The CCAR Ethics Committee respectfully submits this annual report for the calendar year January–December 2025. Finalized April 2026.
Background
The Ethics Committee (“EC”) of the CCAR has the sacred responsibility to oversee and manage the CCAR’s ethics process, as set forth in the Code of Ethics. The Code consists of two documents: (1) the Standards of Rabbinic Behavior, and (2) the Policies and Procedures. 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 and should be accepted for further consideration. If the complaint, with sufficient detail, alleges conduct by a CCAR member rabbi that, if true, would constitute a potential violation of the Code of Ethics, 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 EC, 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 EC. 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 a rabbinic team (usually consisting of three members) 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, in the case of reprimand or censure, the rabbi’s adjudication is lifted, and in the case of suspension, the rabbi is fully reinstated as a member in good standing of the CCAR. Each of the steps summarized here is detailed more fully in the Code’s Policies and Procedures.
Case Overview
In 2025, the EC handled twenty-four cases that were in at least one stage of the ethics process, from the filing of a complaint through TRaC. This number of cases is eight less than in 2024.
We received fifty inquiries from individuals who considered filing complaints (eight more than 2024). As part of the intake process, potential complainants receive “An Introduction to the Ethics Process for Those Considering Filing an Ethics Complaint.” (This is available on the CCAR’s Ethics section on its website: https://www.ccarnet.org/an-introduction-to-the-ccar-ethics-process-for-those-considering-filing-an-ethics-complaint/.)
In addition, the CCAR’s Ethics Advisor for Inquiries and Complaint Intake, Cara Raich, offers to meet via Zoom with potential complainants to orient them to the ethics process. In 2025, seven meetings were held with potential complainants (compared to fifteen in 2024). In addition, if a CCAR rabbi has questions about the Code, the Chair or a designated member of the EC is available for individual consultations. In 2025, twenty-five consultations were held (compared to fifteen in 2024).
Over the course of the year, the EC received eleven written complaints (one less than in 2024). Four 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 being accepted for EC 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.A (bullying/intimidation/retaliation): 5 cases
- I.C.4 (financial conduct): 1 case
- II.B.1 (relationships between rabbis in different communities): 1 case
- II.B.4 (lashon hara): 1 case
- III (confidentiality): 2 cases
- V (sexual boundaries): 2 cases
The most volunteer-intensive aspect of the ethics process is the information gathering process. In 2025, eight Information Gathering Teams were active with six final reports issued. (Last year, ten teams were active and eight reports issued.)
The EC issued seventeen decisions in 2025. This includes eight dismissals (two after full investigation; four after review of complaints that failed to state a claim; one due to complainant’s failure to cooperate with the investigation); one reprimand, one censure; one suspension; and one expulsion (resignation following sanction). The decisions found that rabbis committed the following violations of the Code:
- Reprimand
- II.B.1 (Interference with incumbent rabbi)
- II.B.3 (Solicitation of another congregation)
- Censure
- I.B.3 (Rabbinic Commitment)
- I.C.4 (Financial Impropriety)
- Suspension
- XI.D.1.f Policies and Procedures (rabbi charged with misdemeanor or felony)
- Expulsion
- XI.E.1.d Policies and Procedures (resignation after issuance of reprimand; non-compliance with t’shuvah process)
In addition to disciplinary decisions, the EC issued five decisions lifting sanctions, finding that a rabbi had satisfied the requirements of the TRaC process, and one decision denying a complainant’s request that the EC reconsider its dismissal of a complaint.
Post-Adjudication
In 2025, nine 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.
There were no appeals of the EC’s decisions in 2025.
Communities Impacted
The Code applies to CCAR rabbis wherever they may be working. This year, the EC’s ethics process (including cases that were dismissed) concerned alleged conduct of twenty rabbis while serving in synagogue settings affiliated with the Reform Movement (and one rabbi in a non-Reform Movement synagogue), as well as one rabbi serving in a non-synagogue setting.
Ethics Education
The EC 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’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.
Convening of Ethics Committees of the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Movements
In June 2025, thanks to a generous grant from the SRE Network, the Ethics Committees of the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements met for two days of study and workshops, discussing best practices and shared challenges. A particular focus was each movement’s post-adjudication practices in supporting rabbis towards t’shuvah, holding them accountable for their conduct, and strengthening their rabbinates so that they reflect the highest ideals of Judaism. As a result of this meeting, the Ethics Committee has embarked on a major initiative to update the TRaC process. It is expected that, based on the EC’s recommendations, the Ethics Process Review Committee will propose changes to the TRaC process, to be voted on by the Conference in June 2026.
Volunteers and Staff
The work of the EC 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, 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 through June 2025; and the Board of Appeals, which hears appeals of the EC’s decisions. In addition, in March 2025, the Rabbinic Best Practices working group, formed in June 2024, completed its work and issued its report, “CCAR Best Practices Guidelines: Derech Eretz—Recommendations for Relationships Between Reform Rabbis.”
Altogether over one hundred rabbis and lay leaders have volunteered to support the CCAR’s ethics work:
- Ethics Committee, Loren Filson Lapidus, Chair; Ben Zeidman, Chair-Elect; Ana Bonnheim, Immediate Past Chair: 13 members (12 rabbis, 1 lay leader)
- Information Gathering Teams: 24 members
- TRaC Teams/Mentors: 27 members
- Ethics Process Review Committee, Tom Alpert, Chair: 20 members
- Board of Appeals, Nicole Auerbach, Chair: 7 members
- 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 EC is supported by two dedicated staff positions:
- David Kasakove, Esq., Director of Rabbinic Ethics, and
- 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,
Ben Zeidman, Chair
Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, Immediate Past Chair
CCAR Ethics Committee
David Kasakove, Esq.
CCAR Director of Rabbinic Ethics