Rachel Lemel is best known as the mother of Dorit Kemsley, the fashion designer and longtime star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Born Rachel Benchetrit, she comes from Tangier, Morocco. She and her husband, Shalom Lemel, raised Dorit and her two siblings in Woodbridge, Connecticut, in what Bravo calls a multicultural, multilingual home.
Dorit Kemsley is known on RHOBH for her bold fashion, quick comebacks, and big personality. Fans have watched her marriage, her business ventures, and some very hard moments play out on screen.
Behind all of that is her mother, Rachel. This article covers Rachel’s roots in Tangier, the family she raised in Connecticut, her close bond with Dorit, and what is confirmed about her life.
Quick Facts: Rachel Lemel
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Rachel Lemel |
| Maiden name | Benchetrit |
| Known as | Dorit Kemsley’s mother |
| Roots | Tangier, Morocco (per Bravo) |
| Husband | Shalom Lemel, from Israel |
| Children | Dorit, Debbie, and David |
| Family home | Woodbridge, Connecticut (where the children were raised) |
| Grandchildren | Including Dorit’s children, Jagger and Phoenix |
| Birth date | Not publicly confirmed |
| Career | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net worth | Not publicly confirmed |
Who Is Rachel Lemel?
Rachel Lemel is Dorit Kemsley’s mother. Dorit’s Wikipedia page names her parents as Shalom and Rachel Lemel, and gives Rachel’s maiden name as Benchetrit.
According to Bravo, Rachel is from Tangier, a port city in northern Morocco.
She isn’t a reality TV star herself, but she’s a steady presence in her famous daughter’s life.
Rachel’s Roots in Tangier
Tangier sits at the northern tip of Morocco, across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. For centuries, it has been a crossroads of cultures, languages, and religions.
The city was once home to a large Sephardic Jewish community, families whose roots often traced back to Spain. Many spoke Spanish, French, and Arabic.
Rachel’s Tangier upbringing helps explain the many languages and traditions in the Lemel household.
Rachel and Shalom Lemel
Rachel’s husband, Shalom Lemel, is from Israel, Bravo reports. Wikipedia describes the couple as Jewish.
Together, a woman from Morocco and a man from Israel built a family in a quiet corner of New England.
Their story is a familiar American one: immigrants bringing their cultures together and passing them on to their children.
Raising a Family in Woodbridge, Connecticut
Dorit was born Dorit Lemel on July 14, 1976, in Woodbridge, Connecticut, according to Wikipedia. Woodbridge is a small town just outside New Haven.
Bravo reports that Dorit grew up there with her sister, Debbie, and her brother, David, in a multicultural, multilingual home.
Rachel helped build that home, mixing Moroccan, Israeli, and American influences.
Dorit’s Education and Early Career
Dorit attended Amity Regional High School and earned a degree in marketing, design, and communication from Quinnipiac University, according to Wikipedia.
She then moved to Italy to study at the University of Florence. She stayed about ten years, working in marketing and sales for a global swimwear company.
That international path echoes her parents’ own journeys across countries.
Dorit’s Fashion Business
After returning to the U.S., Dorit launched her swimwear label, Dorit International, in 2009, later called Dorit Swimwear.
In 2018, she launched Beverly Beach by Dorit, which later expanded into athleisure and accessories. Wikipedia notes the brand was no longer active by January 2024.
She also worked with bridal brand Nektaria on a dress line in 2021.
Dorit Joins Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Dorit joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills in its seventh season, in 2016, according to Wikipedia. She has been a main cast member ever since.
Her place on the show brought her family into the spotlight too, including occasional mentions of her parents.
For Rachel, it meant seeing her daughter become one of reality TV’s best-known personalities.
Dorit’s Marriage and Children
Dorit married English property developer Paul “PK” Kemsley on March 7, 2015, in New York City, Wikipedia says.
They have two children, Jagger and Phoenix, Rachel’s grandchildren.
In May 2024, Dorit and PK announced their separation. Dorit filed for divorce in April 2025, according to Wikipedia.
Hard Times for the Family
In October 2021, armed intruders broke into the Kemsleys’ Encino home while Dorit was there with the children. They took about $1 million in items, according to Wikipedia. No arrests were made.
Events like that are frightening for any family, and especially for parents watching from a distance.
In 2026, Dorit released a memoir, Unburdened, reflecting on her life so far.
A Birthday Celebration
In June 2025, Dorit shared photos and video from her mother’s birthday dinner, according to Bravo. The family sang “Happy Birthday” and “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
Rachel’s husband Shalom was there, along with Dorit’s children, Jagger and Phoenix.
Dorit called her mother beautiful and wrote that she radiates love in a way that stays with everyone she meets. She captioned a family photo, “My heart in one photo.”
The Bond Between Rachel and Dorit
Dorit’s words about her mother are warm and simple. They point to a mother whose love is felt by everyone around her.
For a reality star whose life is often full of drama, her mother seems to be a source of calm.
That steady love may be part of what has kept Dorit going through public challenges.
Clearing Up the Confusion About Rachel Lemel
Some websites share details about Rachel that aren’t confirmed. Here is what to keep in mind.
People-search sites. Some search results show public records for people with the same name. These may not be Dorit’s mother and shouldn’t be trusted.
Her age. Birth dates online aren’t confirmed.
Her career. Sites list jobs without sources.
Her heritage. Bravo confirms she’s from Tangier. Wikipedia confirms her maiden name, Benchetrit.
Net worth. Any figure is a guess.
Why Rachel Lemel Stays Out of the Spotlight
Rachel’s daughter lives a very public life, but Rachel herself doesn’t appear to seek attention. She isn’t a cast member and doesn’t give interviews.
Her appearances in the public eye come through Dorit’s social media posts, like the birthday celebration.
That balance lets her support her daughter without stepping into reality TV herself.
Rachel Lemel Today
As of 2026, Rachel is still married to Shalom Lemel, based on Bravo’s 2025 report. She celebrates milestones with her children and grandchildren.
Dorit continues on RHOBH and released her memoir in 2026.
Rachel’s journey from Tangier to Connecticut to being the grandmother of reality TV’s youngest fans is a quiet, remarkable one.
Final Thoughts
Every family carries the places its parents came from. In the Lemel home, that meant Moroccan memories from Tangier, Israeli roots from Shalom, and a new life in small-town Connecticut. Children raised in homes like that often grow up comfortable anywhere in the world.
Dorit’s life, from Florence to Beverly Hills, seems to reflect that. And her words about her mother show that the most lasting thing Rachel passed on wasn’t a language or a tradition. It was love.
Maybe that’s the gentlest truth in this story. We may forget the details of where our parents came from, but we never forget how they made us feel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Rachel Lemel?
Rachel Lemel, born Rachel Benchetrit, is the mother of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley.
Where is Rachel Lemel from?
According to Bravo, she is from Tangier, Morocco.
Who is Rachel Lemel’s husband?
Her husband is Shalom Lemel, who is from Israel.
How many children does Rachel Lemel have?
Three: Dorit, Debbie, and David, all raised in Woodbridge, Connecticut.
What did Dorit Kemsley say about her mother?
On her mom’s birthday in 2025, Dorit wrote that her mother radiates love in a way that stays with everyone she meets.
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