Ahavath Achim Congregation of Portland Welcomes Eli Falk as New Hazzan

Interior of the old Congregation Ahavath Achim building in Portland, OR

Congregation Ahavath Achim, the Sephardic Brotherhood’s affiliate Congregation in Portland, OR, hired a new Hazzan this Fall to help lead weekly and holiday services. Eli Falk grew up in Portland, OR starting at Chabad's first school year (1985-1986) and graduating from Portland Jewish Academy in 1991. He learned Torah with Rabbi Chayim Reznik at Shaarie Torah, which sparked his passion for Torah learning and reading. His studies took him to yeshiva high school in Chicago, and to yeshivot in Israel and Queens. Eli holds a Bachelors in Talmudic Law from Sh'or Yashuv Institute and a Bachelor's in psychology from Touro College.

For the past 18 months, he has been a licensed practical nurse in hospice care, supporting patients with compassion. Although not Sephardic by heritage, Eli is excited to learn the local unique melodies of Ahavath Achim, grounded in the Sephardic liturgy of Rhodes and Turkey. 

Congregation Ahavath Achim has been Portland's Sephardic synagogue since 1916 and was founded by Sephardic immigrants from Western Turkey and the island of Rhodes. The congregation welcomes Jews of all backgrounds and is proud to include Ashkenazim in addition to Sepharadim. It holds services every Shabbat and serves a special Sephardic lunch following services which are open to the community.