Rabbi Dr. Dovid Slavin and his wife, Laya, transformed a simple idea into a heartwarming reality that feeds thousands. From Leah's journey from hairdresser to a beacon of hope for women undergoing chemotherapy to the establishment of Our Big Kitchen (OBK) in Bondi, Sydney, this episode captures their incredible story.
Discover how OBK evolved into a non-denominational industrial kitchen, making over 250,000 meals yearly to combat food waste and hunger in Australia. This isn't just about meals; it's about connecting people and creating a community where no one feels alone, especially during festive seasons.
In a conversation with Rabbi Slavin from OBK, we explore the future ambitions for this impactful initiative and discuss ways listeners can be part of this mission across Australia. Kindness is a language everyone understands, and by building a model of community support, we can counter negative narratives and foster meaningful connections. Whether using your unique talents or taking small steps in your community, your actions can make a significant difference.
Stay tuned for a sneak peek into our upcoming chat with Astrid Hocking from Hearts and Hands, who dedicates her life to supporting vulnerable children and communities.
OBK Website: https://www.obk.org.au/
Thank you for listening!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Leon Goltsman (00:00):
Good morning, good afternoon or good evening,
wherever you are, and welcomeback to Engaging Conversations.
I'm your host, leon Goltsman,and I'm thrilled to kick off a
brand new year with all of youand before we begin, I want to
give a quick shout-out to one ofour amazing sponsors, Niaz
Cannoth.
As Principal and LendingSpecialist and Founder of Invest
Intelligence, Niaz empowersinvestors with socially
responsible strategies,particularly in disability
accommodation.
As we step into 2025, I want totake a moment to thank you for
your ongoing support andengagement.
It's a privilege to share thesepowerful stories and
(00:22):
conversations with such anincredible community of
listeners.
Thank you, Niaz, forsupporting engaging
(00:45):
conversations and helping usmake an impact.
Now on to today's guest, aleader whose work is changing
lives and building connections.
I'm honoured to introduce RabbiDr Dovid Slovin, co-founder and
CEO of Our Big Kitchen, orsimply OBK.
Founded in Bondi, Sydney, obkis a community-run,
(01:09):
non-denominational industrialkitchen that prepares over
250,000 meals annually for thosein need.
But OBK is far more than aplace where food is made.
It's a space where lives arechanged.
Founded in 2005 by Rabbi Slavinand his wife Laya, obk began
(01:30):
with a simple act of kindnessthat sparked a movement.
Today, it supports over 33charities and provides a place
where people from all walks oflife business leaders,
politicians, community membersand even tourists come together
to connect, give back and make adifference.
(01:50):
Obk's mission goes beyond justfeeding people.
It's about breaking barriers,building connections and
creating hope in a world thatoften feels divided.
In today's conversation, we'lldelve into the extraordinary
journey of OBK, explore how foodserves as a universal language
of love and compassion, anddiscover the impact of giving
(02:13):
back one meal at a time.
So, without further ado, let'sjump into this inspiring
discussion with Rabbi DavidSlavin.
This is a story you won't wantto miss with Rabbi David Slavin.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (02:27):
This is a story you won't want to miss.
A bit about myself.
My name is Rabbi Dr DavidSlavin, born in Brooklyn, new
York, was introduced to a veryfine young woman back in New
York.
I didn't realize that fallingin love with her would also mean
falling in love with the wholecountry, and Sydney eastern
suburbs has been home to ussince 1991.
I've often been asked how thekitchen came about, and I tend
(02:49):
to ask people it's more the whythan the how.
You know, why did we do it?
What possessed us to build thiskitchen?
And it's interesting.
It's a story, really, of ahusband trying to keep his wife
happy.
My wife Laya, who's a beautifulindividual, began her career as
a hairdresser.
Hairdressing took her to wigsand while the clients loved what
(03:13):
she was doing for them, she wasnot finding fulfillment in it.
She loved the creative part, butit wasn't talking to any
purpose for her and she wasgoing to look at something
different, perhaps teaching orother areas that she had
interest in.
And then a woman who was goingthrough chemotherapy was
introduced to her, in need of awig, and suddenly it was no
longer something vain butsomething really life-changing,
(03:36):
life-altering.
She realized.
While she cannot cure thiswoman she's not a doctor and
while she doesn't have a crystalball to tell her whether she
will be there to see herchildren growing up, she's also
not a financial institution whocould help them with the
resources and the money theyneeded to get through this
particular difficulty.
But she could give them a wigthat would look as good or
(03:57):
better than their own hair and,in this way, give them the
confidence to stay in the fight.
