Rabbinic Leadership

Rabbi Nir Barkin

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 David Azoulay

Rabbi David Azoulay

Rabbi
David was born and raised in Kibbutz Sha’alvim, where he currently resides with Efrat and their three daughters: Reshit, Klil, and Asif. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Democratic Education from Seminar Hakibbutzim in Tel Aviv and a master’s degree in Jewish Studies from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem, which he completed with honors. In November 2022, he was ordained as a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. David serves as a community rabbi and a school rabbi. In these roles, he leads prayers and ceremonies, teaches Torah cantillation to bar and bat mitzvah students, and leads the community’s conversion program. He also leads studies in the community’s Beit Midrash and founded a Piyyut Beit Midrash, which preserves and integrates prayer traditions from various Jewish communities. As part of his work with students in schools and kindergartens, David teaches lessons on piyutim and Jewish lifestyle, aiming to instill diverse Jewish values and connect the younger generation to a rich Israeli and Jewish cultural heritage.
Smadar Bilik

Smadar Bilik

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.

Naomi Ben-Ari

Rabbi
Born in Israel in 1957. She is a mother of three daughters and grandmother of two grandchildren. Naomi lives in Modi'in. She is a member of Yozma - the reform community in Modi'in. She recently retired from her position as the community's financial manager, after 25 years of working there. Naomi graduated with a bachelor's degree in Medical Studies at the Hebrew University, graduated with honors in a master's degree in Medical Sciences at the Hebrew University, and also graduated with honors in a master's degree in Jewish Studies at the Schechter Institute. She was also trained in group facilitation in The Herzog Center for Jewish Identity, and graduated the HUC program Sugiyot Chaim. In addition to serving as the VP of Finance in the Yozma Community, Naomi was a co-director of the Yozma Beit Midrash and led a women's group in the community and in other social groups. She is active in various fields of art: sculpture, painting, creative writing and playing the clarinet in small ensembles.
Rabbi Philip Nadel

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.”
Rabbi Kinneret Shiryon

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.