Our guest this week is Rabbi Elie Abadie, founding rabbi and leader of The Edmund J. Safra synagogue in New York City. Rabbi Abadie was born in Beirut Lebanon and grew up in Mexico City, coming to the United States to attend Yeshiva University. He earned his B.A. in Health Sciences in 1983, a B.S.C. in 1984 in Bible Studies, a Hebrew Teacher’s diploma in 1985, and a Master’s degree in Jewish Philosophy from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. Rabbi Abadie received his ordination in 1986 from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where he graduated in 1990 with an M.D. degree. He did his residency in Internal Medicine, and later his fellowship in Gastroenterology at Maimonides Medical Center, finishing in 1995. Rabbi Abadie was a member of the Board and an Officer of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA). As Co-President of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC), he was instrumental in passing a Congressional resolution on behalf of Jews from Arab Countries to be recognized by the U.S government in their dealing with the issue of Middle Eastern Refugees.
This week’s Torah Portion – Parashat Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1-18:30) – describes the Tabernacle ceremony of the Day of Atonement, establishes general rules for sacrifice and sanctuary, and lays down specific laws about sexual relationships. Our discussion focuses on the idea of becoming holy and on what that might entail.
Our Previous discussions of Acharei Mot-Kedoshim:
Rabbi Ilan Glazer on practice of sending a goat to ‘Azazel’ on Yom Kippur as part of the process of atonement.
Rabbi Laurence Bazer on the relation between Yom Kippur and Passover
