RABBI TSIPORA GABAI

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Jewish Moroccan Culture

In the early 1950’s, Tsipora’s Moroccan born parents immigrated to the newly formed State of Israel where Tsipora, the youngest of 9 children was born. Tsipora’s father, Yosef Gabai served as chief Sephardic rabbi of northern Israel. In 1957 the Gabais, along with 3 other families were the first to settle in the northern development town of Ma’alot.

In the Textile Lab workshop that accompanied the San Francisco Jewish Contemporary Museum’s exhibit Veiled Meanings: Fashioning Jewish Dress, Rabbi Gabai shares how she includes the traditions and culture of Moroccan Jews into Life Cycle Rituals.

Rabbi Gabai is the first female rabbi on record who is of Moroccan descent and is currently only one of four female Mizrahi – Sephardic rabbis worldwide. She is deeply versed in both Mizrahi and Sephardic sacred ancient song cycles (Piyut), prayers and Torah trope and incorporates her knowledge and love for piyutum in the classroom, during prayer, and in workshops throughout the Bay Area. In this video, Rabbi Gabai accompanied by percussionist Katja Cooper, brings together the melodies and original piyutim of her childhood.


Landres Courage for Dignity Award from Keshet

Rabbi Gabai’s work has been widely recognized and honored. In 2015, Rabbi Gabai was awarded the Landres Courage for Dignity Award from Keshet, a national organization that works for full equality for LGBT Jews in Jewish life. Rabbi Gabai received the award in recognition of having created a life cycle ritual to acknowledge a transgender’s decision to live authentically as a boy. Rabbi Gabai created a new ceremony that affirmed the covenant of the boy with God, with this community and with the people of Israel.

To Teach and to Learn
“Lee’lmod u’le’la’med”

Rabbi Tsipora Gabai believes that teaching children is a sacred task. Steeped in knowledge of the Torah and Traditions and equipped with courage and creativity she fulfills this calling with inspiration and devotion. Her work has been widely recognized and honored. She is the recipient of The Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and The Guendelman Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year. In 1989 she joined the faculty at Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito, California as Head of Judaic and Hebrew Studies and held that position until the school's closing in 2018. Prior to her years at Tehiyah Day School, Rabbi Gabai taught at Beth Jacob Hebrew School in Oakland, California, where she also served as Principal and Director of Sunday School, developing Bible and Hebrew programs.
Rabbi Gabai is a graduate of Haifa University in Israel where she received her first degree, a BA in Bible and Jewish History and in 1988 her teaching credentials. After moving to the United States, she earned a Certificate of School Administration from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In 2003 Rabbi Gabai received a Masters in Judaic Studies and a Rabbinic Degree, S’Michah, from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles. After her Rabbinical ordination, she assumed the role of spiritual leader for the entire Tehiya day school community leading all Shabbat and holiday celebrations and officiating life cycle events.
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