It's incredibly, incrediblyimportant and very confronting,
in fact, for a young woman goingthrough chemo losing her hair.
So Laya set aside all of herother clients and only focused
solely on women going throughchemo, and what a journey it's
been.
Leon Goltsman (04:17):
Obk now prepares and distributes over 250,000
meals annually, supporting morethan 33 charities and thousands
of individuals.
Wow, how did you coordinatesuch a large-scale operation and
what challenges have you facedin ensuring these meals reach
those in need?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (04:34):
So, from getting meals to people going
through chemo, we realised thatbringing people together to cook
gives you huge quantities ofmeals and also connection and
community.
We set ourselves the building,the kitchen.
Turning to the buildingindustry, asking people to be so
kind and to understand the needfor people to help, to empower
(04:58):
and to connect, and this is whatwe do with the kitchen.
It has continued to grow andcontinues to grow as we speak.
The nicest people, the builderswho came to help and built with
their hearts and their hands.
Today we stand between foodwaste and hungry Australians.
Australia throws out hugequantities of perfectly edible
food.
It's really inexcusable and atthe same time, many are going
(05:21):
hungry.
And the third part of thepuzzle is there are good people
who want to make a difference.
What we try to do is bringtogether those people using the
excess food that would be goingto waste and getting it to those
who need it through the tens ofcharities that we support.
Leon Goltsman (05:36):
What special initiatives does ABK undertake
to support and uplift thecommunity?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (05:41):
A very, very important question to
understand.
What is that we do?
Particularly during the festiveseason, there are people who
are going hungry, but more sopeople are dying of
disconnection.
Nobody should miss outimportant events.
Nobody should feel alone anddetached.
(06:01):
To this end, we cater many,many meals that go to the many
charities that support those whootherwise would have been alone
during this season.
Leon Goltsman (06:11):
Can you share a particular story or moment that
encapsulates the impact OBK hashad on an individual's life?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (06:19):
To try to encapsulate a particular moment
is almost like asking a parentwho's been blessed with many
children which one they lovemost, because every single
session and whether it's duringbushfire season that we're
cooking and feeding firstresponders or people who need to
move, or we are giving peoplewho have made bad choices a
second chance in life, or we'rehelping people with special
(06:40):
needs, or we're gettingneighbours to talk to each other
really, I think that's probablyone of the most difficult
questions to answer and I reallyI'm gonna have to pass on that
and simply say spending a day inthe kitchen.
You will be in the samepredicament.
You will see so many differentspecial moments of connection,
breaking down barriers,empowering people, giving people
opportunities.
This is really the outcome, thelanguage that we use as food,
(07:05):
but the product is reallycommunity building, confidence
building and second chances andacceptance to people in this
wonderful country.
Leon Goltsman (07:12):
And I can vouch for that.
It's not often that you have aprime minister, a premier,
members of parliament and thegovernor general and his lovely
wife all in the same kitchen,and I was privy to that.
Too many cooks in the kitchen,but in this case it was perfect.
Now we have seen that food isthe universal language that
transcends cultural and socialbarriers.
(07:33):
How does OBK utilise communalcooking to build bridges between
diverse communities, includingthose from different cultural,
religious and socio-economicbackgrounds, To try to
understand how we connect notonly help and empower, but also
to connect is so, so important.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (07:51):
We have run events here that bring
Christian, muslim and Jewishchildren together.
So we'll take a group, say 20,20, and 20.
Each one is encouraged to comewith two recipes that are
important to their tradition andthen the entire group gets
together together and we mixthem all up.
They don't stay in separategroups, they're all mixed with
(08:14):
each other and every group getsto teach and to learn.
The message here is I can comewith two.
If I listen, I'll come awaywith six that participation and
growth, cross-fertilization areso, so important at any stage,
and if you're ever looking forsomething that brings all people
(08:34):
together, it's food.
Every single person I've evermet needs to eat, so there's a
great way to connect.
Leon Goltsman (08:41):
I like what you said come in with two, leave
with six.
That's a good investment, isn'tit?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (08:51):
six.
That's a good investment, isn'tit?
Absolutely.
It's metaphorically andabsolutely so true.
Australia is blessed to be atrue multicultural country that
has grown out of the experiencesof all those who we've been
blessed to have come to join ourshores and to make this country
what it is today.
Leon Goltsman (09:07):
So, rabbi, whilst OBK operates from its kitchen
here in Bondi, its impactreaches far beyond Sydney.
