The head of the Spanish and Portuguese (S&P) Sephardi Community has announced that he will be stepping down to make aliyah in January 2026.
Rabbi Joseph Dweck has been senior rabbi of the UK denomination for 11 years. He and his wife, Margalit, have decided to move to Israel to be closer to their children.
Rabbi Dweck, 49, described his time leading the Sephardi community as “one of the greatest honours of my life”.
He said: “With God’s help, Margalit and I plan to make aliyah in January 2026. With most of our children already in Israel, we feel that this is the right time to take this long-awaited step, bringing us closer to both our family and the homeland of our people.”
Reflecting on his time in the UK, Rabbi Dweck said: “My time in the UK has given me a deep appreciation for the strength, wisdom, and warmth of the British Jewish community. I am profoundly grateful for the many opportunities we have had to learn, reflect, and grow together.”
Until his family’s departure in over a year’s time. Rabbi Dweck said that he and his wife were “committed to giving our all to the community… ensuring that we leave this illustrious congregation in the strongest possible position for our successors.
“I can confidently say that those who come after us will be very fortunate to join such an extraordinary and inspiring community.”
A spokesperson from the S&P Sephardi Community paid tribute to Rabbi Dweck and Margalit for their “outstanding service” to the community, saying: “We are deeply grateful to Rabbi Dweck and his family for their remarkable dedication over the past
11 years. While there will be plenty of opportunities to bid them farewell, we are heartened that we will continue to benefit from Rabbi Dweck’s leadership throughout 2025.”
They said that in the coming weeks, they would begin the process of recruiting a successor “to guide the Kahal [community] into the next chapter of our historic journey, upholding our unique Western Sephardi traditions as a cornerstone of contemporary British Jewry.”
Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck said that in Israel, he planned to focus more on public teaching, writing and expanding the Habura, his online and physical Bet Midrash, adding: “I very much hope to remain connected with my dear friends and students here, and I look forward to continuing teaching and engaging with the community during frequent visits to the UK.”
Daniel Sacerdoti, the Parnas Presidente and chair of the board of trustees of the Spanish and Portuguese Sephardi Community, said: “With deep affection, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Senior Rabbi Joseph Dweck, Margalit, and their family for their exceptional service to our Kahal.
“Their unwavering dedication to Torah, devotion to the service of God, and genuine kindness toward all have been evident in everything they have undertaken. We look forward to continuing our work together throughout the coming year, before wishing them all the best as they embark on their new chapter in Israel.
“They will leave behind a Spanish and Portuguese community that is vibrant, deeply connected to its heritage and forward-looking.”
