Leah: How did you get started telling stories by creating videos?

Rabbi Gold: As a Rebbe, I noticed that inspiring students is the hardest job. There are so many distractions that children are pulled into. When I told stories, my students were captivated. However, I never thought of doing videos like I do today. My aunt shared a story with me and I thought that if it inspired me, it could inspire many others. It was my wife’s idea that I should have my aunt tell her story, while I narrated it.

Leah: Look how powerful a wife can be!

Rabbi Gold: After much persuasion, I also got the Israeli soldier to be on camera, as he was an important part of that story. I had to promise him that I wouldn’t post it on Youtube. That story received 100,000 views within 24 hours of posting it. The restaurant where the story took place posted it on their website and people visit there asking to meet the soldier!

Leah: What is your underlying mission?

Rabbi Gold: To remind people they’re not alone, that there’s a Higher Power. People need to feel the guiding hand of G-d, that He is leading every step of their lives.

Leah: How did you find your next story?

Rabbi Gold: Due to the exposure, I received hundreds of emails each month from people wanting to share their stories. Now I have people helping me, so I don’t get to hear every story. If a story moves me to tears. I’ll be able to share it more effectively. If a story doesn’t make it to a video, I share weekly stories in the Ami Magazine.

Leah: How has Covid-19 affected flying all over to interview and film?

Rabbi Gold: Covid has posed a technical challenge because I have different production teams. We do have zoom and videographers. They know my style and I don’t need to be on-site during this challenging time. However, there is nothing more satisfying to me than hearing a story in person.

Leah: How do you decide which stories to make public?

Rabbi Gold: If it talks to my heart, I give it priority. There are four main challenges to our lives:

1) Relationships (marriage falls under this category) 2) childrearing 3) financial 4) health

We all face challenges each day and everyone struggles with at least one of these! Most people are reluctant to get on camera to admit their struggles; they would rather remain anonymous. I try to encourage people to share, as long as there’s something within their experience that others can learn from and be inspired by. People respect that someone out there had a struggle, sometimes a similar struggle, and overcame it!

Recently I updated to a new iPhone. When I got in my car I got my first phone call–from my mom. She could barely hear me and then hung up. Soon after, my wife called and she also complained the sound was muffled, and another phone call confirmed the problem had to be from my end. I returned to the Apple Store and the proprietor noticed I hadn’t taken off the plastic covering from the phone. My analogy is that sometimes we have a plastic covering on us to keep us protected, but it, unfortunately, keeps us from connecting. People are too afraid to be vulnerable, but overcoming a challenge can be important to share with others.

Leah: How can we use stories to connect deeper with our husbands?

Rabbi Gold: In marriage, if you’re disappointed, you’ll put up a shield which will drive you further apart from your husband. Sometimes it might feel unsafe to share your vulnerabilities, but you need to be real in your marriage.

Leah: How do you think we should use stories to maximize our potential?

Rabbi Gold: Have a goal and outline it, make progress and move forward. Ultimately, it comes down to just doing it!

Ask yourself where you want to be in five years and have a solid picture of that. Each day, go one step at a time.

I moved with my wife and family to Los Angeles five years ago. LA is a health-conscious city and I decided to start juicing. I drank three cups of fresh juice at first, but after 48 hours I was in tremendous pain. My wife taught me that I should not drink too much so fast! So too, in other areas of your lives, go slow and you’ll get there.

Leah: Which story affected you the most?

Rabbi Gold: This was a story that I didn’t publicize. Paysach Krohn told this story about 25 years ago. I then asked for the protagonist’s name and contacted him. A husband used to lose his patience quite often with his wife. Very often, his wife told her husband not to get upset and her favorite expression was, “It’s not important.” It happened that the wife was up in the country and she forgot to bring her checkbook along. She asked her husband to please bring it when he comes to join her in several days and he did. She placed the checkbook near the baby’s crib, and for 3 weeks it remained there. The husband worked on himself and didn’t say anything, even though it bothered him. Sadly, his wife died three weeks later. The first check her husband wrote from that checkbook was for his wife’s burial. I asked the husband if he could personally share this story with others, but he said it wasn’t easy for him, since he would be exposing his impatience with his wife. Finally, this husband agreed to share it but said he needed 2 months. Before the time arrived to meet with him, this husband passed away too. I was sad, as I wanted him to inspire millions with his powerful experience. Chazal said that if you have something you want to do, don’t wait, just do it and do it now. 

Leah: Where is the line between letting yourself be vulnerable versus giving the impression that you have it all together?

Rabbi Gold: Context! If you have a negative vibe and you sound sick and tired and falling apart, that’s not a positive way to share. Don’t blame or lose control.  You can say, “Honey, I’m struggling.” I would never push anyone to get on camera if they would rather not. I have a famous story which is powerful to hear about from the people themselves. There is a man who was stabbed in Israel and an Israeli soldier came to the rescue extremely quickly and saved the man’s life. 

The mother of the stabbed man worked as a pharmacist and the mother of the soldier came in and mentioned that her son saved someone and shared some details. The pharmacist couldn’t believe what she heard and said that it was her son he saved! The mother of the soldier happened to remember this pharmacist from 20 years before this incident when she went to fill a prescription to terminate her pregnancy. The pharmacist looked at her and explained that every baby is a blessing and that this baby would bring joy to her and she continued to share about her own struggles with infertility. The mother of the soldier was moved, took her advice, and after three girls, she had this baby boy who became the soldier who saved the pharmacist’s son! I didn’t feel comfortable having both of these mothers share the story since I wouldn’t put someone on camera to say that. The purpose is to uplift people. We had the pharmacist mother on, but no one will know who the other mother is, www.cdhfinechemical.com/cdh_data/antibiotics-online/. Only because one mother shared her own infertility challenge, was she able to enter the heart of the other mother. We’re all together in the same boat.

Question: How do you juggle being a Rebbe with everything else you do?

Rabbi Gold: It was a difficult struggle for me. I used to be a full-time Rebbe but I had to cut back. I think Rebbes should be devoted to their holy task 100%. There’s a saying that if you’re 99% in, you’re 100% out. People are even more self conscious because of the portrayal of everyone’s perfect lives on social media.

Question: Is it good to share our struggles even with our down moments? People don’t want to hear from complainers.

Rabbi Gold: Don’t blame or complain when you’re sharing. You can explain that you need inspiration. I want to uplift people after their successes; I don’t interview people during their struggles, as they should remain private. Ranting is not motivational. If you must rant, preface it by saying, “I need to rant.” If your motivation is to get close to your husband, then share with him, but don’t pour out too much negativity. Use your maturity. Come from a place of bonding with your husband.

I have a 50-minute online film of people sharing their stories and vulnerabilities. It’s captivating, motivational, and entertaining. Go to Hashkifa.com.