Rabbi Olitzky writes an Op-Ed for the Forward 10/7/2020 about rabbinic views on justice and the legal system and current thinking on the Supreme Court.
Rabbi Olitzky speaks with the New Jersey Herald 6/26/2020 about how Beth El is standing with the Black Lives Matter movement and mourning the killing of George Floyd and so many other young black men and women at the hands of police.
Rabbi Olitzky and Beth El congregants speak to JTA 4/20/2020 about how they have adjusted to remote and virtual services and sacred experiences.
The New York Times 4/5/2020 shares Rabbi Olitzky’s thoughts on how faith communities support mourners during a pandemic.
Rabbi Olitzky writes in the New York Jewish Week 11/19/2019 about his ’72 Hours at the Border’
Rabbi Olitzky opens up to Haaretz 11/11/2019 about his experiences visiting an ICE Detention Facility while on a rabbinic mission to the border.
Rabbi Olitzky speaks with NorthJersey.com about family separation at the border 6/30/2018
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted explaining Beth El’s commitment to welcome interfaith families New York Jewish Week 5/24/2018
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted, explaining that the activism he is involved in is guided by teachings of Torah New Jersey Jewish News 2/16/2017
News outlets cover 19 rabbis – Rabbi O among them – arrested for an act of civil disobedience, protesting the President’s executive orders banning immigrants and refugees: NY Daily News 2/7/2017, New York Times 2/6/2017, Fox 5 News 2/6/2017, PIX 11 News 2/7/2017, NBC 4 News 2/6/2017,
Fox 5 News and Verizon FIOS 1 News speak with Rabbi Olitzky, as well as the rabbis of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel and Oheb Shalom, about the congregations’ work to resettle refugee families: Fox 5 News 2/1/2017, Verizon FIOS 1 News 2/3/2017
Haaretz covers the work that Congregation Beth El, along with area congregations, is doing to help resettle refugees: Haaretz 1/31/17
Rabbi Olitzky speaks at local “Inauguration of the Spirit of Goodwill,” focused on our commitment to standing up for others: New Jersey Jewish News 1/25/17
Rabbi Olitzky responds to local vandalizsm and anti-Semitism: New Jersey Jewish News 12/7/16; New Jersey Jewish News 1/4/17
Rabbi O shares his thoughts following the Presidential election with the New Jersey Jewish News and The Forward: New Jersey Jewish News 11/16/16; The Forward 11/11/16
Congregation Beth El hosts a rally of support for the community to express their fears and concerns following the 2016 Presidential Election: New Jersey Jewish News 11/16/16
The Wall Street Journal quotes Rabbi O’s call to see the holiness in all: WSJ 7/26/16
Rabbi Olitzky shares the importance of the #NotInOurTwoTowns pledge – prepared by the South Orange-Maplewood Interfaith Clergy Association – with local The Village Green blog: The Village Green 7/12/16
Congregation Beth El is highlighted because of our commitment to inclusion of all, regardless of gender identity: New Jersey Jewish News 6/8/16
Rabbi Olitzky, Rabbi Cohen of local Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel, and Rabbi Cooper of local Oheb Shalom, join together to speak out again anti-Semitism, covered by the New Jersey Jewish News: New Jersey Jewish News 5/18/16
The New Jersey Jewish News quotes Rabbi O and other South Orange-Maplewood clergy about their involvement in the Interfaith Holocaust Memorial Service and how our faith obligates us to open our arms, hearts, and homes to refugees: New Jersey Jewish News 5/4/16
The New Jersey Jewish News shared Rabbi Olitzky’s perspectives as part of a panel at Drew University entitled, “Religion as a Source of Peace”: New Jersey Jewish News 4/20/16
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted as Stop & Shop donates Kosher for Passover food to local Food Pantries, in a joint effort to fight food insecurity: New Jersey Jewish News 4/13/16
Rabbi Olitzky help to spearhead the Come Together Against Hate efforts at AIPAC Policy Conference, a walkout and teach-in, to protest Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric. This effort was covered by The New York Times on 3/18/16, CNN on 3/18/16, The Associated Press on 3/17/16, Reuters on 3/17/16, the Star Ledger on 3/20/16, the Bergen Record 3/20/16, and other news outlets.
