Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

Our salvation in the Purim story began with Esther instructing Mordechai to gather all the Jews together in prayer and in fasting. She realized that when we are gathered together, our merits abound. Tomorrow is a fast day, named for Esther, and Jews around the world will gather in prayer and repentance, as is befitting a fast day. Across the world, at 5pm Israel time, Jews have been asked to pause from any activity to say Tehillim in unison. That is 11am our time, and we will say Tehillim chapters

20,83,102,120,121,130,140 and142. We will also recite Tehillim together between Mincha and Maariv tomorrow afternoon. Mincha is called for 6:50pm.

 134 hostages still remain. We hope and pray for the return of all of them, and for the safety of our brave soldiers. May we have the wisdom, courage and fortitude of Esther and Mordechai to deal with the many present-day Haman’s in the world.

Tonight at 7:00pm there will be a community meeting at the Bloomingdale Library (across from the 24th Precinct on West 100th Street off Amsterdam) about the recent anti-Israel graffiti and other hateful incidents. 

Stay well and safe.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org