About CCAR Rabbinic Career Services

For over 50 years the CCAR has provided the finest placement and employment services for thousands of rabbis, congregations, and communities. The CCAR provides resources and training for both rabbis and congregations to ensure smooth placement and transition.

For Rabbis

CCAR helps rabbis plan and advance their careers through such helpful services as career review, diverse professional development opportunities, resume and personal statement presentations and special training for rabbis interested in Interim positions. CCAR Placement also works closely with the CCAR Mentoring program that pairs experienced rabbis with those who are newly ordained to facilitate and support their transition from seminary to the workplace.

To start the CCAR Placement Service Process for CCAR Rabbis, please email Placement@ccarnet.org.

For Congregations and Other Organizations

The CCAR Office of Rabbinic Career Services provides congregations and other organizations with Employment services that identify and meet their staffing needs, including for interim positions. The process, while always tailored to the specific needs of the community, generally involves:

  • Congregational assessment and needs identification
  • Job description development
  • Candidate search and recruitment
  • Resume and reference review and assessment
  • Initial interviews and presentation of top rabbi candidates
  • Scheduling and oversight of Congregation interview(s) and
  • Advice and support during offer, acceptance and contract negotiations

For rabbis, congregations, and other organizations, the CCAR Office of Rabbinic Career Services provides valuable resources and documents. All documents are pertinent and easily adapted for use by community-based organizations, academic settings, health-care settings, and other kinds of roles.

To start the CCAR Placement Service Process for Congregations and other Organizations, please click here.

Synagogues and other organizations with rabbinic placement and transition needs or questions should contact:

Rabbi Alan Berlin
Director of Congregational Search Services
ABerlin@ccarnet.org

Directors of Rabbinic Placement

1964-1980: Malcolm Stern (1916-1994)
1980-1990: Stanley Dreyfus (1921-2008)
1990-2008: Arnold Sher
2008-2009: Hesch Sommer
2009-2011: Lennard Thal (Interim)
2011-2017: Alan Henkin
2017-2021: Cindy Enger
2021-2022: Deborah Hirsch & Michael Weinberg (Interim)

Rabbi Alan Berlin, Director of Congregational Search Services
Rabbi Leora Kaye, Director of Rabbinic Career Services