Rabbi Ari Sytner

Director, Department of Community Initiatives at Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future

Mar 17, 2014

Rabbi Sytner was born in Brooklyn and raised in Monsey, New York, where he attended Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, led by Rabbi Berel Wein. Rabbi Sytner studied for two years in Yeshivat Mercaz Hatorah in Jerusalem and then received his B.A. in Psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey, followed by his Masters degree in educational administration. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from The Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

Rabbi and Chana Sytner spent five years in Des Moines, Iowa where they were involved in outreach and education through the Des Moines community Kollel and as the Senior Rabbi of Beth El Jacob Synagogue.

In June, 2004 the Sytner family relocated to Charleston, South Carolina and joined the ranks of the many proud rabbis that have led Brith Sholom Beth Israel Congregation.

While in Charleston, Rabbi Sytner not only worked to promote Orthodoxy, but also focused on many of the contemporary issues facing today’s larger Jewish community. In 2008 and again in 2011, Rabbi Sytner was selected to represent the Orthodox Union at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Rabbi Sytner sits on the executive board of the Rabbinical Council of America and is a member of the Chicago Rabbinical Council. Additionally, Rabbi Sytner is a member of the Roper/St. Francis Hospital Ethics Committee, and served as a volunteer chaplain for the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy.

Rabbi Sytner's vision sparked and implemented many innovative programs while in Charleston. These included: The YU Commuting Kollel, The Jewish Renaissance of Charleston (JROC), The Palmetto-K (Va'ad Hakashrut of Charleston), and the Gesher Jewish Hospice program. He worked with all segments of the community to promote Orthodox Judaism. In addition to teaching at the synagogue, he also taught a Talmud class to grades 7 and 8 at Addlestone Hebrew Academy.

Rabbi Sytner is now the Director of the Department of Community Initiatives at Yeshiva University's Center for the Jewish Future, where he works to help strengthen communities nationwide. Training community lay leaders, rabbis, and rabbinic students in the art of Jewish leadership, Rabbi Sytner uses his training and experience in the rabbinate to help promote healthy Jewish organizations and non-profit governance.

Chana Sytner is an attorney with a private practice in family law. The Sytners have four children, Reuven, Meyer Simcha and twins, Akiva and Aliza.