Shaare Ezra is a vibrant and Orthodox Sephardic Congregation, which has grown in, leaps and bounds from a small Shabbat Minyan to a fully-fledged community. A few years ago the Sepharadim of the Miami Beach area decided to form a Minyan just for the Holidays. They rented a small room in one of the local Shul, bought a few necessary items, and began. Although, there were some that did not remember
all the tunes and Minhagim, there was still a yearning to know more about their ancestors. And so the high holidays past and people started to remember the tunes that they heard so long ago. They wondered whether their children would know these beautiful customs, and there heritage which their parents tried to tenderly pass down to them. These people had hopes and dreams to teach the future generation what they had forgotten from long ago before it would get lost. They knew that they would not be able to grow without the guidance of a Rabbi, and so came Rabbi Galimidi. He took this small group of barely a Minyan and started. Slowly he taught them about their beautiful heritage. More and more people started to attend the services and activities until we became what we are today. Today, Shaare Ezra Sephardic Congregation is a vibrant and Orthodox congregation with no other in the area of its kind. We have daily two daily Minyanim followed by several classes. There are classes given before Mincha in between Mincha and Arvit and after Arvit in Talmud, practical Halachot, Ladies Classes, Torah reading for youths, and many more on all levels. On Shabbat, the attendance increases to over 100 people. We have 3 Minyanim Vatikin – Main Minyan & Father Son Minyan. After Shacharit, we have a beautiful complete Kiddush. In the afternoon, two hours before Mincha there is a class on Jewish Law, Talmud Pirke Avot & Parasha Hashavua. Every Jewish Holiday is preceded by a relevant class. We also have other events through the year such as a Simcha Bet Hasho’eva, Hilula for Lag Ba’omer, Chanukah picnic, Purim Seuda, Annual Picnic, Guest Speakers etc. We publish a monthly newsletter, "TORAH TIMES", of approximately 300 circulation which contains Devar Torah, Holidays Insights, Community News, and other relevant information. Our building is centrally located in the heart of Miami Beach Jewish Community known as the 41st. street area. The new location allows us to further our endeavors, and offer a larger and more convenient place for our regular congregants as well as the many tourists who seek out and enjoy our hospitality. Due to our purchasing of this building, many Sephardic families have moved into the neighborhood from many places including South America, California, New York, and other parts of the world as well. Baruch Hashem due to the outgrown of our facility we are expanding some of our operations to the Second Floor, with the current construction of a “Bet Midrash Youth Center” for the Younger members of our beautiful, warm & friendly Community. A Congregation founded on the Sephardic tradition of the past, enjoyed in the present and preserved for our Children.
