Meet Rabbi Pinchas Allouche of Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rabbi Pinchas Allouche.

Rabbi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My story begins in Toulouse, France, where I was born to Michael, an aeronautical engineer, and Katy, a psychologist, in 1979. Our travels took us to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1987, where we lived for six years. We then moved again to Jerusalem, Israel, where I continued my studies in the high-school and post-high-school academy of my beloved mentor, world-scholar, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz.

In the late 90’s, I also lived in Geneva, Switzerland, where I assisted the Jewish community with its vast programs for the youth and adults alike, and in Milan, Italy, where I received my Rabbinic Ordination.

My beloved wife, Esther and I wed in Israel, and after teaching for three years, we moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where I served as a youth director and programming director, in a large Jewish congregation. In 2008, we moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where we reside until this day, with our nine beautiful children.

Here, we founded Congregation Beth Tefillah of Scottsdale in 2010 with a core group of extraordinary families and leaders. Our congregation has grown to over 400 families and it is among the most vibrant and fastest-growing synagogues in the USA. The 2018 Grand Opening Ceremony of Congregation Beth Tefillah’s new synagogue-building was attended by numerous influential individuals, including World Leaders, US Government Officials, State of Israel Representatives, and acclaimed Religious Dignitaries.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of being shaped by my beloved parents, and many teachers. But, perhaps, none were as impactful as: a. My dear mentor, world-scholar, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, whom I have consulted with on many individual and communal matters, ever since a young age until this very day. b. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, who has been dubbed as the “most influential Rabbi in modern history.” I had the immense privilege of meeting the Rebbe several times as a child, and I study life-teachings each day. There is not a day that goes by, in which I don’t think of him. He inspires me and my actions all the time.

My guiding passion and commitment are geared toward making our world better and brighter each day and bringing the beauty of Judaism, the relevance of its eternal wisdom, and the power of its spiritual healing to our world. Thus, aside from leading and growing our synagogue and empowering our local community in Scottsdale, I also make myself available to deliver motivational speeches, both to religious and non-religious audiences and offer consulting, mentoring, and counseling services to groups of various sizes and to individuals from every walk of life. Having lived in five countries on four different continents and being fluent in English, Hebrew, French, and Italian, I have had the blessing of forming lasting connections with people from many different backgrounds, across the globe.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“When there is no pain, there is no gain.” So, no, it has not been a ‘smooth road.’ But it has been a most rewarding road, where our challenges were turned into opportunities, and the apparent darkness that we, at times, experienced, was transformed into a shining light.

I recall the skeptics and nay-sayers at the onset of our journey. “There is no need for a Synagogue like yours,” some said. Others exclaimed, “Jews are too disengaged to involve themselves in a community.” While a few also stated that, “Scottsdale is not Jerusalem, and Arizona is not New York – you won’t be able to establish a community that will grow.”

But, with G-d’s grace and eternal help, with the power of our faith and resilience, and with the knowledge that we all possess a Divine soul, with infinite potential, and all that is sometimes needed is to dig a little further to unleash its endless resources — we continue to grow, and we are determined to forever continue to grow – and make others grow with us with acts of goodness and kindness – today more than yesterday, yet much less than tomorrow.

Congregation Beth Tefillah – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our Congregation Beth Tefillah’s primary objective is to serve as a spiritual lighthouse to every man, woman and child, regardless of background, affiliation and, level of observance. We offer a rich and wide variety of social, religious, educational, cultural, and family programs and events, for each and all.

What sets us apart is our ability to face outward, and to reach out to every person at their level, to help them grow in their own, unique spiritual journey. At the core of our belief, is the idea that each of us is an indispensable instrument in God’s cosmic symphony, and we each sent to earth with a role and a mission that only we can accomplish. We are here to help every individual discover their unique role and mission, and to guide them along the path as they strive to fulfill it each day.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There are many “proudest moments,” Some are as little as evoking a smile on a child’s face. Others are as great as saving a person from suicide and igniting the sparks of a person’s soul that made their innermost self-erupt with defiance and growth and become ambassadors of goodness to our world. But the proudest moment of my ‘career’ so far, is today. For I am a firm believer that every moment is filled with opportunities that beg to be actualized. Every hour holds within its blessings that impatiently wait to be unleashed. Every day is filled with infinite treasures that will never return. Yet, too many times, we are shackled by the troubles of our past or the fears of our future that we become complacent, and forget that our most important moment – perhaps the “proudest moment of our career” — may just be… today, right now.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6529 E. Shea Blvd.
• Website: www.RabbiAllouche.org / www.BethTefillahAZ.org
• Phone: 480-237-4888
• Email: rabbi@BethTefillahAZ.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbiallouche/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rabbiallouche
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabbi-pinchas-allouche-30b6163/

Image Credit:
Congregation Beth Tefillah

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