About this episode
We take you out of town to Columbus, Ohio, one of America’s most surprising, affordable, and fast-growing Jewish communities. If you’ve ever wondered what out-of-town Jewish life really looks like, this episode will open your eyes. Rabbi Avi Goldstein and Meir Perlmutter share how Columbus became a thriving hub of Orthodox life, complete with kosher restaurants, strong schools, affordable homes, and a deep sense of connection. We explore: 🏡 Why housing in Columbus costs a fraction of what it does in Lakewood or the Five Towns 💰 How families are saving tens of thousands of dollars in tuition in Ohio 👨👩👧👦 What it means to raise kids in a community where everyone knows your name 🌟 How two passionate community builders helped turn a small Midwest city into a center of Jewish growth Columbus appears to offer a calmer, more intentional Jewish lifestyle with less financial pressure and more opportunities to start something big. If you’ve ever said, “I could never leave the tri-state,” this episode might make you think again. Visit https://www.columbuspathways.org/ to learn more. You can also email Rabbi Goldstein at Rabbi@BJcolumbus.org or contact 614-448-8396. And, no, this wasn't a paid episode. We don't do paid episodes. :-) Here's our special episode with Rabbi Moshe Hauer zt"l: https://youtu.be/G2Xt_SGD5jw ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 101 ✬ ► TWILLORY – Premium menswear that works hard and looks even better. Use promo code CHAI20 at Twillory.com/KosherMoney for 20% off your first order. ► BITBEAN – Turn your big ideas into custom software that scales. Whether you’re in healthcare, finance, or retail, BitBean builds tools that make business smarter. Learn more: bitbean.link/4edg53 ► EVERGREEN KOSHER – Your one-stop shop for all things kosher. Fresh, fast, and now delivering to more communities than ever before. Visit https://www.evergreenkosher.com/ or email online@evergreenkosher.com to get connected! ► COLEL CHABAD – Supporting families in Israel since 1788. Your donation makes a real difference. Give today: colelchabad.org/koshermoney 💬 Support Kosher Money and help us make more inspiring episodes: livinglchaim.com/donate CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 01:13 Who Is Rabbi Avi Goldstein? 02:32 Finding Himself in Columbus, Ohio 03:20 How Meir Perlmuter Ended Up in Columbus 05:26 The Facts About Columbus 06:18 Orthodox Community That Got It All Started 08:06 What Jewish Life in Columbus Looks Like 11:23 The Number of Orthodox Jews in Columbus 12:10 Housing Costs in Columbus 14:03 Spreading the Word to Join the Community 17:04 Kosher Food & The Growth Mentality 20:58 Twillory’s High-Quality Clothing 22:23 BitBean Brings Your Ideas to Life 23:14 What Tuition Looks Like in Columbus 26:57 Resources in Schools for Special Needs 27:14 The Pace of Life in Columbus 29:54 Columbus Is Not a Cookie-Cutter Place 32:10 Emergency Services in Columbus 34:00 Why People Choose to Live Out of Town 36:29 How Can an Introvert Move Out of Town? 38:40 Columbus Is Not That Far 39:25 The Weather in Columbus, Ohio 39:35 No More State Income Tax? 40:00 Job Opportunities in Columbus 42:11 Women in the Workforce 42:54 Helping Each Other Get Jobs 44:02 Who Adapts Best to the Move 44:52 Evergreen Can Deliver to Your Community! 46:59 Colel Chabad Helps 1000s 48:13 Jewish Communities Communicating 50:05 Spending Shabbos in Columbus 53:34 The Uniqueness of Columbus 55:30 The Community Is Invested in Education 57:07 The Switch from New York to Ohio 1:00:02 Opportunity to Live a Happy, Fulfilling Life 1:02:17 Remembering Rabbi Moshe Hauer ZT”L 1:09:36 Where You Can Learn More 1:10:28 Outro: Takeaways + Sponsors + Subscribe! 🎓 Get free Jewish financial education resources: LivingSmarterJewish.org 📞 Call-in-to-listen Hotline: USA: 605-477-2100 | UK: 0333-366-0154 | Israel: 079-579-5088 📤 WhatsApp feedback: +1 (914) 222-5513 ⚠️ Reminder: This episode or description is not financial advice. #KosherMoney #JewishPodcast LivingLchaim