Double Chai Celebration for Reverend David Aminia

For 36 years, Reverend David Aminia has been dedicated to Temple Beth El with his ritual leadership, Jewish knowledge, remarkable teaching skills, assisting in all aspects of daily minyans and Shabbat and holiday services, and being a spiritual friend to  the entire Jewish community in the Springfield area.

David was born in Iran and lived with his family in Tehran before it became problematic for Jews.  Highly educated in Orthodox Judaism, he went to Israel for a year for ulpan study.  Being now fluent in Hebrew and English, he immigrated to the United States as a young man.

In the late 1980’s he saw an opportunity to move to Springfield and Temple Beth El.  Under the guidance of then Cantor Morton Shames z”l he began to teach students to prepare them for their bar and bat mitzvahs.  Since then, he estimates that he has tutored over 500 students to chant their Haf Torah and Torah parshas. His greatest accolade is that he has taught learners of all ages and skill levels to fulfill that mitzvah. Rabbi H. Schwartz, previous rabbi of TBE gave David the title of Reverend because of his extraordinary knowledge of Judaism and Torah.

Daily, David leads the morning and evening minyan now successfully attended on zoom.  The minyan is central to honoring the memory of loved ones and for those who worship daily.  Many of us now get to see him online,  in the sanctuary, or when he’s attending or overseeing a synagogue program. 

Most important for David, he visits daily are to his wife Sharon residing at the Jewish Nursing Home. He has a daughter who lives a distance away.  Thus, the Temple Beth El community has become his cherished family.  We are so pleased to honor Reverend David Aminia this Shavout as our dear friend and mainstay who has given us so much over his tenure at Temple Beth El.

(note: picture of Sharon and David Aminia at the 2025 JGS Lifecare prom Queen and King honor)