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{{Short description|American religious organisation}}
The '''Central Conference of American Rabbis''' ('''CCAR'''), founded in 1889 by Rabbi [[Isaac Mayer Wise]], is the principal organization of [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] [[rabbi]]s in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. The CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world.<ref>“Supporting Rabbi Richard Jacobs,” Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 5, 2011</ref> Its current president is [[Ron Segal]].<ref>https://www.ccarnet.org/board-of-trustees/</ref>
The '''Central Conference of American Rabbis''' ('''CCAR'''), founded in 1889 by Rabbi [[Isaac Mayer Wise]], is the principal organization of [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] [[rabbi]]s in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]]. The CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world.<ref>"Supporting Rabbi Richard Jacobs," Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 5, 2011</ref> Its current president is Rabbi Erica Asch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccarnet.org/board-of-trustees/|title=Board of Trustees}}</ref>


Rabbi [[Steven A. Fox]] is the Chief Executive; he joined CCAR in 2006 and has been leading its transformation.<ref>[http://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/rabbinic-staff/ Rabbinic Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217145420/http://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/rabbinic-staff/# |date=2016-02-17 }} CCAR, accessed Feb 18, 2016</ref>
Rabbi Hara Person is the Chief Executive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/staff/|title=CCAR Staff}}</ref>


==Overview==
==Overview==
The CCAR bylaws state that “the purpose of this Conference shall be to preserve and promote Judaism and to encourage all efforts for the dissemination of its teachings in a Liberal spirit; to advance the cause of Jewish learning; to foster fellowship and cooperation among rabbis and other Jewish scholars; and to serve the welfare of its members.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution & Bylaws |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/constitution-bylaws/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>
The CCAR primarily consists of rabbis educated at [[Hebrew Union College|Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]], located in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], [[New York City]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[Jerusalem]]. The CCAR also offers membership to those who have graduated in [[Europe]] from the [[Leo Baeck College]] in [[London]] ([[United Kingdom]]) and the [[Abraham Geiger College]] at the University of Potsdam ([[Germany]]), and others who joined the Reform movement after being [[ordination|ordained]]. Most of the last group graduated from either the [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]] or the [[Reconstructionist Rabbinical College]].


Membership primarily consists of rabbis educated at [[Hebrew Union College|Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion]]. The CCAR also offers membership to those who have graduated in [[Europe]] from the [[Leo Baeck College]] in [[London]] ([[United Kingdom]]) and the [[Abraham Geiger College]] at the University of Potsdam, and other rabbis who joined the Reform movement after being [[ordination|ordained]] and met the membership criteria.
The CCAR issues [[responsa]], [[resolution (law)|resolutions]], and [[Party platform|platforms]], but in keeping with the principles of Reform Judaism, their positions are non-binding on individual rabbis or congregations. It is also the publisher of ''CCAR Journal'', a [[Academic publishing|journal]] of Reform Judaism published quarterly. The group also runs the CCAR Press, a large publishing house that produces Reform [[siddur]]im, [[mahzor|machzorim]], and [[haggadah|haggadot]] with a mixture of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[English language|English]]. The most well-known CCAR prayerbooks include ''[[Gates of Prayer]]'', ''Gates of Repentance'', and the recently published ''[[Mishkan T'filah]]''.


The CCAR issues responses to religious questions for Reform Judaism known as [[responsa]], as well as [[resolution (law)|resolutions]], and [[Party platform|platforms]]. In keeping with the principles of Reform Judaism, their positions are non-binding on individual rabbis or congregations. It is also the publisher of ''CCAR Journal'', a [[Academic publishing|journal]] of Reform Judaism published quarterly. The group also runs the CCAR Press, a publishing house for Reform Judaism that publishes the movement's prayer books as well as a variety of publications about contemporary Jewish life.
The CCAR in 1937 wrote the [[Columbus Platform]] as an official platform of the American Reform movement. The CCAR rewrote its principles in 1976 with its ''Centenary Perspective'' and rewrote them again in the 1999 as ''A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism''. According to the CCAR, personal autonomy still has precedence over these platforms.


