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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 community led by the Chabad Rabbi Levi Duchman and community president Solly Wolf.[2]

History

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] Recently, as improved relations between Israel and the UAE, Jews in the UAE started coming out of the shadows and openly praying including for the welfare of the Emirates government and its armed forces.[4][5] In June 2020, a message of love for the Jewish community in Dubai, Solly Wolf, and the rulers of the Emirates from the famous Israeli singer Omer Adam was publicized through the official Twitter account in Arabic for the State of Israel.[6]

Synagogue

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

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

A new Talmud Torah was reported in 2020 to have been recently established and now has around 40 pupils.[15][9]

Public sukkah

For the Sukkot holiday in October 2020, Duchman erected a public sukkah next to the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai.[14][16]

See also

References

  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. ^ "شاهدوا.. المطرب الإسرائيلي الشهير عومير أدم في رسالة محبة للجالية اليهودية في دبي ولحكام الإمارات". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
  7. ^ השבת, כיכר. "צפו בבית הכנסת היהודי הראשון ב...דובאי". כיכר השבת (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  8. ^ "Kiddush, Torah learning, and gefilte fish in Dubai - Jewish World". Israel National News. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  9. ^ a b c Salami, Daniel (June 11, 2020). "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." Ynetnews. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  10. ^ "Our blessings for the UAE". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  11. ^ Sarare (2020-05-26). "United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  12. ^ UAE, Jewish Community of the (2020-05-24). "#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn". @JewishUae. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  13. ^ "Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE". The Jerusalem Post | Jpost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Baltimore Jewish Life | A New Talmud Torah Opens In Dubai". www.baltimorejewishlife.com. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  16. ^ Eichner, Itamar (October 4, 2020). "Following peace deal, UAE erects first-ever public sukkah in the heart of Dubai". Ynetnews. Retrieved October 5, 2020.