What strategies have youimplemented to extend OBK
services to rural and regionalcommunities across New South
Wales and Australia, so in?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (09:23):
terms of expanding our efforts beyond our
limited area here.
In the first case, many, manyother charities have come and
borrowed bits and pieces of whatwe do and taking it and made it
theirs, which is very, verybeautiful.
We in fact have a sisterorganization in Los Angeles
which is doing almost identicalto what we're doing over here,
(09:44):
and our reach goes very far bystudents and adults coming
traveling.
We have regular groups up herefrom Canberra and beyond.
During any natural disaster wework with the state government.
Wherever New South Wales as thestate is going, our food will
go with them.
(10:04):
So the reach actually goes alot further than just the local
area.
So the reach actually goes alot further than just the local
area.
The other impact that I hope weare having is by showcasing what
Australia has to offer.
Many people will think ofBandai because of the beautiful
weather or the nice homes or thebeaches.
We have tour buses this is partof their tour of Sydney to
(10:31):
understand the back end, theunderbelly of what really
happens here and the strugglesthat some people have to put up
with and the way the communitycomes together to be able to
support them.
We have politicians from allwalks of politics here in
Australia state and federal whohave come here and been very,
very inspired and taken thoseideas back to their homes.
We've had consul generals fromalmost every country in the
world have come back here andwe've gotten feedback how
(10:53):
they've come back to be able toshare what we're doing over here
.
It makes us incredibly proud tobe able to develop and showcase
this side of the beautifulAustralian society where people
genuinely take the time to lookafter and care for each other.
Leon Goltsman (11:08):
And you mentioned .
Obk offers various programs,including corporate team
building events, school programsand private functions, all
centered around cooking for acause.
What motivates individuals andgroups from different sectors to
participate in these programsand what feedback have you
received from participants?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (11:25):
It's interesting to understand what
motivates people to come to ourcorporate team buildings.
It's interesting, you know,companies are seeing more and
more the value of corporate teambuildings.
Now you can do things likewhitewater rafting, rock
climbing, paintball shooting,escape rooms, all wonderful,
wonderful things, but they leavevery little real impact on
society.
So we say to people once you'vedone all those things, or
(11:46):
before you've done all thosethings, whatever it may be, come
in.
We gamify it.
It's a MasterChef competition.
We give you the raw ingredientsthat we've gotten donated and
instead of it being solely ourchallenge to think how can we
feed these families with whatwe've received, we make it your
challenge and it becomes fun.
Companies compete for the bestdish.
Once they've done that, they'llpresent the dishes to the chef
(12:09):
who tastes it.
The winner gets a trophy.
It really is a great leveler.
It's a great equalizer.
The CEO and the intern cookside by side and more often than
not the intern cooks betterthan the CEO.
So it gives people a chance tomove into the forefront, to
create, to have imagination,into the forefront, to create,
(12:30):
to have imagination and to know,more important than anything
else, that I, with my team, canmake a huge difference.
The companies that we'regetting are companies like all
the Australian big banks and theconsultancy companies and the
accounting firms, as well asmany IT companies Atlassian,
salesforce, google I'm sure youguys all heard of Google and
companies this size.
(12:51):
Those are the ones that come tous.
So we're very, very blessed tohave really tapped into the
incredibly wonderful, incredibleorganizations who see the value
in what we are able to offer.
Leon Goltsman (13:03):
And that's perhaps why they've made it so
big, isn't it?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (13:07):
Yeah, it is you know people's strength.
Any animal will outrun, outfly,out-survive a human.
Our ability is to collaborate,and we can collaborate
negatively and create horriblethings, or collaborate
positively.
We want to collaborate in apositive and wonderful way and
you certainly do that.
Leon Goltsman (13:28):
Now for individuals in rural areas,
inspired by OBK's model, whatadvice would you offer them to
establish similar communitykitchens initiatives in their
own towns?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (13:39):
We have had many, many organizations
from across Australia and aroundthe world in fact, who have
come here observed what we doand taken of those lessons to
incorporate into the way they'redoing things, and it's really
simply a lesson of caring forpeople and seeing the
opportunities and seeing thetalents that they could bring to
the table.
Leon Goltsman (14:00):
So in today's world, where divisions can seem
more prominent, obk stands as atestament to the power of
community and kindness.
What core values drives OBK'smission, and how can individuals
embody these values in theirdaily lives to support for a
more united society?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (14:16):
To better understand how we could be
there for each other.
It's very, very simple.
You know the days in which wecould count on our neighbors to
hang out our washing when wewere having a baby.
Those days are gone.
Very few people are hanging outwashing.