== Platforms ==
Rabbi Bernard Bamberger of [[Temple Shaaray Tefila]] on New York's Upper East Side served as president of the CCAR in 1959–61.
From time to time the CCAR [https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/platforms/ publishes platforms] that are intended to layout the contemporary framework for North American Reform Judaism.


The publication of platforms began in 1885 with the Declaration of Principles, later known as the [[Pittsburgh Platform]], which established Reform Judaism in North America, and built upon the founding ideas of Reform Judaism in Germany. While written before the CCAR was formally founded, the meeting was declared the continuation of the Philadelphia Conference of 1869, which was the continuation of the German Conference of 1841 to 1846.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article Declaration of Principles |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/platforms/article-declaration-principles/ |access-date=2024-03-15 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1964, the CCAR began to take an official position opposing the American war in Vietnam, and in 1972 it began to refuse to pay the federal excise tax on telephone service as a protest against that war.<ref>"Rabbis Refuse Phone 'War' Tax" ''Gospel Herald'' 8 August 1972, p.&nbsp;630</ref>


In 1937 the [[Columbus Platform]] was approved as the first official platform of the American Reform movement.
In 1983, the CCAR took one of its most controversial stands and formally affirmed that a [[Jewish identity]] can be passed down through either the mother or the father, if the child is raised with a [[Jewish identity]].


The CCAR continues to rewrite platforms as Reform Judaism evolves:
In 2003, Rabbi [[Janet Marder]] became the first female president of the CCAR; this made her the first woman to lead a major rabbinical organization and the first woman to lead any major Jewish co-ed religious organization in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jwa.org/thisweek/mar/26/2003/janet-marder|title=Rabbi Janet Marder becomes president of Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)|publisher=|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref>


* 1976 ''[http://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/platforms/article-reform-judaism-centenary-perspective/ Centenary Perspective]''
Rabbi Jonathan Stein, of Temple Shaaray Tefila, served as president of the CCAR in 2011–13.<ref name="shaaraytefilanyc1">{{cite web |url=https://shaaraytefilanyc.org/about-us/our-history-and-vision |title=Our History and Vision |publisher=Shaaraytefilanyc.org |date= |accessdate=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624225053/https://shaaraytefilanyc.org/about-us/our-history-and-vision |archive-date=June 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 1997 ''[https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/platforms/#:~:text=Article%20Reform%20Judaism%20%26%20Zionism%3A%20A%20Centenary%20Platform Reform Judaism & Zionism: A Centenary Platform]'' known as “The Miami Platform”
* 1999 ''[https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/platforms/#:~:text=Article%20A%20Statement%20of%20Principles%20for%20Reform%20Judaism A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism]''


== Reform Rabbinic Voice ==
In 2014, the CCAR joined a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which was America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html#.U5MxjShCySo|title=Rabbis group joins N.C. same-sex marriage suit|accessdate=3 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154951/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html#.U5MxjShCySo|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/06/06/rabbis-join-marriage-equality-fight|title=Rabbis Join Marriage Equality Fight|work=Advocate.com|accessdate=3 December 2014}}</ref>
As the largest organization of liberal rabbis in the world, the CCAR frequently comments on pressing issues of the day through public [https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/statements-from-ccar/ statements] and [https://www.ccarnet.org/rabbinic-voice/resolution/ resolutions].


Some examples include:
In 2015, [[Denise Eger]] became the first openly gay president of the CCAR.<ref name="Cutler">Tess Cutler, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/religion/article/rabbi_denise_eger_seeks_to_open_doors_wider_to_all_jews "Rabbi Denise Eger seeks to open doors wider to all Jews"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', March 4, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2015/03/16/news-opinion/united-states/reform-rabbis-install-first-openly-gay-president-denise-eger |title=Reform rabbis install first openly gay president, Denise Eger &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency |publisher=Jta.org |date= |accessdate=2015-03-16}}</ref>

