Thursday, March 28, 2024 -
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Yisroel M. Ovadya is new rabbi of Beit Uriel

Rabbi Yisroel Ovadya

ROSH HASHANAH EDITION
SECTION D PAGE 5

Beit Uriel, the Israeli Denver Synagogue, has hired its first rabbi, Yisrael Meir Ovadya, an Israeli religious leader from a family noted for its kiruv (a Hebrew word that means “bringing close”) activities both in Israel and around the world.

Rabbi Ovadya comes to Denver with a 15-year history of working with teens, adults and ba’alei teshuvah (those who have returned to an observant Jewish lifestyle) in Israel.

His background includes half a decade as a lecturer at Succat David in Ramat Bet Shemesh in Israel, and a decade of other kiruv work in Israel.

He comes from a family noted for its kiruv work in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Paris, Belgium and other locales around the work.

For Rabbi Ovadya, Denver was the place to be. For years he has visited friends in Colorado once or twice, so he’s no stranger to the Mile High City — although he admits that he has yet to visit Rocky Mountain National Park and most of Colorado’s other natural wonders.

“Denver is a relaxed place. People are very welcoming, warm,” he says.

Rabbi Ovadya was also attracted here by the legacy of Rabbi Uriel Malka, after whom Beit Uriel is named.

Last year Beit Uriel adopted its name in memory of Rabbi Malka, the former DAT teacher who was tragically killed in the Carmel forest fire in Israel in December, 2010.

There is a large Israeli community in Denver that, unlike most other major Jewish centers of life, has no other “home” for Israeli-style observances.

Synagogues like Beit Uriel are becoming popular not only among Israelis but also among those planning to make aliyah or who want to express religious solidarity with family members who have already moved to Israel.

“To do the job in New York is not like doing the job in Denver,” says Rabbi Ovadya. “I feel needed here.”

Beit Uriel has become Denver’s only mixed Sephardic-Ashkenazi minyan with Israeli-style Sephardic services, following the customs of Jerusalem (minhag Yerushalayim). Many members of the community bring their own prayer books to pray in the style in which they are comfortable.

Rabbi Ovadya has also started offering classes in Hebrew and English.

On Monday nights he teaches Talmud (Gemora) and discusses the week’s Torah portion on Tuesdays.

He’s also offering private classes on a range of other Jewish subjects.




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