Expanding Ohel Yitzhak and Sharing the Legacy of Morocco’s Great Rabbis
At Ohel Yitzhak in Har Bracha, a Moroccan Jewish tradition passed down for more than 500 years remains part of daily life. Our growing congregation needs more space for prayer, learning, and community activities.
The expansion will also support Rabbi Rafael Deloya’s work to bring the teachings and approach of Morocco’s great rabbis to a wider audience across Israel.
Help Expand Ohel Yitzhak
The Project at a Glance
From the expulsion of Jews from Spain to the Slat Al Azama synagogue in Marrakech, and now to Ohel Yitzhak in Har Bracha. Preserved through generations of the Deloya family, this heritage continues through prayer, Jewish law, customs, and education.
Ohel Yitzhak is also a base for sharing the teachings of Morocco’s rabbinic scholars, whose approach combines commitment to Jewish law with understanding of real-life challenges, love for the Jewish people, Zionism, moderation, and sound judgment.
The current building is too small for the congregation and its programs. More space will serve the local community and create opportunities for classes and initiatives reaching beyond Har Bracha.
The story of Ohel Yitzhak, and the rabbinic legacy we hope to share beyond its walls
Moroccan Jewish Tradition, Part of Everyday Life
A tradition passed down through generations of the Deloya family continues at Ohel Yitzhak. It is present in Shabbat and holiday services, Torah reading, liturgical poems and melodies, customs, Jewish law, and the education of children.
The traditional prayer service, pronunciation, melodies, and customs are preserved together, as they were handed down from one generation to the next. Children learn them within the community, take part in services, and read from the Torah. In this way, the tradition is passed on to children born and raised in Israel.
Over the years, the synagogue has welcomed visitors who were born in Morocco. Some have said that being here brought back memories of the synagogues they knew as children.
Ohel Yitzhak, Har BrachaWhy the Voice of Morocco’s Great Rabbis Matters Today
The heritage preserved at Ohel Yitzhak includes the religious and communal leadership of Morocco’s rabbis. For generations, these scholars guided Jewish communities and addressed everyday questions with deep fidelity to Halacha (Jewish law) and an understanding of the circumstances in which people lived.
Rabbi Rafael Deloya works to bring their teachings and approach into Israel’s religious and public discourse. This tradition combines commitment to Halacha with love for the Jewish people, Zionism, moderation, and responsibility toward the broader community.
It also speaks to questions facing Israeli society today: conversion, religion and state, Shabbat in public spaces, relationships among different Jewish communities, and public leadership. Through classes, publications, and activities connected with the Association of North African Rabbis, Rabbi Deloya seeks to give this tradition a greater place in those conversations.
The Next Generation Is Growing Up With This Tradition
At Ohel Yitzhak, children do more than watch adults pray. They learn the traditional prayers, Torah reading, melodies, and customs of Moroccan Jewry, and they take part in synagogue life.
Rabbi Rafael Deloya also teaches children from the community, including the recitation of Psalms and Torah study. They encounter this heritage not only on Shabbat and holidays, but throughout the week.
That is how a tradition carried by the Deloya family and the Jewish communities of Morocco continues among children born and raised in Har Bracha. By participating in it now, they may one day pass it on to their own children.
The next generation of Ohel YitzhakConstruction Is Already Underway
As the Ohel Yitzhak congregation has grown, the existing synagogue has become too small for its prayer services, learning, and community activities. The expansion has begun, and the structure is already standing. The next step is to complete the interior and prepare the expanded space for use.
Construction work
Building exterior
Interior work
Expansion in progressWhat Has Been Done?
Approximately NIS 200,000 has already been raised and invested in initial construction and infrastructure. The structure of the expansion is now standing, and the new space has taken shape.
One important part of the project is enlarging the women’s section, making it easier for more women and families to participate in services and community events.
What Still Needs to Be Completed?
Based on the quotation for the remaining work, the main items include:
- Acoustic ceilings, drywall, and interior partitions
- Electrical infrastructure and lighting fixtures
- Plastering, painting, and wall finishes
- Kitchen preparation and equipment
The expanded structure is standing. Your support can help prepare it for the congregation to use.
Donate Toward CompletionFrom an Empty Site to a Synagogue Full of Life
Ohel Yitzhak grew from a community's determination to preserve the prayer traditions of Moroccan Jewry and pass them on to the next generation. These images offer a glimpse of the synagogue's development over the years.
Help Ohel Yitzhak Grow, and Bring the Legacy of Morocco’s Great Rabbis to More People
Your donation supports the completion of the expanded synagogue, creates room for the growing congregation, and helps sustain a tradition that is being passed on to the next generation.
Donate to Ohel Yitzhak