherMoney #RabbiChaimZviSenter #RabbiSenter #JewishMoney #FrumLife #JewishParenting #Emunah #Tzedakah #Kollel #Israel #TorahPerspective #LivingLchaim #EliLanger #km

Hosted by Eli Langer, Kosher Money is the Jewish finance podcast from Living Lchaim that shares financial advice and a Jewish approach to money and business.

Kosher Money is the bi-weekly podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Eli Langer.

Why do kids feel like everyone else has more?

In this thoughtful and eye-opening conversation, Rabbi Ari Schonfeld shares practical insights on parenting, money, social pressure, and how children develop their sense of self in a world filled with comparisons.

From growing up in a home with very little, to leading a yeshiva and running a summer camp, Rabbi Schonfeld offers a rare perspective on what kids actually notice about money — and what parents often underestimate.

When do children start comparing themselves to others? Why do brands, vacations, and clothing suddenly matter so much? And how can parents raise kids who feel confident and proud of their values, even when they can’t have everything their friends have?

Along the way, Rabbi Schonfeld shares powerful stories about childhood, school environments, parenting challenges, and one unforgettable moment when a teenager said something that stopped him in his tracks: “I don’t want his trips. I want him.”

This is an honest conversation about money, parenting, pressure, and what kids really want from the people raising them.

I’m grateful to have had this conversation with Rabbi Ari Schonfeld.

R’ Ari’s podcast can be found on:

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-curve-mishpacha/id1744827367

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5ISRvKPoVS77dZqbbDNx1e?si=RnoE0DF9RLuAbHQbYAqYWA

Here is Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz’s phenomenal talk on betting: https://youtu.be/ahvN4L-fDQQ

👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 110 ✬

► GOLD STAR MECHANICAL – This is a trusted HVAC company located in the Five Towns, serving Long Island, and New York City. I know because I (Eli) used them! Super service and terrific work. They do repairs, installs, and preventative maintenance for everything from rooftop units to central air systems. New preventative maintenance customers can save 10% off their first year, with custom plans and pricing based on your building, number of units, and system needs.
Mention my name when you call 516-246-5252 or email [email protected]. A really great team.
Visit https://goldstarmechanical.com/ to learn more. Enjoy!

► BITBEAN – Your custom software solution with incredible talent at a fraction of the price it used to be. Learn more at https://bitbean.link/4edg53

► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: https://ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney
✬ Helpful Resources to Know About ✬
​ Living Smarter Jewish brings free financial coaching to families: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/
​ Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you’re in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/
​ Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/

Follow Kosher Money on TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod

Visit our BRAND NEW Website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/

Call-in Hotline: USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088
WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513

#KosherMoney #JewishParenting #RabbiAriSchonfeld #JewishWisdom #MoneyAndParenting #TorahPerspective #LivingLchaim #EliLanger #CampAish #KosherMoneyPodcast #JewishLife #KM

Kosher Money is the bi-weekly podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Eli Langer.

What really determines how much money you make?

In this wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversation, Rabbi Reuven Feinstein shares deeply practical Torah insights on livelihood, wealth, hustle culture, Shabbos spending, charity, and the balance between hishtadlus (effort) and bitachon (trust).

From growing up with very little, to teaching on a modest salary, to discussing billionaires and million-dollar questions — Rabbi Feinstein challenges the way we think about money.

Is working harder the answer? Is wealth a blessing or a test? How much hishtadlus is too much? And does YOUR money even belong to YOU?

Along the way, he shares personal stories about Rav Moshe Feinstein, America's leading Rabbi in the previous generation, business ethics, secular education, living within your means, and why Shabbos expenses “don’t count.”

I'm so thankful to Hashem that I experienced this conversation. Thank you to Avi Feinstein for making it happen.

👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 109 ✬

► NQGRG – Halachic estate planning made simple. Protect your family, legally and according to Torah law. Visit https://NQGRG.com or email Shlomo at [email protected] - it's peace of mind!

