Leadership Cohorts to Strengthen the Soul and Structure of Congregational Life
The Deborah Fellowship: Presence, Purpose & Power for Women in the Rabbinate
A practical, spiritually grounded cohort for rabbis identifying as women with 3–15 years (with flexibility) of congregational/organizational experience who want to get real work done, grow leaders, run purpose-driven teams and have some fun along the way. Learn more about the Deborah Fellowship here.
We are thrilled to introduce the outstanding rabbis selected for the 2026–2027 Deborah Fellowship. Meet the cohort here.
Co-sponsored by the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Maharat, Rabbinical Assembly and the Women’s Rabbinic Network.
Led by Rabbi Lydia Medwin (The Temple, Atlanta) & Rabbi Shuli Passow (Congregation B’nai Jeshurun), and Rabbi Benjamin Ross (Executive Director, The Amen Center for Civic and Spiritual Leadership). Three-day / Three-night in-person retreat at The Trinity Retreat Center in West Cornwall, CT – Sunday, January 17 through Wednesday, January 20 , 2027 with four follow up online sessions.
All Together Now (Cohort 2) // A Collaborative Cohort for Congregational Leadership Teams
In today’s volatile and demanding landscape, congregational leadership has never been more challenging—or more essential. Amidst political polarization and the relentless pace of congregational life, clergy, executive directors, and lay leaders are carrying extraordinary emotional, spiritual, and logistical burdens.
Teams from 5-6 congregations will journey together through a practical, hands-on process to:
Clarify shared vision and priorities
Run purpose-driven, efficient meetings
Better understand each other’s work styles
Navigate conflict with more skill and less dread
Have braver, more candid conversations
Build a more intentional and sustainable lay leadership pipeline
Congregations Walking Together // Reimagining and Strengthening Leadership Formation Systems
This is for congregational teams ready to reimagine how leadership is discovered, nurtured, and integrated as both a spiritual and strategic practice. Rooted in spiritual wisdom and grounded in practical organizational development, this initiative guides participants and congregations through a deep and transformative journey—from individual formation to team alignment, from assessing current realities to designing future-ready systems.
Over the course of a year, teams will engage in a shared path that begins with an internal examination of their leadership culture and capacity, includes an immersive retreats, and continues through structured online gatherings and personalized coaching. The goal is to cultivate a sustainable leadership culture—routinized, ritualized, and anchored in purpose.
Interested in learning more about a cohort above?
Email Benjamin Ross