The Jewish Voice
JANUARY 13, 2016
NYC FEATURES
PAGE 41
The NYC Sephardic Community Rallies Behind Rabbi Elie Abadie, MD Edited by: JV Staff
R
abbi Elie Abadie has been the driving force in unifying the Sephardic Jewish community in Manhattan. On a personal level, he has also greatly enriched our experience since we moved to Manhattan over five years ago. The speakers, foreign ambassadors and other diplomats, politicians, and humanitarian luminaries make Rabbi Abadie's synagogue their choice spot to pray on Shabbat. In the process, he brings thought, leadership and interesting discussions to the entire Congregation Edmond J. Safra. A hallmark is his ability to communicate. Although English is not his mother tongue, he often greets and converses with guests in their native language, making them feel welcomed and comfortable. On a different level, he also is able to communicate with a broad spectrum of people. Our Congregation is known for its cultural diversity to be sure, but also for the wide range of people's levels of observance. Rabbi Abadie somehow is able to bring an uplifti g message of Torah through refle tion and self-improvement to the entire Congregation, regardless of their background. A common thread is the warm, vibrant, tolerant, and loving culture that we all share as members of his Congregation. We can safely say that while we have exemplary rabbis throughout our Sephardic Community, our personal experience since moving to NYC has made us more observant and more proud of our Jewish identity and Sephardic heritage as a result of Rabbi Abadie's leadership. We are truly amazed at the boundless love and energy that Rabbi Abadie and his wife Estie and his children all bring in making our Congregation the special place it has become. We are truly fortunate to be part of the vision and growth he has brought to Manhattan in growing the Synagogue, working to establish Sephardic Academy of Manhattan, and identifying the need for our future Community Center. With Hashem’s help, he will continue to further strengthen and solidify our future.
– With love and respect, Rebecca and Joe Harary
Twenty years ago, when my husband and I were getting married, we were searching for a Hazan for the ceremony. A close relative told us "I have the perfect person! His name is Elie Abadie and he is a nice man with a beautiful voice." And that, he was. My husband and I did not realize that a decade or so later we would find this same man, now a Rabbi and a Physician, leading a vibrant and growing congregation on the East Side of Manhattan. Rabbi Abadie has been a source of inspiration to so many congregants. As a man deeply committed to sustaining the Sephardic heritage, he
has grown a congregation and brought together Sephardic Jews from all over the world. It is not unusual hearing the Rabbi converse with one congregant in fluent Spanish and with another in elegant Arabic. Rabbi Abadie's knowledge of Jewish History, Sephardic traditions, politics, medicine, and the Torah allow him to speak to our community with a breadth of understanding that is unsurpassed. He is our moral compass and believes in standing up for what is right and just. We truly hope that he can continue to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Rabbi Elie Abadie lead our thriving community for many more years to come.
– Lenore and Maurice Ades
Rabbi Abadie is a mench of the highest degree. Knowing him is a privilege, and to call him my friend is truly an honor. He has the unique ability to reach so many different people on so many different levels, and is special in every way. The e is no depth to his understanding of people, and I am no exception. Whenever I have been in his company, I am a better person. I have to say, the closer Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, zt'l and Rabbi Eli Abadie we become, the closer I feel to Hashem and the world around me. He has helped me connect my heart even more closely to the people I care about, and for that I will always be grateful.
– Paul Bernstein
Rabbi Abadie has built a great institution that continues to attract many people like my wife and I because of the brilliance of his caring leadership. He is a wonderful speaker, and his sermons resonate with people of all ages and degree of religious commitment –which is one reason why the synagogue Rabbi Elie Abadie at UN Agenda Meetinfg is so full. We cannot say enough about his personal commitment to people. He is always there to help in stressful situations—as we had occasion to discover in our personal lives. Rabbi Abadie is a wonderful person and leader and he is the soul of the Safra Synagogue. The efore, we - and many others who have interacted with him - love him dearly.
