Jaclyn chats with Uri Yudewitz about his work with CH group, the importance of giving, and the kindness in bridging connections.
In this episode, Uri Yudewitz steps into the studio to discuss the importance of finding commonalities in communities, how kindness shows up in his career, and why being a connector of people is necessary to bridge divides.
Uri Yudewitz serves as the Vice President of Business Development for CH Group, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. With a dynamic background in strategic partnerships, market expansion, and revenue growth, Uri plays a pivotal role in driving the company's success and fostering key relationships, bridging the gap between Western business and Islamic culture.
In his capacity, Uri spearheads initiatives to identify new business opportunities, forge strategic alliances, and cultivate partnerships. His keen understanding of market dynamics and consumer behavior allows him to develop innovative strategies that align with CH Group's overarching goals and objectives, including in each of CH Group’s focus areas (distribution, partnership, financing, certification and non-profit endeavors).
This podcast is one of the many ways we live out our organization's mission to educate and inspire people to choose kindness. Visit our site kindness.org and sign up to become a part of our global community which spans more than 100 countries. It's free to join and when you do you'll be the first to get access to our latest research, tools, and even episodes of this podcast. Let's build a kinder world, together. Contact us at podcast@kindness.org or on social at @kindnessorg.
Important links from this week's episode:
kindness.org
Credits
Transcript available at this link. https://why-kindness.simplecast.com/episodes/david-kirschner/transcript
Intro: Why kindness?
Because it makes a difference.
For connection.
Kindness can change lives.
It's contagious.
The science says you'll be glad you did.
Kindness is powerful
It’s the key to a healthier, happier world.
Jaclyn: Why kindness? While no one answer is the same, one thing is clear. Kindness is something we all know, but do we know why it matters?
I'm your host, Jaclyn Lindsey, co founder, CEO of kindness.org. And you're listening to Why Kindness.
Hello friends. Welcome to another episode of why kindness. I am really excited to welcome this guest. I met this person recently, but he's already become someone I would say is a dear friend. I admire the work he's doing to build a kinder world. And I'm really excited to get into his story and journey that led him to where he is today.
Uri Yudewitz serves as the vice president of business development for CH Group, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. Uri plays a pivotal role in driving the company's success and fostering key relationships, bridging the gap between Western business and Islamic culture. He spearheads initiatives to identify new business opportunities, forge strategic alliances, and cultivate partnerships.
With a track record of success in driving business development efforts, Uri is instrumental in shaping CH Group's future trajectory and ensuring its continued status in the marketplace. Hello Uri!
Uri: Hi Jaclyn, good to see you. So excited to be here. Thank you so much for having me.
Jaclyn: Oh my honor, thank you for saying yes and joining us today We're gonna get right into things.
Let's open up with this big question. Why kindness? What would you say to that?
Uri: I think kindness is what binds humanity. Kindness is something that brings us all together We've all been beneficiaries of kindness. We've all been recipients of kindness, and it's our responsibility to make it a two way road, to make it something where sometimes we're on the receiving end.
Sometimes we should be on the giving end as well. You know, kindness comes from the word kind, of course, and we are all like kind. What do we have in common? What's similar about us that we can bring together, that we can find ways Of commonality and of bridging, uh, the gaps or or bridging unique qualities between people to bring the world together.
And so that's why I think kindness is such a an important value, uh, to have in our repertoire.
Jaclyn: What I love about this question is there's never an answer that's the same. And I always feel like I learned something new after years of this when I think I'll never hear something new and no one's ever said like kind and the idea about the way we are alike.
And, uh, I appreciate that perspective. And I thank you for giving a new, a new addition, um, to the ways we can define it. Where did that come from for you? Let's. Maybe start at the beginning. How did you first learn about kindness or experience kindness?
Uri: So I think, you know, we all are taught different lessons that come from different places.
And I would say probably, um, in maybe more of the religious sense of, you know, sort of the biblical sense of, uh, do unto others as you would have done to you. And it's a, it's a challenging phrase. The way it's written initially in Hebrew and has been translated into so many different languages, but the idea of do unto others or treat your neighbor, love your neighbor as yourself, right?
So how do we do that? How is that a possibility when everybody is? Made up of different DNA is has different likes has different. Um, um, proclivities has different things that are interesting or exciting to them. So how do you find that? How do you find that commonality? How do you do onto others as you would have done to yourself?
And I think you just get down to the basic level of where can you find even the smallest possibilities? For being kind to someone. What's the simplest thing that you can do? Somebody falls down, lending a hand to help them up, opening a door, um, sharing your treats. You know, these are all things that we, we learn and, and have no problem to do when we're, you know, in kindergarten, when we're, when we're early, when three years old, four years old, we start learning these things and they become part of a practice.
And, and then sometimes as we get older, they fall off the path a little bit. It becomes a little bit. Harder to remember to do those kinds of things, but I think it starts with the simplest, smallest things that one can do. Um, and then, and then grows from there.
Jaclyn: Are you open to sharing if and how religion shaped your perspective and experience with that?
Uri: Uh, yeah, sure. I think that everybody comes from a place of having these values that are shared with them, uh, within their community. Um, and so within their community, within their family, within their neighborhood, within their social circles. And so kindness was certainly taught as part of this value of loving your neighbor as yourself.
Charity is a component of that. It's a separate sort of commandment, as it were. But the idea that we should be kind and we should be looking out for our community, there are many different applications of that in whatever religion you practice. And in whatever you do in society, there are many different ways that one can apply Being kind and looking out for your, your fellow neighbors.
