Rabbi Rigoberto Emmanuel Viñas (“Manny”), 39, grew up in a traditional Sephardic home of Cuban Jewish parents who came to America after the Cuban Revolution in 1960. He was born and raised in Miami, Florida and attended local Yeshivot in preparation for a Rabbinic career. He attended local Sefardic synagogues that were predominantly Spanish speaking of Cuban origin. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. In 1989, Rabbi Viñas moved to New York to continue his studies at Touro College where he received a B.A. (Magna Cum Laude) in Psychology and Social Sciences from Touro College and a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW-CSW), with honors in psycho-dynamics from Hunter College.

Rabbi Viñas completed his training as a scribe with ordination (kabala in sofrut) at Yeshiva University under the mentorship of Rabbi Shmuel Schneid, a master scribe from Monsey, New York. Rabbi Viñas also has “Yoreh Yoreh” ordination from Kollel Agudath Achim under the leadership of Rabbi Aharon Zeigler of Boro Park, Brooklyn, New York. He also has a second “Yoreh Yoreh” ordination from Yeshivah VeKollel Zichron Hizkiahu Yoel of Boro Park Brooklyn, New York. At present Rabbi Viñas is continuing his studies at Kollel Agudath Achim for semicha as a Dayan – judge “Yadin Yadin” from his Rebbi, Rabbi Aharon Ziegler. Rabbi Viñas has dedicated his career to serving diverse Jewish communities by bringing Klal Yisrael (all Jews) together regardless of denomination, form of practice, race or ethnicity or any other differences.

He is also the founder and director of El Centro de Estudios Judíos “Torat Emet,” a Spanish language Jewish education and spirituality center for Jews from all over Latin America who live in the New York area. His weekly classes and events are now held at our shul. El Centro’s web site can be found at www.centrojudio.org. His wife Erica, is a Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator in a private practice. They are now happy residents of Lincoln Park in Yonkers with their three daughters.