- Henry Kressel
My fi st meeting with Rabbi Abadie was during my interview to establish the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised by his wonderful personality and incredible vision to create an educational institution for our Sephardic Community that would supplement the Safra Synagogue and give our Community a school they could call their own. In the six years working with him, I have found his wisdom, insight, and sensitivity to be a major factor in the development and success of our school. When we have our annual Shabbaton for our parents at the Safra Synagogue, each parent feels his warmth and respect. He always takes the time to meet and encourage each parent to become part of the Synagogue. He honors the name of Edmond J. Safra to our students and parents, and his leadership as an unpaid Head of School is a tribute to his
Rabbi Abadie at a SAM School Graduation Ceremony
dedication to the Communi- joined the congregation, I had ty. He is truly a blessing to our many interactions with the RabCommunity and to our school. bi, most recently in order to prepare for the upcoming Bar Mitz– Chary Fox, vah of my son. I never had a sinEarly Childhood gle doubt about the integrity of Director, Sephardic the Rabbi, only seeing him as an Academy of honest and excellent servant of Manhattan Hashem and the Congregation. He has guided us, inspired us, I'd like to express my greatest support to Rabbi Abadie.Since I and helped us in the best way to
live our faith. He is there whenI specifical y recall one time ever we need him. He has my when I was late to my appointdeepest respect. ment in his medical offic many years ago. The secretary was – Pascal El Grably quite upset, but Rabbi Abadie My name is Joseph and I've calmly and skillfully assured her had both the distinguished that it was alright. Th t is somehonor, privilege, and Zechut of thing I will never forget. The e knowing Rabbi Elie Abadie, MD are many questionable charfor over 10 years. Thebiggest gift acters in this world, but Rabbi in the world that the Edmond J. Abadie is not one of them. He is Safra Synagogue has is having a man of true character. Sincerely him as their Rabbi and Spiritual Leader. He is of the greatest advocates not just for the Jewish Itsik Zeitouni Community in NYC, but for the On behalf of my wife and famJewish Community worldwide. ily, I would like to clearly and Every Shabbat and during emphatically state our love and the week he has filled the Syn- respect for our esteemed and reagogue and enriched it in every vered Rabbi Elie Abadie. We are way possible. The essence and a Sephardic family living on the foundation of the Community Upper East Side since 1991. Our has been based on his merit and 3 children have been attending hard work. Rabbi Abadie has Synagogue regularly on Shabbat tremendous talents and skills and have attended Ramaz from whether as a Medical Doctor, kindergarten all through to High or teaching and spreading his School. Our family was thrilled wisdom to the student base at when the Edmond J. Safra SynYeshiva University. agogue was established on 63rd Th y wanted him to stay Street, and we became Congreand teach the Jewish Leaders gants immediately after meeting of tomorrow. Yet, in his greatest the Rabbi and his family. demonstration of commitment, Th y have done an amazing, he took upon himself the obliga- and unquantifiable service for tion and duty of tending to our our Sephardic Community. RabCommunity instead. The sacri- bi Abadie has been a signific nt fices the Rabbi has made to stay reason why so many families feel the course and lead our Com- a true sense of community, with munity are all in merit to Ed- pride in our history and heritage. mond J. Safra's Blessed Memory. The e is no one who has conRabbi Abadie has not only used tributed more to the Sephardic his platform as Rabbi to help Community of Manhattan than all of those in the Community, Rabbi Abadie. He has worked but he has also gained attention tirelessly to represent our peoworldwide and has placed the ple with dignity, grace, and with Safra Synagogue on the map as immeasurable knowledge of Jua world-renowned Sephardic daism. I have personally seen the organization. remarkable growth of our ConPeople from every corner gregation from its inception, and of the world come to the Syn- it is gratifying to see how much agogue not just because of its it has fl urished and taken shape grandeur and physical appear- as a vibrant center of continuous ance, but rather, to hear the activity in both religious and sowords of wisdom that Rabbi cial arenas. Abadie speaks every week in Rabbi Elie Abadie is trucommemoration to Edmond ly "one of a kind" in both his J. Safra and all of the other Ke- rabbinical skills, and outreach doshim who passed away before capability. As our rabbinical their time. The words that I have leader, he has enabled our Manwritten come from the heart and hattan Sephardic community to are the truth. hold its head up with pride. With our sincere best wishes
– Joseph Scutts
The absolute number one, best part of my weekday mornings is attending the 6:30 am Minyan with Rabbi Abadie. After Minyan, we all enjoy a delicious breakfast and a very inspiring class by the Rabbi. Equally as thrilling is attending the early Minyan every Shabbat, while once again enjoying a scrumptious breakfast and words of Torah from Rabbi Abadie. I take my seat directly facing the Rabbi, and his warmth, humor, and knowledge on all subjects create a standing room only crowd. There really is no better way to add excitement and positive energy to your day! Fondly
Robert Marcus
I know Rabbi Elie Abadie, MD since he began his medical practice on Kings Highway many years ago. As I have watched him become one of our Community’s greatest and most respected Rabbis, I have always regarded him as a righteous and fair man. I want you to know that I stand behind him 100%.
Rafael & Ruth Fouzailoff and family
I have been a great fan of Rabbi Abadie since he arrived at Beth Torah as our new Rabbi. Over the years, I have watched his career build as he became the Founding Rabbi of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue. It was amazing to witness as he united our Sephardic Community in Manhattan and attracted so many people to the Synagogue. When he succeeded in starting the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan, I was fl bbergasted and so proud. He tirelessly speaks about our Sephardic Community’s history, culture and traditions here and all over the world. In a short time he has accomplished a great feat.
Sarah Tawil
The following excerpt is from an address I delivered last year as Co-Founder of the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan, at the 5th Annual Gala honoring Rabbi Elie and Estie Abadie: See The NYC Sephardic , page 42