Rabbi Shalom Garfinkel
Raised in San Francisco in the Golden Years of the San Francisco 49ers, Rabbi Garfinkel grew up in a very proud but not traditionally observant Jewish family. Sunday School conflicted with the 49ers games when they played on the East Coast. It is no wonder that Olami 613’s unofficial motto is “Therapy for those wounded by Sunday School!”
After attending a private prep high school in Marin County, he matriculated to Stanford University in the Fall of 1991. After two years of pre-medical curriculum, a couple of trips to Israel, and a White House Internship in 1993 for President Clinton (it was still prestigious at the time – it was before a certain scandal occurred!), Rabbi Garfinkel decided that Stanford could not answer his burning questions about the meaning and purpose of life. So, he hopped on a plane to Israel, and the rest is history! After two years in Israel, he returned to finish Stanford with a BA in History ('96) and promptly returned to study at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. After two years at Ohr Somayach, Rabbi met his “beshert,” Suri, and they lived in Israel for six years while continuing to study for Rabbinic ordination. In the fall of 2004, Rabbi, Suri, and their three children moved to the UCLA campus to do campus outreach with JAM. In 2007, after three productive years in LA, Rabbi Zev Kahn brought the Garfinkels to Chicago to be the Director of Outreach for JET. In 2010, Rabbi Garfinkel started JET YP focusing on Young Professionals.
After 10 amazing years with JET, Rabbi and Suri launched their own Young Professional outreach organization, Project 613 now Olami 613, on July 1st, 2017! Rabbi Garfinkel and Suri now have eight amazing children – seven girls and one prince! The Garfinkels love having guests in their home and have truly become a home-away-from-home for countless Jews in the Chicagoland area!
(04_13_26) Monday Motivation – THE KEY TO MONEY!
April 13, 2026
GIVE IT A SHOT! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE & EVERYTHING TO GAIN! Happy Listening! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613 Chicago
(03_30_26) Monday Motivation – WHAT’S IN YOUR HAGGADAH?
March 30, 2026
What's in YOUR Haggadah? As we gear up for Passover, make sure YOU are telling the RIGHT story! Wishing you & your family a beautiful & meaningful Passover! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(03_23_26) Monday Motivation – THIS STOOD FOR US!
March 23, 2026
Dear Antisemites, Please listen. Dear Jews, Please listen. Love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(03_16_26) Monday Motivation – RIDING THE WAVE!
March 16, 2026
Incredible real life story about Riding the Wave! Enjoy & Be Inspired !!! Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(03_09_26) Monday Motivation – Missiles & Missing “Never Again!”
March 9, 2026
After 80 years of the rallying call "NEVER AGAIN," did much of American Jewry miss a NEVER AGAIN moment this past week? Listen & Find Out! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(03_02_26) Monday Motivation – PURIM: CIRCA 2026!
March 2, 2026
PURIM: CIRCA 2026! Reaction to the miraculous times in which we are living! Happy Purim! (Starting Monday night, March 2nd through Tuesday, March 3rd outside of Jerusalem) Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(02_23_26) Monday Motivation – THUNDER AT SINAI, SECRETS IN SHUSHAN!
February 23, 2026
Do we see the Almighty only in the thunderous moments of life ... or can we sense His presence in the whispers of every day life? The secrets of Shushan teach us how to find meaning & happiness in our daily lives. ENJOY! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(02_16_26) Monday Motivation – PART 2: IT’S TIME TO STOP CARING ABOUT ANTISEMITISM!
February 16, 2026
Bret Stephens, Melanie Phillips, Robert Kraft, Liel Liebovitz & Jethro Tull! Power Packed PART 2 of Why it's time to stop caring about antisemitism. We analyze the REAL source & PURPOSE of antisemitism. Really a good idea to have a listen! ENJOY! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel Olami 613
(02_08_26) Monday Motivation – IT’S TIME TO STOP CARING ABOUT ANTISEMITISM!
February 9, 2026
It's time folks. We need to shift. It's time to own our Judaism & not care about what other people think. It's time to LEAN IN to our Jewish values, to define ourselves POSITIVELY with 3,800 years of elevated morality & fall into the victim trap. Anti-semites don't care that we've been beaten up for...
Read More(01_19_25) Monday Motivation – ITALY JOURNEY (PART 2) GLADIATORS: THE GORY GLORY STORY!
January 19, 2026
The Roman Gladiator sparks the imagination of many. Lots of GLORY! But oh how GORY! What is the real scoop behind the Roman Colosseum? Have a listen & BE PROUD TO BE JEWISH! Lots of love, Rabbi Garfinkel of Olami 613
(01_12_25) Monday Motivation – ITALY JOURNEY (PART 1) “LITTLE JERUSALEM!”
January 12, 2026
Join us as we relive the Olami 613 Italy Journey with Olami St. L