Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, Rabbi
Rabbi Torczyner became the moreh d'asra of Congregation Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in August of 2023.
Prior to joining Eitz Chayim, he was the founding Rosh Beit Midrash of Toronto’s Beit Midrash Zichron Dov, an affiliate of YU and Torah MiTzion. As its leader, Rabbi Torczyner developed an expansive, diverse community of learning, engaging with high school and university students; mentoring avreichim as they embark on their Rabbinic careers; counseling professionals in accredited continuing education programs; inspiring love of Israel through programs and publications; offering classes, leading Shabbatonim throughout the city; and acting as a resource for educators and shul rabbis.
Prior to moving to Toronto, Rabbi Torczyner served as the rabbi of Congregation Sons of Israel in Allentown, PA and Congregation Ohawe Sholam, Young Israel of Pawtucket, RI. Rabbi Torczyner embraced members who identified as everything from secular to yeshivish, counseled individuals and families in a wide range of needs and circumstances, and worked closely with social services organizations. In teaching, he sought to reach every interested person, with classes spanning from Daf Yomi and gemara b’iyun to Jewish History. He devoted special attention to youth programs, learned with bar/bat mitzvah candidates, and held story times with toddlers. It is very important to him that every Jew find a point of entry in the shul and enjoy a relationship with the Rabbi.
Rabbi Torczyner received his B.A. in Computer Science from Yeshiva University and received semichah from RIETS. Rabbi Torczyner also studied in Yeshivat Kerem b’Yavneh in Israel. Rabbi Torczyner is a prolific writer and many of his shiurim can be heard on YUTorah.org.
Rabbi Efrem Schwalb, Rabbi Emeritus
Rabbi Efrem Schwalb is the Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park after serving as its moreh d'asra for over 20 years. Rabbi Schwalb built Eitz Chayim from a small, house-based shul serving a few congregants to a vital institution in West Hempstead, serving over 200 members, supporters and beyond. The Dogwood area of West Hempstead has become a makom torah and tefillah for so many as a direct result of his leadership and Eitz Chayim’s growth. Rabbi Schwalb continues to be sought out by members, neighbors and rabbinic colleagues for his wisdom and counsel on a wide range of spiritual and halachic matters.
Rabbi Schwalb is also a practicing attorney and is a founding partner of Koffsky Schwalb LLC. He has more than 25 years of litigation experience representing domestic and international clients on a wide range of commercial litigation and arbitration matters. Prior to founding KoffskySchwalb LLC, he worked at the international law firm Kaye Scholer LLP. Rabbi Schwalb sits on the board of a number of philanthropic and educational institutions and has frequently volunteered pro bono legal services to non-profit institutions and individuals in need.
Rabbi Schwalb is a graduate of Yeshiva University, RIETS and the Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
