Mission Statement

The Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel (CYIR) is a non-profit organization that works to support and endorse activities and programs that confront the modern day challenges that Israeli communities and their rabbis face. The Council of Young Israel Rabbis focuses on bridging gaps and fostering networks among the various factions within the greater Jewish community, heightening Jewish identity in Israel and the diaspora, and educating with a specific focus on Jewish values, heritage, culture and the family, by providing counseling for individuals in crisis and aiding individuals in distress who need rabbinic intervention or through innovative programming and projects.

PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

ADVISORY BOARD

ADMINISTRATION

Projects and programs of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel are supported in part by National Council of Young Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel

CYIR Counseling Center

CYIR offers a free service of confidential advice and short term therapy to individuals in need of assistance and support. Staffed by Young Israel rabbis and professional therapists, CYIR’s Counseling Center deals with halachic and emotional issues regarding conversion, shalom bayit, personal relationships, divorce, marriage, conversion, initial klita (immigrant absorption), etc.

Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired (JHPIDHI)

There are approximately 18,000 deaf people in Israel in addition to the 200,000 who are hearing impaired. CYIR has committed itself to intensify Jewish identity among the deaf community by establishing the Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired (JHPIDHI). The program fosters their Jewish identity through intellectually stimulating courses and programs, transmitted via sign language, which increase their knowledge of Judaic Heritage and Zionism. JHPIDHI trains Rabbis and educators to communicate via sign language and to bridge the communication gap in all areas of Jewish life.

Aguna/Get-Refusal Prevention and Prenuptial Projects

Assigned to solve "insolvable" get-refusal cases, CYIR provides assistance to all Jews who are in need of help in achieving a Jewish divorce, male or female, from every walk of life, native Israeli's or from abroad. CYIR is often the lone voice in the bewildering maze of the Israeli Rabbinical Courts, calling for and affecting the development of solutions to the problems of people in desperate straits. In addition, CYIR promotes the implementation of prenuptial agreements for Israeli couples to enable prevention of get-refusal in the future.

Special Tzedaka Campaigns

As part of the international Young Israel movement, CYIR participates in raising funds for various Israeli campaigns such as the community of Sderot, Gush Katif evacuee families, winter coats for residents of the North, and the like. Special Tzedaka Campaigns are held throughout the year and focus primarily around Jewish holidays.

Areivim Zeh LaZeh

As a joint effort of CYIR and the Union of Synagogues in Israel (www.unisyn.org.il), “Areivim Zeh LaZeh” is involved in restructuring of the Israeli Modern Orthodox Synagogue with regard to its communal function and the development of young synagogue and communal leadership dedicated to these values. An important objective has been to help establish social action and outreach in synagogues as an important value in Israeli orthodox society, including creating a comfortable environment for the spiritual and social absorption of new immigrants.

Conclusion

CYIR is brimming with activity. In fact, these are only some of the programs we provide to the Israeli public. Yet, none of these programs take place on their own. In order to maintain current programming and provide for new initiatives, we need the support of people like you. Whether it's sponsoring an Israeli young adult about to become a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, providing for a counseling session for a new immigrant, or training community rabbis, YOUR donation goes a long way in helping CYIR in reaching its mission.

Please take a moment to make a donation to CYIR by visiting our donation page or contacting us for more information about donor opportunities. We thank you in advance for your support.

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CYIR Administration, Executive Officers and Advisory Board

Executive Officers

Rabbi Jeffrey Bienenfeld

Rabbi Mallen Galinsky

Rabbi Chaim Wasserman

Presidium

Rabbi Meyer Fendel

Rabbi Nachman Kahana

Vice Presidents

Rabbi Yosef Wolicki

Secretary

Rabbi Yisrael Fass

Treasurer

Rabbi Simcha Krauss*

Chairman of the Executive

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Advisory Board

Rabbi Reuven Aberman

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Adler*

Rabbi Nachum Bronznick

Rabbi George Finkelstein

Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold

Rabbi Bernard Goldenberg

Rabbi Macy Gordon

Rabbi Yeshaya Heisler

Rabbi Pinchas Kahn

Rabbi Yoel Litke

Rabbi Chaim Luban*

Rabbi Jay Marcus*

Rabbi Emanuel Quint

* Past President

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Administration

Rabbi Michael Strick

Executive Director

Rabbi Chanoch Yeres

Director, Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Dr. Lorell Blass

Director, CYIR Counseling Center

Dr. Rachel Levmore

Coordinator, Prenuptial and Divorce Refusal Prevention Projects

Edna Korngold

Program Coordinator, Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Susan Taragin

Administrative Assistant

Michali Shulman

Secretary

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