Congregation Ohab Zedek Annual Dinner and Community Celebration
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,khve esm cvut CONGREGATION OHAB ZEDEK ANNUAL DINNER AND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL BIRKAT ADS HAMAZON About Ohab Zedek CONGREGATION OHAB ZEDEK, or OZ, as it is fondly known, is more than just a synagogue. Under the leadership of Rabbi Allen Schwartz, the Shul is known for its open doors and big heart. OZ has broad ties with the surrounding Jewish community and its Upper West Side neighborhood as a whole. A random visitor could easily encounter an up and coming scholar from Israel, or members of the local fire station. It is an informal, comfortable, inclusive community. OZ is a Modern Orthodox congregation, but any individual is welcome, regardless of background or means. It is a Shul of interlocking communities--young families who find a relaxed setting on Shabbos morning to introduce their toddlers to services; singles, who famously crowd the steps on Friday night; and seniors, many of whom have been members of OZ for decades. It is home to those tentatively exploring Judaism as well as the most learned, who are stimulated by a broad array of lecturers and classes. HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON Leadership Rabbi Allen Schwartz Assistant Rabbi Jack Varon CLERGY Dr. Ari Weitzner PRESIDENT Joseph Tuchman FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Shana Block TREASURER David Sack SECRETARY VICE PRESIDENTS Sarah Stambler Jenny Michael Faith Sheiber Elkobi Jeff Korenman HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON Trustees Riva Atlas Gad Demry Andrew Einstein David Goldstein Regina Haberman Nicole Iglicki Carrie Jacobs Ilana Katz David Kerdell Yair Kronenberg Yocheved Lauwick Daniel Leibler Gabe Levi Stuart Milstein Jordana Moche Alan Nussbaum Rachel Posner-Grunfeld Nechama Rosenberg Blayne Ross Leonard Schwarzbaum Beth Shapiro-Max Nava Silton Shira Silton Genna Singer Paul Spirgel Richard Stanger Rachel Steinmetz Jay Taragin Vivian Weiss HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON Staff Chad Hopkovitz EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Beverly Raskind OFFICE MANAGER Carol Swerdel BOOKKEEPER Allen Katz PROGRAM DIRECTOR Yael & Josh Haller YOUTH DIRECTORS Ignacio Ferreyra SUPERINTENDENT MAINTENANCE STAFF Rolando Rivera Brad Peterson Candido Ruiz Luis Rodriguez Chris Irrizarry Benny Feliciano Elvis Rodriguez Jonathan Appel SECURITY Errol Santos HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON faculty COMMUNITY EDUCATORS Rabbi Meir Goldwicht Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard Rabbi Yoni Zolty Mindy Schwartz Zolty TUESDAY NIGHT LEARNING PROGRAM Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman Dr. Nava Silton Brandwein Joel Goldman David Israel DISCOVER JUDAISM PROGRAM Sarah Stambler Adam Resnick Joel Goldman Rabbi Yitz Liberman COMMUNITY SCHOLARS Micah D. Halpern Elana Flaumenhaft Dr. Jill Katz Meyer Muschel Dr. Jeff Korenman Richard Stanger Rabbi Stephen Friedman COMMUNITY HISTORY & ARCHIVES Chaim Steinberger Paul Wachtel HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON Former honorees Rabbi Theodore L. Adams z"l Mrs. Gisele Hausman z”l Fruma Reiss Sabrina & David Ascher Rachel Brenner & R. Nathaniel Donald M. Retig, z"l David Atik and Riva Atlas Helfgot Glenn Richter Mali and Brent Baer Aviva and Avi Henoch Janet and David Roher Sarah Stambler and Shlomo Johanna and Robert Max Rosenbaum z"l Herskowitz Bar-Ayal Clara & Erving Rosenbaum Carrie Jacobs Max Baumgarten z"l Maurice and Ruth Rotenberg Moshe Zev Bellows Rena and David Jaroslawicz z”l Naomi Mark and Rabbi Tsvi Betti and Ari Jacobson Paula Gantz and Robert Blanchard Robin and Mark Jacobson Salpeter Saul Blau, z”l Rev. Kalman Kalich z"l Mrs. Paula Schauer z”l Judy and Leonard Bloom Dr. Leslie L. Kay z”l Jessica Schechter Leo Borenstein z"l Allen Katz and Sheryl Galler Victor Schnitzer z”l Nava Silton Brandwein Jill and Aaron Katz Ronnie and Andrew Schonzeit Susan Cantor Esther and Uri Kaufman Rabbi Allen and Alisa Schwartz Michael Cinamon Wendy and David Kerdell Steven Schwartzberg Adolph Citron z"l Natalie Klein Rebecca Segal Saul Clark z"l Lea & Yair Kronenberg Deborah and David Shimko Tamar Davis Susan Fader and Lawrence David Silver Sol Dunkelman z”l Krule Evan Silver Cantor Abraham Eckstein z”l Gila Leiter and James Lavin Miriam Silverstein and Dan Yotav Eliach Emma Leaf Kimchi Faith Sheiber Elkobi Efraim Levy Lisa Simon Susan Fader and Lawrence Robert Lunzer Genna Singer Krule Jack Lurie z”l June and Rene Slotkin Rabbi Arturo Farber z”l Erna and Simon Maier z"l Michael Elie Smith Harold Feld z”l Rabbi Raphael B. Marcus z”l R. Avraham and Dini Steinberg Rabbi Morris Finer z"l Rabbi Avrohom Marmorstein Rachel and David Stern Steven Fink Mr. and Mrs. William Marton z”l Fagie Tager Yitzy Flynn