Rabbi Akiva Males

Young Israel of Memphis

March 5, 2019

Rabbi Akiva Males grew up in Cleveland, OH, and received his Jewish education at the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study (W.I.T.S.) and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim (Rabbinical Seminary of America) based in Queens, NY - where he received his semicha. From 2007-2016, Rabbi Males and his wife Layala (nee Feintuch - of Brooklyn, NY) lived in Harrisburg, PA where he served as rabbi of Kesher Israel Congregation. Aside from his Shul-based responsibilities, he also maintained the Harrisburg community Eruv, offered meaningful Torah study opportunities to diverse audiences, and represented Orthodoxy to the broader Jewish (and non-Jewish) community. Those - and many other - experiences expanded Rabbi Males' horizons, deepened his Torah / Halachic knowledge, and enabled him to better relate to Jews of all backgrounds and levels of observance. Rabbi Akiva and Layala Males relocated to Memphis in the summer of 2016, and they are thrilled to be part of the Young Israel of Memphis family.