Tora in Our DNA. Healing in Our Bones.

Rabbi Catriel Garland

© Entrepreneurial Rabbi | Senior ©Afro-Sephardic Rabbi at Tora V'Ahava of Florida.ואהבת לרעך כמוך
"Love your neighbor as yourself"

I'm Rabbi Catriel Garland, and I believe every Jewish soul, from Sudan to the South carries sacred stories waiting to be reclaimed. As Florida's first Afro-Sephardic Orthodox Rabbi, I help to bridge ancient wisdom with modern hearts, helping diaspora Jews reconnect with their heritage through love, learning, and storytelling.

✡️ “Rabbi Catriel serves with humble intention. Any fees or partnerships are offered not for gain, but to allow sustainable service that honors your dignity and his spiritual calling.”

From Africa to Florida: My Tora Journey

My story spans continents and cultures. As a first-generation American with Caribbean, Sudanese, and Ethiopian roots, I carry forward traditions that have survived exile and diaspora. My family lineage weaves through Khartoum, the West Indies, and now Tallahassee, where I serve as the senior rabbi of Tora V'Ahava, a community that has welcomed Afro-Sephardic Jews since the late 19th century.Ordained as an Orthodox rabbi, I bring together the scholarship of traditional yeshiva learning with the warmth of Afro-diasporic storytelling. Whether teaching Hebrew with ancient Sephardic melodies or offering spiritual guidance rooted in both Tora and ancestral wisdom, my approach is always centered on love (ahava) and healing.In 2020, I launched a mission to reconnect descendants in the West Indies and rural American South with their African Jewish roots, sharing the laws and customs of sages from Morocco, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Yemen. This work of diaspora healing continues through mentorship, teaching, and community building.

The Guardian Of A Living Heritage

Tora V'Ahava of Florida in Tallahassee carries a unique legacy, our Afro-Sephardic Jewish presence dates back to the Antebellum period, when early communities granted refuge to formerly enslaved individuals with Sephardic heritage. Today, I have the honor of continuing this sacred tradition, ensuring that every soul finds their way home to Tora.

Services & Offerings

From one-on-one mentorship to global speaking engagements, I offer personalized guidance rooted in Tora wisdom and cultural healing.

  • 🎓 Rabbinical Mentorship & Coaching

  • 🗣️ Speaking Engagements & Lectures

  • 📚 Rabbinical Life Cycle Events

  • 🤝 Interfaith Coalition Work

  • 🎙️ Podcast & Digital Teachings

  • 🏕️ Spiritual Retreats (Coming Soon)

Media & Recognition

Rabbi Garland's pioneering work in Afro-Sephardic education and interfaith healing has gained recognition across Florida and beyond.

🎓 Florida State University

Campus Healing Ceremony Speaker
Invited to offer words of comfort to the university community during a time of tragedy, demonstrating his role as a trusted spiritual leader beyond his own congregation.Trusted Community Spiritual Leader

🏛️ Riley Museum Partnership

Afro- Sephardic Jewish Heritage Educator
Collaborating with cultural institutions to preserve and share the rich history of Afro-Sephardic Jews in Tallahassee dating back to the Antebellum period.Cultural Heritage Preservationist

🥇 Historic Firsts

Pioneering Leadership
• First Afro-Sephardic Orthodox Rabbi of color in Florida
• Pioneering Afro-Sephardic Rabbi serving Tallahassee
• Leading community with 150+ year heritage-Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

🤝 Interfaith DEI Leadership

Featured Speaker on Identity & Inclusion
Recognized as a "Black Jew sharing insights on identity, intersectionality, and the spiritual call to inclusion" at major interfaith diversity services.Intersectional Faith Leader

🌍 Diaspora Healing Mission

2020 Heritage Reconnection Initiative
Launched groundbreaking mission to reconnect West Indies and rural American South descendants with their African Jewish roots through education and community building.-Ancestral Bridge Builder