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
  

What past participants are saying:

“The Amen Center’s All-Together-Now cohort has been an invaluable experience for our synagogue leadership team to explore some of the most foundational aspects of who we are (separate and together) and who we aspire to be… They know how synagogues work and have endless wisdom in helping us understand who we are, here and now, even as we dream into the future… I’m walking away from the experience inspired to lead, grateful for the synergy of my team, and even more clear about next steps we can take to fulfill our mission, vision, and spiritual calling.”
— Rabbi Jenny Solomon, Beth Meyer Synagogue (Raleigh, NC)

“What we learned surprised us, realigned us, and showed us exactly where our internal foci were a bit… off-center. Working with these three dynamic leaders changed how we operate as a team. I still catch myself saying, “Remember that thing Rev. Cameron said?” whenever we hit a tricky spot. If you’re on the fence about joining All Together Now—honestly? Jump in.” Amanda Greenwalt, Executive Director, Temple Beth Israel (Port Washington, NY)

The Opportunity

We’ve seen again and again that cohorts are one of the most effective ways to foster real change: they build accountability, spark creativity, and help leaders translate ideas into action.

• We will gather six times, biweekly on Zoom from April–June 2026 and then
  
  

• Post High Holy Day, Once every two months from November 2026-March 2027
  
  

• Sessions will include both shared learning and role-based breakouts, with a blend of training, practice, and project-based work directly tied to your congregation’s real needs.
  

By the end of the cohort, your team will have:

• Clearer roles and responsibilities
  

• Stronger, more high-functioning team culture
  

• More skillful feedback and conflict-mitigation practices
  

• Greater comfort with hard but holy conversations
  

• A concrete leadership development framework and pipeline you can keep using and refining
  

The Team: Rabbi Benjamin Ross, Reverend Cameron Trimble, Executive Director Amy Schwach

Benjamin Ross draws on experience as a congregational rabbi (Leo Baeck Temple, Los Angeles), lay leader (Board of Trustees, B’nai Jeshurun, NYC & Institute of Jewish Spirituality), and senior executive (Chief of Field Operations at Bend the Arc), Rabbi Benjamin Ross has designed this cohort to honor and strengthen each role on the leadership team. He is joined by two extraordinary partners: Rev. Cameron Trimble, a leading expert in congregational transformation and respected futurist in the Christian world, and Amy Schwach, Executive Director of Temple Shaaray Tefila in NYC and President of NATA (National Association of Temple Administrators), known for her incisive, truth-telling leadership.

We invite you to use the application as a tool for discernment — a way to see whether this feels like the right next step for your congregation’s leadership. And of course, please reach out with any questions or if you’d like to talk it through.

APPLICATION: The Amen Center for Civic and Spiritual Leadership is opening Cohort 2 now, and we’d love to include your leadership team - click  here to request an application. Applications are due Tuesday, February 2nd, 2026.

All Together Now: Collaborative Cohort for Congregational Leadership Teams with Rabbinic Leadership(2025–2026)

South Philadelphia Shtiebel — Rabbinit Dasi Fruchter — Philadelphia, PA

Temple Isaiah — Rabbi Dara Frimmer — Los Angeles, CA

Beth Shir Shalom — Rabbi Alex Kress — Santa Monica, CA

Beth Meyer Synagogue — Rabbis Eric & Jenny Solomon — Raleigh, NC

Temple Beth Israel — Rabbi Michael Mishkin — Port Washington, NY

“The Amen Center gives me the space to think about all things I don’t normally give myself time to think about (e.g. leadership development, improving communication with and between staff, goal setting for professionals and lay leaders) AND invites two of the most important partners for me as Senior Rabbi into those conversations in real time: my Executive Director and Temple President. Setting aside the time alone is a gift; learning, reflecting, and laughing with other synagogue teams, as well as the facilitators.” -Rabbi Dara Frimmer // Temple Isaiah (Los Angeles, CA) 

Now more than ever, we must build resilient, adaptable leadership teams capable of navigating complexity with clarity, care, and shared conviction. In some settings, this can also be adapted for a team of rabbis, or rabbi/cantor partnerships or cantors if they are the lead clergy, if that’s a better fit for your clergy leadership structure. More information is below. Click  here to learn more and request an application.