Central Conference of American Rabbis

06/08/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮

The Central Conference of American Rabbis, today a world-wide organization of Reform rabbis, deplores the continuing antisemitic violence facing Canadian Jewish individuals as well as synagogues, among a range of Jewish institutions. Among those attacked have been two synagogues served by CCAR rabbis: Temple Emanu-El of North York, Ontario, where shots were fired, and Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, Quebec, which survived a largely unsuccessful arson attempt just this past Friday morning.

CCAR rabbis among Jewish leaders across Canada have been speaking out boldly, naming antisemitism wherever it is found and calling for strong government action to stop the violence and the incitement that causes it. Harsh criticism of Israel from the Canadian government has too often created a permission structure for antisemitism across Canada.

On Monday, June 1, Prime Minister Mark Carney went to Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple, a congregation led by CCAR rabbis including Senior Rabbi Yael Splansky, to deliver a national address confronting antisemitism. The prime minister is to be commended for naming antisemitism clearly as a unique scourge in Canada and a rupture in the nation’s civic compact. He neither downplayed nor denied the problem, nor did he deflect attention from it by grouping it with other forms of hatred. He proposed a bill targeting hate crimes, hate speech, and obstruction of houses of worship. He instructed law enforcement and government prosecutors to prosecute antisemitic vandalism and violence aggressively, and several arrests have been made in the days following his address. He also allocated seventy-five million dollars to security grants to protect houses of worship.

Prime Minister Carney announced the formation of a Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, with a mandate to include antisemitism among the forms of racism and hate the Council is created to confront.

Critics rightly note that Prime Minister Carney failed to name anti-Israel, anti-Zionist activism as a proximate cause of growing antisemitism in Canada. The prime minister himself has been hypercritical of Israel in ways that are utilized to justify horrific antisemitism.

The Central Conference of American Rabbis calls on Prime Minister Carney and all Canadian federal, provincial, and local municipalities to be consistently vigilant, enforcing existing laws as well as the pending bill which is expected to become law in the days ahead. We conclude with the words of our CCAR colleague Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, after the Friday attack on the Montreal synagogue she leads: “Responding requires being proactive, not reactive. Naming the ways in which external conflicts are being imported. Recognizing that while criticism of Israel can be legitimate, when the Jewish State and those who love it are libelled, violence against Jews is the result… Politicians need courage. Law enforcement needs support. Neighbourhoods need good neighbours.”

• LINK: https://www.ccarnet.org/central-conference-of-american-rabbis-statement-on-antisemitism-in-canada/

06/07/2026

Planning a conference, retreat, meeting, or bet mitzvah service?

CCAR Press offers “Mishkan T’filah for Gatherings,” a flexible resource designed for worship and communal gatherings of all kinds, for rent or for purchase.

Learn more at https://ccar.co/mtgatherings

06/05/2026

Pride is a time of celebration, of marching in community, of waving rainbow flags, and proudly wearing our Pride accessories.

But Pride is also so much more: It is a call to take action to ensure a more just and inclusive society for all.

On this Shabbat of Pride, may we be energized not only to celebrate, but to reaffirm our commitment to working for change.

Shabbat Shalom.

06/04/2026

In honor of Pride Month, the CCAR is proud to lift up the stories of q***r rabbis—both the stories of rabbis who struggled so future rabbis wouldn't have to, and heartfelt stories of perseverance, determination, loss, and hope.

Here, Rabbi Stacy Offner, Founding Rabbi Emerita Shir Tikvah MN Congregation reflects upon her winding path to the rabbinate and her journey to becoming one of the first openly le***an rabbis hired by a mainstream congregation. She's also the first woman rabbi in Minnesota.

We are grateful to Rabbi Offner for sharing her story and for her visionary leadership.

• Read her essay here.

Rabbi Stacy Offner shares her groundbreaking story of becoming the first le***an rabbi of a mainstream Jewish congregation, opening the door for LGBTQIA Reform rabbinical students and congregants.

06/03/2026

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. Rabbi Joel Mosbacher, senior rabbi of Temple Shaaray Tefila NYC, and a contributor to “The Sacred Struggle: Jewish Perspectives on Trauma,” reflects on what Jewish communal responsibility can look like in the wake of devastating gun violence.

Read Rabbi Mosbacher's chapter and other personal stories in the book: sacredstruggle.ccarpress.org.

06/02/2026

During Pride Month, the CCAR is proud to share the stories of q***r rabbis—the rabbis who struggled so future rabbis wouldn't have to, and heartfelt stories of perseverance and hope.

Here, Rabbi Ariel Tovlev—writer, educator, and poet—recalls a touching experience of shared connection, inclusion, and freedom, opening a door to a young child to tell him he has a place at synagogue and in the Jewish community.

• Read Rabbi Tovlev's story at the link below.

CCAR member Rabbi Ariel Tovlev reflects on supporting and being see by the LGBGTQIA+ Jewish community.

06/01/2026

To celebrate Pride Month and our LGBTQ+ Jewish community, check out “Mishkan Ga’avah: Where Pride Dwells: A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual,” edited by Rabbi Denise L. Eger This groundbreaking book is a perfect resource for Pride services, events, and celebrations, as well as for everyday use.

Order now at pride.ccarpress.org and download the free study guide at https://ccar.co/mgstudyguide.

06/01/2026

🌈 During Pride Month and always, the Central Conference of American Rabbis celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.

🌈 Reform Judaism is strengthened and made whole by our diversity and inclusion of individuals of different sexual orientations and gender expressions.

🌈 Today, more than ever before in recent history, we are called to ensure safety, accessibility, and inclusion for each and every LGBTQ+ person. As censorship strives to erase q***r stories, as laws seek to erase trans lives, and as hatred works to eradicate acceptance, Reform rabbis reassert our steadfast belief in the Jewish value that all are made equally in God’s image. We continue our commitment to fighting laws that threaten the rights of LGBTQ+ folks to exist, and to celebrating dignity, joy, and love—today and all days.

🌈 As we are blessed by LGBTQ+ inclusion in our communities, we ask for blessings to come to all LGBTQ+ folks.

05/29/2026

In this week’s Torah portion, B’haalot’cha, the Israelites complain about desert conditions; Moses grieves and even wants to die. But God tells him to appoint seventy elders to help him lead the people.

With this advice, God is teaching Moses the importance of relying on community to help deal with challenges.

May this teaching illuminate your Shabbat and coming week.

05/28/2026

As we enter into Pride Month, the CCAR reaffirms our commitment to and celebration of our LGBTQ Reform rabbis, their families, and the members of our Jewish and secular q***r communities in America, Canada, Israel, and globally. The CCAR continues our advocacy for the equal rights, full inclusion, and safety of the LGBTQ community. And we continue our commitment to inclusive liturgy so that everyone feels welcome in our houses of worship and sees themselves reflected in the image of God.

Here, we share a blessing written by CCAR Board Member Rabbi Daniel Mikelberg, who serves Temple Israel Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. He reminds us that we are all bound by a "brit" of love.