Levi Duchman
{{Short description|Rabbi of the Jewish community in the UAE}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Levi Duchman
| image = Rabbi Levy Duchman.jpg
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| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|29|2022|9|14}}
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| occupation = Rabbi
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| spouse = {{marriage|Lea Hadad|2022}}
| known_for = Head of the Jewish Community Center of UAE
| relatives = Zvi Kogan (brother-in-law)
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}}
Levi Duchman ({{langx|he|לוי דוכמן}}, {{langx|ar|ليفي دوخمان}}; born 1992 or 1993) 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.
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
File:Rabbi Duchman and a Torah scroll with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.jpg together with the Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Naftali Bennett ]]
File:1st Night 2021 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) (1).jpg
File:IMG-20220131-WA0000.jpg 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. He was responsible for affixing the Mezuzah on the Israeli–UAE Embassy in Abu Dhabi.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-rabbi-of-the-united-arab-emirates-rabbi-levi-duchman-while-fixing-the-mezuzah-at-the-israeli-embassy-in-abu-dhabi-there-arent-many-places-in-the-world-where-you-can-safely-lead-a-jewish-lifestyle-without-fear-the-way-you--301322232.html|title=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"|access-date=2021-07-26|archive-date=2021-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726180540/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-rabbi-of-the-united-arab-emirates-rabbi-levi-duchman-while-fixing-the-mezuzah-at-the-israeli-embassy-in-abu-dhabi-there-arent-many-places-in-the-world-where-you-can-safely-lead-a-jewish-lifestyle-without-fear-the-way-you--301322232.html|url-status=live}}
=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.{{Cite news|date=2020-06-11|title=A robust Jewish life exists in the U.A.E.|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkuTEWg6I|access-date=2020-06-18|website=ynetnews|language=en |last1=Salami |first1=Daniel }} 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.{{Cite web|title=United Arab Emirates: Largest Meat Shipment In History To Jewish Community|url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1864777/united-arab-emirates-largest-meat-shipment-in-history-to-jewish-community.html|last=Sarare|date=2020-05-26|website=The Yeshiva World|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|title=#EidMubarak #KosherUAE #KosherDubai #KosherMeatUAEpic.twitter.com/TajgtxTtSn|url=https://twitter.com/JewishUae/status/1264644423671066626|last=UAE|first=Jewish Community of the|date=2020-05-24|website=@JewishUae|access-date=2020-05-27}}{{Cite web|title=Kosher meat sent from the United States to Jews living in UAE|url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/kosher-meat-sent-from-the-united-states-to-jews-living-in-uae-629657|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=29 May 2020 |access-date=2020-05-31}}
Duchman assisted the Staff of Mohamed Bin Zayed with establishing kosher meals for a meeting between the Prince and Yair Lapid.{{Cite web|last=Berman|first=Lazar|title=Abu Dhabi ruler went out of his way to ensure kosher food for Lapid delegation|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/abu-dhabi-ruler-goes-out-of-way-to-ensure-kosher-food-for-lapid-delegation/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726180539/https://www.timesofisrael.com/abu-dhabi-ruler-goes-out-of-way-to-ensure-kosher-food-for-lapid-delegation/|archive-date=2021-07-26|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Times of Israel}}
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.{{Cite web|date=29 October 2020|title=A Fascinating Profile of Rav Levi Duchman: Now the UAE's Official Chabad Shaliach|url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1914436/a-fascinating-profile-of-rav-levi-duchman-now-the-uaes-official-chabad-shaliach.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626103609/https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/1914436/a-fascinating-profile-of-rav-levi-duchman-now-the-uaes-official-chabad-shaliach.html|archive-date=26 June 2021|access-date=26 July 2021|website=The Yeshiva World}} Duchman was the brother-in-law of Zvi Kogan, who was killed in 2024 in a possible antisemitic attack.{{cite web |title=How the Killing of a Rabbi in Dubai Upended a Community That Thought It Was Safe |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/how-the-killing-of-a-rabbi-in-dubai-upended-a-community-that-thought-it-was-safe-cefb9322 |website=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=13 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207180641/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/how-the-killing-of-a-rabbi-in-dubai-upended-a-community-that-thought-it-was-safe-cefb9322 |archive-date=7 December 2024 |date=1 December 2024 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}
His brother Mendel is a schochet in Al-Ain and the rabbi of the Jewish community in Downtown Dubai.
File:Lea Hadad in her Jewish Wedding in the UAE.jpg
In September 2022, Duchman married Lea Hadad, a Belgian woman of Moroccan Jewish descent, in the UAE's largest Jewish event. Around 1500 people attended, including prominent Emiratis and over 20 foreign ambassadors.{{Cite web |last=Liphshiz |first=Cnaan |title=Chabad couple holds UAE's largest Jewish wedding on Abraham Accords anniversary |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/chabad-couple-holds-uaes-largest-jewish-wedding-on-abraham-accords-anniversary/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=UAE chief Chabad rabbi married in the Gulf's largest Jewish wedding |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-717136 |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |date=14 September 2022 |language=en-US}}{{cite web |last1=Proctor |first1=Rebecca |title=UAE rabbi marries in Abu Dhabi on anniversary of Abraham Accords |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2163451/offbeat |website=Arab News |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915180643/https://www.arabnews.com/node/2163451/offbeat |archive-date=15 September 2024 |date=15 September 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Safronova |first1=Valeriya |title=A Dance Floor That Transcended Tradition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/07/style/lea-hadad-levi-duchman-wedding.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=12 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203201828/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/07/style/lea-hadad-levi-duchman-wedding.html |archive-date=3 December 2024 |date=7 October 2022 |url-access=subscription}}
See also
References
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External links
- {{Twitter|id=https://twitter.com/rabbiuae?lang=en|name=Levi Duchman}}
- [https://www.linkedin.com/in/levi-duchman-a9359396/ Rabbi Levi Duchman] on LinkedIn
- [https://gulfnews.com/photos/news/pictures-president-sheikh-mohamed-bin-zayed-continues-to-receive-world-leaders-1.1652625018591?slide=10 Rabbi Levi Duchman at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi] after the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- [https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/the-gulf/1647873439-uae-jewish-community-prepares-for-state-s-largest-ever-seder Rabbi Levi Duchman on the ‘largest ever Seder’ for the UAE Jewish community]
- [https://www.jnf.org/menu-3/news-media/jnf-wire/jnf-wire-stories/the-abraham-accords-are-changing-rabbi-levi-duchman-s-life-in-the-uae The Abraham Accords Are Changing Rabbi Levi Duchman-s Life in the UAE]
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)