Yesterday, hundreds of Reform Rabbis converged on New Orleans for the Central Conference of American Rabbis annual convention. To say that I’m jealous because I am not there is an understatement. I’ve also never been to New Orleans and always have wanted to go! This could have been my chance.

😦

Going to the CCAR is like a breath of fresh air. At least it was for me when I went to San Francisco last year. As with any occasion when a bunch of colleagues get together and study, it is a reminder that the rabbinate is so much more than writing sermons and making hospital visits. There is also the tremendous opportunity to learn. Professional development, study with scholars, and just the sharing of stories to support one another I find breathe new life into my rabbinate.

I am fortunate that I get to attend other professional conferences this year. I am particularly looking forward to the Consultation on Conscience, the biannual meeting of the social justice minded headed by the Religious Action Center. (You can go, too. Here is the information.) This will mark the end of a two-year program I’ve done with the RAC called the Balfour Brickner Rabbinic Seminar.

If you are on twitter, which clearly you should be, you can follow me @rabbisteinman. If you look at the hashtag #ccar11 you will be able to see some of what other rabbis are learning (and several comments by yours truly wishing that I was there).

Don’t worry. I’ve already marked my calendar for Boston next year’s CCAR convention.