Sha’arei Uziel

Community Rabbis in the Spirit of the Sephardic Sages Reflecting Openness, Solidarity and Social Sensitivity

‘Sha’arei Uziel’ is a Beit Midrash for rabbis of Memizrach Shemesh and the Sephardic Educational Center, which cultivates rabbinic leadership in the community, in the spirit of the traditions of the Sephardic Sages, reflecting openness, solidarity, and social sensitivity.

The Beit Midrash brings together community rabbis for in-depth study of the traditions of the Sephardic Sages, in order to solidify a rabbinic worldview that is built on a wide Torah perspective and well-versed in world affairs. A relevant rabbinate that solves halachic challenges, through the power of granting permission (heter), the truth of the Torah, and utilizing judgement, intellect, and consideration of the time in which we live. A rabbinate that is moderate and inclusive, that sees value in the solidarity of the community, and builds bridges to tradition, among all parts of the Jewish people.

The Beit Midrash widens the perspective of the rabbinic role to address social and economic issues; trains the rabbi to become a leader in the community on subjects of welfare, such as poverty, youth at risk, and violence in the family; and offers organizational tools to lead the community – entrepreneurship, mediation, and rhetoric.

The Beit Midrash invites the rabbis to participate in a two-year program, which includes one full day of learning per week, where they study homiletics, commentary, the Bible, and law (ruling). They discover leading figures from the Sephardic traditions, Jewish philosophy, and Social-Jewish thought, and receive training workshops, tours, and are given the opportunity to research issues facing the community rabbi.

Sha’arei Uziel builds a network of community rabbis, who can be found throughout Israel, among all sectors of the society – rabbis that continue the traditions of the Sephardic Sages, and connect all parts of the Jewish people.

There are 140 graduates of the program, which trains 15 rabbis every two years.