Zecharia & Nava
Deutsch
Chaplaincy Couple
We believe in the importance of both earning an academic degree and living a Jewish life and we are here to support you in combining the two together. Looking forward to welcoming you to our home!
Zecharia & Nava Deutsch
Zecharia and Nava with their two children moved to Leeds in August 2021 to join University Jewish Chaplaincy and assumed the role of Jewish Chaplains in universities across the Yorkshire region.
Prior to this Zecharia and Nava were working in Jerusalem, Zecharia in the accounting and tax field and Nava in education.
Zecharia and Nava are passionate about connecting with Jewish young adults from all backgrounds and had previously worked with young adults in the Jewish community of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Zecharia and Nava trained for two years at Ohr Torah Stone’s Strause Amiel institute to prepare them for their role in Jewish educational and spiritual leadership to communities around the world.
Regional Amenities
Where are you from?
Efrat, Israel
Zecharia grew up in Israel and Nava was born in Zurich, Switzerland and moved to Israel when she was 18.
Why chaplaincy?
We came from Israel to contribute to the Jewish environment on campus by being a Jewish home away from home for students of all backgrounds, strengthening their Jewish Identity and supporting them with all their needs. It is a big privilege for us to be part of the students’ life during these meaningful years.
How can you help students?
Zecharia: By being there for students who need support in living a Jewish life in university, listening to them and helping them with university related problems and serving a tasty Cholent on Shabbat.
Nava: By empowering them to fulfil their goals and give them opportunities to show their talents.
What do you enjoy doing most with students?
Zecharia: Having a coffee or beer together and talk about Torah and life. Also, I’m always in for a good game of Settlers of Catan and Codenames.
Nava: Having lunch and planning new events together.
What do you want students to take away from their Jewish experience at uni?
Zecharia: I would love for students to be proud of being Jewish wherever they go and to create friendships for life.
Nava: I want them to be able to look back at the university years with a smile and a feeling of satisfaction that they were able to combine their academic studies together with a Jewish social life that will be with them in the future
What prepared you for this role?
We trained for two years in the Straus-Amiel Institute of Ohr Torah Stone, for rabbis, educators and spiritual leaders for the Diaspora.
Personal interests?
Zecharia: Hiking, Meditating, Harry Potter, and the Israeli stock market
Nava: Traveling, Photography, Starbucks and Reading
Where did you go to yeshiva / university?
Zecharia: I studied in the Yeshiva of Ma’aleh Adumim and Yeshivat Ha’kotel.
I studied accounting and economics in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Nava: I studied in Midreshet Orot Etzion in Givat Washington and in Midreshet Tohar in Yad Binyamin.
I earned my Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from Michlalah Jerusalem College.
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