Nearly a decade ago, we introduced Ami readers to Ephraim Arnstein, whose volunteer work at Oorah and passion for organization and problem-solving had grown into Bitbean, a software company serving both the frum world and major national clients. At the time, our conversation focused on his unconventional path into technology, his commitment to Torah values in business, and his vision for using software to help organizations operate more efficiently.
Nine years later, the world—and Bitbean—look very different. Technology has transformed the industry at a breathtaking pace, forcing businesses in every sector to rethink their operating methods. The rise of remote global workers has reshaped the way companies hire, build teams and approach talent.
We caught up with Ephraim to discuss how he and Bitbean have evolved in this rapidly changing business landscape, and how they are navigating the opportunities and challenges of today’s technology-driven world.
Ephraim Arnstein never imagined that his future would be in the technology world. He had not studied computer science, earned a technology degree or set out to build a software company. His path began with a desire to help people connect to Torah.
Growing up in Monsey, Ephraim learned in Ohel Torah, Peekskill, Mir Yerushalayim and BMG. During his years in kollel, Rabbi Yehuda Jacobs encouraged him to become involved in kiruv, explaining that someone searching for a deeper connection to Yiddishkeit could greatly benefit from his involvement.
That advice would change the course of his life.
Ephraim became deeply involved with Oorah and TorahMates, organizations that were rapidly expanding and reaching thousands of people. While his initial focus was helping people grow spiritually, he soon found himself drawn to a different challenge: solving the organizational problems that came with growth.
TorahMates had accumulated tremendous amounts of information, but managing that information effectively had become increasingly complicated. Ephraim began looking for ways to create better systems and improve efficiency.
At the time, he was not a programmer and had no formal technology background. But he had a natural ability to understand how organizations worked and how technology could help them function more effectively.
“I wasn’t really a technologist,” he explains. “I was an organizer who had a feel for technology.”
What began as volunteer work gradually revealed a unique talent. Ephraim discovered that he enjoyed creating systems and improving processes almost as much as the kiruv work itself. Before long, other organizations began approaching him for help.
Eventually, Ephraim began working part time for the software company Admire while continuing his volunteer projects. Around that time, Ira Zlotowitz learned about the systems he had developed through TorahMates and asked him to help build Klal Gavoah through Eastern Union. Soon afterward, Agudath Israel brought him in to develop technology for its Masmidei HaSiyum program.
Each project required much more than writing software. Ephraim needed to understand how each organization operated, identify inefficiencies and then design systems that would allow people to work smarter.
He began recognizing that there was a growing need for his specific expertise—the ability to bridge the gap between an organization’s goals and the technology needed to achieve them.
“I decided I wasn’t going to volunteer forever,” he says. “I started hiring people and taking on clients, and before long I had a company. I don’t think I ever consciously chose a career in technology. I simply kept following the opportunities Hashem put in front of me.”
The company that emerged from those early projects became Bitbean, a software firm that today works with businesses, nonprofits and organizations across the country.
One of Bitbean’s first major projects was Loan Tracker for Eastern Union, a CRM system designed for the real estate industry. Over the years, that platform evolved into a sophisticated system used throughout the field.
One of Bitbean’s longest-standing relationships has been with Chabad on Campus, for whom the company develops technology for learning programs, internal portals and other systems used around the world.
Like many software companies in its early years, Bitbean initially relied heavily on overseas development. It was cost-effective and seemed like the natural way to scale quickly.
Eventually, however, Ephraim realized that the model came with a hidden cost. His strongest employees were spending much of their time reviewing and correcting weaker work instead of focusing on innovation and creating value.
In response, Bitbean moved toward building an in-house team of talented American developers—a change that dramatically improved both the quality of the work and the company’s ability to serve clients.