By COLlive reporter
Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef spent a full week in South Florida, meeting with local Jews, sharing words of Torah, and strengthening the flourishing Jewish life there.
Rabbi Yosef stayed in Golden Beach, a town in Miami-Dade County, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. He spent this past Shabbos at Chabad of Golden Beach, led by Rabbi Chay Amar.
“Thirty years ago, I had the merit of translating for him at The Shul of Bal Harbor; to now host him in our own community was a profound honor and a full-circle moment,” Rabbi Amar told COLlive.com.
“His kindness, sensitivity, and accessibility were striking — he connected equally with leading Rabbis and with young children, making every person feel seen and valued.”
Throughout an uplifting Shabbos, the Chief Rabbi encouraged community members to spread Judaism in their own personal and professional lives. “It was especially impressive to see a Chief Rabbi who speaks fluent English with such clarity and warmth,” Rabbi Amar noted.
During his stay, Rabbi Yosef warmly welcomed people, offered counsel, met with local rabbis and Jewish institutions. He also spoke with students of the Yeshiva Semicha Program of Golden Beach who had just completed their first major Semicha test in Basar BeChalav with Rabbi Michael Abishid of Beit Shemesh.
“Throughout his stay, the Rabbi spoke with great admiration about the Rebbe and Chabad, openly expressing his deep respect for the extraordinary work of the shluchim worldwide,” Rabbi Amar said.
“In a personal conversation, I mentioned the Rebbe’s Takana to study Rambam daily. The Chief Rabbi shared that his father, Rav Ovadiah Yosef OBM, immediately accepted this Takana when it was instituted by the Rebbe and committed himself to learning Rambam daily.”
After Shabbos, Rabbi Yosef headlined a gala dinner for Chazaq, an organization that transitions Jewish children from public schools into Jewish schools and Yeshiva. Held at the Diplomat Hotel, it was attended by 1,200 guests.
The program opened with stirring musical performances by renowned artist Gad Elbaz. It honored supporters Mr. and Mrs. Kobi Karp, Mr. and Mrs. Rafael and Rebecca Ilishayev, Mr. and Mrs. Shalom and Victoria Zirkiev and Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Tanya Farah.
A special tribute was presented to NBA legend Amar’e Stoudemire. A video chronicled his rise from humble beginnings to NBA stardom, his spiritual awakening while playing for the New York Knicks, and his years of Torah study in Jerusalem.
In his address, the Chief Rabbi urged attendees TO assume leadership roles in their communities to ensure that every Jewish child receives a strong and proud Jewish education.
During his stay, Rabbi Yosef also visited the Lubavitch Educational Center (LEC) in Miami Beach. He was welcomed by Shliach Rabbi Mendy Katz, Associate Head of School Rabbi Yossi Zavdi, and Rabbi Mendy Shachar.
As they walked through the hallways of LEC, Rabbi Yosef was told that 30 years ago, there were only 200 students, and today there are over 2500.
Rabbi Yosef personally tested some students on their parsha learning and listened attentively as younger boys demonstrated their reading skills.
In his remarks, he encouraged the students to continue on the path of the Rebbe — immersing themselves in Torah, striving to become Talmidei Chachamim, and eventually spreading their wings to uplift others around the world, carrying their Torah knowledge wherever they go.
The rabbi was also shown students studying for the Chidon Sefer Hamitzvos study competition of Tzivos Hashem, which helps young children know the whole Torah.
“It was an inspiring and memorable week for our entire community — one that will long remain etched in our hearts,” Rabbi Amar concluded.
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