Bio

Native of Chicago….Ordained by the Hebrew Theological College, Skokie, Illinois.

 Served as Rabbi/Spiritual Leader in the Chicagoland area until Aliyah in 1985.
(Also served in his younger years in the State of
Iowa)

 During his rabbinical career in the USA he served as:

 

  • President of the Alumni Association of the Chicago Yeshiva.
  • Chairman of the TV/Radio Broadcasting Commission of the Chicago Board of Rabbis.
  • Chairman of the Brit Milah Commission of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.
  • Chaplain of the Variety Club.

 

 Since Aliyah in 1985—Founder/Director of “Rituals Unlimited”-arranges/conducts/officiates at Bar/Bat Mitzvah services for tourists to Israel at the Kotel and other holy sites.

The Jerusalem Post calls him “The Bar Mitzvah King”.

 He is the author of “Guide To Jerusalem Funeral & Burial Practices”

and runs the cemetery and bereavement program for the AACI
(Association of Americans and Canadians in
Israel).

 He also authored the best seller book “OFF THE WALL”…An anthology of humorous tales spanning his rabbinic career.

 He has traveled back to the USA  as scholar-in-residence in the Chicago/Dallas/Boston/Detroit/Las Vegas areas and also to South Africa
(Cape Town and Johannesburg).

 He teaches Torah to various womens groups in Jerusalem and is a member of the Rabbinical Council of America and Young Israel Rabbis.

 He is married, has 2 children and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandson –all in Israel.

His wife, Ruby, is past national president of the AACI
(Association of Americans/Canadians in
Israel).

 Rabbi Karzen is a leader and  spokesman in the modern Orthodox Zionist community.
He has been Rabbi/Mashgiach on several cruise ships in recent years and is a recognized expert in Kashrut.