R' Eli Riesel Returns: The Untold Miracle That Freed Me From Jail
Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer
Living Lchaim
4.9 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 20 December 2025
⏱️ 89 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Inspiration for the Nation is the weekly Jewish podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Yaakov Langer.
Rabbi Eli Riesel was a working professional who walked away from everything to return to kollel. What followed was not inspiration overnight, but a life turned completely upside down. He found himself buried under debt projected to last up to 85 years, facing legal pressure, personal collapse, and a future that seemed impossible to escape. As his situation spiraled, he encountered a challenge far greater than money or reputation. Against the unanimous advice of his lawyers, Rav Chaim Kanievsky gave him guidance that defied logic and conventional strategy. Rabbi Riesel faced an impossible choice. Would he listen to the gadol hador, or follow the system that promised safety? His decision led him through federal prison, deep spiritual reckoning, and a survival story few have ever heard. This is the untold backstory of emunah, mesirus nefesh, bitachon, and what it means to rebuild a life when everything is stripped away.
Rabbi Eli Riesel Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Curiuhdfc0&t=2692s
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_____________________________________
✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬
This episode is in memory of:
- Miram Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe
- Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
This episode is for the speedy recovery of:
- Yaakov Dov ben Pnina and all the victims
- Yosef Chaim ben Devorah Chaya Golda
#iftn
Lchaim.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | There was no like etiquette in like you have a hundred inmates just standing around you, |
| 0:04.8 | staring at you. Like you just came from Mars like and you look at them. Usually when you |
| 0:08.8 | look at someone staring you, they turn away, they don't. They just stare. And like I was scared. |
| 0:13.2 | And then Bo Williams. I haven't been in contact with him since. You know, big guy comes out of the crowd. |
| 0:21.6 | He's like, this guy's with me. |
| 0:22.6 | Anyone have a problem? |
| 0:23.6 | You go through me. |
| 0:24.6 | He pulls me into his little thing there. |
| 0:26.6 | He told the guard, there was an empty, you know, bunk bed there. |
| 0:28.6 | He's like, he's here. |
| 0:30.6 | And he's like, dude, man, you smell. |
| 0:33.6 | He gave me some shampoo soap. |
| 0:34.6 | He got me some tuna and you know, revive a little bit. |
| 0:38.3 | And it took me a few hours, but I showered and, you know, and I'm sitting there with him, and I'm like, Bo. |
| 0:43.3 | Like, I haven't eaten, I don't even over realize in like a week. |
| 0:49.3 | Why are you doing, you know, why are you doing this to me? |
| 0:52.3 | Rabbi Elie Rizel was learning yeshiva, went out into the working world, and found himself miserable. After a few years, he and his wife gave up that life to go study in Kohlal. Then, a few years later, he was indicted from his past life. But this isn't that story. We actually did a whole podcast on that, and you can watch that. You see, little did Ravelli realize that there was an even bigger indictment out for him. And this is his experience in prison as a from Jew, even as a rabbi, and how he had to face up against the biggest challenge of his life. And if you're skeptical about us having Revelli on as an inspiration, please listen to what he has to say. This episode is a memory of |
| 1:28.9 | Shimon Dauveh B'nai-Ban Yacobas-Yakabash-Yakabh-Mosha. This episode is Rufuah Shlemy, Yosefhae, and Bidhavarhaa-Golda-Golda. This episode is powered by Will Salis, Twilery, United Rufuah Healthshire, Woodman College, and Bipin. Now, out of curiosity, did you watch yet our first episode with Raveli? |
| 1:45.9 | If so, please let us know in the comments. |
| 1:47.5 | It is by far one of our biggest inspiration episodes that we've ever done. It really made such a huge impact. Also, let us know if this is the first time you're watching this. You will get a sense because we do a mini recap. And lastly, I recorded this a while ago, but I knew the end of the year is coming up |
| 2:02.5 | and Hanukkah time, this is the perfect episode. So strap in, there's a lot here. And I have a |
| 2:08.5 | feeling you're going to get a lot of chizik out of this. Here we go. Welcome back, Rabbi Eli Rezell. |
... |
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