Charismatic Rabbi Takes Reins of Manhattan Beach Synagogue

Defining himself as a passionate Jewish educator, Rabbi Yosef Bitton has taken command of Congregation Ohel David and Shlomo, adding spiritual guidance that has had a clear and meaningful impact on the community in just six months. Attendance is up and the synagogue now has a full activity agenda that draws in members of the community and motivates them to be involved and engaged in a way they never have before.

According to Alan Shamah, the congregation president. “His understanding of what a community needs is better than most. Our congregants are families who need advice that fits with today’s society.”  Shamah said that Rabbi Bitton takes the time to talk to the congregants, to be inclusive, to engage people and build a relationship with them.

According to community leader Edmond Dweck, “People who haven’t been regular about attendance now show up every week and are eager to come. Classes are exciting—for men, women and children. He is dynamic and very inspirational and people are following him as if they have known him for years. Rabbi Bitton found a way to get the children to respond to him in a manner no one expected. Kids show up in synagogue at all times of the week.”

Born in Argentina, Rabbi Bitton’s mother is Syrian and his father Moroccan. For the past nine years, he worked as the sole pulpit rabbi of the 1,000 family-member UMJCA, the Mashadi Jewish Community of Great Neck.

“I think my biggest accomplishment in the Mashadi community is that today there is more Torah learning than nine years ago,” said Rabbi Bitton. “Literally, hundreds of boys and girls study Torah every week, many of them every day.” Thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Bitton the Mashadi community adopted the Syrian community Takana against intermarriage five years ago. Rabbi Bitton, who is a full supporter of the Takana says: “In America we are all very exposed to intermarriage and I believe that the Takana will help the Mashadi community to overcome the perils of assimilation in the near future.”

Rabbi Bitton’s experience includes being spiritual leader in congregations in Buenos Aires (he worked five years as rabbi of the shamie community Agudat Dodim) and in Uruguay, where he was the chief rabbi for four years. A graduate of the Shehebar Sephardic Center (SSC) rabbinical school in the Old City under Rabbi Shlomo Kassin, Bitton is also an ordained dayan (family law) receiving his certification from Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, himself.

The SSC rabbinical school has graduated 160 rabbis and teachers serving in Sephardic communities around the world. There are approximately 20 rabbis from the yeshiva serving Sephardic communities in the NY/NJ area alone.

Bitton’s Halakha of the Day has an email reach of over 6,000 people daily, between direct emails, Facebook followers, and the SSC email list. “The Halakha of the Day is very short (300 words) so it can be read in two or three minutes. The content is focused on understanding the basic concepts of halakha, tefilah, etc. On Wednesdays, I also write about the history of mostly unknown Sephardic rabbis of the last two centuries,” said Rabbi Bitton.

Rabbi Bitton is most proud of his latest book “Awesome Creation,” a study on the first three verses of the Torah. In the book, he addresses very important questions, such as the differences (and the coincidences) between what the Torah says and what modern science says. For each verse, the book devotes three full chapters.

“He thoroughly delves into the meaning of the first three pesukim (verses) of Bereshit in a very unique way,” said Raymond Gindi, who received the book from the rabbi himself. “I think many of us have questions about the apparent contradiction between the Torah and the scientific secular world in calculating the age of the universe. Rabbi Bitton, citing many Torah and secular sources, harmonizes away this issue and many others. He made complex concepts very easy to understand.”

Rabbi Bitton said he has been fascinated with the issue of Creation since he was a child. “What I was learning about evolution in high school took my sleep away. I had a difficult time reconciling what my science teachers taught me and my beliefs as a Jew. Then I understood that the Torah and the physical world are really two books written by the same Author. The differences between these two books should be solved—deepening our understanding of both.”

Rebbetzin Coty Bitton and her excellent track record in Great Neck also play a big part in the Manhattan Beach community. “She gives a class on Shabbat that is well attended. People are comfortable with her and they relate to her,” said Mr. Shamah.

