ATL Rabbinical Association Holds Annual Retreat

On Tuesday, May 19, more than 30 community rabbis gathered in Midtown for the Atlanta Rabbinical Association’s 20th annual retreat, designed to foster learning, creativity, professional growth, and collegial connection.

This year’s retreat went beyond traditional conference settings into Atlanta’s most storied cultural institutions, creating opportunities for dialogue through the lens of art. The event was coordinated by Brooke Rosenthal, program and operations manager, Atlanta Rabbinical Association (ARA), who organized the details combining museum exploration, leadership conversations, and Jewish learning.

The day began at the High Museum of Art with a docent-led exploration of the museum’s permanent collection. During the session, entitled, “An Exploration of the Permanent Collection: Ten Works and the (Hidden) Stories Behind Them,” rabbis examined works of art and their interpretations and cultural contexts. The retreat then shifted to community-building and institutional leadership. Chris Moses, of Alliance Theatre, led “Community Engagement and Audience Relationships Beyond the Stage,” exploring how organizations cultivate relationships with their audiences and sustain engagement. Rabbis considered how lessons from the performing arts apply to synagogue leadership.

Sarah Grant, of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, led “What Have You Sunset?” which focused on the difficult necessary decisions when programs or traditions no longer serve their purpose. Rabbis reflected on how faith communities can honor tradition while adapting to changing needs and expectations. Central to the day, Jewish learning and “The Art of Torah Wisdom,” featured a text study led by Rabbi Ayal Robkin, of Hadar, which blended timeless Jewish teachings with contemporary challenges, where rabbis engaged deeply with Torah while considering the practical realities.

Rabbi Ari Kaiman, of Congregation Shearith Israel, is set to become the incoming board president after Temple Sinai Rabbi Brad Leveneberg’s remaining year. Reflecting on the significance of the retreat, Rabbi Levenberg emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for rabbis to step away from daily responsibilities and engage in broader conversations.

He relayed, “The retreat was a reminder that rabbis need spaces that restore imagination … time with colleagues that isn’t only about crisis response or calendar coordination. We need exposure to other kinds of institutions that are wrestling with similar questions of mission, belonging, audience, memory, and change.”

Levenberg added that one of the most meaningful moments occurred during the tour. “A favorite moment of the retreat came in the museum itself, as rabbis moved through the galleries in small groups. The setting allowed for a different kind of conversation, less formal and more open-ended. A work of art became an entry point into questions about leadership. A gallery wall became a prompt for thinking about synagogue life. A docent’s explanation became a mirror for our own work of interpretation and translation. It was a reminder that learning doesn’t always need to happen around a conference table to be serious.”

The retreat concluded at PuttShack, coordinated by Rabbi Josh Hearshen of Or VeShalom. That informal setting allowed for a relaxed atmosphere. Between putts and the dinner, the group honored recently promoted Dov Wilker, of the American Jewish Committee, with the 2025 Ner Tamid Award in recognition of his longstanding partnership with Atlanta’s rabbis.

Rebecca Levenberg, wife of Rabbi Brad Levenberg, who works in the fundraising department at the Woodruff Arts Center, established the location connection.

Membership in the ARA is open to rabbis from across the Jewish denominational spectrum. According to Rosenthal, prospective members complete an application process, after which the membership committee reviews and verifies their rabbinic ordination credentials before welcoming them into the organization. She noted the growth of the area’s Orthodox members’ recently increased membership, including Rabbi Nachi Friedman currently serving as the group’s treasurer.

One of the retreat’s greatest values lies in its opportunity for collegiality. Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar, of Temple Beth Israel, board member-at-large, shared, “I have participated in the past several retreats … I always find myself nourished by being around colleagues in unexpected ways. While I serve a smaller congregation in Macon, the challenges rabbis face are not unique to any one of us; they’re ones we navigate collectively. Because we struggle together, we’re able to find genuine support in one another.”