YOZMA is the Reform Jewish Community in Modiin, Israel.
Founded in 1997, YOZMA is the vibrant spiritual, educational and cultural center for Progressive Jewish life in Modi’in and the surrounding area. We integrate Jewish heritage and progressive values throughout our community programs, events and educational frameworks.
Our Community in Numbers
Dedicated Employees
Dedicated Volunteers
Overseas Visitors Annually to YOZMA
Families Impacted Daily by YOZMA
Rabbinic Leadership
Rabbi Nir Barkin
Senior Rabbi and Executive Director
Appointed Senior Rabbi and Executive Director of YOZMA in 2017, Rabbi Nir Barkin had previously served in a variety of capacities at YOZMA since first joining the community in 2004.
Rabbi Barkin and his wife Anat are parents to daughter Amit and sons Omri and Assaf.
"My approach to Israeli culture and the traditions of the Jewish people is based on complete equality. I invite you to take part in the spiritual, educational and communal life at Kehillat YOZMA."
Rabbi Philip Nadel
Rabbi
Rabbi Nadel serves the YOZMA community, including the YOZMA pre-school and nursery school programs. Rabbi Nadel was ordained in 1988 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).
Prior to making aliyah with his family in 2007, Rabbi Nadel was the Co-Director and Jewish Studies Principal of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School in Wisconsin. He also served as head of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel.
Rabbi Nadel and his family live in Kfar Saba.
“I believe in the power of synagogue communities to enrich and sustain its members through the celebration of Jewish life, including prayer, study, and a commitment to social justice.”
David Azoulay
Rabbi
Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon
Rabbi Emeritus
Founding rabbi of the community. She was ordained in 1981. First woman to function as a community rabbi in Israel. Founded the community of YOZMA in 1997, and served as the community's rabbi under she retired in July 2017. Prior to that, she served as the rabbi of the Ramat Aviv community for seven years and managed a Jewish education system for students from abroad for five years. She was the chairman of the Council of Progressive Rabbis for two terms. Widow of Baruch, mother of Ayelet, Erez, Inbar and Amichai and a grandmother.
Smadar Bilik
Student Rabbi
Smadar has been an active member of IMPJ's congregations since her Bat Mitzvah, and has worked for many years in the field of Jewish education.
Currently, Smadar is a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR. She is married to Ilia and mother to Yonatan and Roni.
"I believe that community life has the power to provide meaning to Jews and Israelis of our times, and in the ability of Jewish tradition to be a source of wisdom, inspiration and comfort.
Management and Staff
Rabbi Nir Barkin
Senior Rabbi and Executive Director
Appointed Senior Rabbi and Executive Director of YOZMA in 2017, Rabbi Nir Barkin had previously served in a variety of capacities at YOZMA since first joining the community in 2004.
Rabbi Barkin and his wife Anat are parents to daughter Amit and sons Omri and Assaf.
"My approach to Israeli culture and the traditions of the Jewish people is based on complete equality. I invite you to take part in the spiritual, educational and communal life at Kehillat YOZMA."
Tsipi Weinberg
COO
Tsipi is mother to Amit and Omri – both graduates of YOZMA’s preschool program.
Over the past years, Tsipi has worked to nurture and develop the YOZMA community, with special emphasis on Jewish identity and culture in Israeli society.
“I believe in people and in the empowering force of the group and in the importance of leading a life of cooperative and supportive relationships. I believe in an ethical way of life that is rooted in Jewish tradition and yet open to creativity and renewal.”
Karin Sigal
Director of International Relations
Over the past years, Karin has worked in resource development and in fostering and cultivating YOZMA's overseas connections.
Karin is married to Tamir and mother to 3 sons: Yonatan, Ben and Daniel (all of whom celebrated their bar mitzvah at YOZMA).
"I believe strongly in the importance of creating and maintaining a close connection between Diaspora Jewry and Israelis, and I work locally to foster these connections with YOZMA. I believe that this is the foundation that serves to anchor and connect Jews the world over with Israel."
Etty Fridman
CFO
Rabbi Philip Nadel
Rabbi
Rabbi Nadel was ordained in 1988 by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).
Prior to making aliyah with his family in 2007, Rabbi Nadel was the Co-Director and Jewish Studies Principal of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School in Wisconsin. He also served as head of the Alexander Muss High School in Israel. Rabbi Nadel and his family live in Kfar Saba. “I believe in the power of synagogue communities to enrich and sustain its members through the celebration of Jewish life, including prayer, study, and a commitment to social justice.”
David Azoulay
Rabbi
Rabbi Deby Greenberg-Weinberg
Community Coordinator
Originally from Argentina, Rabbi Weinberg has garnered years of international experience in both formal and informal Jewish education – having worked in Jewish communities in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Israel. Ordained by the Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, Rabbi Deby is responsible for overseeing YOZMA’s many community activities - coordinating all social justice, cultural and informal educational programming.
Deby is married to Andre and mother to Nittai and Amit.