Born Coty Carciente in Melilla, Spain, into a family of Moroccan rabbis, the Rebbetzin is a well-recognized Torah teacher and counselor. She was extremely active in Great Neck and has brought the same level of energy to Manhattan Beach. She counsels couples, prepares brides, and teaches workshops on relationships, parenting and self-esteem.

Mr. Shamah said, “Her demeanor is very positive; she has a full heart and her perspective is important. The women love her and she is reviving the sisterhood. She is very dynamic. Together they are the dynamic duo. We feel she was a big win for us.”

Mr. Dweck added, “Rabbi Bitton is the perfect rabbi for us. In many ways, he is taking the bull by the horns. When he suggests a program, we jump, not because we have to but because we want to; he inspires us. His speeches on Shabbat are top notch. People look forward to them. They are delivered with passion, knowledge and humor. He introduces you to the point and at the end you get it—no matter what your level of knowledge. Shabbat has become even more important.”

“Rabbi Bitton was a perfect match for the special and unique needs of the Mashadi community in Great Neck,” said Rabbi Sam Kassin. “He was very popular at keeping the community together. I think the experience he brings to Manhattan Beach will help the community grow.”

Rabbi Bitton’s first days and weeks on the job were a challenge. “I came after Sandy. The storm was terrible, but at least for Manhattan Beach, it was not a tragedy. People lost properties and assets. They suffered the first nine of the ten plagues, but B”H no lives were claimed,” he said. “In the congregation, the storm also helped to bring out the best in each individual. Many people selflessly devoted themselves to assist and help whoever was in need. I have seen angels of hesed.”

Rabbi Bitton has many goals for Manhattan Beach. He wants to recreate a thirst for Torah knowledge and inspire the congregation. He hopes to improve their level of prayer, so they can better connect with Hashem. And most importantly, he wants the community to be more actively connected to Medinat Israel and engaged in Israel advocacy.

“He took over for Rabbi Eli Greenwald,” said board member Albert Laboz, “who was our spiritual leader for 40 years. Rabbi Greenwald helped the community grow from our small beginnings in Brighton Beach to what it is today and is now Rabbi Emeritus.”

“Rabbi Bitton is an amazing rabbi, we are so lucky to have him. I think Rabbi Bitton has the intellect, the charm and charisma to be one of the leading rabbis in our community. As the word is getting out about his warmth and ability to articulate, attendance is increasing,” said Albert Laboz.  “I love his classes and attend every Shabbat.”

“Rabbi Bitton doesn’t assume we have a level of knowledge. For example, he has been teaching us tefillah, how to pray. He spends time teaching us, exploring what we are doing on every level so that our prayer is more meaningful,” said Mr. Shamah.

“The congregation is vibrant,” said Rabbi Bitton. “I find them very warm, kind, welcoming and also thirsty for knowledge. As any other rabbi, my first goal is to boost the community’s desire to study Torah and to convey that the wisdom of Judaism is absolutely relevant to our lives. The Torah teaches us to be better parents, better spouses, better friends and it leads us to focus our scattered minds on the right moral values. We need to recover our Jewish social capital, which consists of more than the pursuit of wealth and popularity.”

“Youth are the future of any congregation,” said Rabbi Bitton. His goal is to draw in the community’s youth, especially the 5 to 12 year olds, with a Ta’amim club on Shabbat afternoon, where they learn the haftarah, tehillim and Sephardic melodies and prayers.

“Rabbi Bitton brings balance, political correctness and modern day wisdom to the job,” said Mr. Dweck.

Mr. Shamah said “His perspective is different and he is a very strong motivator for our community. He is very in sync with the people and he is realistic. He has proven this over and over in his shiurim. He gives soul to the physical structure of Congregation Ohel David and Shlomo. We are lucky to have someone of his stature and level of experience in our community. With Rabbi Bitton, we will take the community from where it is to where it could be.”

By Sarina Roffe, a community member and award-winning writer with hundreds of articles to her credit. She holds a BA in Journalism and an MA in Jewish studies.