On a recent Friday, a dark SUV pulled up to a waiting police car on Ave. T and out stepped the Rishon Le’Sion, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Hacham Shlomo Moshe Amar. The Hacham arrived erev Shabbat, joined by his wife Mazal and his son Eliyahu. Wearing the official dress of the Rishon Le’Sion, he was greeted by a small crowd of about eight people outside the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob S. Kassin.
Hacham Shlomo Amar has been the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel since 2003, elected when he was only 55. Amar has come a long way since being born in Morocco in 1948 and immigrating to Israel in 1962, when he was only 14. From a boy growing up in the Arab city of Casablanca to the discrimination suffered by Moroccan Jews in early Israel, Hacham Amar has overcome difficult hurdles and today is recognized as a respected Torah figure, and is the president of the Council of Torah Sages.
Hacham Amar was visiting Brooklyn for a social engagement and for a series of meetings. He took the time to speak privately for a moment with each member of the small group that was there to greet them. A gracious and sweet man with a deep, booming voice and a strong handshake, the Hacham received a small but growing crowd of visitors after looking over books offered to him as gifts by members of the community. Rabbi Shlomo Gangte, an Indian rabbi and graduate of the Shehebar Sephardic Center in Jerusalem, who had been visiting Brooklyn for the first time, was among the crowd inside the Kassin residence. As children went up to the Hacham for a blessing, he took a moment to look them in the eye and speak to each one. Everyone stood up as Rabbi Saul J. Kassin, chief rabbi of the Brooklyn Sephardic community, entered the room; the two men shook hands and embraced. After having tea, Hacham Amar, hand-in-hand with Rabbi Kassin (as is the oriental way), began their walk to Sephardic Lebanese Congregation (SLC) on Ave. T and East 8th Street where they would welcome the Shabbat.
The Chief Rabbi of Israel and the Chief Rabbi of the Brooklyn Sephardic community were led by Mr. Jacob Kassin along Ave. T. It was 20 minutes before minha, and men walking to the knis (synagogue) came up and extended their hand to Hacham Amar in admiration. The walk to SLC became a spectacle as many others started to notice the Chief Rabbi and then started to approach him. Escorted by an NYPD car that closed the intersections and walking with a local, plain-clothed officer as part of the entourage, all eyes were on the tall distinguished looking man in the gold and dark purple robe—not a very familiar sight for New Yorkers. As Hacham Amar crossed Ocean Parkway, men were leaning out the windows of their cars, smiling and shouting, “The Chief Rabbi, the Chief Rabbi!”
As the Chief Rabbi passed by homes on Ave. T, more and more people were coming outside and standing on their porches and balconies. Some people clapped as he walked by; others were on their cell phones calling friends to tell them the Chief Rabbi was coming down the block. Shouts of “Hello, Rav!” were heard from many porches. As the Hacham walked in front of a house, an elderly woman struggled to stand in his honor. He noticed her trying to stand up, turned toward her, waved, and she smiled greatly.
A crowd outside Sephardic Lebanese Congregation received Hacham Amar with many smiles and abundant hand shakes. Once inside, many of the congregants (some of whom had no idea that the Hacham was coming) were pleasantly surprised. The Hacham was brought up to the heikhal and was greeted there by the leaders of SLC, including Hazzan Meir Levy and many others.
The next morning, the chief rabbi attended shaharit at Shaare Zion where the jam-packed dome was decorated in blue and white bunting and Israeli flags. A large old banner, which surely was used on many happy past occasions, read, “Welcome to the Chief Rabbi of Israel.” Men, women and children had an opportunity to visit with the Hacham who stayed in Brooklyn for just a few days. His visit was certainly inspirational to all and was an honor to our great community.
While in New York, the chief rabbi marched in the Salute to Israel Parade, accompanied by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, New York Governor Patterson and Mayor Bloomberg.
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Shelomo Alfassa is a Sephardic historian and works on the cause of legal rights for Jews displaced from Arab countries. His Website is www.alfassa.com.