Rabbi Olitzky speak to the New Jersey Jewish News about the importance of Congregation Beth El participating in Human Rights Shabbat: New Jersey Jewish News 12/2/15
The letter to Governor Christie that Rabbi Olitzky wrote and spearheaded, which now has over 100 clergy signatures, is covered by The Star-Ledger: NJ.com 11/25/15
The New Jersey Jewish News focuses on a letter to the Governor that Rabbi O wrote and circulated to area rabbis and clergy regarding welcoming Syrian refugees into the state: New Jersey Jewish News 11/24/15
The New Jersey Jewish News highlights Rabbi O’s Rosh Hashanah sermon and the Jewish community’s need to respond to the Syrian Refugee Crisis: New Jersey Jewish News 9/22/15
Rabbi Olitzky shares his thoughts at a community-wide interfaith vigil followed the racist murders at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC, covered by the New Jersey Jewish News: New Jersey Jewish News 6/22/15
The New Jersey Jewish News covers Congregation Beth El’s role and Rabbi Olitzky’s role in North Jersey Pride’s Pride Week and the “Progress in the Pulpit” event that Beth El hosted: New Jersey Jewish News 6/10/15
The New Jersey Jewish News interviews Rabbi Olitzky about the role the Jewish community must play in observing Martin Luther King Day and continuing the fight for true justice for all: New Jersey Jewish News 1/7/15
Rabbi Olitzky shares his thought with the New Jersey Jewish News about United Synagogue Youth’s proposed amendment changes: New Jersey Jewish News 12/22/14
The New Jersey Jewish News announces Rabbi Olitzky’s appointment as rabbi of Congregation Beth El of South Orange, New Jersey: New Jersey Jewish News 4/16/14
The Florida Times-Union covers the We Are Straight Allies campaign, and highlights the allies involved, including Rabbi Olitzky: Florida Times-Union 3/18/14
Rabbi Olitzky was listed among 28 rabbis in The Forward’s list of “America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis of 2014”: The Forward 3/17/14
Rabbi Olitzky shared his vision for outreach to young Jewish adults and offers insight to what the Jacksonville Jewish Center is doing to reach out to unaffiliated young adults in the Florida Times-Union‘s analysis of the recent Pew Research Center’s “Portrait of Jewish Americans” Study: Florida Times-Union 12/28/13
Rabbi Olitzky joined the We Are Straight Allies campaign, ensuring that Jacksonville is a place of inclusion for all who enter. He participated in the print campaign: We Are Straight Allies 11/27/13 and the video campaign: We Are Straight Allies 12/11/13
Rabbi Olitzky was interviewed on the News4Jax Morning Show talking about Hanukkah and the significance of the once in a lifetime “Thanksgivukkah” celebration: News4Jax 11/24/13
Rabbi Olitzky led to the Jewish community’s involvement with ICARE and promoting faith-based Social Justice: Florida Times-Union 11/13/13
Rabbi Olitzky participated in Jacksonville’s We Are Straight Allies campaign, coming out as a Jewish communal leader in support of LGBT equality, rights, inclusion, and the Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinances: Folio Weekly 11/6/13
Rabbi Olitzky was quoted in the Forward prior to the High Holy Days concerning issues of judgement, Teshuvah, and Cheshbon HaNefesh (an accounting of the soul): The Forward 8/30/13
Rabbi Olitzky joined T’ruah‘s campaign to end Modern Day Slavery and Exploitation in the tomato fields of Florida and participated in their “Tomato Rabbis” campaign: T’ruah Campaign 6/5/13
Rabbi Olitzky’s Op-Ed piece about ending Modern Day Slavery in the tomato fields of Florida: Florida Times-Union 3/25/13
Rabbi Olitzky interviewed by News4Jax about spearheading an Israel Peace Rally during Operation Pillar of Defense: News4Jax 11/19/12
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted and referenced in Hadassah Magazine regarding his work with Moving Traditions, trying to keep adolescent boys involved in synagogue life: Hadassah Magazine 6/12
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted in an article from the US Naval News Service, regarding his efforts to to bring Yom Hashoa memorials to local naval bases: Naval News Service 4/23/12
Rabbi Olitzky is quoted in an article on the Jewish parenting website Kveller regarding the Jewish views on Birth Control: Kveller 3/19/12
Rabbi Olitzky speaks with First Coast Living about the importance of helping those in need and his participation in the JCPA’s Food Stamp Challenge: First Coast Living 1/9/12
Rabbi Olitzky is mentioned and quoted in the Forward regarding his work with Moving Traditions while at the Orangetown Jewish Center to offer spiritual and educational programming for adolescent males: The Forward 11/10/10
Rabbi Jesse Olitzky 