Rabbi Raphael Benchimol, born in Rabat, Morocco, is the founding rabbi of Manhattan Sephardic Congregation and a shaliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L. He received his rabbinical ordination in 1988 and Dayanut diploma in 1990 from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim, Brooklyn. Since 1990, Rabbi Benchimol has led MSC with devotion, combining his Moroccan Sephardic heritage with a passion for Torah learning and community outreach. He is the founder of the Aleph Learning Center, author of several sefarim including the Bet Aharon series and Rabbi Naftali HaKohen Katz: His Life, Legacy and Ethical Will, and has been recognized internationally, including receiving the Medal of Knight of the Order of the Throne from King Mohammed VI of Morocco. Rabbi Benchimol lives in New York City with his wife, Rachel, and their four children.

Marc Hazan serves as the Chazan of Manhattan Sephardic Congregation, leading our kehillah in tefilot with the beautiful nusach of the Moroccan-Sephardic tradition. His heartfelt renditions of piyyutim enhance our spiritual experience from weekly Shabbat to the Yamim Noraim. Marc also teaches shiurim at MSC, sharing his knowledge of Torah and our mesorah with talmidim of all levels. His dedication to preserving and transmitting our Moroccan-Sephardic minhagim makes him an invaluable member of our congregational family.