Emirati rabbi gets married in Abu Dhabi, largest Jewish event in country’s history

Emirati Rabbi Levi Duchman’s newlywed bride Lea Duchman circles the groom seven times as part of an elaborate ceremony during their grand wedding on September 14, 2022 on Hilton Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Jewish UAE/Christopher Pike.

On Wednesday, 1,500 guests from around the world attended the rabbi’s wedding to United Arab Emirates Levi Duchman, reportedly one of the largest Jewish events in recent history in the Arabian Gulf.

The Brooklyn-born rabbi, 29, is married to Lea Hadad, 27. Hilton Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Brussels, Belgium. Their wedding guests include prominent rabbis, dignitaries, members of the Emirati royal family and members of the local Jewish community.

Haddad, of Moroccan descent, is the daughter of Brussels chief rabbi Menachem Haddad. Her grandfather founded the Chabad community in Milan, Italy. The couple will live in Abu Dhabi and together continue Rabbi Duchman’s efforts to develop the UAE’s Jewish community.

“I grew up in an open home as a child of Chabad messengers,” she said. Say“People will always come to eat or ask for support, and I plan to do the same in Abu Dhabi.” The newlyweds, who said she plans to learn Arabic, added: “I’m very excited to be living in the UAE. I’m looking forward to it. Support the arrival of new families and expand our educational and social programs for those already there.”

The wedding coincides with the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.This The Hebrew date of the ceremony is also related to Birthday of Baal Shemtov, founder of the Chassidic movement, and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

Since 2014, Rabbi Duchman has helped build Jewish life in the UAE through the establishment of Jewish communities, institutions, schools and synagogues in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including a Micah and Government Licensed Kosher Facility. He brought other rabbis to the UAE to lead the community with him and created a rabbinic training program for rabbinic interns. He also heads the UAE Jewish Community Centre in Dubai and serves as Rabbi at Beit Fiera Synagogue.