8
O
n behalf of more than 2000 members of the
Central Conference of American Rabbis,
the rabbinical leadership organization of
Reform Judaism, most of us HUC-JIR alumni, I am
delighted to congratulate Aaron Panken, dear friend,
cherished colleague, and longtime CCAR member,
upon his Inauguration. Aaron’s maturity, humility,
keen intelligence, personal charisma, profound Jewish
and Reform Jewish commitment, valuable experience
as a faculty member and administrator, and, not least
important, his warm sense of humor, make him ideally
suited to lead the College-Institute. David Ellenson,
Aaron’s distinguished predecessor, whom I also love
and admire, gives me partial credit for convincing him
to seek its presidency, and I was honored to serve on
the search committee that chose Aaron. If I had done
those things and nothing else of note in my rabbinical
career:
Dayenu
.
It would have been enough.
This is an extraordinary institution in every way.
I cannot conceive of a plausible explanation for the
flourishing of Judaism in North America over the past
century and a half, nor could I envision a future for
Reform Judaism, or for North American Jewry itself,
without a thriving, robust, and adequately resourced
College-Institute, and the rabbis, cantors, educators,
nonprofit leaders, and scholars it produces. All who
enable this school to fulfill its essential mission deserve
our utmost esteem and gratitude.
The unique and precious institution that Aaron now
leads has the privilege and responsibility of creating
r
abbi
r
iCHard
a. b
LoCk
P
resident
,
C
entraL
C
onferenCe of
a
MeriCan
r
abbis
klei kodesh
,
sacred vessels,
Jewish leaders who are “Holy
to the Eternal One.” However and wherever we serve,
the College-Institute’s ordainees and graduates are called
to be exemplars, thought leaders, agents of both conti-
nuity and change. Our lives are devoted to a cause far
greater, nobler, and more enduring than our mortal,
transitory, sometimes lost and bewildered selves. We
are guardians of the Jewish past, guides to the Jewish
present, generators of the Jewish future. Just as inspired
rabbis, cantors, educators, communal leaders, and
scholars have been key to the survival of Judaism and
the Jewish People, Jewish destiny depends upon their
sharing priceless gifts of mind, heart, and spirit, now
and for countless generations to come.
That future also depends on collaborative leadership
among clergy and professionals, and with lay leaders,
members, donors, and volunteers. Those who devote
careers to Judaism cannot secure the Jewish future by
themselves. Nor can Jewish clergy and professionals
alone foster the experiences of intrinsic community,
meaning, and transcendence that sustain Jewish life
and Jewish lives. We need partners.
The partnership imperative also pertains to our
Movement institutions, beginning with, but not
limited to, its legacy organizations: the URJ, HUC-JIR,
and CCAR. Given the challenges of the contemporary
period, it is critical that our institutions and leaders
transcend the parochialism and competitiveness that
have too often hampered our progress as a Movement.
Even as we articulate and pursue the particular goals
and purposes for which our individual entities exist, we
need to think more expansively and creatively, finding
new ways to work together in service of our common,
sacred cause.
So, to you Aaron, and to the College-Institute, the
leaders and members of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis pledge our hearts and hands. In you,
we invest our hopes, faith, and trust. Let us go forward
then, together, as partners, colleagues, and friends,
confident we can rise to the summons of our calling,
because we must, and because we have each other.
Aaron and Lisa, may God bless you and those you
love on your journey.