It is over six years since Brooklyn-born Rabbi Levi Duchman first arrived in the UAE and little did he know that he would be part of Jewish history. At just 27 years of age, his age belies the great responsibility he bears in the UAE.
His rabbinical career began young, having left for Yeshiva at just 13. By 18 he had set up a youth camp in Morocco, where he was living with his sister. It would be the spark to ignite a passion for regenerating the Jewish community in the Arab world and a trigger for his now being a leading player in the Middle East’s only growing community of Jews.
Rabbi Levi spent some years in Manchester, first at yeshiva and then teaching at King David.
In the Arab world, he wore his kippah positioned in a way to look more like a Muslim imam but now he is free to embrace his faith in public.
Since his arrival at the Jewish Community Centre, the rabbi has established the UAE’s first Talmud Torah which now boasts 40 children and the UAE’s first kosher restaurant, Kaf, in the Armani Hotel. After the announcement of the Abraham Accords on August 13, these roles have snowballed and he has since established a kosher slaughterhouse and kosher certification agency — and opened Abu Dhabi’s first synagogue. He was congratulated personally in a private Zoom meeting with Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Those of us who came here were used to being able to easily access things like kosher food, Jewish education but it really was a desert,” he says. The only resident rabbi in the country for six years, it has not been easy. Jewish families gathered in people’s homes, mezuzahs hidden inside doorways rather than outside, kippot hidden under hats or not worn. But things have changed dramatically almost overnight.
He says his age endears him to the young expatriate population of the Emirates. “They’re used to seeing men with long white beards but I can relate to the challenges they face, whether that’s social media or issues within the UAE community,” he explains. “Older rabbis often find it harder to adapt to change and can come with their own baggage. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from these older rabbis and take their guidance.”
The Jewish Council of the Emirates has until now been led by Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, the New York University chaplain who makes regular visits to the Emirates. Rabbi Eli Abadi, of Lebanese origin, will be the community’s resident rabbi when he joins soon from the US.
Rabbi Levi, a vibrant and welcoming personality who embraces everyone of the faith equally, looks forward to no longer being the lone rabbi, saying there is room for many more to support him in building not only dialogue but the infrastructure needed for home grown facilities to enable Jewish life.
Alan Kaye, from London, has been in the UAE for nine years and says the contribution of Rabbi Duchman to the country’s transition into open Jewish life, has been huge. “During the lockdown, he would call us all regularly and send us Shabbat food parcels which really meant we didn’t feel as isolated, as by the nature of an expatriate community, we are away from home.” Being made up of an international expatriate community adds to the challenges Rabbi Duchman faces. “It’s a transient population where people are here for a limited contract usually,” said Mr Kay. “It often means he has a big pastoral role because people are missing their families. It’s much harder to lead this kind of community but he’s truly been phenomenal.”
Rabbi Duchman has now been recognised as an official shaliach from Chabad-Lubavitch, his efforts praised as a huge achievement. “He’s built a beautiful community,” said Rabbi Motti Seligson, Director of Media, Chabad-Lubavitch. “Six years ago, when Rabbi Duchman first visited the UAE to lead the community’s seder and afterwards was asked by the Jews he met to stay on and lead the community, I don’t think anyone could have imagined the exponential growth they’ve seen. Jewish life in the UAE shines brightly today, and a huge part of that has been Rabbi Duchman’s efforts.”
