P'rahim K'tanim: Small Conservative Congregations Conference for Clergy & Lay Leaders
Join us for the Small Conservative Congregations Conference for Clergy & Lay Leaders from Sunday-Tuesday, June 8-10, 2025
Rabbis, cantors, current/incoming synagogue presidents, and potential synagogue presidents/leaders: You are invited to a conference for clergy and lay leaders serving small Conservative/Masorti congregations (up to 250 members), sponsored by the Rabbinical Assembly and the USCJ.
The conference will include two days of personal and professional growth in a friendly and supportive environment! Bring home fresh ideas, new energy, and deep personal connections to strengthen your congregation for years to come.
Featured speaker: Daniel Langenthal, USCJ Director of Leadership Development. Daniel is an experienced educator, trainer, and consultant whose approach to human and organizational growth is informed by values of openness, engagement, reflection, and empowering others.
Early bird registration is available through February 28th. Sign up today!
Conference Highlights:
- Strengthening the Lay-Professional Relationship: practice using tools to enhance the partnership between lay leaders and clergy
- Strengthening the Small Synagogue: recruiting members, serving current members, reaching a wide geographic area, and going beyond the walls of the synagogue with limited resources
- Strengthening Ourselves: time for Limmud (learning), Tefillah (prayer), and Hizzuk (support) among lay leaders and clergy together
- Learn from Each Other: Opportunities to share new ideas, challenges, and successes
- PLUS: Robust opportunities for informal conversations at meals; Monday optional free evening or group dinner reservation (dinner cost and transportation to dinner not included in the registration fee; separate registration for Monday’s dinner will be announced closer to the conference)
This conference is open to all those with USCJ and/or RA affiliation in good standing. A USCJ synagogue with a non-RA member rabbi (or a cantor) or an RA member rabbi at a non-USCJ congregation are both eligible. Participants must be affiliated with at least one of our organizations in order to participate.
Note: for this experience to be most successful, we strongly recommend that there be more than one participant from each congregation. Ideally, a combination of clergy and lay leadership would attend as a team. We strongly encourage clergy and congregations to support each other’s attendance through congregational and discretionary funds.
Fee:
EARLY BIRD Registration fee: $125 (price will increase to $150 on February 28th).
Includes all meals from dinner Sunday to lunch Tuesday, with the exception of dinner Monday. Participants are responsible for their own travel (O’Hare is the closest airport) and accommodations.
Cancellation Policy:
before April 23rd: 80% refund of your registration fee;
between April 24th-May 28th: 50% refund of your registration fee;
after May 29th: no refunds
Venue:
Am Yisrael Congregation
Northfield, IL (Chicago area)
4 N Happ Rd, Northfield, IL 60093
Lodging:
The closest hotels are about 2.4 miles away. We will help organize rideshares from the hotel to the synagogue each day.
- Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago-North Shore/Skokie, 5201 Old Orchard Rd, Skokie, IL 60077
- Extended Stay America - Chicago - Skokie, 5211 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, IL 60077
For more information, contact:
David Krishef, rabbi, Ahavas Israel, Grand Rapids, MI
Gideon Estes, rabbi, Congregation Or Ami, Houston, TX
Rachel Sisk, USCJ, Director of Synagogue Operations & Program Support
Ilana Garber, RA, Senior Director of Rabbinic Leadership