Even less people are havingbabies, and absolutely nobody
knows who their neighbors are.
Now there could be tworeactions.
One could be a very paralyzingquestion that goes something
like why is this happening?
(14:38):
Or what's the world getting upto?
And then there's a veryempowering question where we try
to focus, and that's what can Ido about it?
And what I can do about ittoday is to join with other
like-minded people and come in,be there with each other for
each other and create meals forthose who are less fortunate.
Leon Goltsman (14:54):
And looking ahead .
What are your aspirations forOBK's future and how can
listeners across Australia,regardless of their location,
contribute to or support OBK'smission?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (15:05):
The way anybody can participate in this,
firstly, is nobody has amonopoly on helping and
introducing themselves to theirneighbours and creating groups
within the schools.
You know, we all have food, weall can talk and interact with
each other.
In terms of what we're tryingto do here is to build a model
(15:26):
that really works and could beduplicated in other parts of
Australia and around the world.
So any talent that one has, byall means get in touch with us
through our website, through oursocial media, whether it's IT,
whether it's graphic design,whether it's marketing.
These are all things that needto be told.
You know it breaks my heart.
Young people today will read thenews or they'll look at social
(15:46):
media and they'll see stories ofwars being fought here, there
and everywhere and shootingshappening in horrible ways
across the states.
And what have you?
And a 15-year-old will say youknow I'm 15.
I'm going to be 16.
I have you.
And a 15 year old will say youknow I'm 15.
I'm going to be 16.
I have not killed anybody yet.
What's wrong with me?
And that's tragic.
It is tragic for young peopleto be so surrounded with such
violence that they're readingand they're exposed to Good
(16:09):
stories need to be told.
Good stories need to be created.
Good will always outlast evil.
We can do better, we should dobetter, and together we can make
a real difference.
Leon Goltsman (16:20):
And that's exactly my line at the end of
every podcast.
Is there one key takeawaymessage you'd like every
listener to remember afterhearing about OBK and its
mission?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (16:30):
A key message that I would like people
to walk away with is not towait and not to turn to
government and think what othersare going to do for us.
Ask ourselves an honestquestion what can I do today to
help a neighbor, a friend,somebody who's doing it
difficult, somebody who'srecently had a baby, someone
(16:51):
who's recently lost a loved one,somebody who's just moved into
town?
Ask yourselves that honestquestion what can I do today?
And normally the answer will bebake a cake, create a biscuit,
a meal, a treat, knock on aneighbor's door, reach out to a
family member who you know wouldappreciate the recognition and
(17:11):
the warmth and the beauty that ameal brings to them.
It isn't only the recipient whogains In these things.
9 out of 10 is the giver, whocomes away feeling so much
better and valued.
Leon Goltsman (17:24):
And whilst we're talking here, I feel like a
recipient, because I know thatwhen I walk out of OBK, I always
walk away with a full belly,and I'm feeling a lot better
about that as well.
So thank you very much for theopportunity, rabbi.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (17:39):
Leon, thank you for the opportunity to
share the message with yourlisteners, and may you continue
to be an example and a shininglight, not only through your
speech but more so through theactions that you have done.
We've known you for a very,very long time.
We feel very, very privilegedthat we've watched you up close,
always putting others ahead ofyourself, giving, giving and
(18:00):
giving, which is probably whyyou're a positive and happy
person.
Leon Goltsman (18:04):
Thank you very much.
Rabbi Means a lot to me.
Thank you, well, that's a wrap.
What an inspiring conversationwe've just had with Rabbi Dr
Dovitz-Lovin from Our BigKitchen.
His journey from a single actof kindness to leading an
organization that unitescommunities and provides well
over 250,000 meals annually istruly remarkable.
(18:26):
If you'd like to learn moreabout Our Big Kitchen or find
ways to get involved, pleasecheck out our show notes for
links and resources.
Sharing these stories andsupporting such initiatives
helps us all contribute to amore connected and caring
society.
Now I'm excited to give you aglimpse into our next episode.
(18:48):
We'll be joined by theextraordinary Astrid Hocking
Chair of Hearts and HandsCommunity Development.
We've over 24 years as a fosterparent caring for around 90
children, and a professionalbackground in education and
support for foster carers.
Astrid's dedication to childprotection and community
(19:09):
development is unparalleled.
Hearts and Hands is anot-for-profit, volunteer-based
charity offering disadvantagedcommunities a hand up, not a
handout.
Their programs focus on raisingchild protection awareness,
supporting survivors of abuseand assisting impoverished
communities towardsself-sustainability.