And so even, you know, from a young age, it was always, uh, imparted upon me and my family, uh, that that's something that's important. That that's something that we should, uh, value and treasure and to find ways to be kind. So I can remember many meals that we had inviting guests. People we didn't know and as a child, it was maybe a little bit uncomfortable when you have new people Uh, you know at your table, um, but we we often had people um from all over the place and and unique interesting it opened up doors to learn about people and their experiences and And and how to show kindness somebody's new to the community Um, or somebody's in a new situation that that's always resonated with me.
I moved around a little bit as a kid Um, and so every time I was in a new community, I do remember this from a very young age of when we moved to a new community that people would show kindness to us with their hospitality and providing an avenue for us to be welcomed into the community. Oh, who, you know, what other families have children your age is, let's get them together so they can play together or you should be aware of, you know, these resources.
That that might be help you as you acclimate to a new community. And so that that's always resonated with me for sure.
Jaclyn: What prompted moving around as a child?
Uri: Uh, my father had a Had an interesting job. Uh, he supported the jewish community. He's he's worked his entire he worked his entire career He's now retired happily But he worked his entire career supporting the jewish community doing a lot of incredible things showing kindness wherever he went Um, and so as he was on that upward trajectory in his career path, we we moved around Uh from a few different places first in Massachusetts Then to Ohio, Florida, back to Massachusetts, and then back to Florida, where I've been, uh, for the last, uh, 30 plus years.
So, uh, we, you know, sometimes you just have to move around as part of your career and as part of your journey. Um, and so it opened up unique communities and great relationships, lifelong friendships, um, and it's been great.
Jaclyn: I love that. I, uh, had a dad in the military, so that's what led to us moving around so much.
And similarly. So many childhood memories of our dinner table and it feeling always full of different kinds of people different perspectives Um, but always a place to have a meal and it's interesting how dinner table can cultivate that that connection And be such a simple act of kindness, but do something to let people feel welcome So that's really wonderful to hear that.
Uri: I'm curious. Do you find that that experience of having moved around? um early in life Sort of set you on the path of where you are and and and the incredible work you're doing with kindness. org Is that would you how much what I guess you can't put a percentage on it, but would you attribute something to that?
Jaclyn: Yes. Yeah, I would say 50 Yeah, I I I think um, I definitely credit the way my parents raised me to much of my belief and like how I'm wired for this. Um, but I think it's what they exposed me to in raising me and things like moving around taught me a lot of like skills around resilience or finding friendship and connection when you're the new person.
And, uh, I think it gave me a heart and desire for no one to ever not feel welcomed. Uh, so I do think a lot of the themes of this work is tied back to that. Love that question. Thank you.
Uri: For sure. For sure. I think it's interesting to kind of look and see, you know, those life experiences end up shaping, you know, where, where you go and where you are in your journey.
And some of them harden us, some of them soften us. And so there probably is something too. I don't know if there's a study to be had here on children who moved around less versus those who moved around more. And, you know, relative to the types of kindness that they exhibit. I don't know.
Jaclyn: We'll put it on our list.
It's a good one. So what, what would home be? Would you say, like, thinking of your childhood was is Florida home since you've been here the longest, or was there another place growing up that you really considered your home base?
Uri: So that's, that's a big debate amongst my friends because I moved, I moved in the middle of my eighth grade year.
Um, I won't say what year that was, but I moved in the middle of my eighth grade year, which was challenging. Um, and I'll just say to, I'll shout out to my parents. It's okay. I forgive you. We're, we're over it. Um, But, um, so I grew up in I say that I grew up in Massachusetts and I'm a fan of all of the Massachusetts sports teams.
We just celebrated the Celtics championship. We're very excited about that. My kids are all gigantic sports fans and celebrate celebrated the Celtics. Um, and so it's sort of hard to say where that is your formative sports years, you know, fan for fandom, et cetera. Certainly, I would say Massachusetts. Um, but I've been in Florida, you know, literally most of my life. So it's a little bit of, it's a little bit of both, I guess I would say.
Jaclyn: Okay. And so dinner table sounded like a theme where you saw kindness young. Do you have a core memory of your first act of kindness you experienced as Uri as a child?
Uri: Hmm. That's a great question. The first act of kindness that I can vividly remember. How young do we want to go?
Jaclyn: You go as young as you want. We're here for it. Yes.
Uri: I don't think I remember a whole lot before like seven or eight. Um, I certainly can remember, um, maybe third or fourth grade that, um, we had, we had moved to a new community. I was in third grade and the principal of our school, uh, his son was in my class and he happened to be friends with my father.
And I just vividly remember him. He tragically passed away just a year or two after we had moved to the community, but his welcoming me into the school and welcoming our whole family into the community and just making me very welcome and making sure it was a small school. There were only 19 kids in the whole grade.
Um, and so that could be very challenging if you're not welcomed in. If you're not, uh, you know, one of the crew. Mhm. And so he really went above and beyond to make sure that I was welcome, that I fit in, that I had friends, that socially, not just academically, but socially, that I was really looked after and taken care of.
Jaclyn: Wow. Do you remember his name?
Uri: Bennett Solomon. Dr. Bennett Solomon was a, was a great, great man, was the principal of the school, um, and his son Jordan and I are still very, very close friends to this day.
Jaclyn: Wow. Is the school still around?
Uri: The school is still around, yeah, up in Massachusetts, and I think doing quite well.
