About Us | Sephardic Congregation

Passaic and Clifton are sister towns full of Torah and Maasim Tovim. However, the wider community is predominately from an Ashkenaz background. This fact left many Sephardim moving to the community searching for a home where they could feel comfortable practicing their minhagim as learnt from their elders.

In 2001, Yosef Avrahami, Harvey Levy, Avraham Borochov and Shmuel Avrahami joined forces to incorporate a fledgling minyan into a true Kehilla and founded the Sephardic Congregation of Passaic-Clifton.

Initially, the Congregation began offering services for Selichot during Elul and Yamim Noraim and prayers on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Congregation continued to grow slowly over the years by offering minyanim on Shabbat Mevorchim and Chaggim.

With the arrival of Rabbi Yechezkel Khayyat, as a new member of the community who serves faithfully as the volunteer Baal Koreh and Chacham, the Congregation continued to grow by conducting minyanim every Shabbat.

However, growth in Avodat Hashem is not the only focus of the Congregation, Rabbi Khayyat over the years has given regular Hilchot Shabbat shiurim to the women on Wednesday nights, a Ben Ish Chai shiur to the men on Motzei Shabbat and a shiur in topical halacha on Shabbat afternoon.

In addition, the Congregation has an ongoing relationship with members of Kollel Or Halacha in Lakewood, NJ led by Rabbi Chaim Arking. The Congregation regularly hosts avreichim as scholars in residence on a regular basis for Shabbat and special lectures. Notable amongst the esteemed guest lecturers from Israel are

1. Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Moshe Amar, Shlita ,

2. HaRav David Yosef, Shlita, author of Halacha Berurah

3. Rabbi Eliyahu Bar Shalom, Cheif Rabbi of Bat Yam, Israel and author of Mishpat HaKetuva

Notable amongst the guest lecturers from America include

1. Rabbi Emanual Goldfez, Mashgiach of Ner Israel and Rabbi of Congregation Beit Yaakov Baltimore, MD,

2. Rabbi Moshe Tessone, Director of Sephardic Outreach at Yeshiva University,

3. Rabbi Shaul Hamaoui, Rabbi of the Persian Hebrew Congregation of Skokie, IL and many other various distinct Rabbanim.

Over the years the Congregation has conducted special seminars for members of the congregation on topics including Taharat Mishpacha for women, Chazzanut and Maquaam for adult men and Tefillah and Krias HaTorah for boys and young men.

The Congregation is proud to include among its various chazzanim Rabbi Yigal Asher of Beit Shemesh, Israel, Rabbi Moshe Tessone, Rabbi Tomer Naftali, Rabbi Avraham Naftali, obm, Rabbi Chaim Naftoli, Rabbi Chaim Dahan,obm, and Rabbi Elchonon Reuven of Kollel Or Halachah,

Sifrei Torah:

The Congregation is graced with the opportunity to house and use for the mitzvah of kriat hatorah two beautiful Sifrei Torah on loan from generous supporting families who regularly participate in the Congregation.

We thank Mr. & Mrs. Gilles Dana and their son and daughter-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Dana for the use of their Sefer Torah in a bayit reflecting the rich Tunisian Jewish heritage. We thank Mr. & Mrs. Yosef Avrahami for the use of their beautiful Sefer Torah housed in a bayit reflecting the rich customs of Persian Jewry.

Location:

The Congregation currently finds its home in the hospitable and warm building of Congregation Ahavas Israel. Led by our respected friend and talmid chahcham Rabbi Ron Eisenman, Congregation Ahavas Israel has been a gracious host over the past decades allowing the Congregation to utilize their facilities and always lending a helping hand whenever needed. We owe Rabbi Eisenman, the administration and whole congregation our deepest gratitude for treating us as their own members.