The Merkaz Sefarad Synagogue in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in New York City, celebrated 41st Hiloula for Baba Sali along with helding its first fundraising campaign event on Sunday at 8:00 PM local time at the Grand Ballroom of Oholei Torah and collected USD 36 in tzedakah (donations) from local Sephardic Jews and visitors, many of whom have Moroccan roots. The campaign is intended to raise funds to support a spiritual home for those seeking a Nusach Sefardi prayer experience and a connection to their heritage, according to Ashkenazi Rabbi Lazer Avtzon in “Crown Heights Info.”
The Shul (synagogue) was founded by Rabbi Avtzon, who was sent on Shlichus to Morocco in 1982. His ties to Morocco continue to shape the Shul’s identity. Merkaz Sefarad follows Moroccan traditions in prayer and Halacha while integrating the Rabbi’s teachings.
Over the past two decades, the synagogue has become a vital space for the Sephardic community in Crown Heights, offering a unique blend of Chabad philosophy and Sephardic customs.
The congregation includes Moroccan, Tunisian, Iraqi, Syrian, Turkish, Persian, Yemeni, Israeli, and American Jews. Some Ashkenazi members also feel a deep connection to the community. The Shul maintains a “respectful atmosphere” during prayers, with discussions taking place before the Torah reading and at the Kiddush afterward.
Merkaz Sefarad offers Halacha classes (Jewish religious laws) based on Ben Ish Chay, Yalkut Yosef, and the works of Rabbi Shalom Messas. Additional classes are given by Rav Kuti Feldman, Rav Daniel Mahpour, and guest speakers. Tefilot (Jewish prayer to become closer to God) incorporates Sephardic melodies, and congregants can chant their own Torah portions in their traditional manner.
There are other Sephardic synagogues in Crown Heights, including Ner Menachem, which follows the Netz minyan schedule (following the sun’s timing), and the Persian Shul at Hadar Hatorah, which starts later in the morning. Merkaz Sefarad maintains a balance, starting Shacharit within the proper Zman Tefilah (the latest time to recite Shemoneh Esrei) timeframe to accommodate attendees.
Rabbi Avtzon wears the traditional Moroccan “glima” during Hiloulot, a custom of Moroccan Rabbonim, particularly the Abuhatzeira family. The garment serves as a reminder of Sephardic heritage and personal spiritual commitment. Many guests are surprised to learn that despite his strong ties to Moroccan tradition, Rabbi Avtzon himself is Ashkenazi.
A Hiloula is a commemoration of the passing of a great Jewish sage or tzadik. In Sephardic tradition, it is seen as a moment of elevation for the soul of the departed, and communities gather to pray, share stories, and seek blessings. Baba Sali was one of the most respected figures in Moroccan-Jewish history, and his Hiloula is widely observed, particularly among Jews of Moroccan descent.
Merkaz Sefarad committed to preserving Sephardic traditions in Crown Heights. Rabbi Avtzon, inspired by the Rebbe’s guidance, continues to lead the Shul as a home for the Sephardic community and a destination for visitors staying true to their minhagim.