Kenneth z"l and Jenny Michael Milton W. Tomber, z"l Elliott Fuhrer Yocheved and Charles Milo Elana & Daniel Torczyner Gan Aliya & Bnos Aliya Alan Mitrani Bertha Trepp Vivian and Mark Gelberman Rebecca and Randy Modell Mr. and Mrs. Otto Ullman z"l Susan and Gary Glass Rachel Mohl Yael and Rabbi Avika Willig Amy and Jordon Gorfinkel Alison and Michael Novich Rachel and Rabbi David Mrs. Annette Grajower z”l Alan Nussbaum Wilenski Raymond J. z"l and Pearl Erik B. Nussbaum z"l Yonina and Stephen Wind Greenwald Ceil and David Olivestone Murray z”l and Veronica Zucker Nathan K. Gross z"l Marilyn and Armin Osgood Stephen Gruber Sara and Yossi Prager Helen and Jacob Guz Eileen and Zachary Prensky Rabbi Neal K. Harris Beverly Raskind HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON RABBI'S MESSAGE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REPETITION at the end of Sefer Shemot. The Torah repeats the details of the construction of God’s sanctuary almost as often as we have been announcing the main event in support of our sanctuary, our Annual Dinner. The idea that the Israelites did as God commanded Moshe, is stressed again and again to inform us that it is no small thing to do just as expected. Daf Yomi participants have been learning the fifth order of the Talmud, Seder Kodashim, which mostly teaches what we do in God’s sanctuary, for the past year and will continue to do so for most of the remainder of 2019. Yet, from the very first day, the majority of these pages are about what to do when the Temple service was not done in order. Entire tractates such as Meila, Temurah and Kerisos are dedicated to this very theme – what happens when we do not meet expectation. Our Annual Dinner and Journal affords us the opportunity to help us meet expectations so that we can be in a position to help with the unexpected challenges in life for our community. They also allow us to bestow honor and recognition to very special individuals in our midst. Richard and Jane Stanger are our Couple of the Year, and we are pleased to honor them for their dedication to Ohab Zedek and their contribution to our recent growth. Richard’s expertise and organizational skills have kept our Shul on track toward much of our renewed excitement. Danny and Chanie Leibler have, for many years, contributed to the family atmosphere of the OZ experience. Their service to the Shul knows no bounds, and they always made themselves available to answer the call of any communal need. For this we are very pleased to bestow upon them the Nathan K. Gross award for Community Service. What a privilege it is this year to recognize the incredible dedication of our Bikur Cholim participants. They are present in all weather, regardless of the heat, cold, rain, snow or sleet. They cross the park with some of their children, at all hours of Shabbos, and shine a light of hope and serenity on vulnerable people who are spending what should be a joyous day, in the hospital. For this, members of our Bikur Cholim society will accept on behalf of the entire program, the Max Rosenbaum – Maurice Schauer Gemilus Chesed Award. Those who dedicated ads or attend the dinner in the name of our honorees do them great honor. The best way to honor them, though, is to follow their path of service to our sanctuary and our community. HOME INTRODUCTION HONOREES JOURNAL ADS BIRKAT HAMAZON PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE HI KIDS- I am honored to be in a position to publicly thank our honorees. Richard Stanger is a straight, no-nonsense kind of guy who not only is generous with his wallet, but selflessly volunteers his time and skills for the benefit of the Shul. He is intimately involved with our human resources issues, CSS security and the capital campaign. As President, I am enormously grateful for the work he does. If I am effective, it is only because he has my back and does what needs to be done. Having Richard and Jane as members has been a great boon for us. I look forward to their maintaining leadership roles. Daniel Leibler does not speak during davening, often leads the services from the Bima, never complains, and never has to be asked to pay his dues, pay for a dinner ad, or contribute to the Yom KIppur appeal. In other words, if every member were like him, I’d be out of a job. Daniel and Chanie are essentially the down-to-earth, honest, good people that make a Shul and a community. It’s that simple. No joke- let’s all be like the Leiblers. People like the Leiblers are the quiet heroes of our Shul. The Bikur Cholim people are, in my opinion, other-worldly. How in God’s name do they wake up from a nap on Shabbes and drag themselves across the park to visit the sick? How is that possible? How, I ask! I don’t know. Regardless, any honor we give them would not be sufficient for the sacrifice they make...but we have no choice but to honor them anyway.