Beloved founder and director of the Tzfat Kabbalah Center
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Rabbi Eyal Riess z”l, the beloved founder and director of the Tzfat Kabbalah Center and close, longtime friend of Jewish Palm Beach.
Born in Tel Aviv in 1965, Rabbi Riess dedicated nearly three decades of his life to the study and teaching of Kabbalah in Tzfat. His spiritual journey began after serving in the IDF and studying at Tel Aviv University, where he discovered the wisdom of Spiritual Judaism and Kabbalah.
In 2007, through a visionary partnership between Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism and the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Tzfat Kabbalah Center was born.
Tzfat is one of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s three partner cities in northern Israel, alongside Rosh Pina and Hatzor Haglilit. Rabbi Riess’s leadership transformed Tzfat into a beacon of spiritual learning and a destination for tourists from around the world. The relationship between Rabbi Riess, Tzfat and Palm Beach flourished through his regular visits, leaving a transformative legacy as many of our community members became devoted students and lifelong friends.
May the memory of Rabbi Eyal Riess be a blessing and source of comfort to all who knew and loved him. Donations will go to the Tzfat Kabbalah Center.