Lital Reubens
Pre school Finance & Administration
Lital is married to Yirmiyahu and mother to Omer, Sagi and Ofir. Products of YOZMA’s formal educational frameworks, Omer and Sagi celebrated their b’nai mitzvah ceremonies at YOZMA.
“I believe in the importance of preserving the values of Jewish tradition and rituals- in order to strengthen the connection of the Jewish people from generation to generation – in an egalitarian and liberal manner which acknowledges the modern way of life.”
Tali Milo
Early Childhood and Preschool Director
An 18-year veteran of YOZMA’s preschool staff, Tali is currently the program’s pedagogical director. She is married to Alon and is mother to Sagie, Shir and Shani. A graduate of the Kibbutzim College of Education, she also holds a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from The David Yellin Academic College of Education. Tali firmly believes that “The way that we are raised in early childhood has a critical impact on who we become as adults” (Aristotle)
Efrat Melamed
Administrative assistant
Efrat is married to rabbinical student David and is the mother of three daughters - Reshit, Clil and Assif. Efrat has a B.A in Social Sciences and Communication. She comes to YOZMA with extensive experience - having worked in a variety of community positions. Her strong connection to the spirit of Judaism is based on personal choice, pluralism and equality. She strongly believes that “there can be no progress without change”.
Einat Yadov
Coordinator, Membership and Life Cycle Events
Ariela Beery - Katzir
After-school Program Coordinator
Director of YOZMA's after-school program – is a graduate of the prestigious Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sports and has been involved in informal education for the past 13 years.
A proud mother of three children, Ariela's educational philosophy is based on creating a safe place for children by teaching them clear boundaries through warmth, respect and understanding.
Danny Morian-Shavit
Grounds & Facilities Supervisor
Danny is father to Reut, Maoz and Alon (who is currently a student at YOZMA’s elementary school). Danny oversees the maintenance of YOZMA’s communal and educational facilities.
“I believe that with professionalism, daring and initiative, YOZMA can become the best it can be – both inside and out.”
Lee Ben Ishai
Youth Coordinator
YOZMA’s Ensemble
YOZMA’s Ensemble:Shni Milo – piano, Guy Bar-Even – flute, Amichai Shiryon – guitar.
Steering Committee
Anna Avital
Chairperson
Anna is the mother of four, and a longtime resident of Modi'in. Each of her children commemorated their Bat and Bar Mitzvah at YOZMA. Anna works in the field of economic development enabling financial and business development services to marginalized communities throughout Israel. Anna believes in social justice & equality.
"It is an honor to be involved in YOZMA..”
Shira Lev Ami
Chair, Treasurer and Finance Committee
“You and I will change the world” (popular Israeli song)
Shira holds three master’s degrees from Tel Aviv University in political science, business administration and law. The former Chief Information Officer of Israel’s Ministry of Health, Shira is currently the Director of Digital and Data Innovation at The Joint (The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee). A believer in the power of “impact-tech”, Shira applies her technological expertise toward making the world a better place. She is also actively involved in promoting green causes.
Shira is mother to three children – all of whom grew up in YOZMA's formal elementary frameworks.
Simone Sofian
Chair, Development Committee
Ziva Haller Rubenstein
Chair, Ritual Committee
Hila Levinstein
Chair, Education Committee
Gil Shekel
Chair, Social Action Committee
Guy Boytner
Chair, Youth Committee
Dafna Weissfeld
Chair, Community Committee
Yoram Tekoah
Chair Emeritus
A graduate of the Israeli Reform Movement’s youth group and one of the founders of Kibbutz Lotan in the Negev, Yoram has been a YOZMA member since 2010. Married Shir and father to three children who are all active members of YOZMA’s TELEM youth group.
“I believe that educating the children in a Reform life - at home, at school and in the youth movement - is part of our mission and enables us to spread the values of equality, cooperation and reform of the world to wider audiences as well.”
“I believe that educating the children in a Reform life - at home, at school and in the youth movement - is part of our mission and enables us to spread the values of equality, cooperation and reform of the world to wider audiences as well.”
Guy Olamy
Audit Committee
Guy – a “sabra” – is the father of three children.
He holds a BA from Hebrew University in Political Science and Government as well as a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Over the years, Guy has held a number of management positions in Israel’s leading insurance companies and agencies. Guy’s most recent position is as the CEO of Hilan - offering pension operation management to Israeli businesses.
Guy has been a dedicated member and volunteer at YOZMA for many years. Guy also volunteers at Pa’amonim – a non-profit aimed at providing free mentoring to families in financial difficulty.
Alex Finkelshtein
Audit Committee
Orna Bar-On
Audit Committee
Ronny Sapir
Audit Committee
Ronny – mother to Gal and Shachar – is a strategist working to integrate innovative digital products into Israeli society. Ronny is currently working at the JDC’s "The Joint" department of Digital Innovation, Data and Research. Ronny believes in the ability to change the world through technology and data and works to expand their impact especially in the weaker population sectors.