September 16, 2005

Kinus Teshuva Program Set for October 9, 2005
Visiting Rabbis to go on Spiritual Road Trip to New York/New Jersey OU Synagogues Prior to Yom Kippur

At a time of year when teshuva (repentance) is on the mind of Jews worldwide, the Orthodox Union will present Reflections on Teshuva, in which at least twelve distinguished rabbis from the New York/New Jersey area will go on a spiritual road trip to OU synagogues other than their own, to deliver inspiring messages to new audiences.

This Kinus Teshuva, a gathering to hear words of inspiration and dedication to God, will take place simultaneously in the participating synagogues at 8 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, the Sunday between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. This unique arrangement will allow these experienced rabbis to be heard by fresh audiences. Rather than speaking to their own congregations, participating rabbis will visit other communities, and in a special case, Rabbi Dovid Weinberger of Congregation Shaaray Tefilah in Lawrence, NY, and Rabbi Benjamin Yudin of Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Fairlawn, NJ will be exchanging places.

This Kinus Teshuva program is presented by the OU’s Department of Community and Synagogue Services and organized by Frank Buchweitz, OU Director of Community Services and Special Projects.

“The period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is a time of personal introspection, and this OU program will present a unique opportunity for communities to hear from rabbis to supplement what they have learned from their own shul’s rabbi,” declared Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, OU Executive Vice President. “The purpose of this program is to provide a spiritual jolt to the community at this special time of year.”

Two of the featured speakers are senior rabbis of the OU Kosher Division: Rabbi Menachem Genack, Chief Executive Officer, will be speaking at the Young Israel of Hillcrest, Queens; while Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator, will be speaking at Young Israel of Long Beach.

The participating rabbis and synagogues (more may be added) are as follows:

• Rabbi Dovid Weinberger of Congregation Shaaray Tefila, Lawrence, NY, will be speaking at Congregation Shomrei Torah 19-10 Morlot Avenue, Fair Lawn, NJ.

• Rabbi Benjamin Yudin of Congregation Shomrei Torah, Fair Lawn, NJ. will be speaking at Congregation Shaaray Tefilah, 25 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY.

• Rabbi Larry Rothwachs of Beth Aaron Congregation, Teaneck, NJ, will be speaking at Congregation Ahavas Achim, 710 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ.

• Rabbi Allen Schwartz of Congregation Ohab Zedek, NYC, NY, will be speaking at Congregation Adereth El, 133 East 29th Street, New York, NY.

• Rabbi Dale Polakoff of Great Neck Synagogue, Great Neck, NY, will be speaking at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East 85th Street, New York, NY.

• Rabbi Shalom Baum of Congregation Keter Torah, Teaneck, NJ, will be speaking at Riverdale Jewish Center, 3700 Independence Avenue, Riverdale, NY.

• Rabbi Ari Berman of The Jewish Center, New York, NY, will be speaking at Kingsway Jewish Center, 2810 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.

• Rabbi Kenneth Auman of Young Israel of Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, will be speaking at Young Israel of Staten Island, 835 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY.

• Rabbi Eliyahu Soloveichik of Rosh Yeshiva, Lander College, Queens, NY, will be speaking at Lander College, 75-31 150th St., Kew Garden Hills, NY.

• Rabbi Tzvi Flaum of Congregation Kneseth Israel, Far Rockaway, NY, will be speaking at Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, 83-10 188th St., Jamaica Estates, NY.

• Rabbi Menacham Genack, CEO, Kosher Division, Orthodox Union, will be speaking at Young Israel of Hillcrest, 169-07 Jewel Avenue, Flushing, NY.

• Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator, Kosher Division, Orthodox Union will be speaking at Young Israel of Long Beach, 120 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach, New York.

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The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 400,000 products manufactured in 83 countries around the globe.

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