(19:31):
Astrid also partners with anorphanage in the Philippines,
visiting twice yearly to supportchildren rescued from
trafficking or abandonment.
Her unwavering commitment tovulnerable children and
communities is truly inspiringand I can't wait to share our
conversation with you.
And, as always, if today'sepisode resonated with you,
(19:55):
please share it with yourfriends and family.
Your support really does helpus continue to bring these
impactful stories to light.
I'm Leon Goltsman and I lookforward to our next engaging
conversation.
Until then, stay safe, stayconnected and let's keep making
a difference together.
Good morning, good afternoon or good evening,
wherever you are, and welcomeback to Engaging Conversations.
I'm your host, leon Goltsman,and I'm thrilled to kick off a
brand new year with all of youand before we begin, I want to
give a quick shout-out to one ofour amazing sponsors, Niaz
Cannoth.
As Principal and LendingSpecialist and Founder of Invest
Intelligence, Niaz empowersinvestors with socially
responsible strategies,particularly in disability
accommodation.
As we step into 2025, I want totake a moment to thank you for
your ongoing support andengagement.
It's a privilege to share thesepowerful stories and
(00:22):
conversations with such anincredible community of
listeners.
Thank you, Niaz, forsupporting engaging
(00:45):
conversations and helping usmake an impact.
Now on to today's guest, aleader whose work is changing
lives and building connections.
I'm honoured to introduce RabbiDr Dovid Slovin, co-founder and
CEO of Our Big Kitchen, orsimply OBK.
Founded in Bondi, Sydney, obkis a community-run,
(01:09):
non-denominational industrialkitchen that prepares over
250,000 meals annually for thosein need.
But OBK is far more than aplace where food is made.
It's a space where lives arechanged.
Founded in 2005 by Rabbi Slavinand his wife Laya, obk began
(01:30):
with a simple act of kindnessthat sparked a movement.
Today, it supports over 33charities and provides a place
where people from all walks oflife business leaders,
politicians, community membersand even tourists come together
to connect, give back and make adifference.
(01:50):
Obk's mission goes beyond justfeeding people.
It's about breaking barriers,building connections and
creating hope in a world thatoften feels divided.
In today's conversation, we'lldelve into the extraordinary
journey of OBK, explore how foodserves as a universal language
of love and compassion, anddiscover the impact of giving
(02:13):
back one meal at a time.
So, without further ado, let'sjump into this inspiring
discussion with Rabbi DavidSlavin.
This is a story you won't wantto miss with Rabbi David Slavin.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (02:27):
This is a story you won't want to miss.
A bit about myself.
My name is Rabbi Dr DavidSlavin, born in Brooklyn, new
York, was introduced to a veryfine young woman back in New
York.
I didn't realize that fallingin love with her would also mean
falling in love with the wholecountry, and Sydney eastern
suburbs has been home to ussince 1991.
I've often been asked how thekitchen came about, and I tend
(02:49):
to ask people it's more the whythan the how.
You know, why did we do it?
What possessed us to build thiskitchen?
And it's interesting.
It's a story, really, of ahusband trying to keep his wife
happy.
My wife Laya, who's a beautifulindividual, began her career as
a hairdresser.
Hairdressing took her to wigsand while the clients loved what
(03:13):
she was doing for them, she wasnot finding fulfillment in it.
She loved the creative part, butit wasn't talking to any
purpose for her and she wasgoing to look at something
different, perhaps teaching orother areas that she had
interest in.
And then a woman who was goingthrough chemotherapy was
introduced to her, in need of awig, and suddenly it was no
longer something vain butsomething really life-changing,
(03:36):
life-altering.
She realized.
While she cannot cure thiswoman she's not a doctor and
while she doesn't have a crystalball to tell her whether she
will be there to see herchildren growing up, she's also
not a financial institution whocould help them with the
resources and the money theyneeded to get through this
particular difficulty.
But she could give them a wigthat would look as good or
(03:57):
better than their own hair and,in this way, give them the
confidence to stay in the fight.
It's incredibly, incrediblyimportant and very confronting,
in fact, for a young woman goingthrough chemo losing her hair.
So Laya set aside all of herother clients and only focused
solely on women going throughchemo, and what a journey it's
been.
Leon Goltsman (04:17):
Obk now prepares and distributes over 250,000
meals annually, supporting morethan 33 charities and thousands
of individuals.
Wow, how did you coordinatesuch a large-scale operation and
what challenges have you facedin ensuring these meals reach
those in need?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (04:34):
So, from getting meals to people going
through chemo, we realised thatbringing people together to cook
gives you huge quantities ofmeals and also connection and
community.