Um, And it really set, you know, a full embrace of, of understanding what a school can be, not just an educational, um, component, but also social and warmth and community and taking care of and looking after. And, and, um, that, that was really, that's probably the earliest one that I can remember.
Jaclyn: That's a really powerful one.
I think the, what I love about that so often it's usually connected to family or our first. is, is tied to something where it's very familiar. I think the power of something like that is the reminder of how much every act can make a difference, no matter who it's to and who it's from. The things that stick with us, we not, we'll never know the impact we're having.
Um, I think of it like, um, an apple seed. You'll never know how many apples will come from a seed, an apple seed that's planted. Um, but they're out there nourishing and making, you know, people happy. And, uh, I think that's, that's something I want to honor Mr. Solomon with that. You know, he might've been feeling this is my duty, but he went above and beyond to make a child feel welcome.
And now here all these years later, that's what you remember. So I really think that's powerful.
Uri: 100%. Um, and you know, I think it's the sort of thing that just gets passed on. I see it in my children, um, which, which are incredible. They're each, I have four children. They're each, uh, incredible people. They get most of it from my wife.
She's an incredible, incredibly kind person. And I see that they, you know, have taken some of those values and have passed it on in, in, in the way that they, um, act and the way that they're kind very differently. They're each different, totally different personalities, um, but exhibit that Uh, different and unique ways.
I'll share a quick story if it's okay. My youngest son was at an assembly. I think he was in second or third grade and they had, I don't know, probably a hundred, 200 students that were there and there was somebody coming in to sing some songs with the kids and he had a guitar and it happened to be somebody we knew a little bit who was coming in to sing to the school and had his guitar and he had recently, uh, broken his foot.
So his, his leg was in a cast. And he was standing there for a minute or two and as this is going on, you know, the kids are trying to get settled and it's, there's a lot of hullabaloo and everybody's kind of trying to figure out what's going on and just without telling anyone, without doing anything, without having to a Ask or without.
He just recognized. He just saw and went and found a chair that that this person could go and sit and be comfortable in the moment, you know, and not have to be standing there with a broken leg, broken foot and and be uncomfortable. He just he just saw it. And he just acted. And, and it's really those kinds of things that, that just warm my heart.
Jaclyn: That's an amazing story. And, uh, also think like how that child will tell that story one day, you know, or like the way that that will then get shared on because of how people remember it. There's even a lot of interesting research on people who witness things like that and the effect it has on them and their wellbeing and their desire to then go choose kindness.
That's incredible. Does he remember doing it? Your son?
Uri: He does. And what was incredible about that, that school as well is that they had a program dedicated every Friday. They would invite, they would give, um, a, a badge to kids for good behavior, right? So they would recognize good behavior and you'd get a nice little plaque.
Or, uh, a card and a badge and they could go and earn these badges and they could go on. They had a wall of fame at a hall of fame for children who exhibited, you know, good behavior in these different categories, maybe five or six different categories. And so, um, he was recognized at that assembly the following Friday for just You know, again, it's kindness.
It's for loving your neighbor as yourself and, and going out of his way in a very small, but, but super meaningful way that hopefully, yeah, other, other people witnessed and were able to then exhibit that kind of kindness, uh, within their daily routine as well.
Jaclyn: I love that. And how old are your kiddos today?
Uri: So now they're 20, 17, 15, and 13.
Jaclyn: Wow. Okay. So this, this was a, now a 13 year old.
Uri: That's my youngest. And they all, you know, each, each in their own ways have incredible hearts and incredible personalities that exhibit kindness in different ways. So my daughter, who's 15, I have three boys and a girl. Um, my daughter, who's 15, um, has started with, I love this idea.
They do in her school, an all girls school, and she has, uh, they have a birthday sash. And they bring this birthday sash to school on everybody's birthday. And they really make whoever's birthday it is feel like, you know, the mayor of the town. They feel like, like they're royalty. They really go above and beyond to like, really recognize, Hey, it's your birthday and, and we want you to feel special on that given day.
So she's, that's a, she's a big proponent. She'll go above and beyond too. So yeah, there's a sash, but then we need a hat too, and we need to accessorize and we need to make sure that we get slurpees or we get, you know, and really just make it a fun, special day for them. And then my two older boys are also just very loyal friends, really just take care of.
Their, their, their mentors, um, to their peers and to other students that are younger than them in school and at camp, um, they just really try to do things. They do it in a more private way, but really meaningfully and, and, and with big impact,
Jaclyn: it's incredible. You and your wife must be very proud.
Uri: We are very proud.
Jaclyn: When you think about being a parent to kids, I know this might feel controversial, but curious. How do you think about where kindness fits on, dare I say, ranking of what's important, how you raise your kids? Like, how do you think about what matters most? Cause I think we're often driven towards successful kids or grades or, you know, having them focus on that.
But as a parent of four older kids, what do you think?
Uri: So Every year I speak at an open house for one of our kids schools They they ask me and I and I accept to to speak on behalf of why I think it's important That prospective students take a look at the school And one of the things I I have three outcomes that I tell people that there should be a a path for them for careers They should be lifelong learners And the one that I think is sort of the, the Yiddish word, which, which would be the encompassment of kindness, which is like just be a mensch, right?
Mensch, the, the, the full Yiddish word is menschlichkeit. That's really kindness. That's what it is. Just be a mensch, right? And so those are skills that one can develop. Obviously, as, as kindness. org knows, those are skills that develop not just at the earliest stages, but certainly as our brains are developing in our teen years and in our young adult years.
