Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, a great scholar and daring legislator, Chief Rabbi of Israel (1972-1983), spiritual teacher and political leader to hundreds of thousands, never ceases to surprise. He surprised everyone in the rabbinical arena when he rose in amazing speed from office to office and was elected Chief Rabbi, the Rishon le Zion, even though he presented his candidacy only two weeks prior to the elections.
He was born in Baghdad in 1920, a first-born son who was named after his grandfather, Rabbi Abdullah Yosef, later changed to Ovadia. When he was four years old his family emigrated to Israel and little Ovadia was sent to the Bnei-Zion religious school, in the Bucharian neighborhood in Jerusalem.
I was working for the Young Magen David Congregation on 67th Street before the beginning of the Magen David Yeshivah. Mr. Joe Kassin and Mr. Joe Tawil A”H took me aside and convinced me that the most important work in the community was educating our children in Talmud Torah and not just working for the congregation. I took their advice, and joined them in running the Talmud Torah on 67th Street.
Our community was deeply saddened when community leader Abraham Sultan passed away. At his eulogy, he was called a visionary. Over 60 years ago he understood the need our young people had for a center. He not only understood the need, he was the driving force behind the idea and the fund- raising effort. When the new center evolved into Magen David Yeshivah, it was Abe, the modern thinker, who insisted that girls be admitted as students to facilitate their opportunity for an equal education. He was at the forefront of many innovative, forward-thinking ideas and actions of his time.
Lena Cymbrowitz was a beloved community member. After her passing, her husband, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz wrote this: Lena knew that her passing would be particularly hard for me. We were more than husband and wife. We were best friends, partners, and soulmates. Whenever I would begin to cry she would say, “Hey, you have to be strong, you have to hold everybody together for me!” She knew that she needed to make sure I didn’t wallow in my grief, as she knew I would want to do. Lena and I discussed her wish that I run for her Assembly seat several times. She knew that she had made an impact and wanted me to continue what she started and made me promise that I wouldn’t let her down.
The Jewish world suffered a great loss with the passing of Mr. Gabriel Shehebar. Publicly, he was known as the patriarch of a successful family business in ladies wear and a philanthropist. A rabbinical college, yeshivot and many synagogues in Israel and around the world were named after him. He also supported many orphanages and old age homes.
The memory of Joseph Beyda was honored in the manner in which he lived his life, with elegance and passion. Over 800 enthusiastic community members came to honor Joseph’s memory and listen to excerpts from the book, “Joseph, How One Man Can Make A Difference,” written by Jack Doueck.
Imagine a man whose life, accomplishments and legacy were so extraordinary that he was the link to our past, preserving it forever. He was a role model and a guide for all of us to emulate in the present and his achievements will shape the future of the Jewish world for many generations to come. This man was Sam Catton. He was small in stature, but larger than life—a man of mythical proportions.
Thousands of people joined together at Ahi Ezer Congregation, on the 18th day of Tishrei, Hol Hamoed Succot, to pay respect to our beloved leader Hacham Sion Maslaton. It was a day set aside for simcha, a day where no eulogies can be heard, yet still people felt a need to attend what turned out to be one of the largest funerals our community has seen. Many were outside, listening from a loudspeaker, sitting in the Succah, or standing on the street, where the police had closed off Ocean Parkway out of deference for the crowd.
Rabbi Baruch Ben Haim was the guiding force of our community for over 50 years. He was born in 1921 in Jerusalem. He studied in Yeshivat Porat Yosef and was ordained by the great Gaon Rabbi Ezra Attieh, the Rosh Yeshiva, and by the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Meir Hai Uziel. He served as a member of the Sephardic Beit Din in Jerusalem with Rabbi Yehuda Shako and Rabbi Ezra Attieh.
The Sephardic Community Federation (SCF) played a critical role in successfully reaching an agreement with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH) that would improve the health and safety of our children, and prevent the possible closure of yeshivot throughout New York City. The agreement came in the wake of newly proposed regulations by the DOH.
Men from Aleppo and Damascus, Syria began to arrive in America during the early part of the 20th century. Soon they found that the opportunities America offered were vast, so instead of returning to their homeland, they brought their families here. 