OU West Coast’s Rabbi Alan Kalinsky to Begin Lecture Tour for 2016 at Member West Coast Congregations

15 Mar 2016
OU West Coast Director Rabbi Alan Kalinsky

Taking advantage of his years of experience in the rabbinate and the military, Rabbi Alan Kalinsky, Director of the wide-spread West Coast Region of the Orthodox Union, will present a 2016 lecture tour covering a wide variety of subjects, ranging from Jewish history to the U.S. and Israel, to Halacha (Jewish law), among other topics.  He will visit OU congregations from California to Colorado to Western Canada, speaking on a variety of topics that can be chosen by the congregation.

Already seven OU member synagogues have requested a lecture or a Shabbat scholar-in-residence, for a program that is just beginning. Rabbi Kalinsky will be joined in the program by Rabbi Adir Posy, Assistant Director for the West Coast Region; and Rabbi Dovid Cohen, OU Regional Director for New York City and surrounding areas.

Rabbi Kalinsky has occupied his Los Angeles-based position for 30 years. Prior to that he served several congregations on the East Coast and recently was rabbi of the new Young Israel of North Beverly Hills.

He serves as a mentor to OU Synagogue rabbinic and lay leadership and as a liaison to OU member congregations on the West Coast. He has also served for more than 35 years as an OU Kosher rabbinic field representative, certifying the kashrut of companies he visits.

Rabbi Kalinsky served as a U.S. Air Force Chaplain for 28 years, tending to the spiritual needs of Jews and non-Jews alike.  In this period he was assigned stateside and to Europe. He retired in 2002 from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

“One of the most important ways we serve our member synagogues is via coordinating guest speakers and scholars-in-residence,” Rabbi Kalinsky explained. “Unfortunately, many smaller congregations have limited funds to enable them to bring in guest speakers.”  In response, Rabbi Kalinsky said, he and Rabbi Posy have embarked on a new initiative to reach out to OU member synagogues on the West Coast.  “Based on the quick response, we are confident that this project will be a great success and will be replicated in other regions.”

What the series proves is that besides book knowledge, Rabbi Kalinsky brings to the series the kind of experiences that transform mere lectures into fascinating experiences for audiences.

Sample topics are as follows:

HALACHA- JEWISH LAW

 

WORLD HISTORY AND ITS IMPACT ON THE JEWISH PEOPLE

 

PEOPLE OF INTEREST

 

JEWISH HISTORY

 

THE US AND  ISRAEL

 

For booking, contact the OU West Coast office at 310-229-9000, or adlerl@ou.org.