September 24, 2026
יה עוז לעמו יתן יה יברך את עמו בשלום
May strength be granted to God’s people; may God bless our people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
As we mark the end of the 5787 High Holy Days season, we wish to acknowledge CCAR rabbis, who have done so much to make the New Year meaningful, engaging, and inspiring. The resilience and resoluteness that you have shown in a time of great division and insecurity is praiseworthy. Your efforts and commitments to the Jewish community have enabled all of us to thrive.
In too many synagogues and Jewish organizations in North America and worldwide, you have spent tremendous personal and communal resources to keep Jewish communities safe. You have even become security experts, because security has become a sacred role, too. Your work on behalf of the Jewish community makes a difference.
Despite these additional demands, those who serve as k’lei kodesh still led prayer, sang, preached, taught, comforted, and moved the Jewish people. You enabled us to reflect, challenged us to think deeply, spurred us to new insights, and gave us renewed hope. You brought the best of your training and experience in this increasingly challenging time, and we are so grateful.
On behalf of the rabbis of the CCAR, we extend our appreciation to all our partners; the cantors, educators, lay volunteers, and professional staff who shared in the sacred work that benefits us all. Special thanks to police officers and security staff who secured our buildings and sanctuaries, sometimes even putting themselves in harm’s way.
And one additional note of thanks to all those who made the choice to join a Jewish community on the High Holy Days, to worship, study, celebrate, and observe with us. We entered our sanctuaries with our own hopes, fears, pain, doubt, and joy, and we became a sacred community that strengthened each other and continued a chain of tradition begun so long ago.
What a blessing to gather, again, for the High Holy Days. We wish everyone, and all the world, a shanah tovah um’tukah, a New Year of blessing, joy, and peace.
Rabbi David Lyon, President
Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive
Central Conference of American Rabbis
CCAR statements are grounded in the history of CCAR resolutions and platforms. We strive to represent the overall voice of the CCAR leadership and the Reform rabbinate on critical issues of the day. The CCAR is a diverse community of rabbis, and we recognize the multiplicity of viewpoints that exist within our membership. We encourage those of differing perspectives to engage in respectful dialogue. It is our hope that these statements provide the Reform community with deeper understanding of important issues that impact our lives as Jews and as global citizens.