And so the by product of what should come out of our schools are kids who have the ability to go down career paths that they choose. They should also be excited about being lifelong learners about the subjects that are important to them, that are interesting to them, but above all else, just being kind, be a mensch, be, be able to, um, be someone who can interact in society and, and be able to take care of those around them, see those areas where somebody's, um, in pain or in need.
And be able to, um, support and help as, as best as one can. So, you
know, it's, it's a core value that I think sits above everything else. It informs everything else that we do.
Jaclyn: Let's talk a little bit about career. Um, I, if, if we'll go from family over to business, tell us a little bit. So I guess where home was by this time, maybe you're in Florida.
When you graduated high school, you left Massachusetts in eighth grade to come here to Florida. Yeah. Okay. So tell us a little bit, graduate and then what, tell us about your, your path into business.
Uri: Good. So I, I graduated high school and spent my freshman year in Israel in a, in an incredible program with 52 other great guys who are still, we have a WhatsApp group that we're all still in touch with each other.
Wow. 50 of us, I think are in that group. There are two that don't have WhatsApp, so they're not in there, but we, but people still keep in touch with them. And so, you know, that's been a core value too, is sort of just. That kindness, right? Some people need help. They need, you know, they're going through something.
So we're all in touch with each other and are able to support where we can. So, did that and then I went, uh, I spent two years at Yeshiva University in New York playing, uh, I played basketball. I played on their basketball team in the Division III Maccabees. And, uh, enjoyed it, but, uh, decided it was time to come back to Florida and finished my studies at Florida International University.
And, uh, then got started. Um, I've always been a business development connector. I think connection, connecting people, um, has always been something that's super important to me. If I can, if I know somebody who can help you advance your career, um, help you in whatever it is that you're seeking, I really try to do as much as I can to help and connect people in that way.
And so I've always sort of been a business developer and, um, got the startup bug pretty early on. And went to work for a startup as employee number three. Um, building our sales division, really kind of figuring out how do we sell this product, this service. Um, and over the course of my time there, as one often does in a startup, I know this will be familiar to you, you have to wear many hats.
And so I did, and, uh, I love doing that. And so I, I set out to help other startups once I left that startup. And consulted with businesses for a couple of years until the CH group opportunity came along.
Jaclyn: So let's talk about that. What is CH group?
Uri: CH group is a conglomerate focused on bridging the gap between Western business and Islamic culture.
We focus on the GCC and MENA regions. And the OIC country, the Muslim majority countries. And what we aim to do is to bring business opportunities and partnerships from the U S and from Western, um, business opportunities into the region. So to build a bridge of opportunities in both directions, um, connecting the Islamic world with what we would call the Western world, North America, South America, Europe, predominantly.
And so we're now doing that in five different areas. We have a distribution division where we're taking products and services in eight different economic sectors, um, including food and beverage, finance, technology and insurance, cosmetics, fashion, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, travel and tourism and media and entertainment, and developing opportunities for distribution into those markets, into the GCC and MENA regions.
We have a partnership division where we again, we partner with Western businesses. We look for great operators who know how to operate their business. We partner with them to set up a local headquarters to set up manufacturing, whatever the opportunity may be again in all eight economic sectors in that in the GCC MENA region.
We have a financing division as well. That's financing. Um, all sorts of really cool and interesting, unique products and projects. We're excited about where that's going to go. We have a certification division. We've created the first global brand and standard for halal certification, halal lifestyle, um, certification, which just means wholesome, quality and ethical, much like kosher.
95 percent of the global Islamic population. And extends to all eight of those economic sectors as well. And then we have our nonprofit division, which is a number of exciting programs as you're aware of that. We're rolling out that we're just starting to get off of our plate. That will support the next generation of leaders that will support nutritional programs to help those that are impoverished or struggling with health issues and starvation, etcetera.
And that's what I do. So my job is. Grand Central Station to make sure that all of the trains that we have moving along, uh, are moving forward for each of those five different divisions of our group.
Jaclyn: So not at all busy. Sounds really light, really light.
Uri: Yes. My, my, my, I have, I have a lot of room left on my plate.
Jaclyn: Yeah, bet. I'm so happy you're here. So glad this made it to the plate.
Uri: This is, this is for sure part of it.
Jaclyn: I, um, okay, I'd love to unpack a few things. Um, and again, you know, whatever you're comfortable with here. Um, I think one of the things that I was struck by when I first met you and in this work, we can't ignore that there are tense times.
Um, and there's a lot of. Um, and it feel everything has, um, gotten quite complicated to say the least it's, it's obviously an understatement, um, since 10, seven, but I think what you're doing is operating at an intersection, um, that's trying to rise above that and unite in a way that. Is difficult. What has that looked like for you as someone who's Jewish and bridging these, you know, people across aisles, across different backgrounds, what does that look like for you as a person?
And then what does it look like within business?
Uri: Great question. So one of the things that's been eye opening for me and has really been super exciting is we've worked with a number of business. Obviously we're very tied into the GCC MENA region. And so we have business partners that have come over, um, where we're, let's say in the healthcare space.
Um, and they might not have ever met before. Too many, uh, of, of the Jewish faith, and that's okay. And we, we come in and we're doing business all day. We're, we're, we're looking at facilities, we're meeting with partners and suppliers and, and we work hard and, and that's great. And then at night we'll sit and have a meal together.
