Past Presidents Council

The Central Conference of American Rabbis has been led by a series of outstanding individuals who have provided guidance and leadership to the entire Reform Movement in their capacity as CCAR President. The past Presidents for the Conference over our many generations are:

Erica Seager Asch 2023-
Lewis Kamrass 2021-2023
Ronald Segal: 2019-2021
David Stern: 2017-2019
Denise L. Eger: 2015-2017
Richard A. Block: 2013-2015
Jonathan Stein: 2011-2013
Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus: 2009-2011
Peter Knobel: 2007-2009
Harry Danziger: 2005-2007
Janet Marder: 2003-2005
Martin S. Weiner: 2001-2003
Charles A. Kroloff: 1999-2001
Richard N. Levy: 1997-1999
Simeon J. Maslin: 1995-1997
[Sheldon Zimmerman 1993-1994; expelled from CCAR, 2023]
Walter Jacob: 1991-1993
Samuel E. Karff: 1989-1991
Eugene J. Lipman: 1987-1989
Jack Stern: 1985-1987
W. Gunther Plaut: 1983-1985
Herman E. Schaalman: 1981-1983
Jerome R. Malino: 1979-1981
Ely E. Pilchik: 1977-1979
Arthur J. Lelyveld: 1975-1977
Robert I. Kahn: 1973-1975
David Polish:1971-1973
Roland B. Gittlesohn:1969-1971
Levi A. Olan: 1967-1969
Jacob J. Weinstein: 1965-1967
Leon I. Feuer: 1963-1965
Albert G. Minda: 1961-1963
Bernard J. Bamberger: 1959-1961
Jacob Philip Rudin: 1957-1959
Israel Bettan:1957-1957
Barnett R. Brickner: 1955-1957
Joseph L. Fink: 1953-1955
Philip S. Bernstein: 1951-1953
Jacob R. Marcus: 1949-1951
Abraham J. Feldman: 1947-1949
Abba Hillel Silver: 1945-1947
Solomon B. Freehof: 1943-1945
James G. Heller: 1941-1943
Emil W. Leipziger: 1939-1941
Max C. Currick: 1937-1939
Felix A. Levy: 1935-1937
Samuel H. Goldenson: 1933-1935
Morris Newfield: 1931-1933
David Lefkowitz: 1929-1931
Hyman G. Enelow: 1927-1929
Louis Wolsey: 1925-1927
Abram Simon: 1923-1925
Edward N. Calish: 1921-1923
Leo M. Franklin: 1919-1921
Louis Grossman: 1917-1919
William Rosenau: 1915-1917
Moses J. Gries: 1913-1915
Samuel Schulman: 1911-1913
Maximilian Heller: 1909-1911
David Philipson: 1907-1909
Joseph Stolz: 1905-1907
Joseph Krauskopf: 1903-1905
Joseph Silverman: 1900-1903
Isaac M. Wise: 1889-1900

Below is an assortment of sermons & speeches presented by past Presidents.

1997: Simon Maslin: Convention Address
1998: Richard Levy: That Holiness May Blossom 
1999: ‘Richard Levy: That This Judaism May Flow’
2000: Charles Kroloff: Sermon
2001: Charles Kroloff: Sermon
2002: Martin Weiner: Sermon
2003: Martin Weiner: ‘Munich, Vietnam, & Saddam’
2003: Janet Marder: ‘Kos Y’shuot Esa: I Will Lift Up the Cup of Salvation’
2013: Richard A. Block: Presidential Installation Sermon
2018: David Stern: Presidential Semon
2020: Ron Segal: CCAR Connect Convention 2020 Opening Remarks: ‘Isolation Need Not Mean Loneliness’
2022: Lewis Kamrass: CCAR Convention 2022 Sermon: ‘Healing, Restoring, and Renewing’
2023: Erica Asch CCAR Convention 2023 Sermon: ‘Using Our Gifts to Enhance Rabbinic Communities’