The CCAR Ethics Committee (EC) respectfully submits this annual report for the calendar year January–December 2024. Published May 2025.
Background
The ethics process is comprised of four phases: intake, investigation, adjudication, and post-adjudication.
When an ethics complaint is received, the Chair of the EC, in consultation with the EC as needed, decides in the first instance whether the complaint constitutes a “complaint” under the Code of Ethics and should be accepted for further consideration. If the complaint, with sufficient detail, alleges conduct that, if true, would constitute a potential violation of the Code, it is accepted for consideration and sent to the rabbi who is the subject of the complaint. After the rabbi responds in writing to the complaint, either a three-person Information Gathering Team, consisting of two rabbis and one lay leader with specific expertise relevant to the case or a subcommittee of the Ethics Committee, will investigate the relevant facts and circumstances. On an as-needed basis, the investigation is supported by outside experts in a field(s) related to the case.
Following its investigation, the Information Gathering Team issues a written report, which after receiving and incorporating comments from the parties, is sent to the Ethics Committee. After the complainant and the rabbi are given the opportunity to meet individually with the EC, the EC carefully reviews all documents submitted in the case, meets to deliberate, and issues a written decision setting forth either that the complaint is dismissed or that the rabbi is reprimanded, censured, suspended, or expelled.
Where a decision imposes discipline, and after any appeals are heard and resolved before the CCAR’s Board of Appeals, if the decision is upheld, the rabbi then engages in the T’shuvah Rehabilitation and Counseling (TRaC) process in which either a single mentor or a three-member rabbinic team works with the rabbi to meet the requirements of that process: 1) Unequivocal acknowledgement of responsibility for the harm done; 2) An acceptable expression of remorse to those who have been harmed; 3) Demonstrated resolve never to repeat the offense; and 4) The making of restitution, where appropriate. Upon successful completion of the TRaC process, the rabbi’s adjudication is lifted and the rabbi is fully reinstated as a member in good standing of the CCAR. Each of the steps described here is detailed in the Code.
Case Overview
In 2024, the Ethics Committee handled thirty-one cases that were in at least one stage of the ethics process, from the filing of a complaint through TRaC. This number of cases has been consistent over the last several years.
We received forty-two inquiries from individuals who considered filing complaints. As part of the intake process, the CCAR’s Ethics Advisor for Inquiries and Complaint Intake, Cara Raich, LL.B, offers to meet via Zoom with potential complainants to orient them to the ethics process. In 2024, fifteen meetings were held with potential complainants (compared to forty-seven in 2023). In addition, if a CCAR rabbi has questions about the Code, the Chair or a designated member of the Ethics Committee is available for individual consultations. In 2024, fifteen consultations were held (compared to forty-two in 2023).
Over the course of the year, the EC received twelve written complaints, including one self-report (five less than in 2023). Five of these complaints were not accepted for further consideration as they did not state a claim under the Code or did not concern a CCAR rabbi, resulting in seven cases for Ethics Committee consideration. Of the complaints that were accepted, the following violations of the Code were alleged (in most instances, complaints allege more than one Code violation):
- I.B (substance abuse): 1 case
- I.B (bullying/intimidation/retaliation): 3 cases
- I.B (sexual misconduct): 3 cases
- I.C (financial): 1 case
- I.E (rabbinic commitment): 3 cases
- II.B.2 (rabbi emeritus): 1 case
- II.C (relationships between rabbis in different communities): 1 case
- II.C.5 (soliciting members): 1 case
- III (confidentiality): 1 case
The most volunteer-intensive aspect of the ethics process is the information gathering process. In 2024, ten Information Gathering Teams were active with eight final reports issued. (Last year, eleven teams were active.)
