15 Facts About Levi Duchman

Levi Duchman is the first resident chief rabbi of the United Arab Emirates.

Levi Duchman serves as the head of the Jewish congregation of Abu Dhabi, of the Jewish Community Center of UAE in Dubai, and as a member of the executive board of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.

Levi Duchman has been establishing Jewish institutions and services for the local Jewish community and Jewish visitors across the UAE since 2014.

Levi Duchman is an executive board member of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States.

Levi Duchman has visited many other countries in Arabia, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

Levi Duchman founded the UAE's official Kosher Certification, the first to be fully licensed by the UAE authorities.

Levi Duchman has awarded kosher certificates to slaughterhouses, and provides kosher food for restaurants, hotels, and food factories.

Levi Duchman assisted the Staff of Mohamed Bin Zayed with establishing kosher meals for a meeting between the Prince and Yair Lapid.

In May 2022, Levi Duchman was invited by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to extend his condolences on the passing of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Presidential Palace, on behalf of the world's Jewish community.

Levi Duchman thanked the UAE leadership for its longstanding support of the Jewish UAE community and for its promotion of tolerance and coexistence across the Emirates and the region.

Levi Duchman is the son of Feiga and Rabbi Shalom Levi Duchman, director of the Colel Chabad.

Levi Duchman is fluent in 5 languages, including Arabic and French.

Levi Duchman was the brother-in-law of Zvi Kogan, who was killed in 2024 in a possible antisemitic attack.

Levi Duchman's brother Mendel is a schochet in Al-Ain and the rabbi of the Jewish community in Downtown Dubai.

In September 2022, Levi Duchman married Lea Hadad, a Belgian woman of Moroccan Jewish descent, in the UAE's largest Jewish event.