R' Aryeh Lebowitz and R" Shay Schachter interview R' Hershel Schachter about his upbringing his thoughts on modern orthodoxy, the state of YU, shuls and communities around the world.

Rabbi Natanel Wiederblank on Finding His Place at YU, Learning from Great Rebbeim, and Teaching Machshava

Rabbi Yaakov Feit interviews Rabbi Natanel Wiederblank, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Torah Studies in RIETS, about his path from Silver Spring to YU and the rabbanim who shaped him. Wiederblank describes growing up under Rav Yitzchok Breitowitz, learning in Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Kerem B’Yavneh with Rav Blochman and Rav Stav, and a year in Chevron in Rav David Cohen’s shiur. He explains initially resisting YU before realizing he loved it, inspired by the mesirus nefesh of students balancing Torah and college and by chavrusas like Meir Welcher. He reflects on learning from Rav Twersky’s precision and his ongoing guidance from Rav Willig. Wiederblank discusses how teaching in places like Edmonton and IBC led him to develop shiurim and sefarim on machshava, and he shares his approach to teaching and the joy of seeing talmidim grow.

Rabbi Taubes talks about growing up in a small Orthodox Teaneck community with few shuls and no kosher food, commuting to yeshiva day schools, and later attending MTA and Yeshiva College. He describes formative influences from Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen, Rabbi Michael Hecht, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein at Gush Etzion, and Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik at YU. He discusses learning and relationships with Rav Hershel Schachter, early teaching jobs, involvement in the Teaneck eruv, becoming MTA principal and later a RIETS Rosh Yeshiva, and his continued high school role. He shares guidance on taking sedarim seriously, maximizing time in yeshiva, and valuing chinuch, including elementary education, and mentions Chassidishe inspiration from the Munkaczer Rebbe.