Jewish Community Center of UAE
| Logo of the Jewish Community Center of UAE Logo of the Jewish Community Center of UAE | |
| Formation | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Naum Koen [1] |
| Type | Jewish Community |
Region | United Arab Emirates |
| Services | Kosher food, Jewish education, synagogue, and other Jewish communal services |
Rabbi | Levi Duchman |
President | Vacant |
| Website | jewishuae |
The Jewish Community Center of UAE is a Jewish community center in the United Arab Emirates led by Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman.[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]
The president of the center, Solly Wolf, died on February 4 2025.[6]
Synagogue
[edit ]The JCC (Jewish Community Center) of the UAE, is led by Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman.[7] [8] [9] 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.[10] [2]
Kosher food
[edit ]The supply of 1,000 kosher chickens per week is provided to the community by local Kosher Shechita.[9] In May 2020, it was reported that the JCC of UAE has imported the largest meat shipment in the history of the community.[11] [12] [13]
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".[14]
Talmud Torah School
[edit ]A new Talmud Torah was reported in 2020 to have been recently established and now has around 40 pupils.[15] [9]
Public sukkah
[edit ]For the Sukkot holiday in October 2020, Duchman erected a public sukkah next to the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai.[14] [16]
See also
[edit ]- Zvi Kogan, Israeli-Moldovan Chabad rabbi who worked at the center and was killed in the United Arab Emirates
- History of the Jews in the United Arab Emirates
References
[edit ]- ^ Ahren, Raphael. "Muscling in on Dubai's existing Jewish community, a Chabad rabbi stirs discord". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ 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 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Out of the shadows: UAE's Jewish community thrives after political agreement" . The Independent. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Odenheimer, Alisa (3 June 2020). "Jews of UAE Tweet Prayer for State as Ties with Israel Warm". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- ^ "As Thousands Of Israeli Tourists Visit Dubai, A Small Jewish Community Gets A Boost". NPR.org. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Woolf, Avi (4 February 2025). "UAE Rabbi Levi Duchman: Solly Wolf has passed away". JFeed. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ השבת, כיכר. "צפו בבית הכנסת היהודי הראשון ב...דובאי". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Kiddush, Torah learning, and gefilte fish in Dubai - Jewish World". Israel National News. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Salami, Daniel (11 June 2020). "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." Ynetnews . Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "Our blessings for the UAE". Twitter. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Sarare (26 May 2020). "United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ UAE, Jewish Community of the (24 May 2020). "#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn". @JewishUae. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ a b Debre, Isabel (5 October 2020). "Sukkah rises at base of world's tallest tower in UAE". The Times of Israel . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Baltimore Jewish Life | A New Talmud Torah Opens In Dubai". www.baltimorejewishlife.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ Eichner, Itamar (4 October 2020). "Following peace deal, UAE erects first-ever public sukkah in the heart of Dubai". Ynetnews . Retrieved 5 October 2020.
External links
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