And what we'll find is that when we sit and have this meal together, there is so much more that is in common between our faiths, between our traditions, between our culture. Um, between the Islamic world and the Jewish world or the Western world and just sitting down and being able to have those conversations is super meaningful and interesting to find out that there's language that's in common when, when I'm, as I learn more Arabic, I start to understand more and hear some of the words and I say, Oh, you know, that, that word is similar to this word in English or in In Hebrew or in whatever language.
And then you start to understand the roots of those words and where there's commonality and where there's, um, interest that align. Um, and so the ability to do that and the foods are the same. We all like the same foods. We're breaking bread and you're enjoying this meal. And I'm Oh, you guys like that food.
We like this food. Great. Everybody is enjoying and the ability to do that with more people helps you understand better. Right. Helps you understand and provides better access. So now they understand where we're coming from. We understand where our business partners are coming from. And that building those bonds, building those bridges is super impactful for the next generation, for my kids, for your kids, for, for everybody, who's going to be living on this planet for the next 50, 60, 70, a hundred years and beyond.
The more we do that, and the more we provide access to be able to Collaborate through business. Through partnership through charity through all of the initiatives that we're working on. That's really become Super important to me and the ability to work with people who are excited about being able to build those bridges That's been incredible.
It's been an incredible experience for me.
Jaclyn: Thank you Have you um faced I don't know if skepticism is the right word or like, have you had any curiosity questions of friends that are in your community? And how do you explain it about the betterment, uh, for the world? You know, like what, what is your, I guess, take on your why with this?
Uri: My, my feeling is that our mission in the world, Is to connect is to build bridges is to better understand one another that's the only way to a lasting peace I don't I don't know how I could have peace with someone You know, halfway across the world. If I don't have an understanding of what's valuable to them of what their values are, and vice versa, I wouldn't expect it in the other direction either.
And I think even in the face of whatever is going on in the world at any given time, and even in the face of all of the people who want to bring People down or say that's impossible. We can never get there. I think that gives me even more fuel to the fire to say This is possible. This is likely we're gonna Your mission Jaclyn to bring more kindness to people It's not like I don't think anybody is fighting to say no we want to have less kindness in the world But there are people say how do you bring kindness to everybody?
That's, that's a real big challenge. Well, we like big challenges, so we like the opportunity to say, okay, let's say we can get 90 percent of the world to interact and to have these kinds of opportunities, 90 percent more. Right. I had a teacher once who a friend of mine got a 26 on his final and he's like, well, you know, 26 percent more than you did before you took the test.
And so while that's a small goal, what we'd really like to be able to do is continue to take those steps. And and one by one start to build these bridges start to have more access and inclusion And that's really what we're trying to do here as well with our certification is just to let people know that by providing access You make people feel welcome when a food item or a cosmetics item has a symbol that says this is acceptable to my community That lets people know that you're welcome that you're accepted that you're included And by including more people I think what we'll find is People tend to be kinder.
They tend to be nicer. They tend to want to do more business together. They tend to want to expand their horizons in that way. And so it's a big goal. There will be people who will hate on us, so to speak, but we were super, um, We're super driven to be able to bring this mission to the world of continuing to build bridges through business and through other Collaboration to make the world a more harmonious place.
Jaclyn: I love it it's obviously what you and I connected on when we first met and I've been so admirable around because It's I I have felt it's idealistic this work this mission But if you're not dreaming and working toward that The thing that seems impossible. Where does the change come from? No one will do it, right?
I mean, we have to start somewhere. What have you felt is the thing that most intimidates you or overwhelms you with such an audacious goal?
Uri: I do have those moments. I think, um, you know, anyone who's, who's an entrepreneur, anyone who's working on big, ambitious goals has those moments of, can we really do this?
Or a little bit of doubt that starts to creep in about your ability to, to get to that end game. And I think what I know is that every relationship that we've entered into on both sides of the pond has been met with the same kind of excitement about what's possible. And so what really fuels me is, is the ability to say, we might have, I don't know, 80 different initiatives that we're involved in right now.
And are all 80 initiatives going to close? I hope so, but I don't know that they will. Some may get canceled. Some may turn into something else. We can't predict the future. What we can do is we continue to develop those relationships and to continue to invest in the partnerships that we know are mission aligned.
You can be on our team. You cannot be on our team. The people that are on our team. We know we're we're in lockstep with they're excited. We're excited. And that's what you want to surround yourself with. Anyhow, right? The people who are going to support you who are going to tell you an honest answer, but they're going to support you and say, We can do this.
We can do this together. We can build this. We can we can grow this. This partnership is going to last this. You know, these opportunities are really solid. Um, and so, you know, that's sort of been my my focus and effort is to be able to say, If you're aligned, if you're with us, then let's grow together.
Let's continue to, to jump into this, um, in a meaningful way.
Jaclyn: What's your underlying ethos for yourself with this? Like, do you have a one liner kind of mission statement for Uri on how you operate and what you're working toward?
Uri: Ooh, I love that question. So I haven't workshopped it yet, but maybe we could do it right here.
Jaclyn: Let's do it. Let's do it. I'm here.
Uri: I think we like the, we like saying that we connect the CH group, right? Is building the bridge or connecting the bridge between Western business and Islamic culture. But we also like to say that we work people to people and place to place. All of our missions, all of our interactions are about making the world better for people in whatever place they may be.
So if we can if we can distribute food products into markets that make it better It's higher quality than what's currently there that we're helping people to people place to place if we can create programs that help people that educate people on kindness on peace on collaboration on business acumen if we can bring those things into places that don't currently have them You Then that's doing what we're that's that's that's aligned with our mission And so that I guess the question is that the or you do its tagline.
