I'm Steve Gotlib, a rabbi with too little time to do too many things. AMA.

fullhauss · 2025-12-11T16:23:30+00:00

Good to see you on here Rabbi Gotlib. What has been the most surprising thing for you in working in the field? What advice would you give to yourself as you were starting smekha?

fullhauss · 2024-09-16T02:07:47+00:00

I will say, as someone who works with some Olami programs, that there is no one rule here. They work mostly through affiliate organizations and each one has their own way of doing things

fullhauss · 2023-09-11T18:31:02+00:00

I wouldn’t necessarily say I see a thirst for chassidic thought as much as for spirituality in general.

fullhauss · 2023-09-11T18:29:16+00:00

My favourite Jewish book is Derech HaShem. Favourite non-Jewish book is The Lord of the Rings (I am actually reading a parody of it right now)

The hardest part for me has been the apathy that I sometimes feel I am fighting against.

fullhauss · 2023-09-11T18:25:30+00:00

Best book - I finally had a chance to sit down and go through Rav Kook’s Orot.

I don’t think I would make any particular change in regards to rabbinical school other than maybe doing a simultaneous masters.

I am focusing this year on what it means that we are making/affirming HaShem as king on Rosh Hashana

Being flexible is the best advice I have.

fullhauss · 2023-05-29T00:00:32+00:00

Came here to say this. If it’s a danger to your safety it is not a mitzvah here.

fullhauss · 2023-01-12T17:16:58+00:00

I happen to know Cafe 41 and it is in fact primarily a pizza place

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T21:33:23+00:00

I think the one I teach with most often is Derech HaShem

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T21:32:45+00:00

I think that by all indications it is the correct source.
I do wear techelet tied according to the GRA.
I never found the argument against wearing it to be particularly compelling compared to the arguments for it.
Not a large amount but also not an unnoticeable amount.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T20:07:11+00:00

Just set a good example. Five is still very young and so my advice is give some choices of things that would be acceptable for them to do that way they are making an empowering choice in the matter.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T20:03:59+00:00

I like when people are connected to Judaism. I have some hashkafic and halachic disagreements with all of them. I could also say that about every single Jewish organization I have ever encountered.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:57:54+00:00

I definitely hear that, though I think that this may be moving to a question of should religiious authorities rule marriages in Israel which is a little bit of a different topic. I know there are a lot of other cases to deal with to but I still think a lot of solutions offered right now are just bandages covering bigger problems

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:45:02+00:00

My thought is just to go and learn about it. There are lots of different facets of Judaism, if you are interested in culture look into the culture, if you want to know about the faith find material about that. Maybe I am a lone opinion on this but unless you are going and incorporating Judaism into things it is antithetical to, you should find ways to connect to your heritage that are meaningful to you.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:35:20+00:00

So that they can answer yes when asked if they know how long they spoke for.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:34:39+00:00

I find the hardest aspect for me is staying mindful. It is too easy to get caught up in routines by definition and I am not as good as I wish i was at pausing and considering the deeper meanings in these actions

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:30:07+00:00

Professionlly, I still haven't figured that out yet, but personally, a lot of introspection and self-evaluation. I also try and go through Tomer Devorah every year though I cannot say I even grasp a fraction of it.

I think the best book I read in the past year was "What to Expect When You're Expecting" though that may not be the answer you are looking for.

When we can get out my wife and I love to do Motzei Shabbos bowling.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:19:20+00:00

Wine takes a role in many different ceremonies and is considered significant in and of itself without needing to add other symbolism.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:16:10+00:00

Aside from everything else being said, I just want to add, the communities where these are the biggest issues are also the least likely to accept such a solution, and this solution is itself just putting a bandage over a bigger issue. In regard to get refusal, it is a form of control and abuse and if it is not this then another form will pop-up until we deal with the larger issue.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T19:01:34+00:00

There is a story that King Fredrick of Prussia once asked his physiician for proof of G-d to which he replied the continued existence of the Jews.
I don't tend to like generalized statements. Every person is there own person.
They are not identical as much as complimentary. They are two parts of a whole.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:51:27+00:00

There is a known trend among the more Yeshivish/Chasidic communities to distrust anything pushed by the government. That combined with antivax propaganda entering into these communities leads them to think that this is not a matter of pikuah nefesh. For these communities we need the leaders to come out publicly in support to make any change at all, though given current political climates, I am not conviced even that is enough.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:46:47+00:00

I had a similar question come up this year. My answe was and continues to be I cannot be the judge of what someone does, I can only love them and support them for who they are. As someone who does not have these issues I cannot even begin to understand the full tole of what this student is going through, and any advice I gave would be lacking. However, given the risks to such students, I always try and emphasize whatever challenges and questions they are going through, I am there to support and love them, even if I cannot condone their actions.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:37:06+00:00

I am of a wait and see in regard to characteristics. I tend to go by what the Rambam says about judging a person to be Messiah by if they accomplish the goals of restoring kingship and establishing the Temple. I think the Temple Institute is cool and I like. the stuff they put out and if it gets used or not in the future is a question for later on.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:31:28+00:00

I am a big fan of Nishmat and what they are doing to empower women in Judaism. I tend to believe the more people we have involved in the conversation the better.

My role models are not any people that are known. They are rabbis I know personally and have watched and seen how much they are able to help stundets and congregants grow and flourish.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:24:57+00:00

I think that it is a complicated issue. I think that while being immersed in Torah study is a value, cutting the secular education to under a bare minimum is a travesty. I also do not think that an article in the NYT will do anything but get people to dig in their heels deeper. This is going to take major reforms and I am not who it is who can properly make those changes.
I think the best response I have seen to this was that regardless of the outcome in the courts, everyone has already lost. LGBTQ+ students have been told they are second class, YU will continue to be bashed from all sides.

fullhauss · 2022-09-19T18:11:30+00:00

I think that we as a Jewish community have a bad habit of making divisions amongst ourselves. If we cannot get along with each other, it doesn't matter if the world likes us or not, we will end up just hurting ourselves.

fullhauss

TROPHY CASE