Mauricio Balter

Born in Uruguay in 1957, Rabbi Mauricio Balter grew up in a Zionist home in Argentina. In his youth he was active in the Zionist Movement in Latin America. Rabbi Balter made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) with his family in July 1995. He is proud to serve as the Rabbi of The [http://www.masorti-hakrayot.org Hakrayot Masorti Congregation] since then.

Education

Rabbi Balter holds a BA in Education and Psychology and an additional degree in Jewish Studies, an MA from Haifa University in Jewish Thought, and Rabbinical ordination in 1991 from the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano (the academic, cultural and religious center of the Masorti Movement in Argentina and Latin America).He is a graduate of exclusive educational programs, such as the Melton Center for Jewish Education's Senior Educators Programs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the JDC- Argentina's "Leatid" Training Center for training of professional and lay leaders, he was a Rich Foundation Fellow (France), and a Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture Fellow (USA).

Professional Experience

Rabbi Balter's professional life is Characterized by extensive educational and Zionist activity and community service in all levels, both as a senior member of the leadership of the Masorti Movement, and a s part of his Tikkun Olam (Mending The World) outlook. He held various positions in Latin America: Director of the Sephardic Community in Bogota, Colombia. In Argentina he filled a number of key roles in various institutions, including: Spiritual leader of the Tucumán and Salta communities, Rabbi of Or Hadash Congregation and first Director of the Masorti Movement in Argentina. He also directed the spiritual services of family members ans those injured in the attack on the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires.

In Israel he served as chairman of the Religious Services Bureau, and President of the Israeli Rabinical Assembly, each for two terms. RAbbi Balter founded and directed the community Alyah Program from South America to Kiryat Bialik, which has brought 500 families since 1997 with the assistance of the municipality of Kiryat Bialik and the Jewish Agency. He has been sent on behalf of different bodies on 18 short emissary missions to encourage Aliyah. During the Second Lebanon War, Rabbi Balter coordinated his congregations state of Emergency. and provided spiritual support to residents of Kiryat Bialik.

Today, Rabbi Balter is the Rabbi of HaKrayot Masorti Congregation and four [http://www.tali.org.il/ TALI] schools in the area. He lectures in various forums in Israel and abroad, coordinates the fieldwork of Rabbinical students at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, is a member of the Board of the Masorti Movement and Chairman of the Movement's Personnel Committiee, is a member of the Executive Committee, the Placement Committee and Chairman of the Siddur and Mahzor Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly.Rabbi Balter is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, founder and director of the rabbinical assembly's "Yitro" projects for training young Rabbis in community work, Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee of the world Zionist Organization, member of the International Executive Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly in New York, and a member of the Masorti Olami Board.