As the world grappled with the COVID-19 crisis, our Rabbinical Assembly stepped in to accomplish the vital task of supporting and connecting our colleagues virtually. We provided countless resources for our members across the globe, including dozens of webinars for processing groups, information sessions, and social connection, financial relief for rabbis, halakhic guidance, and pastoral and self-care articles.
And as our 2019 Annual Report demonstrates, we continue to make progress in each of our Ten Bold Statements in the Our RA Vision Plan.
Supporting Rabbis Through the COVID-19 Crisis:
Our members, as well as communities across the globe, relied upon our RA's information, resources, and guidance during an uncertain time. Below, you'll see the impact of our various resources and programs:
-
Over 30,000 downloads of free E-siddurim on the RA website.
-
11,000 participants attended our first-ever live virtual Tikkun Leil Shavuot on YouTube.
-
Virtual seder on YouTube viewed over 4,400 times.
-
Over 100,000 people viewed public RA content on Facebook from March 1-present.
-
Hosted nearly three dozen member webinars/virtual programs on COVID-19 related topics since March.
-
Over 1,000 registrants total over RA-hosted webinars
-
Members of Movement Joint Task force offered High Holiday guidance and resources
-
Published cross-movement comprehensive Guide to the Considerations about Re-opening Synagogue Buildings.
-
Published guide to reopening our physical institutions in English and German
-
Published series of CJLS letters offering High Holidays guidance for communities affected by COVID-19
-
Connected with over 30 chaplains to plan survey and webinar series to support their work.
Programmatic Highlights:
Through in-person events and virtual connections through learning, our RA programming provided a wide variety of opportunities for colleagues to support one another in all aspects of our rabbinic work. In an increasingly polarized world, our RA fosters a climate of civility, pluralism, and social justice.
-
Wolfe Kelman Fund assisted dozens of colleagues and their families in times of financial need.
-
Established Hesed Committee with Rick Sherwin to reach out to colleagues in times of immediate need.
-
Senior consultant, Bill Lebeau, counseled hundreds of colleagues, ranging from a single outreach to multiple emails, phone calls, and mentorship meetings.
-
Rabbis and communities in North America and Europe participated enthusiastically in the International Seminar for Halakhic Study.
-
200 colleagues attended 20/20 Judaism, our joint convention with USCJ, which included frank discussions around intermarriage, ruah-filled prayer and musical experiences, and the ability to meet new friends and strengthen existing connections.
-
Gatherings for RA members, including JTS's Rabbinic Training Institute and the AIPAC Policy Conference.
- 20 rabbis and their spouses joined the first RA-affiliated mission to support approximately 2,000 Jews in Uganda.
-
Nearly a dozen colleagues participated in an inaugural outdoor retreat at Ramah Darom.
-
Published 8 resolutions in 2020 on important matters of the day, including antisemitism, sustainable living, child abuse, and the hunger crisis, reaching hundreds of thousands of people on social media.
-
Task Force on Human Trafficking lead efforts to actualize the United Nations Sustainable Growth plan to end human slavery by 2030.
-
Our RA in the United States launched its #NotOneMore campaign against gun violence, which kills over 32,000 people each year.
Supporting Rabbis in Career Development:
Throughout the year, our staff and volunteer coaches and mentors counseled hundreds of our colleagues through the placement process (in all tracks of the rabbinate), transitions, and personal and professional challenges.
- 42 RA members utilized the new Placement Coach Program
-
50 RA members have new jobs secured for the 2020-2021 year
-
Posted 75 job openings on the pulpit job board from July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020
-
Posted 36 job openings on the institution job board from July 1, 2019-June 30, 2020
-
Fielded more than 225 phone calls from RA members January-June 2020 regarding resume review, contract negotiation, and career transition inquiries.
-
Posted 7 hot topic blogs about various current events and perspectives within the rabbinate
-
Hosted a webinar for rabbis in transition during COVID, offering practical tips on interviewing, house-hunting, moving, and keeping morale high through a complicated search season.
-
Hosted a website walk-through webinar for graduating students to explain the search process and resume submission process.
-
-
20 congregations and 17 students participated
-
First-ever joint dinner with USCJ, the CA and the RA coming together with the cantorial and rabbinical school graduates
-
85 interviews took place over 4 days
-
USCJ and the RA presented the students with gifts of mezuzot and klafim for the doorways of their new offices, to symbolize how both organizations are needed for our movement to function at its highest potential.
-
We hope we've met your needs throughout the year. As we plan for the High Holidays and beyond, please feel free to send us your ideas and comments at info@rabbinicalassembly.org.