Meeting with Rabbi Levi Duchman from Chabad UAE

Written By Nazhath Faheema

I met with Rabbi Levi Duchman, the first resident chief rabbi of the United Arab Emirates. He also 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. He shared with me about the development of the Jewish community in UAE post-Abraham Accords.

Rabbi Duchaman established the Emirates Agency for Kosher Certification (EAKC), the inaugural certification body authorized by UAE officials. This organization is the primary entity entrusted with evaluating edibles, items, procedures, and offerings to guarantee adherence to the principles of Jewish dietary regulations.

Nazhath Faheema

Nazhath Faheema, a Singaporean Muslim of Indian descent, actively promotes interfaith dialogue. She holds a full-time position at an NGO where she focuses on organizing interfaith charity events. Additionally, she plays an active role in community development, particularly in developing youth leadership to foster social harmony.

Furthermore, Nazhath serves as an external lecturer at ESSEC Asia Pacific in Singapore. She teaches students from Europe and Asia regions on "Race & Religion in Singapore" and "Islam in Singapore."

Nazhath earned her Master of Science in Asian Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She also holds a certificate in the Comparative Study of Religions in Plural Societies. Her research interests span various areas, including youth interfaith movements in Southeast Asia, Jewish-Muslim relations, interactions between Muslim-majority states and Israel, and interreligious dialogue in diplomacy.

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