Daniel Hadar

Studied at Porat Yeshiva in Jerusalem and ordained by Rabbi Maimon, Seattle, Washington Our rabbi, Daniel Hadar, is known in the Sephardic community as “The Miracle Rabbi.” Our congregation of 600 families was about to close when we met this rabbi. In three years, he has brought the youth of our community back to synagogue. Now, once a month, we host a Shabbat dinner at temple, and he brings between 350 and 400 people. He also created a Hebrew school for the children in the community. We now have 50 kids and there are 30 more on the waiting list. That is God’s gift to us. Our community is of Turkish background and we came to Miami from Cuba in the 1960s and ’70s. Our congregation was founded in Cuba in 1917 — we are about to become 100 years old. Thanks to Rabbi Hadar, we will be able to stay open to see it.

— Moises Maya + 19 other nominations