"Remembering Hacham Ovadia Yosef A"H & the future of Sephardic Jewry" I honestly cannot believe an entire year went by with out Maran Hacham Ovadia Yosef A"H. This year was an extremely challenging year for the Jewish people. Three boys were kidnapped; Gilad, Naftali, Iyal and later brutally...
In the past few weeks I have received thankfully dozens of emails from literally around the world regarding the new book Maran, The Life & Scholarship of Hacham Ovadia Yosef. Most recently I received a wonderful email form a friend Adele Chabot about her personal...
Recently I came across the original manuscript of the Piyyut "Yedid Nefesh" in the original handwriting of the author, Rabbi Elazar Azikri. This famed poem is sung between various times during Shabbat dependent on one's customs and traditions. This beautiful poem is commonly attributed to the...
"Brooklyn Hol Hamoed Book Tour" It was a pleasure and honor to Lecture & have a Book signing in various Brooklyn synagogues. Book signing too place at Bnei Yosef, Shaare Zion, Ahaba Ve Ahava, and Har Halebanon. It was great to see many of my great...
[caption id="attachment_1588" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Moses Jacob Korlekar is a retired civil servant. He recites prayers for the community when a rabbi is not available. There are around 60 people in the synagogue's congregation with 20 to 25 families visiting regularly for prayer services. (photo credit:...
Excellent lecture by the renowned Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz on "Dona Gracia Nasi." Who is Doña Gracia Nasi? Doña Gracia Nasi (1510–1569) was among the most formidable figures of the Sephardi world in the sixteenth century. Her dramatic life began in Portugal, where she was born into a...
I would like to thank everyone who came out last night to the Toronto Book Launch which took place at the Sephardic Kehila Centre. A wonderful turnout of over 150 people. The video presentation of Rabbi Shimon Alouf seemed to inspire much of the audience,...