About CCAR Press

CCAR Press is the primary publisher of the Reform Movement and a division of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Since 1889, CCAR Press has provided essential resources for the Jewish community of today and tomorrow. Through CCAR Press, and its new imprint Reform Judaism Publishing (RJP), CCAR is the source for liturgy, sacred texts, educational materials, apps, and other content for Reform rabbis, cantors, and educators; Reform congregations and Jewish organizations; Reform Jews; and the wider Jewish community.  These publications include the Reform Torah commentaries and prayerbooks, the CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, and a wide-range of electronic resources, including ebooks, apps, and Visual T'filah™. Our publications, apps, and resources, created with the highest standards of integrity, scholarship, and input from our rabbinic membership and other experts, present a modern approach to Jewish practice and Jewish living. This diversity of input helps ensure the finest level of quality and creativity that will enrich the lives of millions of Jews for decades to come.

Rabbi Hara Person is the Chief Executive of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Previously, she was the CCAR's Chief Strategy Officer. In that capacity, she oversaw the Communications Department and served as Publisher of CCAR Press, and worked with leadership on overall organizational strategy. She was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of URJ Books and Music, and the Managing Editor of the award-winning The Torah: A Women's Commentary. Rabbi Person was ordained in 1998 from HUC-JIR, after graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College (1986) and receiving an MA in Fine Arts from New York University/International Center of Photography (1992).
 
Rafael Chaiken is the Director of CCAR Press. He was previously the editor for Jewish studies, film studies, and philosophy at the State University of New York Press. Rafael holds a bachelor's degree (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Brown University and a master's from the University at Albany, both in history. His book reviews have appeared in the Journal of Electronic Publishing and Publishing Research Quarterly. He has delivered presentations on publishing at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Association for Jewish Studies, University at Albany, and SUNY New Paltz. His books have been winners or finalists for numerous prizes, including the National Jewish Book Award, Canadian Jewish Literary Award, and Jordan Schnitzer Book Award.  
 

Want to keep up-to-date with CCAR Press? Join our mailing list!