Our Ideas
Publications
We publish books and reports that are at the intersection of Jewish thought and leadership. Explore our resources written by Clal’s scholars, faculty, and fellows.
Our Books
You Don't Have to Be Wrong for Me to Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Remember for Life: Holocaust Survivors' Stories of Faith and Hope
Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Embracing Life & Facing Death: A Jewish Guide to Palliative Care
Rabbi Daniel Brenner Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard Joseph J. Fins, M.D., F.A.C.P. Rabbi Brad Hirschfield
Jewish Men Pray: Words of Yearning, Praise, Petition, Gratitude and Wonder from Traditional and Contemporary Sources
Contributor: Rabbi Irwin Kula
How To Spot One of Us
Author: Janet R. Kirchheimer Intro: Rabbi Yitz Greenberg Foreward: Rabbi Irwin Kula
Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America's Newest Generations
Author: Josh Packard Foreward: Rabbi Elan Babchuck
Sh'ma on Claiming Torah (Sh'ma Journal: Independent Thinking on Contemporary Judaism Book 42)
Contributor: Rabbi Elan Babchuck
Our Research
This national research study is a first step toward mapping and understanding the growing field of spiritual innovation. Across the country, new efforts inspired by the world’s religious traditions are emerging as traditional congregations become less central to how people access spiritual life in public. The study was conducted in partnership with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, innoFaith, and Faith Matters Network, with support from the Henry Luce Foundation and other partners.
Our FEATURED Articles
Read more from our faculty, fellows, and community.
2026
God-fearing Southern chef reveals what’s really missing from America’s dinner tables — Featuring Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Daily Mail
Shaped By Grief Grounded In Love Rabbi Elan Babchuck — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, by Cara Meredith, Patheos
The Future of Faith May Already Be Here — It Just Doesn’t Look Like Church — Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Aspen Institute
2025
We Need to Revive the Lost Art of Jewish Caretaking — Rabbi Julia Appel, EJewish Philanthropy
The Reform Jewish Quarterly Fall — Central Conference of American Rabbis, 2025
Insights for Change: Liberate leadership from the pyramid — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, innoFaith
Leadership After Empire: Leaving Pharaoh’s Ways Behind — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Neighborhood Economics
The Danger of Finding Our Meaning at Work — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck
Pastor Repurposes Money from Dying Churches into Social Justice — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, The Washington Post
A Shortage of Conservative Rabbis has Jews Reexamining the Pulpit Role — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck
Atheists in Foxholes — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Tablet Magazine
As a New Year Begins, a Rabbi Reflects on High Tension Among Jews — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, The New York Times
This Help for Rabbis Might Sound Unseemly. But It Could Save Them — Rabbi Elan Babchuck, The Washington Post
Opinion: When Our Sanctuaries Are Under Fire — Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Simran Jeet Singh, and Angela Redding, Deseret News
Opinion: Defending the Right to Be Seen — Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Asma Uddin, Craig Detweiler, Elonda Clay, Katrina Lantos Swett, Lipi Roy,
Lynn Swain, Simran Jeet Singh, and Angela Redding, Deseret News
The Bondi Beach Attack Confirms Our Fears About Antisemitism. But It Tells Another Story — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
The Gaza War Hasn’t Changed Interfaith Relations One Bit. That’s a Bad Thing. — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Might Also Be Good News for Divided America — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Capital Jewish Museum Shooting Reminds Us to Watch Our Worlds — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
What Your Jewish Employees Need Right Now: Key findings from a survey of Jewish professionals across industries — Rabbi Elan Babchuck and Rebecca Leeman, Psychology Today
2024
Data-Based Tips for Cultivating Belonging This High Holy Day Season — Rabbi Julia Appel, EJewish Philanthropy
The Faith & Media Initiative Launches New Fellowship — Featuring Rabbi Elan Babchuck, by John San Nicolas, Patheos
Picking Up the Pieces Leadership after Empire: A Jewish-Christian plan for collaborative religious leadership — Rabbi Elan Babchuck book review by Jon M. Sweeney, Spirituality and Practice
2023
With a Little Creativity, Old Churches and Synagogues Can Find New Life — Rabbi Julia Appel, The Globe and Mail
America Has a Loneliness Epidemic. How About Religious Groups as Part of the Solution? — Rabbi Elan Babchuck and Wendy Cadge,
The Boston Globe
American Religion Is Not Dead Yet — Rabbi Elan Babchuck and Wendy Cadge, The Atlantic
How to Celebrate an Ancient Victory in the Midst of a War That’s Not Over — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
The War in Israel and Gaza Challenges Us to Think Compassionately and Morally — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Religious Freedom Was Meant to Protect, Not Bludgeon. What Happened? — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Hope and Rage: A Rabbi Reflects on the Hamas Incursion — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Firebrand Magazine
Outrage over far-right Israeli government has American Jewish leaders stewing — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Local Rabbi: ‘I Feel Like We’re Entering a Long Dark Tunnel’ — Featuring Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, The Tablet
2022
Want to Increase Donations? Try Increasing Congregants’ Sense of Belonging First — Rabbi Julia Appel, EJewish Philanthropy
Why America Needs the Shofar — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service
Which world do you want to repair? — Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Religion News Service