He received his BA (Literature), MA (political science) and PhD (political science) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his MA in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.

He teaches Hebrew language, literature and culture, and Middle Eastern studies at Queens College in Flushing, New York.

Chetrit was a Mizrahi activist and one of the founders of Kedma, an alternative school system that advocated equal opportunities for all students and a multi-cultural curriculum.

He was among the founders of HaKeshet HaDemokratit HaMizrakhit (Mizrahi Democratic Rainbow Coalition) for social justice and cultural freedom.

Chetrit is the founder of the democratic Mizrahi blog for social justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.

Az’i Ayima (come mother) – a documentary film about Moroccan women of the first generation in Israel.