Rabbi's Blog

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...

OZ PURIM PAGE: WWW.OZNY.ORG/PURIM

Dear OZ family,

This past Shabbos was Miriam Feig’s 8th Yahrzeit. I have written about her often, and it was quite appropriate that we connect her to this past Shabbos. As you...Read more...

Dear OZ family,

You may recall that during Covid, the Wall Street Journal printed a story about  a woman named Bina, who takes a daily stroll in in Central Park, reads Torah and recites Tehillim on the park benches, and squeezes every bit of goodness and joy out of daily activity. Bina was on the kindertransport as a child, that spared her the fate shared by so many of her family members....Read more...

Dear OZ family,

I teach a course at YU called archeology and the Bible. I caution my students not to try to prove Biblical events from archeological data. Such data may give testimony to what is written in Tanach, but it doesn’t prove anything. The fact is that just as someone may want to prove what is written...Read more...

Dear OZ family,

The news of the tragic earthquake in Turkey and Syria has mobilized much of the Middle East to join hands in the humanitarian efforts to save as many lives as possible. With each passing hour this becomes a greater challenge. A team from Israel just this afternoon pulled 4 living people from the rubble with their state of the art machinery....Read more...

Dear OZ family,

Asara B’tevet represents a turning point for our people that had history-changing ramifications. Until the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem, the prophet Yirmiyahu had begged the leaders of Israel to avoid destruction with surrender. Allowing the Babylonians unimpeded entry into the city...Read more...

Dear friends,

While investigating a recurring issue in our rooftop HVAC system, technicians found issues in 2 of the three units. In one system a control board has to be replaced - this is on order and we hope to have it resolved within a week. Further, the ignition chamber of the second unit has to be replaced - we are awaiting the analysis / proposal for this. While...Read more...