The 2007-2008 Board of Directors of Beth Jacob of Irvine and the Rabbinical Search Committee are pleased to announce that our shul has a new rabbi and rebbetzin: Rabbi Yisroel and Rebbetzin Natalie Ciner.

Rabbi Ciner is currently the rabbi at Congregation Ohaiv Shalom in New Hempstead, NY. He is also a Senior Instructor and the Israel Studies Guidance Counselor at Westchester Hebrew High School, where he teaches Gemara, Chumash and Halacha, as well as works with students to encourage them to participate in any of a number of programs to study in Israel.

Prior to returning to the United States in 2002, Rabbi Ciner was a full time rabbi and Maggid Shiur at Yeshiva Neveh Zion in Jerusalem for 15 years. He received his education from multiple institutions, including Yeshiva Heichal HaTorah in Jerusalem, Kollel Nechamas Zion in Jerusalem, Towson State University in Maryland, Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore and Yeshiva Neveh Yehoshua in Netanya.

Rabbi Ciner is excited to be coming to Irvine so he can focus his energy on building a great and thriving community around a shul. Rabbi and Rebbetzin Ciner have eight children (including one daughter in-law). Three of their children will be joining them in California.

Rabbi Ciner will be relocating from New York and officially joining the community at the beginning of September. He will be visiting the community for Shabbat occasionally between now and September to continue the great momentum and energy that we have recently captured in our shul.

The following letter was received from Rabbi Ciner and read to the community during Shabbat services:

Rabbi Ciner Letter March 28th 2008