RABBI ISRAEL KATZ-RONNIES VERY CLOSE FRIEND WRITES

The verse in Jerimiah 17:7 says as follows: "Blessed is the man who trusts in Hashem (G-d), then Hashem willl be his security." Ronnie Cohen A"H lived by these words. Over thirty years ago when Ronnie was dying of cancer and the doctors gave up hope of his recovery Ronnie called out to Hashem for help and Hashem did not let him down. Ronnie made a miraculous recovery against all the odds. Faith and trust in Hashem then became his mantra from then on until his last moments on this earth. I first met Ronnie in Israel 28 years ago. The very first thing I noticed about him was that he would always talk about faith in Hashem. That is why, in those days he prayed at the Kotel daily. He told me he loved Hashem and couldn't go without praying at the Kotel everyday. It made him feel so good. He was a model of how one was to live with faith in Hashem in this difficult world. In addition, he often told me that he loved his four brothers, and sister very much and especially his wife Saba. He also loved, admired, and respected his parents A"H. He would call them almost everyday. He often told me that receiving love from his family was so important to him. He would do anything for a friend or a family member. Above all else he loved Hashem. Although Ronnie has left us and is in a far better place right now his legacy of simple trust and faith in Hashem remains with all who he touched or knew. Whenever he had financial. health, family, or friendship problems he would call out for Hashem's help. He told me that he would often go to the beach in the middle of the night to cry to Hashem. He said Hashem always made the pain feel better. The contributions of Ronnie to this dark planet before his passing was that he made this earth a little bit brighter, a little bit better, and a little bit more tolerable with his simple faith in Hashem which he taught to all who he met. This legacy of faith will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Ronnie will be sorely missed! may Ronnnie find eternal rest under the wings of the Divine Presence! Amen!

RONNIE WRITES ABOUT HIS PIOUS LIFE IN JERUSALEM circa 1984

Dear Avraham David Ben Shalom, (BOBBIE ROSENBERG)
"May Hashem bless you to be inscribed and sealed in the book of life." How are you ? Thanks for the card. It was a great uplift to hear from you once again. Its so very hard to live here in the holy land alone. Three things a person must suffer for. Eretz Yisrael, Torah, and Olam Haba. The other day in my H.B.D. I cried to Hashem for the loneliness. For the missing of my family, my parents,my brothers and sister and my daughter. Oye. They should live and be well. Yes it is all very worth it still to be here and serve Hashem in the holiness. But so many thoughts enter my mind of the life I once had, of my ex wife, my ex home, my ex business, my past acquaintances in America, Bklyn,NY,the street, that place etc. And yet I am thankful for all I have here Baruch Hashem. "Elul" rolled in with very much yearning to serve and get much closer to Hashem, the desire to learn more, pray more.
Every morning I arrive at 3:30 AM and purify my soul in the ritual baths of the mikvah, then to attend the Bet Keneset for the deep prayers of repentance Selichot, returning home for breakfast. At 8:00 once again I've begun Ulpan (Bet) I've taken this Bet a year ago. But never retained all I learnt.......To be continued
   

DAVID SCHWEKE "RONNIE GOT ME INTO RABBI NACHMAN"

WOW! What a call I got last week. David called me and said we have to talk about Ronnie. You may not know who I am but I must tell you what Ronnie meant to me and how he changed my life. He said Ronnie helped ME get a job when I was a teenager and that put my life in order and gave me structure. About 10 years later he ran into Ronnie again and Ronnie gave him a job at Ronnie's store on Worth St. in NYC. Much later after that Ronnie ran into David somewhere and this is where he changed his life. He gave him a DVD of Rav Nosson Maimon the son in law of Rabbi Rosenfeld A'H. David explained that he never touched the video for 10 years. Suddenly he decided "let me see what Ronnie Cohen gave me in this video". That video David exclaimed changed his life forever. He started learning Likutei Maharon and before you know it he was actually giving classes himself. David said he's gotten up to 50 people at a time learning Torah. Since then David opened a website www.excitingjudaism.com and started created events for Jews to come together to learn and socialize. Ronnie once told David why don't you tape your classes? David is a humble person and answered I'm not a Rabbi. I believe Ronnie convinced him though to tape his classes.

HAL HUSNEY FROM KETER SION COMMENTED

This is the first thing I think of when I think of Ronnie. On all of our walks home from Keter, he would always comment how he is praying for someone, whether it was my family or someone else. Seeing his picture is a comfort as well.... Ronnie, keep praying for us ! 

DAD IN UNITED circa 2007

Ronnie A"H used to like to send pictures of the family to his siblings so this is one.

CANTOR EMANUEL SHALOM AND CANTOR ISRAEL LEVY

Cantor Israel Halevy playing the Kanoon to accompany Cantor Emanuel Shalom performing live for Ronnie A"H

Hazzan Emanuel Shalom From the Egyptian Shul Singing to Ronnie

Chief Cantor of the Egyptian Shul Ahava Vehachva Emanuel Shalom visits Ronnie and Sings a prayer and pizmonim to Ronnie  A"H and his wife Sabah.