Anchoring the Sephardic Soul of Downtown NYC, entering a new era with Rabbi Joey Faur and Rabbi Sion Setton
In 2001, a small Friday-night minyan on West 16th Street drew Syrians, Israelis, and French Jews to pray in one crowded room. That spark has become Congregation Magen David of Manhattan (CMDM), now anchored on Sullivan Street.
Today CMDM offers daily services, Torah study, holiday meals, and soon a Downtown Sephardic Student Center. More than a synagogue, it is a movement, a home for families and young professionals building their lives downtown.
Welcoming Rabbi Joey Faur:
A Rabbi for This Generation
This year marks a turning point with Rabbi Joey Faur’s appointment as CMDM’s new spiritual guide. At just 27, Rabbi Faur brings a rare blend of Torah mastery, youthful vigor, and genuine warmth. His journey, which includes immersive Torah study, academic and business pursuits, and defending Am Yisrael in the IDF uniform, resonates deeply with young adults seeking identity, purpose, and faith. At the same time, his erudition, maturity, and experience allow him to connect with community members, young and old alike.
Rabbi Faur’s impact was immediate. His lessons, rooted in Sephardic halacha and tradition, address contemporary challenges with both approachability and rigor. Reflecting on CMDM’s atmosphere, Rabbi Faur explains: “Our community is, above all, a home for students, young professionals, couples, families, and visitors from near and far. The moment you step into Magen David’s Sullivan Street building, you are greeted with warmth and invited into tefillot, shared meals, and engaging Torah classes. That all of this exists outside the traditional community hub is nothing short of remarkable.”
Rabbi Sion Setton and the Downtown Sephardic Student Center:
A New Era of Leadership and Learning
Alongside Rabbi Joey Faur, Rabbi Sion Setton, a long-time friend, teacher, and beloved rabbinic presence at CMDM, is serving full-time as Principal of Yeshivah Prep High School. Over the next few years, he will lead an exciting initiative: the creation of the Downtown Sephardic Student Center, which will serve the spiritual and communal needs of hundreds of Sephardic college students and young professionals who live, dorm, or study in downtown New York.
Located in Greenwich Village/SoHo, and serving students from NYU, Baruch, Pace, Cooper Union, Cardozo, and beyond, the Center is both a sanctuary and a home. The Downtown Sephardic Student Center, housed in CMDM’s newly renovated Sullivan Street facility, offers:
- Weekly Shabbat services and warm communal dinners.
- Daily minyanim and hot breakfast for students.
- Ongoing Torah classes and havrutot (study partnerships).
- Holiday programming and social events.
- Personal mentorship and halachic (Jewish law) guidance for young adults.
- Internship and job placement opportunities.
- Summer BBQs and get-togethers in Deal to strengthen community bonds.
“Jewish students today are facing a world of intense pressure socially, academically, and spiritually,” says Rabbi Setton. “Our job is to make sure they know they are not alone. That there is a community that sees them, supports them, and helps them stay connected to who they are.”
Each weekday morning, as the city awakens, Hazzan Michael Gammal leads Shaharit melodically and efficiently, setting a grounded tone for the day. Soon after, Yossi Abraham hosts engaging Torah classes over coffee, fresh breakfast, and warm conversation, exploring everything from halachic insights to classical commentaries. These gatherings provide students and professionals with a meaningful spiritual anchor before they head off to work or school.
On Shabbat and Jewish holidays, the local community gathers for spirited prayers led by Hazzan Leor Alkadda. After services, everyone enjoys Kiddush and festive meals lovingly catered by Events Director Erica Rolo. Throughout Shabbat, meaningful Torah classes taught by Rabbi Faur, Rabbi Setton, and guest speakers, along with engaging social programs, offer both spiritual nourishment and deep communal connection.
Magen David in Motion: A Community for Every Life Stage
CMDM is more than a synagogue. It is a spiritual home, a vibrant social hub, and a center for Jewish life that serves all ages and stages. Our regular programming includes:
- Lavish monthly Friday-night dinners for young professionals.
- Purim celebrations that have become downtown’s most anticipated parties.
- Rooftop gatherings, guest speakers, exclusive film screenings, panel discussions, and more.
Events Director and chef extraordinaire Erica Rolo ensures that every gathering is thoughtfully prepared and beautifully executed. The result is a warm, joyful, and welcoming environment that fosters lasting relationships. In fact, over forty couples have met and married through connections made at CMDM, a testament to the depth and vitality of this community.
Our newly renovated event space and modern kitchen on Sullivan Street, just steps from SoHo and Washington Square, now also hosts life cycle events, including: - Brit milot
- Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
- Sheba berachot
- Engagement parties and memorials
Why Now: A Home for the Next Generation
In an era when many young Jews are disconnecting from faith and tradition following high school, Magen David of Manhattan offers something powerful: a model for staying rooted without standing still. It is a place where young people do not have to choose between downtown life and Sephardic values. It is a synagogue where you can attend a morning minyan, learn Torah with your rabbi over coffee, celebrate your engagement, and find your community, all under one roof.
It is where kids from Brooklyn or Deal who dorm in the city feel safe and grounded. It is where young professionals meet their future spouses. It is where downtown families bring their children for their first aliyah to the Torah. It is not just a synagogue. It is home.
As Rabbi Elie Abadie once said in a dedication: “May this synagogue be a sanctuary, where prayers of all people will be heard and answered. Not only a place of worship but a place to touch eternity.” Magen David of Manhattan is that place. And the time to invest in it is now.
Congregation Magen David of Manhattan is located at 177 Sullivan St. NYC. To host your simcha, learn more about our growing programs, or get the minyan schedule, visit www.MagenDavidNY.org. For direct inquiries, contact Erica Rolo at 212-673-0333 or email info@magendavidny.org.
