Rabbi Esteban Gottfried

Biography

Co-founder of Beit Tefilah Israeli in Tel Aviv and director since its inception, serving as its rabbi for the past 20 years, Esteban Gottfried was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and received a second rabbinical ordination at the New Israeli Rabbinical Program at Hartman Institute and Hamidrasha in Oranim. He is also one of the founders and board members of the Network of Emerging Jewish Communities (Reshet), a board member of PANIM, the network or organizations for Israeli Judaism, a graduate of the Gvanim program for the advancement of pluralistic Jewish leadership founded by the Jewish Federation of San Francisco, and a graduate of the Applied Compassion Training at the Stanford Unversity’s Center for Compassion and Altruism.

Prior to making aliyah from Argentina in 1983, he wrote and published the first children’s High Holy Day mahzor for Spanish speakers. As the leader of Beit Tefilah Israeli, he has edited a series of Israeli Prayer Books for Shabbat and High Holy Days that are being used in Israel and abroad.

In the 20 years Esteban has dedicated to Beit Tefilah Israeli, it has developed from a small Havura to an independent community to a thriving organization that revolutionizes the way secular Israelis connect to Judaism, combining Jewish tradition, spirituality and contemporary Israeli culture. The famous summer Shabbat services at the Tel Aviv port, which gathers 1,000 people every week, are now replicated by Beit Tefilah Israeli throughout the country in open parks, beaches and iconic public spaces.

Esteban studied at Tel Aviv University, Beit Zvi and Nissan Nativ Drama Studio theater schools, and at the Royal Court Theatre in London. After completing his studies, he had an active career as playwright, stage director, screenwriter and actor for 20 years, and has been awarded prizes and awards including two “Israeli Oscars” (Ofir) as a writer and as an actor. He is married to Ruthie and is the father of Maya and Toby.