Elie Abadie

Elie Abadie
Born	1960 Beirut, Lebanon
Occupation(s)	Rabbi, Gastroenterologist
Years active	1986–present
Known for	Senior Rabbi of the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities; Senior Rabbi in Residence at Jewish Community Center of UAE; leadership roles in Sephardic Judaism studies and organizations

Elie Abadie () holds the position of Senior Rabbi within the Association of Gulf Jewish Communities and serves as the Senior Rabbi in Residence at the Jewish Community Center of UAE (JCE). Previously, he led the Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies at Yeshiva University, where his work concentrated on Sephardic Judaism, its history, philosophy, and comparative traditional legal systems. Abadie is an active board member of both the American Sephardi Federation and the World Sephardic Educational Center, and shares the role of co-president at Justice for Jews from Arab Countries. His past leadership experience includes roles with the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), serving as Treasurer and Vice-president of the New York Board of Rabbis, and co-chairing the Sadat Congressional Gold Medal Committee.

Family Origins

The Abadie family, having resided in Aleppo, Syria for centuries, was forced to flee due to government oppression. Elie has recounted their escape amid violent attacks targeting their synagogue and residence. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1960, his family relocated to Mexico City in 1971 amid rising regional instability and threats linked to his father's alleged political ties. Prior to emigrating, they experienced life as stateless refugees in Lebanon.

In 1979, Abadie pursued higher education in the United States at Yeshiva University, where he obtained a B.A. in health sciences (1983), a B.S.C. in Bible Studies (1984), a Hebrew Teacher's diploma (1985), and a master's degree in Jewish Philosophy from Bernard Revel Graduate School (1986). He received rabbinical ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1986. Subsequently, he earned an M.D. from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in 1990 and completed his residency in Internal Medicine along with a gastroenterology fellowship at Maimonides Medical Center by 1995.

Rabbinical career

In 2001, Abadie assumed the role of rabbi at the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue (Manhattan).

He was instrumental as founding rabbi of Shaare Mizrah-Manhattan East Synagogue, served as Head of School at the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan, and acted as Spiritual Leader for Manhattan’s Moise Safra Community Center. Between 2003 and 2017, he was the founding Rabbi and Spiritual Leader of New York City’s Edmond J. Safra Synagogue (now Congregation Beit Edmond), recognized as one of NYC’s largest Sephardic congregations.

Currently, Abadie presides over JJAC and holds a seat on the governing council of the World Zionist Organization (WZO). He established the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan and formerly directed Yeshiva University’s Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies, where he also taught courses on Sephardic Judaism, its history, philosophy, and comparative traditional law.

Senior Rabbi role in the United Arab Emirates

Following the signing of the Abraham Accords, which established normalized relations between Israel and the UAE in November 2020, Abadie moved to Dubai to serve as Senior Rabbi for the country.

In 2021, he publicly denounced the Houthis for detaining Yemenite Jew Levi Marhabi, who was assisting Jewish individuals fleeing to Israel, condemning this action as a crime against humanity.

Personal life

Abadie, whose mother tongue is Arabic, is proficient in six different languages and maintains a part-time career as a gastroenterologist. He has been honored with Spain's prestigious civil accolade, the Orden Del Merito Civil, and has shared over 36 years of marriage with Elise Eichler.

See also

• History of the Jews in the United Arab Emirates
• Yehuda Sarna
• Levi Duchman