Rabbi Leah Citrin has been elected to the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College-Jewish institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) at its meeting on October 25, 2021.
President Andrew Rehfeld stated, “Our esteemed alum Rabbi Leah Citrin will be a source of inspiration and assistance as we secure HUC-JIR’s future as a vital center for intellectual and spiritual exploration.”
Rabbi Citrin served as Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth Or of Raleigh, NC, from 2015 to 2021, where she served regular pulpit and pastoral responsibilities, supervised the Religious School Director and Youth Director, enriched the Religious School’s curriculum and Judaic content for its 260 students with the introduction of new Hebrew and prayer studies. Working closely with lay leaders on the Religious School, Adult Education, Pre-School and TBO West Integration Committees, she spearheaded a congregation-wide listing campaign while developing a robust experiential family education program.
Prior to her ordination at HUC-JIR in 2015, Rabbi Citrin served student pulpits in Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, and Israel; was the Music Specialist at Congregation Beth Adam, in Cincinnati, OH; and was the Rabbinic Intern/Fellow at Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati, OH. She participated in the iCenter’s Masters Concentration in Israel Education and completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education, providing spoiritual care to patients and family members of all faith backgrounds.
Among her professional fellowships were the SHIFT Fellowship in the Glean Network at CLAL, engaging with interfaith leaders; serving as faculty at URJ Six Points Sports Academy Camps; and participating in the URJ Sacred Partnerships in Education Active Learning Network and the URJ Youth Professional 101 Fellowship. As part of Scientists in Synagogues • Sinai and Synapses, she received a grant to develop series of programs on memory in Judaism and neuroscience.
Among her leadership and volunteer activities, Rabbi Citrin currently represents the HUC-JIR Rabbinical Alumni Association on the HUC-JIR Alumni Leadership Council, serves on the Peer Advisory Group of the Duke Raleigh Pastoral Care Department, and was Clergy Task Force Chair of Jewish Women International.
Rabbi Citrin received her MAHL from HUC-JIR and B.A. in psychology at Bates College.