Jewish Community Center of UAE

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Jewish Community Center of UAE
Formation2019
FounderNaum Koen[1]
TypeJewish Community
Region
United Arab Emirates
ServicesKosher Food, Jewish Education, Synagogue and other Jewish communal services
Rabbi
Levi Duchman
President
Solly Wolf
Websitejewishuae.com

The Jewish Community Center of UAE is a Jewish community center in the United Arab Emirates led by the Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman and community president Solly Wolf.[2]

History[edit]

Since the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971, a small Jewish community grew and lived in the UAE for many years, but was mostly living in the shadows.[3] As improved relations between Israel and the UAE, Jews in the UAE started to openly pray and practice Judaism and established the Jewish Community Center of UAE.[4][5]

Synagogue[edit]

The JCC (Jewish Community Center) of the UAE, is led by Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman.[6][7][8] A Jewish benediction is recited to the president of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan as well as to the rest of the rulers of the UAE during Shabbat.[9][2]

Kosher food[edit]

The supply of 1,000 kosher chickens per week is provided to the community by local Kosher Shechita.[8] In May 2020, it was reported that the JCC of UAE has imported the largest meat shipment in the history of the community.[10][11][12]

Following the normalization agreement, Duchman opened an upscale kosher restaurant in the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, serving Mediterranean fare and wine and sporting a "sleek Asian decor".[13]

Talmud Torah School[edit]

A new Talmud Torah was reported in 2020 to have been recently established and now has around 40 pupils.[14][8]

Public sukkah[edit]

For the Sukkot holiday in October 2020, Duchman erected a public sukkah next to the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai.[13][15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ahren, Raphael. "Muscling in on Dubai's existing Jewish community, a Chabad rabbi stirs discord". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  2. ^ a b "Jewish Life in a Gulf State: A conversation with Mr. Solly Wolf, president of the Dubai JCC". www.amimagazine.org. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  3. ^ "Out of the shadows: UAE's Jewish community thrives after political agreement". The Independent. 2021-04-04. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  4. ^ Odenheimer, Alisa (June 3, 2020). "Jews of UAE Tweet Prayer for State as Ties with Israel Warm". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  5. ^ "As Thousands Of Israeli Tourists Visit Dubai, A Small Jewish Community Gets A Boost". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
  6. ^ השבת, כיכר. "צפו בבית הכנסת היהודי הראשון ב...דובאי". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  7. ^ "Kiddush, Torah learning, and gefilte fish in Dubai - Jewish World". Israel National News. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  8. ^ a b c Salami, Daniel (June 11, 2020). "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." Ynetnews. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  9. ^ "Our blessings for the UAE". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  10. ^ Sarare (2020-05-26). "United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  11. ^ UAE, Jewish Community of the (2020-05-24). "#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn". @JewishUae. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  12. ^ "Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  13. ^ a b Debre, Isabel (October 5, 2020). "Sukkah rises at base of world's tallest tower in UAE". The Times of Israel. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  14. ^ "Baltimore Jewish Life | A New Talmud Torah Opens In Dubai". www.baltimorejewishlife.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  15. ^ Eichner, Itamar (October 4, 2020). "Following peace deal, UAE erects first-ever public sukkah in the heart of Dubai". Ynetnews. Retrieved October 5, 2020.

External links[edit]


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