Benzion Klatzko

Benzion Klatzko at a speech for students, circa 2015

Benzion Zvi Klatzko (born June 11, 1968) is a United States-based Orthodox rabbi, university professor, and founder of Shabbat.com, the largest Jewish social network.

Education

Klatzko graduated from Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in 1981, followed by Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem of Staten Island. He was ordained at the Mir Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York on August 13, 1993 by Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum.

Career

After completing his studies, Klatzko was Rabbi of the Agudath Israel synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, and was then the rabbi of congregation Shaarey Tefiloh[1][2] in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.[3] In 1999, he was appointed campus rabbi of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he organized outreach programs for college students through the Jewish Awareness Movement.[3] During this period, he ran monthly classes on Jewish thought in Hollywood for many writers, producers, actors, and directors in the movie industry earning the moniker "The Hollywood Rabbi". Starting in 2003, Klatzko began to seed other campuses throughout Southern California with Jewish programming (e.g., Classes, Trips, and organizational structure) including USC, USCB, UCSD, SDSU, SMC, and CSUN. Additionally, he helped start the CLE program in Florida and the JEM program in Madison Wisconsin.

In 2006, the Klatzko family moved to Monsey, New York, where Rabbi Klatzko was appointed national educational director for Olami Worldwide.[4] In which position he is tasked with seeding North American college campuses with Jewish life. Each year Rabbi Klatzko visits and lectures at over 100 campuses.

Klatzko is the founder and operator of Akiva Trip, a program that takes Jewish students to Israel and Poland in order to reconnect them with their heritage.[5]

Klatzko has served as an adjunct professor at Yeshiva University.

In 2010, Rabbi Klatzko founded what has become the world's largest Jewish social network, Shabbat.com.[3] Shabbat.com is a website as well as an app available on IOS and Android. In addition, Klatzko has founded numerous other projects and websites including, Hashem.com, WhyMarryJewish.org, Uma Alert, Havdalah.com, IlluminateTheWorld.com, Hisoriri, and the online Jewish television network, LiveJudiasm.com. All of these projects are maintained by the Od Yavo Foundation created by Klatzko in 2015.

Klatzko is considered an expert in Judaic art, having founded the now defunct Simcha Art Gallery in Monsey, New York.

Klatzko was certified as a Mohel by Rabbi Benzion Krohn.

Klatzko composes and produces Jewish music, having worked with luminaries such as Abie Rottenberg, Yisroel Williger, Moshe Mendlowitz, and others.

Klatzko hosts a radio program with a following of 100,000 in the New York City area called "The Hollywood Rabbi", which airs 3 times a week on Jroute Radio.

Klatzko has been conferred as a NY State Chaplain.

Awards and recognition

U.S. Congressman Bob Menendez described Klatzko during a 1997 session of the U.S. House of Representatives as a "distinguished gentleman making a difference to his community".[6]

Jewish Forward magazine included him in their 2014 list of "America's Most Inspiring Rabbis".[7]

On May 11, 2014, Governor of Ohio, John Kasich awarded Klatzko the Hebrew Academy "Alumnus of The Year" Award.[8] He also received awards from United States Senator Rob Portman.

Personal life

Klatzko married his wife Shoshana Juravel on June 27, 1988. She is a daughter of the noted children's author and lecturer Rabbi Dovid Juravel. The family currently resides in Monsey, New York.[9]

Works

References

  1. ↑ Newman, Andy (1997-03-30). "Old Orthodox Synagogues Offer Bonuses to Recruit the Younger Generation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  2. ↑ "CNN - Dying synagogue tries unorthodox approach for survival - Mar. 30, 1996". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  3. 1 2 3 Ted Ross (2012). Am I a Jew?: Lost Tribes, Lapsed Jews, and One Man's Search for Himself. Hudson Street Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-1594630958.
  4. ↑ "Who We Are | Olami Worldwide". olamiworldwide.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Akiva Trip". Akiva Trip. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  6. ↑ Bob Menendez (May 5, 1997). "In Honor Of Benzion Klatzko: A Distinguished Gentleman Making A Difference To His Community - Extension of Remarks". Congress.gov (U.S. Library of Congress).
  7. ↑ "Rabbis 2014". Jewish Forward. 16 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "Hebrew Academy to honor Kleins at 71st tribute dinner". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Shabbat.com - Our Team.". shabbat.com. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
  10. ↑ "The Kuntrus: A Yeshiva Bachur's Handbook by Rabbi Benzion Klatzko - Books > Inspiration from Jewish Used Books". www.jewishusedbooks.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
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