YOZMA'S RABBIS

Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon,

Israel's first female rabbi, established Kehillat YOZMA in 1997 together with a dedicated cadre of volunteers. She has been YOZMA's spiritual leader ever since.

In 2002, Rabbi Shiryon was elected chairperson of the Council of Progressive Rabbis in Israel (MARAM). The Israeli media highlighted her election by noting that Shiryon is the first woman to head one of the country's rabbinical bodies.

Ordained by the HUC-JIR in New York in 1981, Rabbi Shiryon was for several years the spiritual leader of a Reform community in north Tel Aviv. She is the founder and director of its "Generation to Generation" Outreach programs. Rabbi Shiryon also directed the University Student Outreach programs at UAHC's International Department of Education in Jerusalem.

A native New Yorker, Rabbi Shiryon has lived in Israel for over 25 years. She and her husband, Baruch Shiryon, live in the Modiin neighborhood of Maccabim with their four children: Ayelet, Erez, Inbar and Amichai.

Rabbi Nir Barkin

has been an active part of Kehillat YOZMA since his return to Israel in 2003 after serving as community shaliach in Milwaukee for four years and previously in the Hi Tech business in Marketing and Communications in various international conglomerates.

Rabbi Barkin has been on the pedagogical staff of YOZMA's after-school enrichment program for 1st – 3rd graders. Rabbi Barkin is also currently in charge of the Jewish studies for the growing YOZMA elementary school. In addition, he runs an adult education Bet Midrash as well as performing rabbinical duties alongside Rabbi Shiryon.

Rabbi Barkin completed his rabbinical studies at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem and was ordained in November, 2007.

A native Israeli of the "Kamchi" Sephardic Jerusalemite family, Rabbi Nir Barkin lives in Modi'in with his wife Anat and three children: Amit, Omri and Assaf.

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