At the end of June 2022, I received a call from two young men, Chaim Lefkowitz and Joel Rosenberg. They asked for my help in putting together a real estate event… on a boat. Their idea was simple. They felt there was no central event for the frum crowd focused solely on helping people network and learn the real estate industry.
They had created a real estate chat focused on Yidden helping each other, and they wanted to take this concept of people helping others into real life. They envisioned an event where people could network with the sole goal of helping one another grow, in business and in life.
They called the first event Re-Boat, as it was planned to take place on a large commercial boat. We spent hours on the phone planning the event, the speakers and the participants, and it turned out to be a smashing success. There was great networking, and I was honored to host a panel with leading real estate experts.
Since that time, the “Re” has taken off. They hosted a Re-Beach event at a private location, followed by what has become their main focus: the annual Re-Deal events. These events, hosted in high-end conference centers, have become a go-to for anyone in the real estate industry, from brokers to developers and everyone in between. It is seen not just as a place to network and learn from experts, but as a space where real business is initiated. Business friendships form and business follows.
As part of the Re-Deal experience, Chaim and Joel work to provide expert panels that give the audience real-life examples and lessons in real estate growth.
Chaim is the president of BNL Appraisal, a nationwide appraisal management company that has handled tens of thousands of appraisals and worked with hundreds of banks. He also owns Arsdale Enviro, an environmental firm providing Phase I–II and property condition reports nationwide. Joel is a seasoned investor and developer; he dedicates his time alongside Chaim to build Re-Deal into something meaningful for the community.
The 2025 Re-Deal event took place recently and was their biggest event yet. Chaim and Joel brought on the famed POWWOW team to handle logistics, and the event ran smoothly. Though there were many panels, the highlight was the discussion between Mr. Ralph Herzka and Mr. Rubin (Ruby) Schron.
Mr. Herzka and his company, Meridian, have been supporters and sponsors of the Re-Deal events since their inception. It was Mr. Herzka who helped bring Mr. Schron to the event, a truly rare experience.
One of the most well-respected businessmen and philanthropists in the Jewish world, Mr. Schron shies away from the spotlight. He rarely speaks in public, and as someone who follows the directives of his rebbeim in every step of his life, he simply avoids publicity.
Mr. Schron spoke not only about business advice and the market, but more importantly, about how a frum Yid should conduct himself in business. He also revealed the details behind the story of the “found money.”
This is the full conversation brought exclusively to our readers. It is a rare opportunity to hear from two respected businessmen who are more focused on using their money to help others.
Let’s learn and grow from this.
Enjoy,
—Nesanel
Mr. Ralph Herzka: First I want to thank the event coordinators and sponsors of the Re-Deal. I must tell you, aside from arranging a great event, your approach of being out there in a positive way is something that deserves a real round of applause. I want to thank my colleagues at Meridian for being here and for everyone in attendance.
This is a very special and meaningful discussion for me. Mr. Rubin Schron is not just an important client—he’s a very special mentor in many ways.
When you look back over a long period of time and someone asks you to point out the most significant part of a relationship, you’d probably think it’s the big deals—the hundreds of millions or even billions we’ve done together. But in truth, it’s something even more meaningful.
Beyond my day job at Meridian, the Mir Yeshiva is something I’ve devoted a tremendous amount of time to. When I got a call from gedolim asking me to step up to the plate, the first call I made was to Mr. Schron. I said, “I’ve been asked to do this—what do I do?” He told me, “You do it, and I will stand behind you.” And for the past 14 years, he’s stood behind me in the strongest way.
We all know this isn’t something Mr. Schron usually does. He’s probably a little uncomfortable sitting up here. But I asked him to do this—for the community, for the olam—to hear about how he built his business, his life, his chesed, his tzedakah.
It’s truly a kavod to sit here and host you, to ask you questions, and to hear your advice—especially for the younger generation.
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