In this episode of Behind the Bima, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg speaks with Rabbi Daniel Glatstein about discipline, responsibility, and the unseen demands of teaching Torah at scale. Drawing on years of experience and nearly 13,000 classes taught, Rabbi Glatstein explains why shortcuts don’t last, why boundaries matter, and why seriousness is not optional when real lives are shaped by learning.
In this episode of Behind the Bima, Rabbi Efrem Goldberg and Rabbi Philip Moskowitz sit down with Rabbi Daniel Glatstein to explore what it actually demands to teach seriously over time. Having taught nearly 13,000 classes across years of public responsibility, Rabbi Glatstein reflects on the discipline, preparation, and restraint required to sustain meaningful teaching without dilution.
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.
Rather than discussing techniques or shortcuts, they turn to deeper questions: how standards are maintained, why boundaries protect depth, and what happens when teaching is treated as a lifelong obligation rather than a moment of inspiration. The episode offers a rare look at the inner weight carried by those who take Torah — and leadership — seriously.
Topics discussed include:
This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation about Torah, leadership, and what it takes to build something that lasts.