* In 1964, the CCAR began to take an official position opposing the American war in Vietnam, and in 1972 it began to refuse to pay the federal excise tax on telephone service as a protest against that war.<ref>"Rabbis Refuse Phone 'War' Tax" ''Gospel Herald'' 8 August 1972, p.&nbsp;630</ref>
* In 1983, the CCAR took one of its most controversial stands and formally affirmed that a [[Jewish identity]] can be passed down through either the mother or the father, if the child is raised with a [[Jewish identity]].
* In 2014, the CCAR joined a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which was America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html#.U5MxjShCySo|title=Rabbis group joins N.C. same-sex marriage suit|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714154951/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/03/4952335/rabbis-group-joins-nc-same-sex.html#.U5MxjShCySo|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2014/06/06/rabbis-join-marriage-equality-fight|title=Rabbis Join Marriage Equality Fight|work=Advocate.com|date=6 June 2014|access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref>
* In 2023, the CCAR passed a resolution advocating for the rights of transgender people in response to a national right wing movement to remove rights and a significant uptick in violence against transgender people, stating "these attacks threaten the most vulnerable among us and challenge our Reform Jewish values. Their consequences are alarming—including the appalling murder rates of transgender people and the high rates of suicidal ideation and suicide among trans youth.[6] By contrast, we know that an affirmative, proactive encouragement of gender diversity can make a positive difference."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Conference of American Rabbis Resolution on Advocating for Transgender People |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-resolutions/central-conference-of-american-rabbis-resolution-on-advocating-for-transgender-people/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2024, the CCAR issued a joint statement with other Reform Movement institutions about the war between Israel and Hamas, stating "In this darkest of times, we remain committed to a resolution of the conflict that will ensure Israel's security and allow for Palestinian self-determination and self-governance....Further, the widespread distrust of the Palestinians and their leadership in both Gaza and the West Bank, as well as deep Palestinian mistrust of Israel's leadership, will require significant efforts by the Israelis, Palestinians, regional neighbors, and the international community to make such a resolution a viable reality. A successful and peaceful Palestinian entity remains vital to ensuring Israel's long-term security. For these reasons, we are deeply dismayed by Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent comments dismissing the possibility of a future peaceful Palestinian state."<ref>{{Cite web |last=CCAR |first=The |date=2024-01-30 |title=Reform Movement Israel Statement: The Moment We Are In, The Future We Pray For |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/reform-movement-statement-the-moment-we-are-in-the-future-we-pray-for/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In 2024, the CCAR passed a resolution against book bans stating that "Book bans often represent attempts to erase vulnerable individuals and communities—and to silence marginalized voices—which has happened to Jews repeatedly throughout history. "<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Conference of American Rabbis Resolution: The People of the Book against Book Bans |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-resolutions/central-conference-of-american-rabbis-resolution-the-people-of-the-book-against-book-bans/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Leadership ==
The CCAR is led by a volunteer president who is elected from among members as well as a paid professional executive.

=== Notable Leadership ===
In 2003, Rabbi [[Janet Marder]] became the first female president of the CCAR; this made her the first woman to lead a major rabbinical organization and the first woman to lead any major Jewish co-ed religious organization in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rabbi Janet Marder becomes president of Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) |url=http://jwa.org/thisweek/mar/26/2003/janet-marder |access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Denise Eger]] became the first openly gay president of the CCAR.<ref name="Cutler">Tess Cutler, [http://www.jewishjournal.com/religion/article/rabbi_denise_eger_seeks_to_open_doors_wider_to_all_jews "Rabbi Denise Eger seeks to open doors wider to all Jews"], ''[[The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles]]'', March 4, 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jta.org/2015/03/16/news-opinion/united-states/reform-rabbis-install-first-openly-gay-president-denise-eger |title=Reform rabbis install first openly gay president, Denise Eger &#124; Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=16 March 2015 |publisher=Jta.org |access-date=2015-03-16}}</ref>

In 2018, Rabbi Hara Person became the first woman to be the chief executive of the CCAR.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=The Reform movement's rabbinical group appoints its first female leader | website=[[The Times of Israel]] |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-reform-movements-rabbinical-group-appoints-its-first-female-leader/#:~:text=Hara%20Person%20takes%20the%20helm,of%20gender%20and%20career%20trajectories&text=NEW%20YORK%20(JTA)%20%E2%80%94%20The,its%20first%20female%20chief%20executive.}}</ref>