► BITBEAN – Turn big ideas into scalable, AI-powered software. Learn more at https://bitbean.link/4edg53

► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: https://ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney

✬ Helpful Efforts Out in the World ✬

• Living Smarter Jewish brings free financial coaching to families: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/

• Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you're in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/

• Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/

Follow Kosher Money on TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod

Visit our BRAND NEW Website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/

Call-in Hotline:
USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088

WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513

#KosherMoney #JewishWisdom #TorahInsights #RabbiMosheFeinstein #MosheFeinstein #RabbiReuvenFeinstein #StatenIsland #LowerEastSide #JewishRussia #moneytalks #wealth #LivingLchaim #EliLanger #KM

Kosher Money is the bi-weekly podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Eli Langer.

This is one of those episodes that just keeps getting better as it goes.

Our guest this week is a Cleveland-based entrepreneurial dentist who is as kind as he is impressive.

He invited us into his home to share deep wisdom on wealth, health, and raising a family, culminating in a masterclass on how the '1%' actually get things done.

Dr. Louis Malcmacher is a world-renowned educator, businessman, and a true chessed machine. Enjoy!

(My thanks to David Wester for the video and audio of this episode and to Chaikel Kaufman and friends for facilitating it!)

👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 108 ✬

► NQGRG – Halachic estate planning made simple. Protect your family, legally and according to Torah law. Visit https://NQGRG.com or email Shlomo at [email protected] - it's peace of mind!

► BITBEAN – Turn big ideas into scalable, AI-powered software. Learn more at https://bitbean.link/4edg53

► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: https://ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney

✬ Helpful Efforts Out in the World ✬

• Living Smarter Jewish brings free financial coaching to families: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/

• Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you're in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/

• Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:40 Growing Up in Cleveland
02:10 Going to Public School
03:40 Becoming More Orthodox
04:45 His Father’s Shoe Store
05:20 The First Job
05:57 Other Early Jobs
06:27 Learning From Every Experience
07:29 Going Into Dentistry
08:57 Starting His First Practice
10:26 Leveling Up and Taking Risk
14:27 Reliable Halachic Planning at NQGRG
17:34 His Biggest Mistake
18:25 Taking Risks in Dentistry
19:34 The Opportunity with Ancillary Revenue
22:12 Staying Within the Industry
24:21 Having Tough Conversations
27:13 A Message to Educators
28:58 BitBean Takes Your Big Ideas and Brings Them to Life
29:45 Living in a Materialistic World
35:10 The Costs of Living in Different Places
38:24 Being Involved in Community Work and Finding Time
41:57 Colel Chabad Feeds Thousands of Families in Israel
42:48 The Legacy of Mendy Klein
46:18 Working Your Way Up to Success
48:00 Children With Different Labels Can Achieve Success
49:26 Brush Your Teeth!
50:08 We Do Not Take Care of Ourselves
52:34 Get Things Done
59:02 The Many Talents of the Jewish Nation
59:29 Thank You Dr. Malcmacher
1:01:10 Outro: Takeaways, Sponsors and Giveaway Announcement

Follow Kosher Money on TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod

Visit our BRAND NEW Website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/

Call-in Hotline: USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088

WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513

#KosherMoney #JewishWisdom #TorahInsights #Cleveland #Dentists #Malzmacher #Ohio #Advice #MendyKlein #LivingLchaim #KM

Kosher Money is the bi-weekly podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Eli Langer.

This episode of Kosher Money is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

For the first time ever, our guest, Reb Binyomin Gringras, speaks publicly about the inner secrets he’s uncovered after years of scouring hundreds of little-known seforim and speaking with thousands of Torah giants and hidden tzaddikim.

Reb Binyomin dives deep into the mysterious world of segulos — ancient Jewish customs believed to bring blessing and success. He shares which ones are real and which are made up. We cover segulos for wealth, children, health, lost items, and much more — plus the power of visiting a tzaddik’s kever and what to daven for there.

