The Central Conference of American Rabbis is the Reform Rabbinic leadership organization. The CCAR enriches and strengthens the Jewish community by fostering excellence in the Reform Rabbis who lead it, in whatever setting they serve. CCAR members lead the Reform Movement on important spiritual, social, cultural and human rights issues. By fulfilling our mission to support rabbis, and through the pillars that uphold that mission, the CCAR creates and sustains the Judaism of tomorrow.
The CCAR empowers Reform Rabbis to provide religious, spiritual, and organizational leadership; enhances rabbis’ personal and professional lives; creates prayer books and resources for the Jewish community; and amplifies the voice of the Reform rabbinate in the Reform Movement and the wider Jewish community on the social, ethical and religious issues of the day.
CCAR is the center for lifelong rabbinic learning, professional development, and resources for the 2,200 rabbis who serve more than 2 million Reform Jews throughout North America, Israel, and the world. Our rabbis serve in many settings, from congregations to hospitals to schools to the military and more. CCAR offers rabbis opportunities for Torah study; professional development; spiritual growth and emotional well-being for themselves and their families; services such as placement, pension, mentoring, and transition training; and chevruta—a nurturing community among rabbis. Our rigorous ethics process holds our member rabbis to the highest ethical standards in the pursuit of maintaining safe and sacred communities for all.
Since its founding, the CCAR has also served as the primary publisher of the Reform Movement through CCAR Press. CCAR Press and its imprint Reform Judaism Publishing are the source for liturgy, sacred texts, educational materials, apps, and other content for Reform rabbis, cantors and educators; Reform congregations and Jewish organizations; Reform Jews; and the wider Jewish community. These publications include the Reform Torah commentaries and prayerbooks, CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, and a wide-range of electronic resources, including ebooks, apps, and Visual T’filah. Our publications, apps, and resources, created with the highest standards of integrity, scholarship, and input from our rabbinic membership and other experts, present a modern approach to Jewish practice and Jewish living. This diversity of input helps ensure the finest level of quality and creativity that will enrich the lives of millions of Jews for decades to come.