Daniel Meltz
- From:
- Durban, South Africa
- Age:
- 23
- College:
- Vega University Pursuing a degree in Digital Marketing
The Interview
Daniel, what's your Jewish story?
I was raised in a religious house; kosher, shomrei Shabbos. We go to shul every weekend. My dad goes to shul every morning and afternoon and I try to go when I can. I try to go a shiur on Shabbos afternoon, when I can.
How did you hear about The Podcast Fellowship?
Rabbi Michael Vegoda (of OhrSom Johannesburg) told me about it. He used to be my next-door neighbor.
What was your reaction to the stipend offer?
Honestly, it seemed like an easy way to earn money. Also, my father always wants me to learn more Torah. So I saw this as a way to earn money and make my dad happy.
Would you theoretically have done TPF without the stipend?
Honestly, I don't think I would have.
Tell us about your experience with TPF:
Rabbi Vegoda is my mentor. It's quite nice because although I'm in Durban and he's in Jo-berg (about 6 hours away by car), whenever I'm in Jo-berg we do make our podcast session face-to-face. Instead of having the half-an-hour discussion, we'll speak for an hour or so, which I find quite interesting.
I don't exactly have a favorite speaker or topic, but I am generally more interested in questions that relate to myself, such as, "why must I put on tzitzit" or "why must I put on tefillin?
A lot of the time our discussion will go over the time we're meant to spend but I don't really mind, because the stuff that I'm learning I can use straight away, as opposed to (topics about which I am likely to say), "ok, MAYBE I'll figure out how to use this, one day."
How has TPF helped you grow as a Jew?
It's given me a much better understanding for simple (foundational) things, like why do I need to daven; the importance of certain aspects of our religion.
Where do you stand in your Jewish growth?
I was already shomer Shabbos and kosher, but the odd thing with me is that although I kept kosher, I didn't really care; it wasn't so important. Through the discussions with Rabbi Vegoda I realize it's a lot more important. And now when I daven, instead of just rushing through it, I try to say it a lot slower (although sometimes I do still rush through it). But TPF has definitely helped me realize that you don't have to rush through religion. You can take your time and find ways to enjoy it.
What's it like being Jewish on a university campus nowadays?
I don't know. All of courses have been online, luckily. But in Durban I have seen antisemitism, mainly when driving behind cars with stickers on them.
Thank you, Daniel! Can you sum up your experience with The Podcast Fellowship in one quote?
"An easy way to connect with G-d, while making money."