CCAR Ethics

The Central Conference of American Rabbis holds our rabbis to the highest standards of rabbinic behavior. Our robust ethics system is the way in which rabbis are held accountable. The sections below provide documents and information related to the CCAR ethics system.

CCAR Code of Ethics

All CCAR members are expected to abide by the CCAR Code of Ethics.
Originally established in 1991, the Code is a dynamic document
that is continually updated and revised.

CCAR Ethics Related Committees

The lists of members of the CCAR Ethics Committee, Ethics Process Review Committee, Board of Appeals, and Ethics Task Force can be found here.

CCAR Ethics Articles

A selection of essays and articles related to the CCAR ethics system can be found here

CCAR Ethics Updates and Notifications

With the decision to undertake an ethics investigation in 2021, the CCAR began to periodically publish updates and progress reports about steps being taken to revise the ethics system. These ongoing updates and progress reports can be found here.

Rabbis Expelled, Suspended, or Censured for Violations of the Code of Ethics

Information regarding rabbis expelled, suspended, or censured with publication for violations of the Code of Ethics for Rabbis can be found here.

An Introduction to the Ethics Process for Those Considering Filing an Ethics Complaint

This document provides guidance on the CCAR ethics process to complainants and the public.


For Questions about CCAR Ethics Code
or Ethics Queries

If you have questions about the ethics code or about reporting of an ethics complaint, please email Ethics@ccarnet.org

T’shuvah: An Apology from the CCAR

Following the ethics investigation undertaken in 2021, the CCAR embarked on a process of listening sessions, study, and learning. In September, 2022, the CCAR issued a public t’shuvah statement among other actions. The complete letter of public apology can be found here.

CCAR Ethics Investigation

In April 2021, the CCAR engaged the firm Alcalaw – a team of trauma-informed lawyers and consultants – to undertake an in-depth investigation of the CCAR ethics system and provide findings and recommendations to enable changes and updates to the process, and consideration of possible revisions to the Ethics Code. The scope of this written report is the ethics process itself. The written report is therefore a process-based report that examines the entirety of the CCAR ethics system.

This written report is available to the public its entirety