Angel in Lido: ‘Spanish’ rav at beach shul

Rabbi Marc D. Angel, rabbi emeritus of the 363-year-old Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Manhattan, is now serving as interim rabbi of the Lido Beach Synagogue.

“There is a spirit in Lido Beach that cannot be matched,” Rabbi Angel said. “We have ideals and a grand religious vision. I pray that as we work together, we will strengthen and enlarge the congregation.”

The author of two books on Rambam, he will give a class in Mishneh Torah on Shabbat afternoons before Minchah, in addition to delivering sermons and divrei Torah on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings and afternoons.

Lido Beach is a residential community on the eastern side of the Long Beach barrier island. The Modern Orthodox shul hosts frequent shabbatons and daily minyanim.

Rabbi Angel, who was president of the Rabbinical Council of America from 1990 to 1992, founded the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and is co-founder of the International Rabbinic Fellowship, an association of Modern Orthodox Rabbis.

The author or editor of 36 books, Rabbi Angel writes and lectures extensively. Among his recent books are “Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire,” “Maimonides, Spinoza and Us: Toward an Intellectually Vibrant Judaism,” “The Wisdom of Solomon and Us,” and a commentary on Pirkei Avot. He is the editor of Conversations, the journal of his institute.

“Rabbi Angel and his wife have been part of our kehillah for many years and we are all thrilled to have him serve as our interim rabbi,” said President Alex Berkovitch. He said that Rabbi Angel would assist in the selection of a permanent replacement for the shul’s former spiritual leader, Rabbi Shaul Rappeport.

The Lido Beach shul “is a unique institution in an amazing community that we have enjoyed for many years,” Rabbi Angel said. “The members are dedicated to tefillah and learning, the sanctuary is beautifully finished, and the social hall is perfect for kiddushim and simchas.”

Correction: The age of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue is corrected. The synagogue was founded in 1654.