== Rabbinic Ethics ==
The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) has an [https://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/ccar-ethics/ccar-ethics-code/ ethics code] which all members are required to uphold, and an ethics committee to handle complaints and discipline any member rabbi found to be in violation of the code. This system only holds jurisdiction over rabbis who are part of the CCAR as it is a voluntary membership organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CCAR Ethics |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/about-us/ccar-ethics/ccar-ethics-code/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref> While the vast majority of CCAR rabbis have not faced accusations of ethics violations, instances of serious misconduct such as financial impropriety, plagiarism, theft, and sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, have occurred in the past. Historically, these matters were dealt with privately, often resulting in minimal repercussions for the offending rabbis.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Kohn |first=Shoshana |date=2015-05-29 |title=The Mistress's Rabbi |url=http://www.girlbodypride.com/2015/05/the-mistresss-rabbi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529210041/http://www.girlbodypride.com/2015/05/the-mistresss-rabbi/ |archive-date=29 May 2015 |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Ari |title=Reform Rabbi Was Secretly Censured For Affair With Congregant |url=https://forward.com/news/402226/reform-rabbi-was-secretly-censured-for-affair-with-congregant/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=The Forward |date=3 June 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Sarah |title=Rabbinic abuse: 26 power & control tactics |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/rabbinic-abuse-26-power-control-tactics/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=blogs.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

At the annual convention in June 1991, recognizing the need for a more formalized approach, the CCAR adopted an Ethics Code and Ethics Committee with the aim of safeguarding congregants and communities from problematic behavior by rabbis. This committee was granted the authority to discipline rabbis, including the possibility of permanent suspension or expulsion. However, despite this step forward, investigations remained slow, and many offending rabbis faced little to no public consequences for their actions, often receiving private reprimands'''.'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1996-09-19 |title=When Rabbis Go Astray (part 3 of 5): Critics Push for Stricter Codes for Handling Sexual Misconduct |url=https://www.jta.org/archive/when-rabbis-go-astray-part-3-of-5-critics-push-for-stricter-codes-for-handling-sexual-misconduct |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Shalev|first=Asaf|date=2021-08-11|title=The Reform movement is investigating itself over history of rabbinic sexual misconduct|url=https://www.jta.org/2021/08/11/united-states/the-reform-movement-is-investigating-itself-over-history-of-rabbinic-sexual-misconduct|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency|language=en-US}}</ref>

A 1996 report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) shed light on the sluggish investigative process and the lack of meaningful consequences for offending rabbis. This led to public criticism and increased scrutiny of the CCAR's handling of ethical issues within its ranks. Subsequent cases, such as the expulsion of a CCAR member rabbi in 2015 for sexual misconduct, further underscored these concerns.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Berger|first=Paul|title=When Reform Leaders Downplay Charges of Rabbis Behaving Badly|url=https://forward.com/news/323587/when-reform-leaders-downplay-charges-of-rabbis-behaving-badly/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The Forward|date=2 November 2015 |language=en-US}}</ref> For example, in 2014, a senior rabbi of a Texas synagogue was reprimanded for sexual misconduct and allowed to move to another senior rabbi position in North Carolina, where he was censured for sexual misconduct within 36 months of his new placement, and neither congregation was alerted to the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Feldman|first=Ari|title=Reform Group Knew About Complaints Against Rabbi, But Didn't Tell His Synagogue|url=https://forward.com/news/401236/reform-group-knew-about-complaints-against-rabbi-but-didnt-tell-his/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=The Forward|date=16 May 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2015, Rabbi [[Denise Eger]] was elected president of the CCAR. The first openly LGBTQ person to hold this prominent role, Rabbi Eger made ethics a central focus of her presidency. In 2018, Rabbi Hara Person became the first woman to be the chief executive of the CCAR and also pushed for higher ethical standards and accountability.<ref name=":8" />

In 2021, the organization voluntarily commissioned a legal firm to review its ethics processes and propose improvements. This initiative resulted in several recommendations, including increased transparency regarding ethical infractions and a [https://www.ccarnet.org/an-apology-central-conference-of-american-rabbis/ formal apology issued by the CCAR in September 2022, that included the following language:]<ref name=":7" /> <ref>{{Cite web |title=CCAR Ethics Updates and Notifications |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/ccar-ethics-updates/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>