We set ourselves the building,the kitchen.
Turning to the buildingindustry, asking people to be so
kind and to understand the needfor people to help, to empower
(04:58):
and to connect, and this is whatwe do with the kitchen.
It has continued to grow andcontinues to grow as we speak.
The nicest people, the builderswho came to help and built with
their hearts and their hands.
Today we stand between foodwaste and hungry Australians.
Australia throws out hugequantities of perfectly edible
food.
It's really inexcusable and atthe same time, many are going
(05:21):
hungry.
And the third part of thepuzzle is there are good people
who want to make a difference.
What we try to do is bringtogether those people using the
excess food that would be goingto waste and getting it to those
who need it through the tens ofcharities that we support.
Leon Goltsman (05:36):
What special initiatives does ABK undertake
to support and uplift thecommunity?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (05:41):
A very, very important question to
understand.
What is that we do?
Particularly during the festiveseason, there are people who
are going hungry, but more sopeople are dying of
disconnection.
Nobody should miss outimportant events.
Nobody should feel alone anddetached.
(06:01):
To this end, we cater many,many meals that go to the many
charities that support those whootherwise would have been alone
during this season.
Leon Goltsman (06:11):
Can you share a particular story or moment that
encapsulates the impact OBK hashad on an individual's life?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (06:19):
To try to encapsulate a particular moment
is almost like asking a parentwho's been blessed with many
children which one they lovemost, because every single
session and whether it's duringbushfire season that we're
cooking and feeding firstresponders or people who need to
move, or we are giving peoplewho have made bad choices a
second chance in life, or we'rehelping people with special
(06:40):
needs, or we're gettingneighbours to talk to each other
really, I think that's probablyone of the most difficult
questions to answer and I reallyI'm gonna have to pass on that
and simply say spending a day inthe kitchen.
You will be in the samepredicament.
You will see so many differentspecial moments of connection,
breaking down barriers,empowering people, giving people
opportunities.
This is really the outcome, thelanguage that we use as food,
(07:05):
but the product is reallycommunity building, confidence
building and second chances andacceptance to people in this
wonderful country.
Leon Goltsman (07:12):
And I can vouch for that.
It's not often that you have aprime minister, a premier,
members of parliament and thegovernor general and his lovely
wife all in the same kitchen,and I was privy to that.
Too many cooks in the kitchen,but in this case it was perfect.
Now we have seen that food isthe universal language that
transcends cultural and socialbarriers.
(07:33):
How does OBK utilise communalcooking to build bridges between
diverse communities, includingthose from different cultural,
religious and socio-economicbackgrounds, To try to
understand how we connect notonly help and empower, but also
to connect is so, so important.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (07:51):
We have run events here that bring
Christian, muslim and Jewishchildren together.
So we'll take a group, say 20,20, and 20.
Each one is encouraged to comewith two recipes that are
important to their tradition andthen the entire group gets
together together and we mixthem all up.
They don't stay in separategroups, they're all mixed with
(08:14):
each other and every group getsto teach and to learn.
The message here is I can comewith two.
If I listen, I'll come awaywith six that participation and
growth, cross-fertilization areso, so important at any stage,
and if you're ever looking forsomething that brings all people
(08:34):
together, it's food.
Every single person I've evermet needs to eat, so there's a
great way to connect.
Leon Goltsman (08:41):
I like what you said come in with two, leave
with six.
That's a good investment, isn'tit?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (08:51):
six.
That's a good investment, isn'tit?
Absolutely.
It's metaphorically andabsolutely so true.
Australia is blessed to be atrue multicultural country that
has grown out of the experiencesof all those who we've been
blessed to have come to join ourshores and to make this country
what it is today.
Leon Goltsman (09:07):
So, rabbi, whilst OBK operates from its kitchen
here in Bondi, its impactreaches far beyond Sydney.
What strategies have youimplemented to extend OBK
services to rural and regionalcommunities across New South
Wales and Australia, so in?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (09:23):
terms of expanding our efforts beyond our
limited area here.
In the first case, many, manyother charities have come and
borrowed bits and pieces of whatwe do and taking it and made it
theirs, which is very, verybeautiful.
We in fact have a sisterorganization in Los Angeles
which is doing almost identicalto what we're doing over here,
(09:44):
and our reach goes very far bystudents and adults coming
traveling.
We have regular groups up herefrom Canberra and beyond.
During any natural disaster wework with the state government.
Wherever New South Wales as thestate is going, our food will
go with them.
