Levi Duchman

Levi Duchman (Hebrew: לוי דוכמן, Arabic: حاخام ليفي دوخمان) is the first resident chief rabbi of the United Arab Emirates. He also serves as the head of the Jewish congregation of Abu Dhabi, of the Jewish Community Center of UAE in Dubai, and as a member of the executive board of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.

Levi Duchman
OccupationRabbi

Since his arrival in the UAE in 2014, Duchman has established Jewish communities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and a number of Jewish institutions and services, including numerous places of worship, the government-approved kashrut certification, a Jewish education system, business networking and relocation services, and rich community life.

Rabbinical career
Rabbi Levi Duchman writes a Torah scroll together with the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr Naftali Bennett
Rabbi Levi Duchman kindles a public Menorah in Dubai on Hanukkah 2021
Rabbi Levi Duchman with Israeli president Isaac Herzog visiting Abu Dhabi, January 2022

Duchman has been establishing Jewish institutions and services for the local Jewish community and Jewish visitors across the UAE since 2014. It was in 2019, following the Abraham Accords signed with Israel, that the UAE leadership gave its official recognition to the local Jewish community.

As the UAE's resident rabbi, Duchman received the first rabbinical license, license 001.

Duchman is an executive board member of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States. He has visited many other countries in Arabia, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.[1] He was responsible for fixing the Mezuzah on the Israeli–UAE Embassy in Abu Dhabi.[2]

Kashrut in UAE

Duchman founded the UAE's official Kosher Certification, the first to be fully licensed by the UAE authorities. Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification (EAKC) is the first legal entity responsible for the assessment of foods, products, processes and services to ensure compliance with Jewish dietary laws. Armani/Kaf is the UAE's first Glatt Kosher Restaurant open in Dubai's Burj Khalifa, supervised under the EAKC. Duchman has awarded kosher certificates to slaughterhouses, and provides kosher food for restaurants, hotels, and food factories. One thousand EAKC certified kosher chickens per week are provided to the community by local shechita.[3] In May 2020, it was reported that the JCC of the UAE has imported the largest kosher meat shipment in the history of the community.[4][5][6]

Duchman assisted the Staff of Mohamed Bin Zayed with establishing kosher meals for a meeting between the Prince and Yair Lapid.[7]

In May 2022, Duchman was invited by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to extend his condolences on the passing of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Palace, on behalf of the world's Jewish community. Duchman thanked the UAE leadership for its longstanding support of the Jewish UAE community and for its promotion of tolerance and coexistence across the Emirates and the region.

Personal life

Duchman is the son of Feiga and Rabbi Shalom Duchman, director of the Colel Chabad. Duchman is fluent in 5 languages, including Arabic and French.[1]

His brother Mendel is a schochet in Al-Ain[7] and the rabbi of the Jewish community in Downtown Dubai.

In September 2022, Duchman married Lea Hadad, a Belgian woman of Moroccan Jewish descent, in the UAE's largest Jewish wedding to date. Around 1500 people attended, including prominent Emiratis.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. "A Fascinating Profile of Rav Levi Duchman: Now the UAE's Official Chabad Shaliach". The Yeshiva World. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. "The rabbi of the United Arab Emirates, Rabbi Levi Duchman, while fixing the mezuzah at the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi: "There aren't many places in the world where you can safely lead a Jewish lifestyle without fear the way you can in the Emirates. I am convinced that this is only the beginning, and invite Jews worldwide to come to the Emirates"" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  3. Salami, Daniel (2020-06-11). "A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E." ynetnews. Retrieved 2020-06-18.
  4. Sarare (2020-05-26). "United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community". The Yeshiva World. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  5. UAE, Jewish Community of the (2020-05-24). "#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn". @JewishUae. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  6. "Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-05-31.
  7. Berman, Lazar. "Abu Dhabi ruler went out of his way to ensure kosher food for Lapid delegation". Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2021-07-26. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  8. Liphshiz, Cnaan. "Chabad couple holds UAE's largest Jewish wedding on Abraham Accords anniversary". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
  9. "UAE chief Chabad rabbi married in the Gulf's largest Jewish wedding". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
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