''"With sincerity of heart and intention, the CCAR apologizes for the hurt that our organization and our ethics system have caused. We acknowledge that there have been times when we failed to meet our own high standards and we are deeply sorry. We apologize, and we are committed to working diligently for a better future."''<ref>{{Cite web |last=CCAR |first=The |date=2022-09-15 |title=An Apology from the Central Conference of American Rabbis |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/an-apology-central-conference-of-american-rabbis/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref>

While these efforts have been praised by many,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elia-Shalev |first=Asaf |date=2021-08-11 |title=The Reform movement is investigating itself over history of rabbinic sexual misconduct |url=https://www.jta.org/2021/08/11/united-states/the-reform-movement-is-investigating-itself-over-history-of-rabbinic-sexual-misconduct |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |language=en-US}}</ref> some critics argue that they do not go far enough to address underlying issues within the ethics system. <ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Sarah |title=CCAR's External Ethics Investigation: A Participating Survivor's Perspective |url=https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/ccars-external-ethics-investigation-a-participating-survivors-perspective/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=blogs.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dreyfus |first=Hannah |title=Can Rabbinic Ethics Committees Police Their Own? |url=https://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/recent-cases-test-expertise-of-rabbinic-ethics-panels/ |access-date=2022-01-31 |website=jewishweek.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref> For instance, concerns have been raised about the continued use of lay investigators and the reliance on fellow rabbis to determine the fitness of an offender to return to their role. However, it is worth noting that similar practices are commonplace in other professional organizations in the United States such as the National Association of Social Workers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Code of Ethics: English |url=https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English#purpose |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.socialworkers.org}}</ref> the American Psychological Association,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.apa.org/ethics/complaint |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=www.apa.org}}</ref> and the American Bar Association.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Bar Association Code of Ethics |url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/}}</ref>

Despite ongoing challenges, the CCAR remains committed to enhancing its ethics process and now provides [https://www.ccarnet.org/march-2024-annual-ccar-ethics-report-2023/ annual progress reports] about the ethics system.

== List of presidents ==

* [[Isaac Mayer Wise|Isaac M. Wise]]: 1889-1900
* [[Joseph Silverman]]: 1900-1903
* [[Joseph Krauskopf]]: 1903-1905
* [[Joseph Stolz]]: 1905-1907
* [[David Philipson]]: 1907-1909
* [[Maximilian Heller]]: 1909-1911
* [[Samuel Schulman]]: 1911-1913
* [[Moses J. Gries]]: 1913-1915
* [[William Rosenau]]: 1915-1917
* [[Louis Grossmann]]: 1917-1919
* [[Leo M. Franklin]]: 1919-1921
* [[Edward Nathan Calisch|Edward N. Calish]]: 1921-1923
* [[Abram Simon]]: 1923-1925
* [[Louis Wolsey]]: 1925-1927
* [[Hyman G. Enelow]]: 1927-1929
* [[David Lefkowitz]]: 1929-1931
* [[Morris Newfield]]: 1931-1933
* [[Samuel H. Goldenson]]: 1933-1935
* [[Felix A. Levy]]: 1935-1937
* [[Max C. Currick]]: 1937-1939
* [[Emil W. Leipziger]]: 1939-1941
* [[James G. Heller]]: 1941-1943
* [[Solomon Freehof|Solomon B. Freehof]]: 1943-1945
* [[Abba Hillel Silver]]: 1945-1947
* [[Abraham J. Feldman]]: 1947-1949
* [[Jacob Rader Marcus|Jacob R. Marcus]]: 1949-1951
* [[Philip Sidney Bernstein|Philip S. Bernstein]]: 1951-1953
* Joseph L. Fink: 1953-1955
* [[Barnett R. Brickner]]: 1955-1957
* Israel Bettan:1957
* Jacob Philip Rudin: 1957-1959
* [[Bernard Jacob Bamberger|Bernard J. Bamberger]]: 1959-1961
* Albert G. Minda: 1961-1963
* Leon I. Feuer: 1963-1965
* Jacob J. Weinstein: 1965-1967
* [[Levi Olan|Levi A. Olan]]: 1967-1969
* [[Roland B. Gittelsohn]]: 1969-1971
* David Polish: 1971-1973
* Robert I. Kahn: 1973-1975
* [[Arthur Lelyveld|Arthur J. Lelyveld]]: 1975-1977
* Ely E. Pilchik: 1977-1979
* Jerome R. Malino: 1979-1981
* [[Herman Schaalman|Herman E. Schaalman]]: 1981-1983
* [[Gunther Plaut|W. Gunther Plaut]]: 1983-1985
* Jack Stern: 1985-1987
* Eugene J. Lipman: 1987-1989
* Samuel E. Karff: 1989-1991
* [[Walter Jacob]]: 1991-1993
* [[Sheldon Zimmerman]]: 1993-1995
* Simeon J. Maslin: 1995-1997
* [[Richard N. Levy]]: 1997-1999
* Charles A. Kroloff: 1999-2001
* Martin S. Weiner: 2001-2003
* [[Janet Marder]]: 2003-2005
* Harry Danziger: 2005-2007
* [[Peter Knobel]]: 2007-2009
* [[Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus]]: 2009-2011
* Jonathan Stein: 2011-2013
* Richard A. Block: 2013-2015
* Denise L. Eger: 2015-2017
* David Stern: 2017-2019
* Ronald Segal: 2019-2021
* Lewis Kamrass: 2021-<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Presidents Council |url=https://www.ccarnet.org/past-presidents-council/ |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=Central Conference of American Rabbis |language=en-US}}</ref> 2023
* Erica Seager Asch: 2023-


