Rabbi's Blog

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Dear OZ family,

I was sent a picture of Ohab Zedek in 1927 (below) from a NYC digital street kiosk. Netanya has similar kiosks and I took a picture (below). It refers to this city as Israel’s Riviera. The Riviera is hot this week. There were rolling blackouts all over Netanya this past week. We had one in our neighborhood this past Shabbos and Alisa and I were just caught up in one at the...Read more...

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Dear OZ family,

Greetings from Netanya,

Most of the children from Beit Elazraki have been settled someplace for the rest of the summer. That means that they have a place at a relative or a friend, or parents who are unable to care for their child make the effort to do so for a few weeks before the new school year begins.

There are about 30 kids though, who have no place...Read more...

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Greetings from Netanya,

This week’s Torah reading contains two of our most common daily Mitzvot, to pray and to bless God after eating. The essence of prayer is to recognize God’s majesty and to acknowledge God as the source of the fulfillment of all our needs.

Benching after food is an expression of gratitude for what we just ate, as well as for everything we have. God certainly...Read more...

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Dear OZ family,

Greetings from Ben Gurion airport. Our trip to Israel began with a 5 hour delay and we left at the ungodly hour of 4:30 am. As I showed my boarding pass at the gate, I was flagged and asked to wait on the side as others were being boarded. Alisa joined me and we felt like unruly students sent to the principal’s office as everyone was...Read more...

FROM THE REBBETZIN'S DESK

Dear OZ Family,

    By now many of you may have received an email from Rabin Medical Center asking you to participate in the NYC 5K Schlep 2023.  This is a walk that the Rabbi and I have been participating in for over a decade.  Two years ago, however, this event took on special significance to me because I had just finished treatment for...Read more...

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Dear OZ family,

A few words about the # 98. That number comes up in Jewish sources in exactly opposite contexts, in blessings and curses. There are altogether, 98 curses in the Tochecha of Parshat Ki Tavo (Devarim 28), and they are all offset in the first week of marriage  in...Read more...

FROM THE RABBI'S DESK

Dear OZ family,

Today. The 10th of Tammuz, is the first yahrzeit of Rene Slotkin, who was a fixture at Ohab Zedek for over 50 years. Rene had a significant impact on anyone he met. His life was suffused with Yirat Shamayim, and Ahavat Hashem, to the point of profound...Read more...

FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ALLEN SCHWARTZ

Dear OZ family,

In close to 40 years on the West Side I have experienced many different reasons to rally volunteers to help neighbors in need. I remember Hurricane Gloria on Sept. 27th 1985 (I didn’t have to look up that date, it was the day Chani was born). I...Read more...

FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ALLEN SCHWARTZ

CLICK HERE FOR THE OZ ANNUAL DINNER

Dear OZ family,

When David was a step away from death at the hands of the jealous King Saul, he fled to Nayot to hide with the prophet, Samuel. Chazal say that at that time, the two prepared all the plans for the Temple that would be soon be built. Even at a time of an extreme threat to his life David...Read more...

FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ALLEN SCHWARTZ

CLICK HERE FOR THE OZ ANNUAL DINNER

Dear OZ family,

I have written recently about the profound Kiddush Hashem of the Dee family in Efrat. 5 lives were saved in Israel from organ donations, in the immediate aftermath of Lucy Dee’s murder, and Rabbi Leo...Read more...

FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ALLEN SCHWARTZ

CLICK HERE FOR THE OZ ANNUAL DINNER

Dear OZ family,

Tomorrow is one of the saddest days on the Jewish calendar in Israel. Yom Hazikaron is the day that the country mourns the loss of its brave soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice to help Israel gain and keep its independence. It is amazing how quickly...Read more...

FROM THE DESK OF RABBI ALLEN SCHWARTZ

Dear OZ family,

In the immediate aftermath of Yetziat Mitzrayim, we were told to have ready answers for the questions children would ask about our experiences. Millennia of such experiences has taught us that the best way to impart such memories is through the...Read more...

Shalom friends,

This coming Friday we will commence our additional early Mincha/Maariv Minyan, known as 'Plag HaMincha.' This Friday the early Minyan will be at 6:00pm, and the Zman minyan at 7:25pm. You can check times at www.OZNY.org or download the OZ App at www.OZNY.org/GetApp. The Plag Minyan will meet Monday to Friday (the Zman all week) until the end of August.

Our sages connect our 3 daily prayers either...Read more...

Join us for Shabbat HaGadol: www.OZNY.org/Luncheon

Dear OZ family,

Two weeks ago, an Israeli family of 9 children had their entire world overturned when a murderous terrorist rammed and killed two brothers at a bus stop, and seriously wounded their father, Avraham Paley.

We can’t imagine the...Read more...

Dear OZ family,

On Friday, I call dozens of Israelis early in the morning. I speak with many OZ olim, bestow Shabbos blessings on children and grandchildren, hear words of Torah from students, share birthday and anniversary wishes, and more. Some of the people I spoke to today are profoundly concerned with Israel’s immediate future, but for most...Read more...