The Strength to Step Back: What My Shtender Taught Me About Leadership

Parashat Shelach Lecha 2025/5785

In this episode of Torah from Boca, I share the story behind my humble wooden shtender—purchased in a basement shop in Jerusalem—and the verse I had engraved on it: “Moses was very humble, more than any man on earth.” That verse has shaped how I strive to lead.

Drawing on Parashat Shelach Lecha, we explore how true leadership is not always about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about knowing when to speak—and when to make space for others to rise. From Moses to Hillel, from Caleb and Joshua to the leaders of today, we look at the sacred dance of humility and courage.

Because sometimes, leadership isn’t about stepping up—it’s about stepping back.

Torah from Boca – Episode Title: How a Two-Week Trip to Volunteer In Israel After October 7 Changed My Life with Yocheved Ruttenberg

In this powerful episode of Torah from Boca, Rabbi David Baum speaks with Yocheved, founder and CEO of the Sword of Iron Israel Volunteer Corp—the fastest-growing grassroots volunteer movement to emerge in the wake of October 7.

What began as a two-week mission—armed with 23 duffel bags of donated supplies—became a life-altering journey of Aliyah and purpose. Yocheved shares how she left behind a sales career in Dallas, Texas, and committed herself entirely to the people of Israel. Since then, her organization has mobilized over 40,000 volunteers globally, bridging communities and sparking a worldwide wave of action and unity.

Listen in as we explore the sacred responsibility of showing up, the courage to start something new, and how Torah values come to life through acts of hesed, leadership, and resilience.

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Click Here To Read About Yocheved's Incredible Story

🎙️ Torah From Boca — Episode Title: Fear Builds Encampments. Love Builds Community; Our Choice Encampment or Community?

I originally planned to give this teaching in light of what’s happening here in the United States—the immigration raids, ICE deportations of undocumented individuals, and the protests that have erupted in response, some of which turned chaotic and violent. I wanted to bring Torah into that conversation, to explore how we, as Jewish-Americans, think about “outsiders,” borders, and the kind of society we want to build as a minority ourselves.

But then, everything shifted. Israel struck Iran. Suddenly, our attention turned to questions of national security, survival, and strength.

In this episode, I share a teaching that pivots from these headlines to a deeper Torah conversation: What’s the difference between an encampment and a congregation? Between a people bound by fear and one bound by destiny? Drawing on Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik’s powerful insight and this week’s parashah, I reflect on the kind of communities we’re building—both here and in Israel—and what our sacred tradition asks of us when the world feels unstable.

This episode is about more than headlines. It’s about what it means to be a sacred people in an uncertain world.

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