Following investigations, the EC issued eleven decisions: six dismissals, three reprimands, and two censures. There were no suspensions or expulsions. The decisions found that rabbis committed the following violations of the Code (in most instances, decisions found more than one violation):
- Reprimand
- I.B (bullying/intimidation): 2 cases
- I.B (failure to adhere to an exemplary moral code—power imbalance): 1 case
- Censure
- I.B (bullying/intimidation): 1 case
- II.B.1 (relationships between rabbis within the same congregation): 1 case
- I.B (substance abuse): 1 case
In addition to disciplinary decisions, during the ethics process the EC is called upon to issue a wide range of other written decisions. In 2024, the EC issued five decisions declining to accept a complaint on the ground that the complaint did not state a claim under the Code. The EC also issued six decisions lifting sanctions, finding that a rabbi had satisfied the requirements of the TRaC process.
Post-Adjudication
In 2024, twelve sanctioned rabbis were engaged in the TRaC mentoring process, which supports rabbis in the T’shuvah process. The number of rabbis engaged in the TRaC process has been consistent over the last several years.
Two rabbis appealed EC decisions to the Board of Appeals, which affirmed the EC’s decisions.
Communities Impacted
The Code applies to CCAR rabbis wherever they may be working. This year, ethics cases (including cases that were dismissed) concerned alleged conduct of twenty-six rabbis while serving in synagogue settings affiliated with the Reform Movement (and one rabbi in a non-Reform Movement synagogue), and five rabbis serving in non-synagogue settings.
Ethics Education
The Ethics Committee annually provides educational opportunities for rabbis and HUC-JIR rabbinical students to learn about the Code and the ethics process. In 2024, two webinars were held as part of the CCAR’s Continuing Rabbinic Education program. Also, via Zoom, the EC Chair and Director of Rabbinic Ethics provided an overview of the Code for the senior class at each of HUC-JIR’s North American campuses, and a member of the EC taught third-year rabbinic students at the New York campus about ethical boundary violations that may arise within the context of pastoral care and counseling.
Volunteers and Staff
The work of the Ethics Committee could not be accomplished without the remarkable dedication and contributions of the volunteer EC members, Information Gathering Teams, and TRaC mentors. As well, the EC’s work relies on the support and collaboration with the Ethics Process Review Committee (EPRC), which makes proposals for revisions to the Code voted on by the CCAR membership; the Ethics Task Force, which in June 2023 completed its work and recommended a broad series of improvements to the ethics process which has guided the agenda of the EPRC’s work ever since; and the Board of Appeals, which hears appeals of the EC’s decisions. In addition, in June 2024, a Rabbinic Best Practices working group was empaneled to recommend best practices that would guide rabbinic conduct.
Altogether in 2024, over 100 rabbis and lay leaders volunteered to support the CCAR’s ethics work:
- Ethics Committee, Loren Filson Lapidus, Chair; Michael Friedman, Vice-Chair; Ana Bonnheim, Immediate Past Chair: 16 members (15 rabbis, 1 lay leader)
- Information Gathering Teams: 30 members
- TRaC Teams/Mentors: 24 members
- Ethics Process Review Committee, Tom Alpert, Chair: 20 members
- Board of Appeals, Nicole Auerbach, Chair: 7 members
- Rabbinic Best Practices Working Group, Karen Perolman, Michael Friedman, Co-Chairs: 13 members
- Ethics Task Force, Nicki Greninger, Amy Schwartzman, Co-Chairs: 15 members
The work of the Ethics Committee is supported by two dedicated staff positions:
- David Kasakove, Esq., Director of Rabbinic Ethics
- Cara Raich, LL.B, Ethics Advisor, Inquiries and Complaint Intake
In addition, Rabbi Hara Person, Chief Executive, serves in an ex-officio capacity, and the CCAR provides essential administrative and management support. The EC’s work is supported by consultants and training through a grant from the SRE Network. Legal Services are provided on an as-needed basis by the law firm of Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP, and other consultants as necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, Chair, CCAR Ethics Committee
David Kasakove, Esq., CCAR Director of Rabbinic Ethics