Description

On this episode of Behind the Bima, the Rabbis sit down with Rav Gav, a beloved and dynamic educator from Aish who has spent decades teaching in seminaries across Israel and engaging students around the world. Known for his humor, energy, and unfiltered honesty, Rav Gav brings a perspective that is both deeply grounded and refreshingly real.

Together, we explore what today’s students are actually struggling with, how educators and parents often misunderstand them, and why the key to growth isn’t control—it’s connection. From navigating crisis in Israel to answering life’s biggest questions about faith, identity, and purpose, Rav Gav shares what he’s learned from years on the front lines of Jewish education.

With stories, sharp insights, and plenty of laughter, this conversation challenges assumptions and reframes what it really means to teach, parent, and inspire in today’s world.

This season of Behind the Bima is sponsored by Julie Charlestein & Darryl Benjamin in honor of their grandparents, Morton & Malvina Charlestein, and their children, Ruby and Maccabi Benjamin.

Topics Discussed:

• Seminary life during wartime and how students process crisis
• Why students across the spectrum are often asking the same questions
• The myth of short attention spans vs. ineffective teaching
• “Parenting vs. ranting” and what kids actually need from parents
• Support, boundaries, and how real connection is built
• Educator-student relationships and maintaining proper boundaries
• The broader question of identity and “modern Orthodoxy”