Leadership

The Sutton Place Chabad is a local branch of the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement, the largest and fastest growing Jewish religious and social services organization. Inspired by the vision of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Sutton Place Chabad was founded in 2005 as a division of Chabad of Midtown. Under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi and Mrs. Metzger, Sutton Place Chabad has reached out and touched thousands of lives through a warm and personal approach to community building. Hundreds of families and individuals have taken part in our High Holiday Services, Holiday Family Events, Public Menorah Lightings, Shabbat Services, Torah Classes, Passover Seders, Preschool and more. From 2008-2019, Sutton Place Chabad was headquartered on East 53rd Street. In the summer of 2019, Sutton Place Chabad leased a beautiful historic townhouse on East 58th Street, where the preschool, synagogue and programs continue to grow and thrive. In 2023 Sutton Place Chabad purchased the townhouse, setting roots to serve the community - With the help of G‑d- for many more years to come.

Our motto & mission: Torah Literacy ~ Mitzvah Observance ~ Community.

About the Rabbi:

Rabbi Shmuel A. Metzger has been serving the community for two decades and is the longest serving Rabbi in East Midtown. A third generation New Yorker, he received his Bachelor of Religious Studies from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, New Jersey. Following that, he spent six years of study at the Central Chabad-Lubavitch Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim '770' in Brooklyn where he earned his First Rabbinic Degree, Rabbinic Ordination and then an advanced degree Dayanut (Rabbinic Judicial Ordination). Rabbi Metzger’s studies and travels as a student Rabbi took him across the world and close to home, with stints in London, New Haven and Bosnia.

Rabbi Metzger combines his vast knowledge of Bible, Talmud and Chassidic thought with an open approach to everyone he encounters. The Rabbi is well-known in Sutton Place for the depth and originality of his classes. Having spent his formative years in Crown Heights in close proximity to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Metzger is inspired by the Rebbe’s vision, love of Judaism, of the Jewish people and of all humanity. He has spearheaded many initiatives in Sutton Place to further education and unite community. Rabbi Metzger is best reached via email at [email protected].

About the Rebbetzin:

A Vancouver Canada native, Mrs. Raizy Metzger co-directs the Sutton Place Chabad and is the founder and executive director of The Oved Chabad Sutton Preschool (formerly Manhattan Jewish Montessori).

Mrs. Metzger earned a degree in Judaic studies at Beth Chana of Safed, Israel. She then taught on both early childhood and high school levels in Los Angeles and then New York.

After graduating, she served as an editor at Wellsprings Magazine and concurrently as a staff writer at Lubavitch.com, the official Chabad-Lubavitch news service.

In 2006, she founded the Jewish Children’s Book Club in her home, where local children would come by, read a Jewish themed book and engage in stimulating Jewish activities. Over time, the success of the program evolved into the Oved Chabad Sutton Preschool which fuses excellence in education with the warmth and wisdom of the Jewish mother.

Mrs. Metzger lectures locally, internationally and virtually at Bais Chana Women International on a variety of topics including mysticism, feminism and her best-selling children's book Listen With Your Heart.

Mrs. Metzger's positive and powerful impact on the community has not gone unnoticed. In July 2020, NYC Councilman Ben Kallos presented her with a City Council Citation saluting her as an 'Outstanding Citizen'. In August 2024 State Assemblyman Alex Bores presented her with The Assembly State of New York Proclamation for an 'Unwavering commitment to her community'. In December of the same year, she received an accolade from Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine 'In recognition of your contributions to the wellbeing of community members'. Finally, in 2025 she was honored with the Certificate of Recognition from the Mayor of New York Eric Adams which concludes 'You have Spread joy through your words, deeds and Jewish pride, and you continue to shine as a light unto the nations'. Mrs. Metzger is best reached via email at [email protected].

Rabbi and Mrs. Metzger are blessed to the proud parents of six children, Mushka, Mendel, Chana, Sarah, Ester & Leah.