How are we how are we doing that? I guess connecting the world one person at a time
Jaclyn: That's good. Look, you just workshopped it all out. That's so good.
Uri: Yeah. I think we did that in under 30 seconds, right?
Jaclyn: That was amazing.
Uri: Connecting the world one person at a time.
Jaclyn: One person at a time. Love it. When you were saying people to people, place to place, I was, I had this thought because I know peace and purpose are other things.
So I love a good alliteration. So something about people to people, place to place for a more peaceful, purposeful world. Might be too many
Uri: That's next level right there. That was very well done. We're going to have to, can we, can we timestamp that so we can find that? Okay, good, good, good. That was great.
Jaclyn: And so, okay, now bringing it back to your kids. Tell us the dream for you. 20, 30, 40 years from now, 70 years. Your kids, your grandkids, one day, what is the most optimal outcome of a better world? What does that look like?
Uri: Love this question. So, you know, no pressure on the kids, but you got to have the grandkids, right?
So that'll, that'll start to, that pressure starts to come. Maybe not now, but we'll give them a couple of years. Right. But, but really a world that's become more connected. I think that's really what our, our aim is, is to say, how do we make the world safer, healthier, and more connected? Because those things are all aligned with each other.
If we can continue to innovate the way that we are, not just on the technology side, which, which obviously has had major ramifications, But in terms of healthcare innovations and in terms of better understanding around science and how our bodies work, how our brains work, how we develop, how we connect the more education we have around that and the more access people to have to that education, the better the planet becomes.
And so I think with a focus on a healthier planet, people being healthier, but that planet itself also being healthier. Um, and, and, and many of our initiatives are tied to sustainability goals and to finding, uh, alternatives to the current solutions that are cleaner, healthier, greener. So, so finding more options, uh, and continuing to make a healthier planet and a more connected planet will also, you know, make it more sustainable from the idea of people getting along, people doing business together, people recognizing the value of, uh, collegiality and collaboration and being able to be in a, in a world where.
There isn't the same kind of fear. There isn't the same kind of trepidation of traveling to different places of being able to acclimate within a different culture or in a different country, um, to be able to have those experiences, but to be able to do it in a free and healthy and safe way.
Jaclyn: I love that. Thank you for sharing.
Uri: What do you see what's something that's important to you that that may be for the next generation? um in all the work that you're doing would be a A simple goal that could be achieved Maybe 30, 40 years from now.
Jaclyn: Could you imagine a world if we saw every human as a human first, you know, that we're more alike than different and it's not to diminish our differences, but it's to allow our likeness, um, to connect us and not divide us.
So I see a world. Where we're more connected, but connected in a way, not just digitally connected as if, oh, I can go connect with a stranger, you know, in, uh, Southeast Asia, which can happen, um, thanks to different platforms that might exist, but where we're connected. For the greater good of people of our world of humanity.
I think it's very similar to what you're saying with me and this work. It always goes back to story and remembering every single person, no matter who they are, what they've done. They all, we all started as children. We all started with innocence and opportunity and goals and dreams and empathies often shown more than, um, words are spoken first, you know, our actions are what pave our way.
And, um, and then we're infiltrated by life and maybe our upbringing is difficult. And, uh, We go through adversity and all of a sudden nature and nurture start to go to war with each other. I just want us to get back to that grounding like we all are more alike than different and see a human as a human before whatever else you think they might be.
Uri: Totally. I think that's, I think that's great. That's an admirable goal. And I think You know, it's achievable. I think we can get to a place where people it's rocky I don't think anything happens much like an entrepreneur. Nothing happens in a linear fashion You're going to take two steps forward one step back societally speaking Um, but you know as we continue to march forward, that's something that You know, it should be it should happen in our lifetime
Jaclyn: Agree Um, I know that's what we're working towards.
So i'm excited to be in the journey with you I guess for me the other thing i'm curious about You So you're, um, really, it's ambitious what you're trying to achieve. When you look at how you're tying it together day to day, how are you choosing kindness for yourself? Because this feels, I think, really hard.
And, uh, mentally, emotionally, these things wear on you. They take you away from family. What is like, it look like for Uri right now in this?
Uri: It's a, it's a lesson I've had to develop in terms of being kind to myself, first of all, and finding the space and the grace to be able to, to be kind to those around me.
So, you know, time management is not something that comes naturally to me. I'm not the best at it, but I am improving. And so being able to have that, to be kind to myself, to say, I need the time to You know, to go to the gym. I need time to read. I need time to, um, play sports. I need time to, um, share with my family.
I need time to do that and being able to apportion that. And so I've put a couple of Resources and tools into place to be able to do that and it's it is super important. I think some people naturally Um are more kind to themselves that comes more naturally to some and and for others it's something they have to continue to develop and so, um, You know kindness has to exhibit itself in everything that we do.
And so Where I see kindness as being something Um, I'll say on the professional level. So we work with a lot of entrepreneurs. We work with a lot of startups, um, that are growing and scaling their businesses. And some are, you know, seasoned entrepreneurs who are, um, in the mid middle and later stages of life, and others are younger.
And I think with the younger generation, you know, having that grace to be able to say, the kindness to say, we know you're growing into your role, right? And giving people the space to be able to do that, to, to fill the shoes that they're in, but giving them the space to do that and giving them, you know, and be able to have a course corrections or be able to say, you know, let's be as honest and as direct as we can without stepping on any toes or hurting any, anybody's feelings, but there's a kindness in that too, and saying, You know, this conversation is not going the way it should.