==References==
==References==
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{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States}}
{{Organized Jewish Life in the United States}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Religious organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:Union for Reform Judaism]]
[[Category:Union for Reform Judaism]]
[[Category:Rabbinical organizations]]
[[Category:Rabbinical organizations]]
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[[Category:Jews and Judaism in Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Jews and Judaism in Cincinnati]]
[[Category:Reform Judaism in Ohio]]
[[Category:Reform Judaism in Ohio]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 13:01, 16 April 2024

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada. The CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world.[1] Its current president is Rabbi Erica Asch.[2]

Rabbi Hara Person is the Chief Executive.[3]

Overview[edit]

The CCAR bylaws state that “the purpose of this Conference shall be to preserve and promote Judaism and to encourage all efforts for the dissemination of its teachings in a Liberal spirit; to advance the cause of Jewish learning; to foster fellowship and cooperation among rabbis and other Jewish scholars; and to serve the welfare of its members.”[4]

Membership primarily consists of rabbis educated at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. The CCAR also offers membership to those who have graduated in Europe from the Leo Baeck College in London (United Kingdom) and the Abraham Geiger College at the University of Potsdam, and other rabbis who joined the Reform movement after being ordained and met the membership criteria.

The CCAR issues responses to religious questions for Reform Judaism known as responsa, as well as resolutions, and platforms. In keeping with the principles of Reform Judaism, their positions are non-binding on individual rabbis or congregations. It is also the publisher of CCAR Journal, a journal of Reform Judaism published quarterly. The group also runs the CCAR Press, a publishing house for Reform Judaism that publishes the movement's prayer books as well as a variety of publications about contemporary Jewish life.

Platforms[edit]

From time to time the CCAR publishes platforms that are intended to layout the contemporary framework for North American Reform Judaism.

The publication of platforms began in 1885 with the Declaration of Principles, later known as the Pittsburgh Platform, which established Reform Judaism in North America, and built upon the founding ideas of Reform Judaism in Germany. While written before the CCAR was formally founded, the meeting was declared the continuation of the Philadelphia Conference of 1869, which was the continuation of the German Conference of 1841 to 1846.[5]

In 1937 the Columbus Platform was approved as the first official platform of the American Reform movement.

The CCAR continues to rewrite platforms as Reform Judaism evolves:

Reform Rabbinic Voice[edit]

As the largest organization of liberal rabbis in the world, the CCAR frequently comments on pressing issues of the day through public statements and resolutions.

