Jewish Life

Beit Mordechai hires rabbi, dedicates new sefer Torah

WEST HARTFORD – On Jan. 6, Congregation Beit Mordechai in West Hartford will celebrate the dedication of a new Sefer Torah coming directly from Israel.

The dedication will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Beth David Synagogue. At 1 p.m., community members will dance and sing their way to Beit Mordechai. A festive meal will follow.

Since its founding in 2014 to provide a place of worship for Sephardim, Beit Mordechai has continued to grow, and to follow the rich Sephardic tradition, with Sephardic prayer and music.

Recently, the congregation hired its first full-time rabbi, Eliyahu Tal, who relocated to West Hartford from Israel with his wife, Sarah, and their five children.

Rabbi Tal, who graduated from Ono Academic College in Israel with a law degree, is also a Torah scholar and cantor who studied the Sephardic Midrash for many years, guided by his mentor Rabbi Shlomo Katsin, head of Sephardic Midrash in Israel, who is expected to travel to West Hartford to dedicate the new Sefer Torah.

“Rabbi Eliyahu Tal brings passion, excitement and energy to our congregation,” said Ilya Tsvok, president of Beit Mordechai Board of Directors. “He and his family have brought so much life to our daily life. His dedication and commitment enlightens and inspires our community,” Tsvok added.

“I am honored to be here to help grow our beautiful Beit Mordechai congregation,” said Tal. “We want to bring in new members, grow our schedule of services and our minyan.

“Our goal is to develop our congregation, to revitalize the shul, not just as a place of worship, but also as a center of Jewish learning and cultural programs that brings together members of the diverse local Jewish community and draws younger participants.”

Completion of the Sefer Torah at Beth David, 20 Dover Rd., at 11:30 a.m. A parade to Beit Mordechai, 1137 Trout Brook Dr. at 1 p.m.

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