Ohr Chadash is a Kehilla built on the values of Torah and Achdus. We are characterized by a serious and spirited davening, excellence in Torah learning and practice, a warm and welcoming environment, a strong sense of community, and deep joy and gratitude for living in Eretz Yisrael.

We pride ourselves in our uplifting davening, engaging learning programs, chessed and hachnasas orchim opportunities. We celebrate the diversity of our membership, and aim to foster a sense of community that transcends divisions and brings us together through common values and an aspiration for unity.

Some Specifics:

• The Shul’s “mother tongue” is English, but we accommodate Hebrew speakers whenever possible. Our Rav, Dayan Pfeffer, is comfortable in both languages.
• Our focus includes men, women, and youth, and we encourage programs for all. Some activities are men-only or women-only, while others cater to both, with appropriate separation in adherence to tznius guidelines.
• For all things Halachic we are guided by our Rav, Dayan Yehoshua Pfeffer, who is available to the community for all questions. We invite comments and suggestions.
• Alongside the Rav, we are blessed with a wonderful range of talented and inspirational educators, allowing us to offer a real variety of content and approaches. We are always on the lookout for more.
• The Vaad represents the membership and assists the Rav. The Shul encourages members to get involved in the leadership and the Vaad, and we welcome all suggestions for new development.
• The doors of Ohr Chadash are wide open to welcome anyone who wishes to join our journey of growth.

Our Rabbi

Rabbi (Dayan) Yehoshua Pfeffer grew up in London, England, studying at Hasmonean High School and transferring to Israel at the age of 17 to study in Yeshivot, predominantly at Mir Yeshiva where he studied for some seven years. He studied for an entire cycle under the tutelage of the renowned educator and maggid shiur, Rav Asher Arieli, shlita. At this time he also became a talmid of Rav Moshe Shapira, zt”l, a relationship that continued for close to twenty years.

After marriage, Rabbi Pfeffer studied for over a decade under Rav Asher Weiss, shlita, earning semicha (Yoreh Yoreh) and Dayanut (Yadin Yadin), and serving for several years as a Dayan on Rav Weiss’s Civil Beis Din. During this period, he also served in several Halacha related positions, including moderating a prominent international Halacha website (dinonline.org), serving as chief editor of Ner Le’elef’s Resources Program, and acting as assistant to Israel’s Chief Rabbi in writing Halachic responsa.

Alongside his Halachic occupations, Rabbi Pfeffer has taught at several Yeshivot, including Yeshivat Maarava, and was a partner in establishing Yeshivat Chedvat Ha-Torah, a yeshiva that incorporates general studies with regular Yeshiva studies, at which he teaches today. Rabbi Pfeffer also has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in law from Hebrew University. He did his law internship at Israel’s Supreme Court (under justice Neil Hendel), and is a member of the Israeli bar. Today, he teaches Jewish law, as well as a specialist course he established, at Hebrew University’s Law Faculty.

Rabbi Pfeffer is a senior director of the Tikvah Fund in Israel, for which he runs a range of educational programs that explore the Torah approach to a wide range of policy issues. He is also the founding editor-in-chief of Tzarich Iyun, a journal that engages a broad range of social and intellectual issues from a Torah perspective. He lives in Ramot with Rebbetzin Tamar (daughter of Rav Reuven Leuchter, shlita) and their eight children.