In the spring of 2007, Rabbi Ilan Feldman - Senior Rabbi of Beth Jacob of Atlanta, GA - was offered by his congregation to take a short vacation. But he declined - because he didn’t feel he needed one.
But after thinking it over - he decided to take them up on it. But his family was unable to join him, so he didn’t know where to go.
Until a friend arranged the following unknown adventure...
He would fly to an undisclosed location - which would only be revealed to him on the day of his departure, when he would be handed an airline ticket revealing his destination.
No accommodations were booked for him, nor was he allowed to take any money or luggage with him, save for a token $50, his Tefillin, and a baseball cap and a change of clothes.
He was not allowed to reveal his identity as a congregational rabbi to anyone, and he was only allowed to use his phone once a day - just to check in with his wife.
Stripped of all worldly possessions and his identity - he was to fend for himself for the next 4 days and somehow make it alive and in one piece back to Atlanta, GA.
In this episode, we discuss the true story of what transpired on that trip.
In the 2nd part of our conversation, we discuss:
The rules of public speaking that Rabbi Feldman unabashedly revealed to me that he breaks,
The inhibition Rabbi Feldman felt following in his father’s footsteps as leader of Beth Jacob,
The impact that his mentors - his father, Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, and his father in law, Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg - had on his speaking style,
The once a year Shabbos when he tells the congregation everything he loves about them, and the one Shabbos a year he offers gentle criticism for how they can improve.
And the three most important pieces of advice he has for new rabbis to be successful.
Visit Congregation Beth Jacob of Atlanta, GA here: https://www.bethjacobatlanta.org/
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