He also reveals the story of a 19th-century tzaddik who died young but left behind a spiritual masterpiece — a book now being rediscovered that shares practical life advice with profound insights.

By the end, you’ll hear stories that will leave your jaw on the floor.

Contact: [email protected]

​ Inside Their Homes book: https://amzn.to/45i0bhH
​Artscroll’s Pele Yoeitz (Volume 1): https://amzn.to/4sNGDvG
Artscroll’s Pele Yoeitz (Volume 2): https://amzn.to/4baKAEn
Artscroll’s Pele Yoeitz (Volume 3): https://amzn.to/4bIv030​

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:53 Who to Go to for Advice
07:24 People Paying Big Bucks for Frauds
10:10 How to Find Authentic People to Get Help From
13:24 Verifying Where the Money Is Going
16:19 Giving When You Don’t Want to Give
19:25 All About the Ayin Hara Bracelet
21:02 NQGRG
23:24 Why People Go to Mystics
25:44 What Is a Segulah?
28:58 When to and Not to Do a Segulah
30:05 Never Do One You Regret
33:12 The Segulah Book
35:00 Little-Known Segulahs
38:57 Segulah for Wealth
39:40 The Same Segulah Doesn’t Work for Everyone
41:32 Discussing Segulahs with Rav Chaim Kanievsky
43:23 The Bonus App
45:31 Segulah for a Deal to Go Well
48:28 Making Deals with God
52:05 Giving Tzedakah for a Segulah
54:55 The Power of Praying by Graves
58:03 The Hostages Praying at the Pele Yoeitz
1:01:55 Colel Chabad
1:02:48 Who Was the Pele Yoeitz?
1:04:33 The Special Book of the Pele Yoeitz
1:08:48 Learning from the Holy Tzadikim
1:10:23 The Revitalization of Certain Tzadikim
1:12:46 What Is an Ayin Hara?
1:16:13 How an Ayin Hara Works
1:19:23 Be Careful with What You Share
1:22:03 What to Do if You Think You Have an Ayin Hara
1:25:50 Checking Your Mezuzos & Tefillin
1:28:23 Contact Rav Binyomin
1:28:41 Rav Binyomin’s Book
1:29:22 Give to Places You Feel Comfortable With
1:29:50 Making Tzedakah and Business Align
1:31:46 Halachos Regarding Deals
1:32:16 Going to the Pele Yoeitz’s Grave Near the Black Sea
1:33:33 Honoring the Hostages with His Sefer
1:35:50 Outro: Takeaways, Sponsors, and Giveaway

👉 ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 107 ✬ 

► BONUS APP – Save money on kosher groceries without clipping coupons. Shop, scan, and get cash back. Download now at https://itsbonustime.com/redirect-to-store.html 

► NQGRG – Halachic estate planning made simple. Protect your family, legally and according to Torah law. Visit https://NQGRG.com or email Shlomo at [email protected] - it's peace of mind! 

► COLEL CHABAD – Feeding families in Israel since 1788. Make a difference today: https://ColelChabad.org/KosherMoney

✬ Helpful Resources✬ 
Hachzek.com helps you incorporate the study of Mussar into your daily life: https://www.hachzek.com/
​ Living Smarter Jewish is free financial coaching: https://livingsmarterjewish.org/ 
​ Kosher Debt Help – Honest, agenda-free help if you're in debt: https://www.kosherdebthelp.com/ 
​ Kosher ADHD – Practical guidance for families living with ADHD: https://kosher-adhd.com/ 

Follow Kosher Money on TikTok & Instagram: @koshermoneypod 

Visit our BRAND NEW Website: https://www.livinglchaim.com/ 

Call-in Hotline: USA 605-477-2100 | UK 0333-366-0154 | Israel 079-579-5088 

WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513

#KosherMoney #JewishWisdom #FaithAndReason  #JewishTradition #PeleYoetz  #RabbiBinyominGreengras #LivingLchaim #KM