Jul 24, 2024

Base Miami Relaunches With New Resident Rabbinic Couple

In this challenging time, engaging young Jews in a pluralistic, hospitable home of Jewish learning, culture and connection is more critical than ever. Helping in that effort are Rabbi Dvir and Shalhevet Cahana, the newly arrived resident Rabbinic couple of Federation-funded Base Miami. Relaunched on July 1 in The Roads area of Miami, Base Miami guides those seeking a Jewish life of relevance, purpose and meaning. The Base Movement, founded in 2015 as an extension of Moishe House, is now in 20 cities throughout the US and houses rabbis and their spouses who provide a welcoming experience for Shabbat dinners and holiday celebrations, content-rich classes, pastoral counseling and service-learning opportunities. “Rabbi Dvir and I live our lives with an expectation that we are here to serve,” shared Shalhevet. “We want to be the glue that keeps the Jewish community together.”

Originally from Montreal, Rabbi Dvir is a graduate of rabbinical school at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and holds a Masters of Jewish Studies from McGill University. Prior to his Miami move, Rabbi Dvir was a managing resident of the Moishe House in Montreal, which he founded, and the location in Harlem, NY. “Bringing people into my home is such an incredible opportunity for them to experience Judaism,” said Rabbi Dvir. “There’s another level of intimacy when they enter that space.”

Shalhevet, born and raised in Boston, is an educator, community scholar, premarital counselor, public speaker and part of a clergy team in California. A graduate of Stern College’s Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies, Shalhevet will also be teaching high school at the Jewish Leadership Academy while she co-runs Base Miami. She observed the focus of this age group is “the two Ps: profession and partner,” with a key question being: “What kind of Jewish community do I want?”

The answer to that question certainly changes with the times. Right now, suggested Rabbi Dvir, “we can fortify people with community and give them a sense of pride in being Jewish. It’s the gathering that is the answer to the hatred. Our real work will be holding people together.”

Click here to learn more about Base Miami or email Rabbi Dvir for information.