‘The American Dream:’ Rabbi Victor Urecki retiring after nearly 40 years

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A beloved community faith leader is retiring after nearly four decades of spreading messages of loving strangers.

Rabbi Victor Urecki from the B’nai Jacob synagogue has announced he is retiring in August 2025. He accepted a job to become a rabbi in Charleston in 1986, and he never looked back.

“West Virginia has been wild and wonderful for me. It’s been an incredible experience. But I wouldn’t call it whitewater rafting. It’s been very smooth,” Victor said.

Victor was born in Argentina. His parents decided to immigrate to the United States when he was two years old.

“They taught me the importance of being in this country and the importance of giving back to this country. And I hope I’ve been able to do that,” Victor said.

It wasn’t an easy transition to make, but Victor’s parents, Jean and Elliott, say it was an easy decision.

“It was the best decision of my life, apart from marrying my wife,” Elliott said. “The United States gave us a fantastic life. We can’t complain.”

The Ureckis lived in New York and Oregon during Victor’s childhood. Despite their Argentine roots, Victor and his parents all say they are proud to be Americans. In fact, his parents both became American citizens just five years after immigrating from Argentina.

“Here are my parents who really came with almost nothing and came to this country in search of a dream and better life for their son. And I’m thinking I owe it to them to make a name for myself and do something to improve the life of my family,” Victor said.

During his career, Victor has made a name for himself by advocating for loving one another and unifying as a community despite each other’s differences.

In June, Victor was presented with a lifetime achievement award in New York for his decades of service to the community.

Even in his retirement, Victor says he will be staying in Charleston.

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