Winter Mode Activated
What you resist persists.
Welcome back to YKC. Winter mode is here, and its pure grind season. Less noise, more execution. Let’s get into it.
My brother Ari Frenkel just published a meaningful op-ed in The Algemeiner: “I Came to Israel for Clarity and Left with More Questions.” It’s a long-form, deeply personal reflection on his time in Israel with the Birthright Israel Onward Storytellers Program, moving from the Kotel and Temple Mount to the Oct. 7 sites at Nova and Kibbutz Nir Oz. It’s not politics. It’s grief, identity, and the way Israel doesn’t always give you answers… but forces better questions. Read it here.
LinkedIn ghostwriting: Most people treat LinkedIn like a posting platform. The best founders + investors treat it as their #1 distribution channel. If you want to win in 2026, you build that distribution now. I’m opening up a few 20-minute LinkedIn Distribution Diagnosis calls this week. Reply “Call” and I’ll send times.
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
-Carl Jung
Mental Health & Shadow Work Journal: Empower - Guided Prompts for Reducing Anxiety, Building Mindfulness, and Emotional Healing – A Tool for Self-Awareness and Personal Transformation: One of the reasons I’ve been thinking about this idea of the shadow self is because there is a popular trend in our culture today that cruelty is not just OK, but cool. And this is not just about what a few YouTubers sing at a nightclub, but in general, the lack of empathy, dehumanization, and what feels like an underlying psychopathy of cruelty. We all have a shadow side, and whatever reason it is running rampant today. If there is not more cruelty in the world today than in the past, due to social media, it definitely doesn’t feel like it.
Maybe this is the period similar to that before a great war, but ultimately, we can only start with ourselves. I do get a bit skeptical when buzzwords such as “healed”, “trauma”, and the like start getting thrown around, as it reminds me of the psycho pathologizing of every action to fit into this narrative of therapy culture. With that, there is a lot of value when we look inside, especially at parts of ourselves we don’t want to see. I feel that Shadow Work is not as eventful as people make it out to be because as a whole, we are more self-aware as a culture. If not, post something provocative online, and read the comments, there is always some truth to them. You may learn something about yourself you don’t like. Personally, I journal in the mornings and use a daily prompt to do Shadow Work, so it’s something anyone can do. And this is not about staring into the abyss, and seeing some side of you that is monstrous. We all make mistakes, and are a combination of some bad experiences and traumas we could at least try and understand, in order to positively impact our current behavior.
So, this year, be easy with yourself. And while I do think self-awareness is overrated (you’ll probably be happier if you were delusional), if you are growth minded, it is worth going down this path. If anything, in seeking wisdom inside of yourself, you’ll have a better understanding of the crazy world we’re living in.
Virtual Co-Founder Matching Session: Finding the Right Partner Starts with a Clear Conversation. Join a curated virtual session designed to connect founders and technical professionals who are looking for the right partners to build meaningful ventures together. Jan 28, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (EST). Tel Aviv. Register here.
Indian Shabbat Dinner with Indian Israeli Influencer Revital Moses: Indian Israeli Revital Moses is a recent immigrant to Israel who makes a splash sharing her new life online with nearly 100,000 followers where she creates content showing fun Indian dance and cultural in Israel. Moses’ family has been in India for 2,000 years! She’ll tell the wild story of how her ancestors got there and why her family made the bold move of leaving and making aliyah to Israel. Moses’ will discuss how India is one of few countries in the world where Jews were never persecuted and will share a view into the similarities you can find in both societies. Jan 30 from 5:15pm to 10pm IDT. Ben Yehuda St 86. Register here.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Tues Feb 10: Tel Aviv International Salon is the largest speakers forum in Israel. Their nonprofit was established in 2009 to provide a thought provoking nonpartisan platform for Tel Aviv’s young adult community. The Salon curates a unique space to debate and discuss global politics, history, economics, social and cultural issues with a diverse range of engaging decision makers and influencers. They are honest brokers working hard to highlight the leading voices leading Israel and the world. Feb 10 at 7pm. Cappella, 28 HaArba’a St, Hagag South Tower, 14th Floor, TLV. Register here.
Valentine Jubilee at Somewhere Nowhere - Thursday 2/19: Fall in love with the night at the 1st Annual Jewish Valentine’s Day Fest, taking place high above the city at the stunning Somewhere Nowhere Rooftop Club. Thursday, Feb 19 at 10 pm EST. Somewhere Nowhere NYC - Lounge, Nightclub & Rooftop Pool. New York, NY. Tickets here.
NELLYSLIST PRESENTS QUEEN ESTHER MASQUERAVE: Annual Purim Costume Mega Party. Top DJs – Magic – Live Entertainment. The Queen requests your attendance in Mask, Costume & Royal Fashion … Celebrate under the stars with the best crowd at the city’s BIGGEST Purim Costume Party! 10PM til 3:30AM. SATURDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 28 ASTRA ROOFTOP – WYNWOOD. Tickets here.
PURIM MASQUERADE LA - WEST HOLLYWOOD: A Moroccan Oasis awaits. Mid East Sounds, Magic, and 100s in Costume. NELLYSLIST SOCIAL CLUB LOS ANGELES. 3rd Annual Purim Costume Mega Event. MOROCCAN MASQUERADE. VIP Sponsored Cocktials 9pm-10pm. Top DJs – Magic – Live Mid East Entertainment – Bazaar Market – Sweet Bites – Celebrate with 500+ young professionals at the city’s Dress in Mask, Costume, Moroccan Royal Fashion. 9PM til 2AM. SATURDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 28. SKYBAR – Mondrian Hotel – West Hollywood, LA. Tickets here.
Israel Tech Week 2026: Israel Tech Week 2026 is opening its Startup Showcases across AI, Cyber, FinTech, DefenseTech, HealthTech, Climate, PropTech, and Travel & Hospitality. Pitch in front of investors, meet enterprise partners, and build real momentum in the U.S. market. Founders: this is your stage. April 27–30, 2026 | Miami. Apply here.