(10:04):
So the reach actually goes alot further than just the local
area.
So the reach actually goes alot further than just the local
area.
The other impact that I hope weare having is by showcasing what
Australia has to offer.
Many people will think ofBandai because of the beautiful
weather or the nice homes or thebeaches.
We have tour buses this is partof their tour of Sydney to
(10:31):
understand the back end, theunderbelly of what really
happens here and the strugglesthat some people have to put up
with and the way the communitycomes together to be able to
support them.
We have politicians from allwalks of politics here in
Australia state and federal whohave come here and been very,
very inspired and taken thoseideas back to their homes.
We've had consul generals fromalmost every country in the
world have come back here andwe've gotten feedback how
(10:53):
they've come back to be able toshare what we're doing over here
.
It makes us incredibly proud tobe able to develop and showcase
this side of the beautifulAustralian society where people
genuinely take the time to lookafter and care for each other.
Leon Goltsman (11:08):
And you mentioned .
Obk offers various programs,including corporate team
building events, school programsand private functions, all
centered around cooking for acause.
What motivates individuals andgroups from different sectors to
participate in these programsand what feedback have you
received from participants?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (11:25):
It's interesting to understand what
motivates people to come to ourcorporate team buildings.
It's interesting, you know,companies are seeing more and
more the value of corporate teambuildings.
Now you can do things likewhitewater rafting, rock
climbing, paintball shooting,escape rooms, all wonderful,
wonderful things, but they leavevery little real impact on
society.
So we say to people once you'vedone all those things, or
(11:46):
before you've done all thosethings, whatever it may be, come
in.
We gamify it.
It's a MasterChef competition.
We give you the raw ingredientsthat we've gotten donated and
instead of it being solely ourchallenge to think how can we
feed these families with whatwe've received, we make it your
challenge and it becomes fun.
Companies compete for the bestdish.
Once they've done that, they'llpresent the dishes to the chef
(12:09):
who tastes it.
The winner gets a trophy.
It really is a great leveler.
It's a great equalizer.
The CEO and the intern cookside by side and more often than
not the intern cooks betterthan the CEO.
So it gives people a chance tomove into the forefront, to
create, to have imagination,into the forefront, to create,
(12:30):
to have imagination and to know,more important than anything
else, that I, with my team, canmake a huge difference.
The companies that we'regetting are companies like all
the Australian big banks and theconsultancy companies and the
accounting firms, as well asmany IT companies Atlassian,
salesforce, google I'm sure youguys all heard of Google and
companies this size.
(12:51):
Those are the ones that come tous.
So we're very, very blessed tohave really tapped into the
incredibly wonderful, incredibleorganizations who see the value
in what we are able to offer.
Leon Goltsman (13:03):
And that's perhaps why they've made it so
big, isn't it?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (13:07):
Yeah, it is you know people's strength.
Any animal will outrun, outfly,out-survive a human.
Our ability is to collaborate,and we can collaborate
negatively and create horriblethings, or collaborate
positively.
We want to collaborate in apositive and wonderful way and
you certainly do that.
Leon Goltsman (13:28):
Now for individuals in rural areas,
inspired by OBK's model, whatadvice would you offer them to
establish similar communitykitchens initiatives in their
own towns?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (13:39):
We have had many, many organizations
from across Australia and aroundthe world in fact, who have
come here observed what we doand taken of those lessons to
incorporate into the way they'redoing things, and it's really
simply a lesson of caring forpeople and seeing the
opportunities and seeing thetalents that they could bring to
the table.
Leon Goltsman (14:00):
So in today's world, where divisions can seem
more prominent, obk stands as atestament to the power of
community and kindness.
What core values drives OBK'smission, and how can individuals
embody these values in theirdaily lives to support for a
more united society?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (14:16):
To better understand how we could be
there for each other.
It's very, very simple.
You know the days in which wecould count on our neighbors to
hang out our washing when wewere having a baby.
Those days are gone.
Very few people are hanging outwashing.
Even less people are havingbabies, and absolutely nobody
knows who their neighbors are.
Now there could be tworeactions.
One could be a very paralyzingquestion that goes something
like why is this happening?
(14:38):
Or what's the world getting upto?
And then there's a veryempowering question where we try
to focus, and that's what can Ido about it?
And what I can do about ittoday is to join with other
like-minded people and come in,be there with each other for
each other and create meals forthose who are less fortunate.
Leon Goltsman (14:54):
And looking ahead .
