From Bokortem, Florida, this is Behind the Bima. On this episode, the rabbis are joined by Rabbi Mordecai Mahathas, Rebi at Yashivat Leif Ha-Torah Torah, and the spiritual director of the Jerusalem Hospitality Project. Rabbi Machlas explains how he prepares for and conducts Shabbas meals with hundreds of guests, shares advice for how to make your own Shabbas table inspirational and unforgettable, and discusses the lessons and legacy of his wife, Rebetson Henni Machlis. Also, what's with that music in the background? And how many different positions has Rabbi Brody held at BRS? All this and more behind the Bima. Good evening. It is Wednesday evening at 9 p.m. I'm Rabbi Effman Goldberg, joined dear friend and Callagr, Josh Brody, and we, the two of us, are here to take you behind the Bima. We are here to take you behind the Bima. Thank you for joining us tonight. Tonight is a fantastic night. There is so much going on. You may hear some noise going on behind me. Evidence that we're coming to you live is that there is a Yates Fabrenen, an enormous party going on in the room behind me. I popped in. I spoke. I popped out from by the Miba. We'll pop back in. I hope there's some prime rib by the time we are done here. But even though it's not the 21st of Kislave at BRS, the party never stops. Yates Kislaif, I bring it.

Still going.

We'll talk more about that in a moment. But first, a big thank you to our generous sponsor this evening. Sponsed by Stephanie and Karmie Gros. We are commemorating tonight the first year outside of Tfiliu Ezra, Moshe, and Aron Yosef, Dr. Howie Feintock, Stephanie's amazing father, who was a very special man.

We had the privilege of knowing him hosting him in our community many times.

He had a big heart, who was a very special man. We had the privilege of knowing him hosting him in our community many times.

He had a big heart, a generous heart, a generous spirit. He was a chazen. He loved to lead the davening. He valued and loved davening. He was a person of a lot of Amuna, a lot of faith, a very special man. and he was a friend growing up of Yibaud al-al-al-achim-tobam-a-rucham.

We distinguished for a great and long life,

the great Sadek, the great righteous person, Rabbi Mahas.

We're translating all of our terms because we know we have a very diverse audience. We want to make sure that everyone can access what we're talking about on behind the Bima. So big thank you to Stephanie and karma. We hope, Stephanie, that your family finds a lot of comfort and strength as you continue to mourn and grieve over the loss of your wonderful father. Rabbi Brody, what is going on with you, my dear friend? Well, tonight's a very, very big show, just the two of us right now. So I'm very excited. Listen, I missed a few. I was camping out in the middle of Masada and there was no Wi-Fi.

And even if I did have Wi-Fi, it would have been pitch black. So this is an exciting night here. For those that say, they always wanted to see this. I don't know who ever said that, but said no one ever. But here it is, the originals. It happens to be that we are like the three musketeers. but Rabbi Brody and I were in Boca,

Robin Moskowitz might have still been in diapers

when we first came to Boca.

I think so. happens to be that we are like the three musketeers but rabbi brodie and i were in boca rabbi moscowice might have still been in diapers when we first came to boca yeah you know so we were we were we were just out of diapers when we first we are yeah we are among the originals we've both been here a long time i've been in boca 23 years what year are you up to 22 22 we count vishinantam years I was going to say, how was Vishanatham in year 40 if you're only here 22 years? Exactly. I don't really know. We've been here a long time. But it really is amazing. Time flies. It's unbelievable. And it's one of the blessings are that, you know, so many of the rabbis and leaders in this community have been here such a long time. and we've all been able to develop some very, very special relationships with each other because we've all been here.

It is a special thing because you track and trace and you're part of the lives of people from, you know, they could say cradle to grave, but from they're very young. You know, we've done weddings of the people I knew when they were in diapers and named babies and so on and so forth.

And it's very rewarding at such a young age and to be here for that long and to be so invested in one another's family. And I won't just say it as if I'm the giver. We've received it also. And I know you feel the same way. When the members of our community attend our simchas, the weddings of our children when they were at their bat mitzvah or they were at their baby naming. It's a really special thing to have that level of a relationship and that length of a relationship. It's really more than just congregant rabbi. It's really part of family. It's something which is very special. Yeah, it really is special. And I was just thinking about, you know, it could be that we might spend our entire careers

at the same place.

Now, you'll say, one second, aren't you going to Israel at some point? Yeah, but I'll be at the BRS Israel. So, you know, we still could be at the same place from the time. But Brody, people are starting to say that you've got one foot out the door. they're feeling it a little bit that you're you're on your way yeah i got one foot into

israel and one foot into

the, one foot into the Israeli BRS door. People in BRR, people listening to behind the BMO right now,

don't know that that outreach rabbi at BRS was not the original reason that you came to BRS. So maybe share

everyone the trajectory of your career here, the many positions you've held

at BRS.

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