Let's, let's veer it back this way. Or, you know, what we're doing here is not exactly how we want this to be. There's a kindness in that too, in resetting boundaries and in, and in establishing, um, the right kind of expectations. Um, and so that's something I'm trying to implement a little bit more for myself, um, and certainly within my relationships as well.
Jaclyn: It's something you got to commit to. Um, I think offering grace is such a powerful thing that it's often, I think falls in the camp of kindness where it can be seen as like a soft thing. But to me, it's one of the most essential things that we give that, you know, benefit of the doubt or grace or willingness, even to call people out can be kind, but letting them know you see them and, um, you're still in it with them. So I love, I love all those things. Thank you.
Uri: Yeah, I think it's, it's super important to be able to exhibit that where we can. And I think, you know, I see it with my own kids. When you, when you exhibit that kind of grace to allow them, okay, you didn't do your homework on time, but now you have another opportunity to do it.
So let's let's make sure that we do that There's a kindness in that too and being able to say we we can regroup. Okay, we didn't get it right the first time Let's try it again. Let's have some patience here and be able to to do it the right way this the second time around
Jaclyn: Well, we are going to move into The next little bit of what we do in this podcast. Um, but before we do are there any other thoughts? Sentiments things that you want to speak to or share that you didn't get to hit on yet
Uri: No, I don't think so. I think I mean we could you and I could talk about kindness for Hours days weeks upon end and and I'm super excited to see the research that's coming out and all of the incredible different ways that you're Understanding and learning more about how kindness is implemented, how it's innate, what, you know, how, how to better understand it, how to teach it, how to get more people, um, to, to find ways to be kind.
In their in their day to day, um, I was going to touch upon, you know, the idea because you had mentioned it So kindness is a practice, right? and and for some people that might be a An ambiguous type of word or in the same way that yoga is a practice That's, that's difficult for people. It's not, you know, but it's, it's really true.
It's a practice. If you continue to develop the muscle, you'll continue to get stronger. And so being able to give people the availability of learning more about how to be kind, ways to be kind, how we develop that muscle, how we get stronger, right? It's easy to see when you go to the gym and you lose weight or you put on muscle.
That's easy to see, but developing that kindness and making it a practice of something that you do every day, it's super impactful. Um, and it's something I think that we strive for.
Jaclyn: Yes. The practice of it. Um, it is a choice, not something I think is always interesting. To go back to, there's the idea of being kind innately.
We have it within us, but at the end of the day, it's up to us if we're choosing it or not. We're, we're each having the agency of how we're showing up and what we're doing to help or to not help, to acknowledge or affirm or ignore, and, uh, It's choice in everything, you know, it's community, it's business, um, strangers, and how we see someone who's different than us and what, you know, choice we make and how we treat them as a result. And that's the real power in it for me. You have to practice choosing it.
Uri: Yeah, 100%. And I think the more you do it, the more you feel good, right? Like even learning that, even learning what's the physiological, um, action that's taking place. What happens to your body as you choose kindness, as you act kindly, you know, what, what happens in your brain, what's going on. It's, it's fascinating to me.
Jaclyn: Yeah. Yeah. Anxiety is going down. Stress is going down. Dopamine hits are happening. It's like, yeah, it's, it's incredible. It's so potent.
Uri: Yeah, for sure. And the same way that you can, one can spiral down, right? And you know, it's, it's a cloudy day and now I'm depressed and now I'm not feeling good.
And now I don't want to do work. And now all of these things and, and that spiral can happen. I think you can spiral upward too, right? In the same way where you say, Oh, now, now I did something nice for somebody. And, you know, I know my day. If I don't get to the gym in the morning, then, then, uh, it's just, it's, It's not good, right?
I need to get that and I know that I feel better throughout the day I know if I make choices to eat healthier food that my energy level is better and that i'm able to Be more productive etc. And I think it's very much the same with kindness.
Jaclyn: Yeah, love it Okay. Well, on that note, we're going to do, we call it like a round robin. So I'm just going to throw questions out and then you just give me your, your, your kind of quick response. So
Uri: Fast and furious. Here, here we go.
Jaclyn: Let's we're, we're doing it. Define kindness in one word.
Uri: Sensitivity.
Jaclyn: Again, no one has said that before. That is beautiful. Sensitivity. Okay.
Uri: I only get the one word or I can expound upon that?
Jaclyn: Oh yeah. Okay. Yeah, absolutely.
Uri: I know it's the rapid round, but sensitivity is just having, you know, something within your core, within your soul. that sees something and is sensitive to that. I, I see that this person needs help. I need, I see that this person is in need or struggling or, um, I can provide them something more than what, uh, than what they have or, or they need help, you know, whatever it may be.
It doesn't have to be something. That's a negative. It can be something that they're seeking something. I'm looking for whatever. And that can be lending a book. It can be making a connection, introduction, introducing to someone. Um, but having that sensitivity to what's around you, that, that would be the word I would go with.
What's your word? You must have a go to word at this point.
Jaclyn: Choice is often it. What is kindness in a word? It's a choice. Um, I will say this year with just, it feels so much I know every year, every grandparent or parent would be like, no, really, we've lived through the hardest time, but I feel like we're just in a really difficult time globally.
And, um, uh, so I have also been thinking about it's courageous. Like right now it feels like people aren't wanting to choose kindness. They're wanting, To be divisive and divided and like lean into all the negativity, the negativity. And I just think right now to show up and choose kindness, it's, it's being courageous.
