About Us

The CBR works:

• To enhance the interest of k’lal Yisrael in the Chicago area, in the United States, in Israel and wherever Jews may be.

• To encourage and promote  Rabbinic growth and development through continued and expanded opportunities for study and communal service.

• To raise and maintain standards of the Rabbinic profession and strengthen the bonds of fellowship among its members.

• To foster united action among Rabbis, with due regard to the autonomy of the various Rabbinic groupings; to the halachic discipline of the individual members and their loyalty to their respective Rabbinic organizations.

• To interpret the role of the Rabbi as a guide to his/her people and a guardian of the religious interests of Chicago Jewry in all  its endeavor.

The CBR promotes and enriches Jewish learning and living through programming and its work supporting the  Jewish Healing Network of Chicago, administered by Jewish Child & Family Services in collaboration with CJE SeniorLife, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago,  Jewish Chaplains in area hospitals, and as co-producers with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago of Sanctuary, a quarterly television show.

Rabbi Reni Dickman 

Executive Vice President

Rabbi Reni Dickman is the Executive Director of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Senior Jewish Educator at JUF. Rabbi Dickman was ordained from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 2003.  From 2004-2017, she served as the rabbi of Sinai Temple in Michigan City, Indiana. She has also served on the faculty of the Rochelle Zell Jewish High School and the Chicago Jewish Day School. From 2017-2019, Rabbi Dickman was the director of InterfaithFamily Chicago (now 18Doors).

Rabbi Dickman graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Government and Near Eastern Studies. She also studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. She is honored to be the first person to fill this dual role  serving the Board of Rabbis and the staff at JUF.