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 ✬

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💬 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

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⚠️ Reminder: This episode or description is not financial advice.

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