I’ve been with the OU since 2008, after spending 10 years at Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, where I received my rabbinical ordination, known as Semicha. My journey also includes two years at Mercaz Hatorah in Israel. Currently, I live in Passaic, NJ with my wife and five children, having grown up in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, where my synagogue’s Rabbi was Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld (an OU Rabbinic Coordinator).
In my role at the OU, I’m part of the new company department, focusing on Central and South America. I also manage key accounts with major companies like ADM, BASF, Monster Energy, and Impossible Foods.
What I find most rewarding about my work is the opportunity to visit new manufacturing plants. I take pleasure in analyzing how a plant functions, identifying kosher compliance issues, and figuring out solutions. It’s gratifying to meet the individuals at these plants, as well as the mashgichim (plural for kosher supervisor) who inspect them. A highlight for me is when I accompany a highly experienced mashgiach to a new plant, and they discuss the company’s own processes, sometimes surprising the staff with their depth of knowledge. My travels have taken me across Latin America to countries like Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, as well as numerous trips to Europe.