It's, um, standing up for what's right and what's needed. So that's been another word I've been leaning into right now.
Uri: I, I like it. I like it. Well, you got two. That's good. It's your podcast. You can have a second one.
Jaclyn: You want a second one? I should be fair here.
Uri: Sure. I'll go. It's along the same lines, but I would say like, Observant, right? Like seeing what's around you and reacting
Jaclyn: Sensitivity and observant. Truly. I'm telling you, or two brand new words never have had those. So I love it. Um, if you could get everyone around the world to do one kind act, what would it be?
Uri: One kind act, everyone, everyone to do one kind act. You know, I think the simplest, easiest, most cost effective would just be a smile.
I think just smiling at your neighbor, to your neighbor, does so much to, it can brighten the day. It can say, Hey, I'm here with you. You're included. You're part of the team. You're in my community. I think that's the, that's like the base level, right? If we all just smiled more, Maybe the world would be a kinder place.
And if you start your day with a smile in whatever interaction at the coffee store, at the dry cleaner, dropping off the kids at carpool, whatever it may be. I think it's very easy to just get into the tunnel vision of I got my day and I got to take care of these tasks, et cetera. So that's my, I didn't do a quick, quick answer there, but let's do that.
Jaclyn: smile. Okay. Who would you want to thank for teaching you kindness?
Uri: I would start with my wife. She, she teaches kindness to me and everyone around her in everything that she does. She is a, a stressful job of her own and always makes time for the family, for her friends, for those that are in need. Um, that's, that's where I would start.
Jaclyn: Beautiful. What's her name?
Uri: Rachel.
Jaclyn: Rachel. Well, thank you, Rachel, for your kindness. Um, what book are you reading or listening to on Audible?
Uri: I'm just in the middle of a book right now called Your Best Year Yet by Michael Hyatt. He's an executive coach trainer. Um, and it was recommended to me. I'm enjoying it.
It's good. It's helping me set some goals for this year and reframe and reshape some of the Um, the obstacles I'd like to overcome and some of the challenges we want to, um, get over. Um, so I'm enjoying that one. One of my other favorite ones that I always like to mention is called But What If We're Wrong by Chuck Klosterman.
Um, and that really kind of, the concept that he explores there is this idea of casual certitude. That in our generation, we're so certain about so many different things that must be absolute truths. Without giving the space and the grace again to say, maybe we're not so right about that, or maybe we should revisit that every so often to better understand.
That concept or or how we view that particular item Those are two in my top 10 right now.
Jaclyn: Okay, definitely going to check that out. Yeah, I learned some I did like a An MBA program experience not I didn't go through an MBA But like an experience where I remember the module was we're all irrational and it was this idea of what if?
You're the one who's wrong like like everyone thinks whatever my belief is like there's going to be people who think i'm the wrong one So it's getting you to realize like what if you're the irrational one and the other side is right And it always stuck with me on How much you can put someone in a box just because they're wrong Because they think differently. So what if yeah, so maybe it's the same idea, but that really resonates
Uri: Yeah, so this this also looks through like sort of historical stuff of things that we thought were so true 300 years ago That obviously have been disproven or we understand Those stories a little bit differently or, or better, you know, it's a good reminder also to just kind of not be so quick to judge on things, to be able to take a step back and say, I might be the one that's wrong here.
I might be the one that's overreacting. Um, you know, there's a possibility. It might be small, but I could be the one who's in the wrong here.
Jaclyn: Yeah. Okay. If kindness were a song, what song would it be?
Uri: There's a song called awake my soul by Mumford and sons. One of my favorite bands. And it's great. And, and the idea is that, maybe I'm misconstruing the lyrics, but the idea is that if you can provide that for someone to awake their soul.
What's kinder than that to help people find their mission their purpose their their place in this world to feel accepted to To say okay. I was I was in slumber mode, right? We all go through this where we're just drudging through our day It's the it's the regular mundane rote kind of thing But there you know within a second that you can be now awakened that you can be You know that the veil is lifted and now you're in a place where you can say, you know I get it.
I understand why we're here like that maybe is the ultimate kindness is to show people What's possible and what could be their their purpose of their mission?
Jaclyn: Love it. Awake my soul. Okay Okay, so we end with action we end with choosing kindness um, and you can think about Uh someone you might have already gotten the prompts on who you want to thank for their kindness express gratitude Um, let them know what they mean to you So we'd love to know who it is.
You can call them now and tell them or send them a message or just tell us who it is and make the intention that you will follow through and show them why they matter to you or what they mean to you. So who's coming to you?
Uri: So I'm going to send a text to my partners, Said and Sol, who have given me an incredible opportunity to find that purpose and and to be the bridge.
In the role that I fulfill for CH group and Saul and Sayid met many years ago and then brought me into the opportunity and so it's an opportunity for me to pay that back to them is to is to just thank them and say, thank you for putting this in front of me. This is not something I would have thought would be possible.
I've developed skills. I've had doors opened. I've made incredible relationships. I've met incredible, interesting, exciting, vibrant people and communities through their actions and their efforts. So, I would like to say to them, thank you for opening this door, for opening these possibilities and this opportunity and for allowing me to come on this incredible ride.
Jaclyn: Thank you so much for joining us on this week's episode of the why kindness podcast. To learn more about everything you heard today from our wonderful guests, definitely check out our show notes. We hope you're leaving this episode inspired and reminded that every kind act truly does make a difference. We'd love to hear how you're choosing kindness in your day to day.
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