What are your aspirations forOBK's future and how can
listeners across Australia,regardless of their location,
contribute to or support OBK'smission?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (15:05):
The way anybody can participate in this,
firstly, is nobody has amonopoly on helping and
introducing themselves to theirneighbours and creating groups
within the schools.
You know, we all have food, weall can talk and interact with
each other.
In terms of what we're tryingto do here is to build a model
(15:26):
that really works and could beduplicated in other parts of
Australia and around the world.
So any talent that one has, byall means get in touch with us
through our website, through oursocial media, whether it's IT,
whether it's graphic design,whether it's marketing.
These are all things that needto be told.
You know it breaks my heart.
Young people today will read thenews or they'll look at social
(15:46):
media and they'll see stories ofwars being fought here, there
and everywhere and shootingshappening in horrible ways
across the states.
And what have you?
And a 15-year-old will say youknow I'm 15.
I'm going to be 16.
I have you.
And a 15 year old will say youknow I'm 15.
I'm going to be 16.
I have not killed anybody yet.
What's wrong with me?
And that's tragic.
It is tragic for young peopleto be so surrounded with such
violence that they're readingand they're exposed to Good
(16:09):
stories need to be told.
Good stories need to be created.
Good will always outlast evil.
We can do better, we should dobetter, and together we can make
a real difference.
Leon Goltsman (16:20):
And that's exactly my line at the end of
every podcast.
Is there one key takeawaymessage you'd like every
listener to remember afterhearing about OBK and its
mission?
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (16:30):
A key message that I would like people
to walk away with is not towait and not to turn to
government and think what othersare going to do for us.
Ask ourselves an honestquestion what can I do today to
help a neighbor, a friend,somebody who's doing it
difficult, somebody who'srecently had a baby, someone
(16:51):
who's recently lost a loved one,somebody who's just moved into
town?
Ask yourselves that honestquestion what can I do today?
And normally the answer will bebake a cake, create a biscuit,
a meal, a treat, knock on aneighbor's door, reach out to a
family member who you know wouldappreciate the recognition and
(17:11):
the warmth and the beauty that ameal brings to them.
It isn't only the recipient whogains In these things.
9 out of 10 is the giver, whocomes away feeling so much
better and valued.
Leon Goltsman (17:24):
And whilst we're talking here, I feel like a
recipient, because I know thatwhen I walk out of OBK, I always
walk away with a full belly,and I'm feeling a lot better
about that as well.
So thank you very much for theopportunity, rabbi.
Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin (17:39):
Leon, thank you for the opportunity to
share the message with yourlisteners, and may you continue
to be an example and a shininglight, not only through your
speech but more so through theactions that you have done.
We've known you for a very,very long time.
We feel very, very privilegedthat we've watched you up close,
always putting others ahead ofyourself, giving, giving and
(18:00):
giving, which is probably whyyou're a positive and happy
person.
Leon Goltsman (18:04):
Thank you very much.
Rabbi Means a lot to me.
Thank you, well, that's a wrap.
What an inspiring conversationwe've just had with Rabbi Dr
Dovitz-Lovin from Our BigKitchen.
His journey from a single actof kindness to leading an
organization that unitescommunities and provides well
over 250,000 meals annually istruly remarkable.
(18:26):
If you'd like to learn moreabout Our Big Kitchen or find
ways to get involved, pleasecheck out our show notes for
links and resources.
Sharing these stories andsupporting such initiatives
helps us all contribute to amore connected and caring
society.
Now I'm excited to give you aglimpse into our next episode.
(18:48):
We'll be joined by theextraordinary Astrid Hocking
Chair of Hearts and HandsCommunity Development.
We've over 24 years as a fosterparent caring for around 90
children, and a professionalbackground in education and
support for foster carers.
Astrid's dedication to childprotection and community
(19:09):
development is unparalleled.
Hearts and Hands is anot-for-profit, volunteer-based
charity offering disadvantagedcommunities a hand up, not a
handout.
Their programs focus on raisingchild protection awareness,
supporting survivors of abuseand assisting impoverished
communities towardsself-sustainability.
(19:31):
Astrid also partners with anorphanage in the Philippines,
visiting twice yearly to supportchildren rescued from
trafficking or abandonment.
Her unwavering commitment tovulnerable children and
communities is truly inspiringand I can't wait to share our
conversation with you.
And, as always, if today'sepisode resonated with you,
(19:55):
please share it with yourfriends and family.
Your support really does helpus continue to bring these
impactful stories to light.
I'm Leon Goltsman and I lookforward to our next engaging
conversation.
Until then, stay safe, stayconnected and let's keep making
a difference together.
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