There are people in life who teach you and lead by example and I feel very grateful and fortunate to know Rabbi Allen Schwartz who I’ve known since I attended Yeshiva University. Rabbi Allen Schwartz is a prominent Orthodox rabbi, educator, and author who has served as the spiritual leader of Congregation Ohab Zedek (OZ) on Manhattan’s Upper West Side since 1988. He is widely recognized for his academic contributions to Bible studies and his long-standing tenure at Yeshiva University, where he has taught since 1983. As the senior rabbi of Ohab Zedek, he focuses on fostering a close-knit community among diverse age groups in New York City. He holds the Raymond J. Greenwald Chair in Jewish Studies at Yeshiva University and has taught over 3,000 students (including myself) and currently teaches at Manhattan Day School and in the Stern College Graduate Program. He is an alumnus of Yeshiva College and received his Master of Arts in Bible, Rabbinics, and Halacha from the Bernard Revel Graduate School. He received his Semicha (rabbinic ordination) from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).

Rabbi Schwartz has authored several books that bridge traditional and modern biblical interpretation: These books include Conflict & Resolution in the Early Prophets (An exploration of seeming violations of Torah law in the books of Joshua, Judges, and Samuel), The Four Sons Haggadah (A unique Passover commentary providing four parallel approaches to the text), Parashah Sheleimah Series: (A series offering multi-faceted insights into the weekly Torah portions) and one of his most recent publications is “You, God and Me” (The divine importance of relationships). As a working professional and dedicated community member, I have had the honor of attending Rabbi Schwartz’s classes in Manhattan and was recently gifted his book “You, God and Me” with a beautiful dedication written in front that I will always cherish. I recently had the chance to sit down with Rabbi Schwartz at his Synagogue to discuss his new book and gain insights that we all can apply and aspire to in our everyday lives.

In his Book entitled “You, God and........

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