From Tailor Shops to Shofars: A Grandfather’s Legacy of Faith, Family & Friday Nights Guest Gary Lapin

Episode Summary: In this deeply heartfelt episode, Steve “Rivers” Harris sits down with longtime neighbor and friend Gary Lapin to explore a legacy woven from threads of tradition, quiet resilience, and chicken dinners on Friday nights. Gary reflects on growing up Jewish in Denver, his immigrant grandparents from Russia and Poland, and the sacred rituals that stitched their family together — from Sabbath dinners to shofar-blowing and trips to Israel.

He opens up about the quiet warmth of grandparents who never said “I love you” but lived it anyway, the journey of raising three sons, and the joy of summer with the grandkids — late-night board games, and kiss goodnight.

It’s a conversation about heritage, humor, and the subtle evolution of fatherhood across generations. You’ll walk away full — not just from the chopped liver and challah — but from the reminder that presence is the most powerful heirloom we can pass down.

🎧 Highlights & Takeaways:

• The immigrant grit of Gary’s tailor grandfather, “Jake the Tailor”

• Why Friday night dinners were sacred ground

• A candid look at Jewish tradition, kosher kitchens, and shofar etiquette

• How parenting styles shifted from stoic to affectionate over three generations

• Why Gary believes travel and time — not toys — are the real glue of grandparenting

• A touching reflection on Holocaust remembrance, cultural storytelling, and why history matters

📍Chapters: Welcome & Introduction to Gary Grandparents, Sabbath Dinners, and “Jake the Tailor” The Evolution of Affection Across Generations Kosher Homes & Cheeseburger Workarounds Fatherhood, Business, and Family Legacy Travel as a Love Language with Grandkids Faith, Tradition & Raising Modern Orthodox Families Why Our Grandparents Didn’t Talk About “The Old Country” Bar Mitzvahs, Bagels, and Big Love  Final Reflections: Being a Present, Playful Grandpa