ACRE Blog

As I look back over the years of my rabbinate it is amazing how far the American rabbinate has come in its recognition that organized and professional CRE for rabbis is a must for every rabbi.  As such, our association, ACRE, has played an important role in galvanizing the consensus that every rabbi needs to develop a comprehensive CRE plan that he/she can present to their congregation or organization.  Such a plan will show that the individual rabbi understands that the world is changing and that as rabbis, they must keep abreast of new Judaic scholarship, new professional skill developments, and new health and welfare developments that impact their synagogues and themselves.  

My organization, the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America clearly understands this need.  As such, we are proud that many Federations around the country have supported rabbis from all the streams in their participation in the Hartman Institutes's summer program and three year fellowship program.  This is  "big" as they say.  It is "big" because the rabbis who become a part of the Hartman cohorts are personally enriched and thus more able to inspire their congregations and communities.  We in the Rabbinic Cabinet are encouraging our members to participate in Hartman as well as those CRE programs offered by the various streams.  

In addition, there is one other aspect inherent in the Hartman Institute programs to which we, in the Rabbinic Cabinet of JFNA, resonate. That is, their programs cross all the streams of Judaism and in doing so, offer an even deeper learning experience.  When I can learn from and with a rabbi of another stream I can come to a deeper appreciation of a text, or a lecture, or a book because I can see it from a point of view that I may never had considered before.  This is a special enrichment and enhancement  of the learning process leading to  an enhanced CRE.   

Please take advantage of these great programs and even if you cannot, consider taking a course with a teacher or colleague of a stream of Judaism that differs from yours.  In my opinion, you will become a better rabbi for such an experience.  

Jerry Weider

Director of the Rabbinic Cabinet The Jewish Federations of North America