We are delighted to announce that the Selection Committee has unanimously nominated Rabbi and Rebbetzin Avinoam Czitron to be Yeshurun’s new rabbinic couple. They currently lead the Borehamwood Yavneh Community.
The Czitrons will join us on Shabbat Vayera 15/16 November.
This will be followed by an EGM and vote on Sunday 17th November.
Rabbi Avinoam Czitron brings a strong background in both rabbinical and educational roles. Holding a law degree, he briefly practiced law in Israel while also serving as a Rabbi in Netanya for two years. Haddas has a degree in computer science and has served as the shlicha for youth education for the World Zionist Organisation (WZO).
Following this, they took on the role of Senior Rabbinic Couple at Childwall Hebrew Congregation in Liverpool. Rabbi Czitron’s dedication to Torah study is reflected in his 11 years of focused Yeshiva learning and a subsequent 7-year tenure in Kollel in Jerusalem. During this time, he earned his Semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, as well as from Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi and Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. In the academic year 2022-2023, Rabbi Czitron led the ‘Beit Midrash Track’ at Yavneh College. Rabbi Czitron also served as a Jewish chaplain at Ma’asiyahu prison.
Both Rabbi and Rebbetzin Czitron are passionate about Israel and modern history, and Rabbi Czitron has lead educational trips for various groups in Israel and Poland. His commitment to education continued in his role as an educator at the World Centre for Jewish Education and both of them have been deeply involved in the Perach mentoring programme.
Haddas is a keen baker and “foodie”. She is happy to welcome anyone into their home for a meal or for a chat. She prides herself on having an open home where everyone is always welcome. She has led a number of projects such as the ‘club 12’ batmitvah project educating and inspiring young girls. Hadas is also a Kallah teacher alongside the Rabbi who teaches the Chatanim.
Alongside their rabbinic and educational work, they are active in community and interfaith initiatives, promoting unity, dialogue, and support both within and beyond the Jewish community. They are proud parents to two daughters aged 7 and 3.
After over two years of dedicated service as the Rabbinic Couple of Yavneh Shul in Borehamwood, we are delighted that the Czitrons will be joining us at Yeshurun.
Meet the Czitrons
Over Shabbat we will be welcoming Rabbi Avinoam and Haddas Czitron to Edgware Yeshurun. On Friday night they will be davening with the community and Kabbalat Shabbat will take place in the main shul hall with women’s seating on the entire side closest to the partition. There will also be a Yamlets Friday Night including dinner for the children. The Czitrons will make an appearance and will also be around for a short period of time at the end of Shul to meet members of the community.
On Shabbat morning Rabbi Czitron will be giving a Chaburah at 08:45 before Shacharit to which all are invited and encouraged to come. The Rabbi will be speaking in both the main service (approx.10:30) and YAM (approx.11:00) in the morning and there will be a joint “bumper kiddush”. The Rabbinic Couple will be at the kiddush, and this will be a chance to informally meet them.
After everyone has had a chance to have a bite to eat and hopefully meet the Czitrons, there will be an informal Q&A session. This will be in the format of a moderated conversation between the Czitrons and Adam Tash who will give the Couple a chance to properly introduce themselves to the community and ask the questions that the community wants answered. To ensure that we can make sure that the questions that people want answered get asked (and that we do not end up with multiple repeated questions) we are asking that you send in questions that you would like asked and the most requested questions will be chosen. Unfortunately, there is unlikely to be enough time that every question will be asked, but we will try and make sure that every topic raised is covered in this conversation.
To suggest questions please fill in this form https://forms.gle/u2jh7gRUqZF3shcV7
Please only add one question at a time for ease of us compiling the questions. The form can be sent multiple times so you can send in as many questions as you would like. Questions can be addressed to the couple, or individually. If you are unable to send questions in using the form for any reason, then questions can be sent directly to the HOs.
On Shabbat afternoon the Rabbi will be giving the shiur between Mincha and Maariv.
On Sunday morning there will be a short EGM on the single topic of electing a new Rabbinic Couple. The EGM will be from 10-10:30 at which members will have the opportunity to voice their thoughts on the process and ask questions. There will be the option to attend the EGM digitally (for members only) but we can not guarantee that those attending digitally will be able to speak. At 10:30 voting will open and voting will close before Mincha at 16:00. Voting will be in person (with an exception noted below for proxy voting in particular circumstances). Only paid full members can vote and we remind community members that couples are both individual members in their own right. There will be a ballot box and voting will be on the question “The community approves the appointment of Rabbi Avinoam and Rebbetzin Haddas Czitron as the new Rabbinic Couple”. The votes will be counted by HOs, a representative of the selection committee and an independent referee.
Proxy voting
The HOs and members of the selection committee have had long discussions both with the Federation and internally to provide the best access to voting whilst maintaining the integrity of the vote. Unfortunately, digital voting is not allowed and we highly encourage all members able to vote in person. That said, there are two exceptions in which proxy voting will be possible.
1) Couples. In the case of couples one of the couples may cast a proxy vote for the other to allow those with young children easier access to voting. Simply inform the person monitoring the ballot box that this is your intention to also vote on behalf of your spouse and you will receive two voting slips.
2) Those physically unable to be present. In this case you are required to email the shul secretary, Russell Dunstan, to inform him by the end of day this coming Sunday (10/11) that you will require a proxy vote. Please include your full name and membership number in that email as well as who you are nominating as your proxy.
Wishing us all much success, and looking forward to a wonderful Shabbat together,
Adam Tash on behalf of the HOs and selection committee