Some examples include:

  • In 1964, the CCAR began to take an official position opposing the American war in Vietnam, and in 1972 it began to refuse to pay the federal excise tax on telephone service as a protest against that war.[6]
  • In 1983, the CCAR took one of its most controversial stands and formally affirmed that a Jewish identity can be passed down through either the mother or the father, if the child is raised with a Jewish identity.
  • In 2014, the CCAR joined a lawsuit challenging North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage, which was America's first faith-based challenge to same-sex marriage bans.[7][8]
  • In 2023, the CCAR passed a resolution advocating for the rights of transgender people in response to a national right wing movement to remove rights and a significant uptick in violence against transgender people, stating "these attacks threaten the most vulnerable among us and challenge our Reform Jewish values. Their consequences are alarming—including the appalling murder rates of transgender people and the high rates of suicidal ideation and suicide among trans youth.[6] By contrast, we know that an affirmative, proactive encouragement of gender diversity can make a positive difference."[9]
  • In 2024, the CCAR issued a joint statement with other Reform Movement institutions about the war between Israel and Hamas, stating "In this darkest of times, we remain committed to a resolution of the conflict that will ensure Israel's security and allow for Palestinian self-determination and self-governance....Further, the widespread distrust of the Palestinians and their leadership in both Gaza and the West Bank, as well as deep Palestinian mistrust of Israel's leadership, will require significant efforts by the Israelis, Palestinians, regional neighbors, and the international community to make such a resolution a viable reality. A successful and peaceful Palestinian entity remains vital to ensuring Israel's long-term security. For these reasons, we are deeply dismayed by Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent comments dismissing the possibility of a future peaceful Palestinian state."[10]
  • In 2024, the CCAR passed a resolution against book bans stating that "Book bans often represent attempts to erase vulnerable individuals and communities—and to silence marginalized voices—which has happened to Jews repeatedly throughout history. "[11]

Leadership[edit]

The CCAR is led by a volunteer president who is elected from among members as well as a paid professional executive.

Notable Leadership[edit]

In 2003, Rabbi Janet Marder became the first female president of the CCAR; this made her the first woman to lead a major rabbinical organization and the first woman to lead any major Jewish co-ed religious organization in the United States.[12]

In 2015, Denise Eger became the first openly gay president of the CCAR.[13][14]

In 2018, Rabbi Hara Person became the first woman to be the chief executive of the CCAR.[15]

Rabbinic Ethics[edit]

The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) has an ethics code which all members are required to uphold, and an ethics committee to handle complaints and discipline any member rabbi found to be in violation of the code. This system only holds jurisdiction over rabbis who are part of the CCAR as it is a voluntary membership organization.[16] While the vast majority of CCAR rabbis have not faced accusations of ethics violations, instances of serious misconduct such as financial impropriety, plagiarism, theft, and sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, have occurred in the past. Historically, these matters were dealt with privately, often resulting in minimal repercussions for the offending rabbis.[17][18][19][20]

At the annual convention in June 1991, recognizing the need for a more formalized approach, the CCAR adopted an Ethics Code and Ethics Committee with the aim of safeguarding congregants and communities from problematic behavior by rabbis. This committee was granted the authority to discipline rabbis, including the possibility of permanent suspension or expulsion. However, despite this step forward, investigations remained slow, and many offending rabbis faced little to no public consequences for their actions, often receiving private reprimands.[21][22]

A 1996 report by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) shed light on the sluggish investigative process and the lack of meaningful consequences for offending rabbis. This led to public criticism and increased scrutiny of the CCAR's handling of ethical issues within its ranks. Subsequent cases, such as the expulsion of a CCAR member rabbi in 2015 for sexual misconduct, further underscored these concerns.[17] For example, in 2014, a senior rabbi of a Texas synagogue was reprimanded for sexual misconduct and allowed to move to another senior rabbi position in North Carolina, where he was censured for sexual misconduct within 36 months of his new placement, and neither congregation was alerted to the allegations.[23]

In 2015, Rabbi Denise Eger was elected president of the CCAR. The first openly LGBTQ person to hold this prominent role, Rabbi Eger made ethics a central focus of her presidency. In 2018, Rabbi Hara Person became the first woman to be the chief executive of the CCAR and also pushed for higher ethical standards and accountability.[15]

