Recently, Congregation Magen David of Belle Harbor celebrated its first ever inauguration of a rabbi. In September of 2007, Magen David hired Rabbi Izhar Azriel, a member of the first graduating class of the Sephardic Rabbinical College (SRC) and the Shehebar Sephardic Center (SSC).
On hand, and joining in the celebration were leading rabbis of the Brooklyn Sephardic community, including Rabbi Shaul Kassin, Chief Rabbi of the Brooklyn Syrian community, Rabbi Shimon Alouf, Chief Rabbi of Congregation Ahava V’ Ahava and Rosh Yeshiva of the Sephardic Rabbinical College and Magen David Yeshiva, Rabbi Harold Sutton, Chief Rabbi of Congregation Bnei Yitzhak, Principal of Magen David Yeshiva and Head Administrator of the Sephardic Rabbinical College, Rabbi Dr. Eli Abadi, Chief Rabbi of the Safra Synagogue, and Rabbi Yitzhak Azriel, father of Rabbi Izhar Azriel, Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Melachi in Israel.
Magen David was proud to host the Torah luminaries as each waxed poetic concerning the qualities of both the newly installed rabbi and the congregation. Rabbi Kassin stressed Rabbi Azriel’s commitment to education and the continuation of our mesorah (transmission of traditions and laws). Rabbis Alouf and Sutton, as teachers of Rabbi Azriel at the SRC, spoke about the profuse desire and ability of Rabbi Azriel to transmit Torah. Rabbi Abadie spoke touchingly concerning his connection with Magen David as a past rabbi and his life long commitment to ensure the success and growth of the kahal (congregation). Rabbi Azriel, in a fatherly tone, spoke about his son’s desire to participate in the physical and spiritual growth of a young community.
This wonderful community event took place in the social hall of Magen David and was attended by over 150 Belle Harbor community members. The congregation itself has a membership of about 50 families and is located in a convenient and upscale suburb of Queens within five minutes of Brooklyn and 30 minutes of Manhattan. Magen David places particular emphasis on creating a welcoming environment for every Jew. Although following the ancient and holy minhagim of Aram Soba, it respects and welcomes Jews of every background and is proud to have an extremely diverse congregation. The great majority of the congregants are between 30 and 45 years of age with many young children. While the member families represent a broad demographic range and cross-section of religious backgrounds, they are all united in their vision of fostering an open-minded community guided by commitment to Torah study, tefilla, hesed and a strong and active connection to Medinat Yisrael. The congregation and its members are known for their hospitality, sociability and friendship and at times of joy, sadness, or need, the knis (synagogue) and its members have always demonstrated concern, care and support for one another.
Given Rabbi Azriel’s systematic and intelligent approach to teaching, kiruv (binging one closer to Judaism), and strong halachic knowledge, the congregation is confident that Rabbi Azriel will be the catalyst that will propel it into the forefront of the local Jewish community.
