199: Eduard Shyfrin: The journey from Soviet steelworks to faith, purpose and Jewish identity

199: Eduard Shyfrin: The journey from Soviet steelworks to faith, purpose and Jewish identity

From Jonny Gould's Jewish State by Jonny Gould

March 25, 2026 · 52 min

About this episode

Eduard Shyfrin shares his journey from Soviet Ukraine to becoming a successful entrepreneur and profound Jewish thinker.

Help Jonny continues to make his podcasts by ⁠supporting him here⁠. Born to a family who lived in a one-bedroom basement apartment in Soviet Ukraine, denied opportunity because he was Jewish, and starting out at the bottom of a steel mill, Eduard Shyfrin went on to build a vast business empire — but that’s only part of his story. In this episode, he takes us from Soviet hardship and discrimination to music, memory, reinvention and Jewish identity, revealing how a boy shaped by love, discipline and adversity became a profound Jewish thinker and entrepreneur. He's also a musician and a determined smoker! Don't miss this out-of-the-box conversation on kabbalah, data and philosophy with Eduard Shifryn. Help Jonny continues to make his podcasts by supporting him here. Jonny Gould's Jewish State is supported by Dangoor Education and UK Toremet, promoting philanthropy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Jonny Gould

Guest: Eduard Shyfrin

Topics covered

  • Jewish identity
  • Soviet hardship
  • entrepreneurship
  • music
  • kabbalah
  • philosophy

Keywords

  • Soviet Ukraine
  • Jewish identity
  • entrepreneur
  • kabbalah
  • music
  • philosophy
  • discrimination
  • business empire

Sponsors

Dangoor Education, UK Toremet

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