Charlie Cytron-Walker has been the rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel since 2006.  He is CBI’s first full time rabbi.

Rabbi Charlie is originally from Lansing, Michigan and he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1998.  Among other college experiences he spent forty-eight hours on the streets as someone who was homeless and danced for over twenty-four hours as a part of a Dance Marathon.  After graduating, Rabbi Charlie worked at Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization in Detroit, Michigan and then became the assistant director of the Amherst Survival Center, which housed a food pantry, free store, and soup kitchen in North Amherst, Massachusetts.

Rabbi Charlie attended Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion at its Jerusalem and Cincinnati campuses, receiving his rabbinical ordination in 2006 and M.A. in Hebrew Letters in 2005.  His rabbinical thesis was titled, “Jewish Service-Learning: Integrating Talmud Torah and Ma’asim Tovim”.  As a student, he served congregations in Ishpeming, MI, Fort Walton Beach, FL, and Cincinnati, OH.  During his time at HUC-JIR, he received multiple awards for his service to the community, along with an award for leadership from QESHET: A Network of LGBT Reform Rabbis.

Since Rabbi Charlie arrived at CBI, the congregation has grown over 50%.   In the community, he has developed positive relationships with local school districts and is a founding member and the first chairperson of the North East Tarrant Interreligious Association. 

Rabbi Charlie remains completely in love with Adena Cytron-Walker and simply adores his two daughters.  His interests include playing any sport, social justice, learning about all things Jewish, interfaith dialogue, and spending time with his family.