Over the course of five immersive days, 50 Conservative rabbis gathered at the Pearlstone Retreat Center for the 40th annual Rabbinic Training Institute (RTI), coming together for deep text study, professional growth, and personal and spiritual renewal. They arrived from across North America, joined by one rabbi from Israel, forming a diverse cohort that reflected the vibrancy of the Conservative rabbinate today. By the end of the week, participants left enriched by their time together and better equipped to serve their communities.
At the heart of RTI is serious learning. The 2026 RTI curriculum offered a wide range of courses led by outstanding faculty, giving rabbis the opportunity for in depth Torah study, as well as space to address both rabbinic questions and the most pressing issues of the moment. Among the timely topics were sessions focused on antisemitism, including courses taught by faculty associated with the Nexus Project and historian Jim Loeffler. These sessions sparked important and, at times, challenging conversations, underscoring RTI’s role as a space where rabbis can wrestle honestly with complex ideas and contemporary realities.
Learning at RTI extends beyond the classroom. Afternoons were intentionally left open to allow rabbis to recharge and connect in different ways. Many took advantage of Pearlstone’s beautiful outdoor spaces, while others participated in art workshops and yoga sessions. This balance of intellectual engagement and intentional self-care is a hallmark of the RTI experience.
Evenings created space for communal reflection and open dialogue. One highlight was a “reverse fireside chat,” which gave rabbis the opportunity to engage directly with JTS and Rabbinical Assembly leadership. These conversations focused on central questions about the future of the Conservative movement and the rabbinate, as well as ongoing concerns related to Israel and social justice.
The week also included moments of deep meaning and memory. Participants gathered for an erev shirah in honor of longtime RTI participant Dina Shargel z”l, celebrating her life through song and shared remembrance. The community also marked the shloshim of Eliezer Diamond z”l, a longtime RTI and JTS faculty member, reflecting together on his legacy of learning and teaching. In addition, Rabbi Gordon Tucker served as RTI’s Rachel Brodie z”l Memorial Scholar, and we were honored to be able to mark the memory of master Jewish educator Rachel Brodie z”l in this way.
While rabbis come to RTI for the learning, many say that what keeps them coming back year after year is the sense of community. RTI is a rare space where veteran participants reconnect with colleagues and friends, while new rabbis are welcomed into a warm, supportive network. The atmosphere is intentionally relaxed and collegial—so much so that participants affectionately refer to RTI as “Rabbi Camp.”
RTI once again demonstrated the power of gathering rabbis together for learning, reflection, and connection. In a camp-like setting infused with seriousness of purpose and genuine joy, participants strengthened one another and reaffirmed their commitment to serving Jewish communities with wisdom, compassion, and renewed energy.
For the past two years, RTI is offered in cooperation with the Rabbinical Assembly.
What are people saying about RTI?
RTI is a wonderful place to celebrate all the things we love about being rabbis … with people who truly understand what that means. – Rabbi Michael Safra, B’nai Israel Congregation, Rockville, MD
Being a rabbi is a team sport. RTI helps remind me that I am never alone in this holy work, and that I always have colleagues and mentors whom I can call. – Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Temple Beth El, Portland, ME
RTI is an essential opportunity to rest, recharge and reconnect with the parts that I love most about Jewish practice and study, while being nourished by connecting with other rabbis. – Rabbi Grace Gleason, Beth David Synagogue, Greensboro, NC
I love any time I can spend with colleagues, and RTI is a sacred experience of that. Time to learn, time to laugh, and time to support one another. – Rabbi Jenni Greenspan, Beth Shalom Congregation, Columbia, MD
RTI is the most valuable, generative, connecting, sweet four days of my entire year. – Rabbi Noah Arnow, Kol Rinah, St Louis, MO
RTI is one of the most impactful ways to support the rabbis who support entire communities. – Rabbi Joshua Heller, Congregation B’nai Torah, Sandy Springs, GA
