YIWS Rabbis

Rabbi Emanuel Gettinger 

Rabbi Emanuel (Menachem) Gettinger was the first Rabbi of the Young Israel of the West Side and has served the congregation for almost 60 years. He was ordained by yeshivas Chaim Berlin and was a disciple of the Rosh Yeshiva-HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Hutner z'l. Rabbi Gettinger holds an advance degree in mathematics from Columbia University and has also done graduate work in engineering. He is the president of Ezras Torah- a major charitable organization in Israel. Rabbi Gettinger is married to Rochel (Riff) Gettinger who is a great grand-daughter of the famed Netziv-Rav Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin. They have 3 children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Rabbi Gettinger recently completed his Magnum opus the "Mnach Yoma". The sefer introduces ground breaking insights into the opinion of Rabeinu Tam in Bein Hashmashos. In 2006, Rabbi Gettinger handed the day to day operations of the shul over to Rabbi Dovid Cohen. 

Rabbi Dovid Cohen 

Rabbi Dovid Cohen has served as Rabbi of the Young Israel of the West Side since 2006. In June 2012, he and his wife were honored with the rabbinic leadership award by the congregation, acknowledging their trans-formative impact on the Young Israel community. Rabbi Cohen received his BA from Yeshiva University in 1994, graduating with honors in History. He was ordained by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary in 1997. Rabbi Cohen served as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Shomrei Torah of Fair Lawn, NJ, from 1995-2000 where he received practical rabbinic training and mentoring from Rabbi Benjamin Yudin.

Following his years of rabbinic training, Rabbi Cohen attended the Columbia Law School and completed his Juris Doctor degree in 1999. Rabbi Cohen practiced law at the Manhattan offices of Simpson, Thacher and Bartlett and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson. His practice focused on white collar criminal defense and bankruptcy and restructurings. Rabbi Cohen is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

In 2004, Rabbi Cohen left the legal profession and moved to Israel to deepen his rabbinic knowledge. Rabbi Cohen studied in an elite kollel affiliated with the Mirrer Yeshiva and was exposed to some of the greatest torah leaders of the generation. Rabbi Cohen also taught popular courses at various seminaries in Jerusalem. 

In 2007, Rabbi Cohen completed an MS in counseling from the University of North Texas with a concentration in family therapy. He did clinical work under the supervision of Dr. Yisrael Levitz, director of the Family Institute of Jerusalem and author of "A Practical Guide to Rabbinic Counseling." He also received mentoring from noted therapist, Dr. David Pelcovitz of the Azrieli Graduate School of Yeshiva University. He maintains a small private practice on the Upper West Side focused on singles and young married couples.

Rabbi Cohen has served as Sgan Mashgiach Ruchani in the YU Beis Medrash (2006-2007) as well as Mashgiach Ruchani at Stern college for Women (2007-2011). He also served as the Director of the Honors Program at the Lander College for Women, a branch of Touro College (2011-2012), as well as adjunct Professor of Jewish Law and Philosophy at both Stern & Touro.  He currently serves as Dayan (rabbinical judge) for the Beis Din of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). .

Rabbi Cohen serves on the national board of Yachad (OU) and spends much time speaking and advocating on behalf of individuals with special needs. He is also a member of the executive committee of the RCA and serves as a synagogue consultant for the Orthodox Union, helping to ensure that synagogues across the country are innovative and creative. He uses his experience and expertise in helping both Rabbis and lay leaders work together more cohesively. He also can be found every Friday visiting Manhattan Day School (MDS) and teaching the children about the weekly Parsha. 

He has published various articles on contemporary issues and is a contributor to Mishpacha magazine, the Jewish Press and the Jewish Week and frequently serves as a scholar-in-resident in communities throughout North America. 

He is happily married to Ruchi (Eisenberg) Cohen, daughter of the Chief Rabbi of Vienna, Austria.  Ruchi is an honors graduate of the Hebrew University and is a certified doula (labor coach) and kallah teacher.  Ruchi is a leader in the community organizing the baby cakes program and the knitting club and hosting many guests at her table each Shabbos. She is currently pursuing a nursing degree in her spare time. The Cohen's have four children: Yedidya Shlomo (7), Tzippora Anaelle (6), Meir Simcha (4) and Aharon Yochanon (1).

Rabbi Cohen can be reached at  cohen.dovid@gmail.com

 Click here to download MP3's of Rabbi Cohen's shiurim