CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel
is dedicated to ...

• Supporting and endorsing activities, programs and challenges facing Israeli communities and their Rabbinic Leadership
  
• Creating bridges and interactive networks between the various factions of the global Jewish community
• Educating with a specific focus on family issues
• Heightening Jewish identity in Israel and the Diaspora
• Aiding individuals in distress who need Rabbinic intervention 
• Providing Jewish values and education to Israel's Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Projects and programs of CYIR: 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 problems around issues regarding conversion, shalom bayit, personal status, 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, transmitted via sign language, which increases 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.

The Eye Squad
To assist the 7,500 North Americans and other Anglos who spend a year in Israel, the EYE SQUAD provides a confidential, independent hotline for those who are experiencing any type of distress. Members of the Eye Squad engage the young adult to communicate that he/she is not alone, and that there is someone (a non-judgmental, impartial person) who exists outside the school/program that will listen, empathize and give constructive advice.

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, from Israel and 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.

Rabbinic Services
CYIR's Department of Rabbinic Services provides courses in several Rabbinic Training programs throughout Israel, Y'mei Iyun to heighten awareness of issues such as family violence, abuse and teenage values identification. Programs include: Rabbinic Conferences, Participation in Joint Forums to promote welfare of discriminated victims, Guidance and Supervision to Rabbinic Pastoral Counselors, Rabbinic Placement in communities lacking Rabbinic guidance and inspiration, On site and phone consultations, Dissemination of information and knowledge essential to community Rabbis, and Seminars for Rabbis on psychological issues and communication skills.

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 dontation page or contacting us for more information about donor opportunities. We thank you in advance for your support.

CYIR Officers, Executive Board
and Advisory Council

Officers

Rabbi Jeffrey Bienenfeld, 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

Executive Board

Rabbi Reuven Aberman

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Adler

Rabbi Ahron Batt

Rabbi Nachum Broznick

Rabbi George Finkelstein

Rabbi Dr. Sholom Gold

Rabbi Bernard Goldenberg

Rabbi James Gordon

Rabbi Macy Gordon

Rabbi Yeshaya Heisler

Rabbi Pinchas Kahn

Rabbi Yoel Litke

Rabbi Chaim Luban

Rabbi Jay Marcus

Rabbi Emanuel Quint

Rabbi Moshe Rose

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Advisory Council

Dr. Sheldon Abramson

Mr. Ruby Davidman

Dr. David Hammer

Mrs. Florence Hammer

Rebbetzin Feiga Kahana

Mr. Moshe Loshinsky

Mr. Joe Polansky

Mrs. Rozanne Polansky

Mr. Jerrold Rappaport

Mr. Harvey Schwartz

Mrs. Sarah Schwartz

Mr. Eddie Steinlauf 

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CYIR Professional Staff

Rabbi Michael K. Strick, Executive Director

Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell, Chief Program & Development Officer; Founder and Director, The Eye Squad

Daniel M. Meyer, Director of Programming

Rabbi Chanoch Yeres, Director, Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf & Hearing Impaired

Dr. Lorell Blass, Director, CYIR Counseling Center

Rachel Levmore, Coordinator, Prenuptial and Get-Refusal Prevention Projects

Talya Levin, Program Coordinator, The Eye Squad

Rabbi Jason Demant, Member, The Eye Squad

Iris Royi MSW, Program Coordinator, Judaic Heritage Program for Israel's Deaf & Hearing Impaired

Susan Taragin, Office Administrator

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