Maxwell Rotbart, 32, must have great organizational skills. A former teacher, Rotbart does research and writing for historians. He’s the education director at the Golda Meir House Museum, and is also involved with the Tikvah Fund, a philanthropic organization and think tank. By the way, Rotbart is the co-host of “Monday Morning Radio,” with his father, Dean Rotbart, which spawned the book All You Can Eat Business Wisdom. What a multitasker. Rotbart is an alum of DJDS and DAT, where he taught as a student teacher in 2009 before becoming full-time, 2014-2023.
Tell us about your podcast.
My father started it in 2012, and I joined him last year. According to some podcast rankings, it’s in the top 5% of all podcasts worldwide. The book is based on interviews that I did with a variety of entrepreneurs and small business owners who have appeared on the podcast.
Having taught for many years and then being involved with this business podcast, I came to two important realizations. Number one, is that there is a lot in classroom teaching that is applicable to the business world. Two, what makes for a good teacher is the same thing that makes for a good employer.
This is just a side hustle?
My full-time job is research and writing for different historians. My background is in history and I’m currently working on a master’s in history at the University of Nebraska. I work with historians and writers who are interested in publishing books.
Please explain the Tikvah Fund.
They do a lot of pro-Israel advocacy and they have an education program. They do extracurricular Jewish history courses for students who are passionate about Jewish history. I’m one of their teachers.
How enjoyable was it to teach at a school you attended?
It was a wonderful position, and very fulfilling. I really loved teaching at DAT. The staff, the administration, especially the students, were absolutely wonderful. After working there for 14 years, I felt it was time for new experiences, and I’ve always been passionate about expanding my classroom and looking for opportunities to communicate and to teach in other ways. I’m still very much in touch with the people at the school and am very supportive of the school’s mission.
How does one become a historian?
I loved history, going back to childhood, to my days at Herzl (now DJDS), in terms of recognizing our past, our heritage, understanding where we came from, and seeking guidance from the people who came before us. No matter what topic I’m researching, I really am able to uncover new lessons and new insights that I applied to my life.
Is there a historical figure you have been researching who has been really impactful to you?
As the education director of the Golda Meir House Museum, I’ve been really delving into her past and her legacy. A lot of what she says really speaks to our present political moment in terms of where Israel is and how Israel interacts with the world. She is an important historical figure, both in Jewish history and for where we are today.
If she could speak from the grave, what would she be telling us today?
Golda stood for peace. Peace was an incredibly important part of her. At the same time, she understood that the Jewish people must have the ability to defend themselves. She made it clear to the rest of the world that they will not cower in the face of threats, especially after the Holocaust. She really stood for Jewish defense, and that’s an important message.
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