Dmitri Oster_LCSW_articles

  On Monday, March 4th 2026, several high-ranking officials of the New York State Assembly and other politicians from Brooklyn to Long Island, including Mr. Bruce Blakeman, gathered in front of Oceana Theatre in Brooklyn, NY to hold a press conference and register our whole-hearted disapproval over the planned concert of Uzbek pop singer, Yulduz Usmonova. This was not a regular press conference, and this was not to be a regular performance by a pop singer. The reason for the growing movement against Yulduz Usmonova is only and solely tied to her released videos in which she expresses the most vile and putrid forms of hatred against Jews. Her blood libel is not only targeted toward Israel, but also against all Jews for all generations. She was nothing but explicit in her rabid anti-Semitism and vitriol. “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse” (Genesis 12:3). Moreover, Yulduz Usmonova was offered a sincere and gracious opportunity to recant her vile...

 On Tuesday, May 12 th 2026, I had the opportunity to attend a special world premiere film screening for The Makings Of Day of Hope. It was a behind-the-screen video showcasing the tremendous and heartfelt talent that went into the production of this groundbreaking film. The documentary film was hosted at the Great Neck South High School and had a large attendance. This event was sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. There was also a panel discussion comprised of talented individuals whom were involved in the production of this film, including Dan Holtzman, Bernie Furshpan, Ghazal Mizrahi, Ron Csillag, and many others. The panel had the privilege of being moderated by Mazi Pilip, Nassau County Legislator. The presentation was also graced by the presence of Holocaust survivors with us in the room.  The central message of this heart-touching film was about how music and the performing arts can – and should – play a role in uniting individua...

  By now, many of us are aware of the horrific acts of anti-Jewish “vandalism” (for lack of a better word) that occurred throughout the overnight hours of this Monday, May 4 th 2026. At least five separate locations were targeted in the Forest Hills and Rego Park neighborhoods, including the Rego Park Jewish Center, Congregation Machane Chodosh, and adjacent private homes. Surveillance footage captured four young men in hoodies spray-painting swastikas and the word “Hitler” on Jewish buildings, a car, and a plaque memorializing Holocaust victims. The suspects, captured on video footage, are being described as four teenagers. The suspects do appear to be in their later teens and possibly younger 20’s. They are, unfortunately, still not apprehended at the time of this writing. I reviewed the released video surveillance many times over, and was involved in the cleaning-up efforts at one property the very next morning as these symbols of hate were discovered. The NYPD Hate Crime Uni...

 I had client who was referred to me on more than one occasion, for more than one criminal offense. This client was also involved with more than one criminal justice agency, on both the state and federal levels. This client also has open court cases in more than one state, although his residence was within New York. This was a client with a higher-than-average intelligence, and with middot (character traits) that you can sense wanted correction and healing. The client was, however, seemingly mired in an unending spiral of contact with negative people, places, and things. His relationships were highly toxic and not appropriate for him, or the wants of his true self. His business and transactional dealings were all marred by aspects of illegality and deceit. He was barely existing as he went from day to day with no sense of satisfaction, higher purpose or attachment to anything truly worthwhile. Much of his personal history was unfortunately marked by individuals and organizations ...

  On Thursday, April 16 th , 2026, the now infamous anti-Semite and open Jew hater – Nathan White – appeared in court for his further arraignment. Kathryn Donnelly, Ariel Kohan, others and myself also showed up to that court hearing. We waited hours for the vile defendant to appear in court, and he finally was brought in with handcuffs and surrounded by NYPD Officers. As soon as he came out through the waiting room chamber doors, our eyes met and I felt a plethora of physiological reactions instantly activating within me as he had a most sinister and menacing smile on his face. He truly looked like a walking demon, and thankfully he was now detained. One would think that the seriousness of this moment would not warrant a smile across the face of the defendant being brought up on such hateful charges, but there he was. It was not a nervous smile. It was an intentional smile meant to convey a serious character defect in his soul, intermingled with strains of evil and wickedness. [Wh...

 Monday was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The Gregorian calendar year is 2026, and the lessons from that catastrophe of history should never be forgotten or diluted. We are less than 100 years from that unimaginable tragedy. Six million Jews, mostly across the European continent, were systematically tortured and exterminated. In today’s day and age, it is almost inconceivable to imagine how this was allowed to happen. But it did. We can and should never forget how passive indifference to the plight of one of the world’s smallest minorities almost, God forbid, led to our partial extinction. That was the diabolical and evil plan of Hitler along with his European and Arab collaborators. One of the most telling aspects of the Israeli Yom HaShoah commemorations is that, in Israel, Jews not only recall and remember the six million victims of the Holocaust but also place the Jewish peoples’ resistance at the forefront of our living memory. Indeed, we recall the famous Warsaw g...

 As we leave the time of Pesach and transition into our standard routines and practices, a thought remains: Perhaps it might serve us well to remember the various ways we can serve our Creator through our many gifts. Reading new daily sections of the Korbanot over the first 13 days of Nisan reminds us of the beauty of dedication to Hashem through our prayers, as we await the rebuilding of the Third Temple. I couldn’t help but recall the sanctity of the luminous voice of Avrom Tolmasov — and before him, Isak Katayev — in their singing of Qurbon Olam («I will sacrifice»): a timeless and deeply enchanting melody, sung in Uzbek, sanctified by the golden voices of Bukharian Jews. Their talents and dedication to their craft is almost supernatural – the most materialistic person cannot help being transported to a higher spiritual realm upon hearing their pleas – not “wails”. Pleas for the acceptance of a divine love, a supernal beauty – a true wanting and “cleaving to Hashem”. Many of ...

 QUEENS, NY—Justice has yet again been delayed for a Jew. On March 18, 2026, defendant Eric Zafra Grosso failed to show up again in court in the hate-crime case regarding his broad daylight attack of Rabbi David Shushan. While this is not surprising, there are a few insights – and calls to action – that can be gleaned by engaging in a sober-eyed review of events leading up to this moment. Rabbi David Shushan’s attacker is still at large, and there are not many attempts via the New York City Criminal Court system to locate and bring him to justice. The fact that his case was initially heard by a political hack of a Judge (Sharifa Nasser-Cuellar) with highly questionable ideological fixations is already moot. The fact that the defendant’s legal team appears to have no interest with ensuring compliance of their “client” in court is to be – pathetically–expected. I now also believe that the good-hearted and well-intentioned efforts of the Queens Assistant District Attorney’s office o...