In 2021, the organization voluntarily commissioned a legal firm to review its ethics processes and propose improvements. This initiative resulted in several recommendations, including increased transparency regarding ethical infractions and a formal apology issued by the CCAR in September 2022, that included the following language:[22] [24]

"With sincerity of heart and intention, the CCAR apologizes for the hurt that our organization and our ethics system have caused. We acknowledge that there have been times when we failed to meet our own high standards and we are deeply sorry. We apologize, and we are committed to working diligently for a better future."[25]

While these efforts have been praised by many,[26] some critics argue that they do not go far enough to address underlying issues within the ethics system. [27][28] For instance, concerns have been raised about the continued use of lay investigators and the reliance on fellow rabbis to determine the fitness of an offender to return to their role. However, it is worth noting that similar practices are commonplace in other professional organizations in the United States such as the National Association of Social Workers,[29] the American Psychological Association,[30] and the American Bar Association.[31]

Despite ongoing challenges, the CCAR remains committed to enhancing its ethics process and now provides annual progress reports about the ethics system.

List of presidents[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Supporting Rabbi Richard Jacobs," Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 5, 2011
  2. ^ "Board of Trustees".
  3. ^ "CCAR Staff".
  4. ^ "Constitution & Bylaws". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  5. ^ "Article Declaration of Principles". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
  6. ^ "Rabbis Refuse Phone 'War' Tax" Gospel Herald 8 August 1972, p. 630
  7. ^ "Rabbis group joins N.C. same-sex marriage suit". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Rabbis Join Marriage Equality Fight". Advocate.com. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Central Conference of American Rabbis Resolution on Advocating for Transgender People". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  10. ^ CCAR, The (2024-01-30). "Reform Movement Israel Statement: The Moment We Are In, The Future We Pray For". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  11. ^ "Central Conference of American Rabbis Resolution: The People of the Book against Book Bans". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-18.
  12. ^ "Rabbi Janet Marder becomes president of Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  13. ^ Tess Cutler, "Rabbi Denise Eger seeks to open doors wider to all Jews", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, March 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "Reform rabbis install first openly gay president, Denise Eger | Jewish Telegraphic Agency". Jta.org. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  15. ^ a b "The Reform movement's rabbinical group appoints its first female leader". The Times of Israel.
  16. ^ "CCAR Ethics". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  17. ^ a b Berger, Paul (2 November 2015). "When Reform Leaders Downplay Charges of Rabbis Behaving Badly". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  18. ^ Kohn, Shoshana (2015-05-29). "The Mistress's Rabbi". Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  19. ^ Feldman, Ari (3 June 2018). "Reform Rabbi Was Secretly Censured For Affair With Congregant". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  20. ^ Hoffman, Sarah. "Rabbinic abuse: 26 power & control tactics". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  21. ^ "When Rabbis Go Astray (part 3 of 5): Critics Push for Stricter Codes for Handling Sexual Misconduct". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 1996-09-19. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  22. ^ a b Shalev, Asaf (2021-08-11). "The Reform movement is investigating itself over history of rabbinic sexual misconduct". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  23. ^ Feldman, Ari (16 May 2018). "Reform Group Knew About Complaints Against Rabbi, But Didn't Tell His Synagogue". The Forward. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  24. ^ "CCAR Ethics Updates and Notifications". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  25. ^ CCAR, The (2022-09-15). "An Apology from the Central Conference of American Rabbis". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  26. ^ Elia-Shalev, Asaf (2021-08-11). "The Reform movement is investigating itself over history of rabbinic sexual misconduct". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  27. ^ Hoffman, Sarah. "CCAR's External Ethics Investigation: A Participating Survivor's Perspective". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  28. ^ Dreyfus, Hannah. "Can Rabbinic Ethics Committees Police Their Own?". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  29. ^ "Code of Ethics: English". www.socialworkers.org. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  30. ^ www.apa.org https://www.apa.org/ethics/complaint. Retrieved 2024-03-08. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ^ "American Bar Association Code of Ethics".
  32. ^ "Past Presidents Council". Central Conference of American Rabbis. Retrieved 2023-03-07.

External links[edit]

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