2:30-3:30 p.m.- Advocacy for Continuing Rabbinic Education in Challenging Times- Facilitated by Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Rabbi Hayim Herring


THE CASE TO FUNDERS-2008 Conference Suggestions

• Rabbis are avenue to Jewish people - strengthening their skills will strengthen vitality of people and Jewish community
• Capitalize on Stories of impact/Testimonials
• Address skepticism about rabbis and value in community
• Already invested social capital in Jewish leadership - way to build on it. 90% of Jews access a synagogue - this gives skills to make them come back.
• Not a charity but a means to transform Jewish community -
• Not a business, not an investment, but an intergenerational education process
• The significance of the micro-level to affect the macro
• There will be evaluations to mark progress; make accountable - resulting in renewed commitment

• Will help to solve the problem of burnout and other personnel issues
• Emphasize the benefits of cross-denominational programs
• Can provide CRE through Vouchers
• Subsidies are needed for rabbis who cannot afford CRE
• There can be a global fund which finances CRE
• Rabbis will become better by learning new things - times change (i.e., technology)
• Analogies to other field
• Recognizing accomplishments of accumulating CRE
• Joint statement from rabbis/congregations across denominations about value

• Should be in contract: expectations on part of congregation and rabbi
• Concrete responses in addition to advocacy (e.g., Spouses track and child care)
• CRE brings with it a sense of exclusivity/panache
• How this will be a good investment for me
• How you will be able to free up time
• How you can add this to the other forms of training & conferences you already attend.
• Define the skills the rabbi needs and the expectations
• Raising expectations of the community - but also making them realistic helping them value the work of the rabbi
• Overcoming territoriality - relationships between rabbis and congregations: Sharing resources
• Denominations: How much should they work together? Pluralism can cause more fragmentation - CRE can bring people together
• Let denominations play to their strengths
• How the laity can set expectations and get behind this if they hold the myth of the learned rabbi

• What is not on list:  benefits of post-denominational programs (cross-denominational programs that affect all movements)
• Need more emphasis on paradigms for future that might make more attractive
• Cutting edge tools and modalities for dealing with current environment
• Measureable outcomes
• Subsidies are needed for rabbis (not only for those who cannot afford)
• Diverse religious community - have some value to them.  Especially re topic of concern
• Safe place for rabbis to be human beings instead of rabbis

1. Investment in synagogue rabbinic leadership has potential for exponential return, and the ripple effects through the synagogue community represents broad impact
2. Seminary donors may be receptive to an appeal to fund continuity in rabbinic education, to get a bigger bang for the bucks they are already investing, to provide "booster shots" to sustain rabbis and prevent decline of their efficacy.
3. CRE can cultivate the community of Synagogue rabbis as an army of Jewish Leadership beyond the walls of the synagogue that partners and empowers other erg's and initiatives.
   1. For example, lack of spirituality/inspiration in youth in synagogues, and how to "turn kids on" is of major concern, and while other org. and initiatives are working on this
   2. Foundations, especially an entrepreneurial funder, will find this as an opportunity to address global/systemic shift
      • Overcoming skepticism re: synagogue vitality
      • Failures of rabbis
      • Opportunities for Broad Jewish Community involvement in times of change
      • Change/innovation
      • Strengthening Rabbis, strengthens Jewish community

• Case for rabbis
  • Sample language for contracts
  • Gather testimonials so rabbis can see what others got out of it
  • PDP publication
  • funding
  • Contemporary issues mean rabbis need CRE - new issues (e.g., congregants going through difficulties
  • If rabbi wants to keep sanity, needs to develop self care and awareness that we are spiritual leaders
  • Testimonials re how CRE can empower rabbi.
  • Lay groups make it part of their culture - place in contracts
  • Advocate that put in contracts
• For funders:
  • Exponential effects - supporting rabbis supports people
  • Look at funders of seminaries - more bang for buck in supporting continuing ed
  • Increasing spirituality in synagogue
  • Rallying rabbis to be leaders beyond synagogues - harnessing rabbis to connect individuals to other organizations, and partnering  with other organizations
  • Educating funders re challenges facing rabbis and in their settings (only ½ in cong business).  Must show differential effects on different subfields
• Full doc and bullet points for solicitation
  • Need to understand financial impediments, and why costs are what they are - and why are unlike other fields (neither cushy, nor supportable by business)
  • Impact of CEUs on institutions
  • Overcoming skepticism about synagogue life
  • Failures of rabbis they have experienced
  • Opportunities for broad involvement in times of change
  • Strengthens Jewish community
  • Balance managerial and text
  • Encouraging academic learning
  • Match continuing ed to achieve economies of scale (with other occupations)
• Sabbatical - what do you do with that time?  Should be part of this conversation.  Different models for organizing and using sabbaticals and products for enrichment of community.