Rabbi Hayim Herring among "Top 50 Rabbis in America" According to Ranking in Newsweek.

Executive Director of STAR Recognized for Impact on Jewish Community

MINNEAPOLIS -- STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) today announced that its Executive Director, Rabbi Hayim Herring, was included among the most influential Rabbis in America in a ranking in the April 2 issue of Newsweek.

Developed by Sony Pictures CEO and Chairman Michael Lynton, Gary Ginsberg of News Corp., and Jay Sanderson, CEO of JTN Productions, the list includes a mix of rabbinic leaders from all denominations. The judges say their sincere desire in developing the ranking is to "launch a debate about the future of American Judaism."

Selection criteria used to develop the list included how well known the rabbis are nationally and internationally; their media presence; if they are considered leaders within their communities, movements, and the overall Jewish community; if they have political/social influence; the level of impact they have had on Judaism in their career; as well as any "greater" impact they have had in general.

In his role at STAR, Rabbi Herring is responsible for growing the organization's Synaplex(TM) Initiative. Synaplex offers a roadmap for developing innovative synagogues and strengthening the congregational community and is currently being implemented in over 150 synagogues across the country.

Herring is also responsible for STAR's "PEER" and "From Good to Great" programs, two executive leadership development programs for rabbis in the early and middle stages of their careers. These year-long programs provide rabbis a unique opportunity to spend time with an acclaimed faculty of experts and explore common issues and challenges with a multi-denominational community of colleagues.

PEER focuses on helping rabbis at the formative stage of their careers strengthen their non-profit abilities to lead and manage synagogues. From Good to Great challenges mid-career rabbis to re-energize their dreams and lead their communities with greater impact. Both programs integrate Jewish values, spiritual vision and the best practices of non-profit leadership.

Herring is also spearheading STAR's newest initiative, Call Synagogue Home. Recently launched in partnership with the Jewish Outreach Institute (JOI), the program's mission is to create a more welcoming synagogue experience for interfaith families.

As the lead analyst for STAR's first annual Rabbinic Leadership Survey, Herring has become a recognized expert on the challenges and opportunities surrounding community engagement, the changing role of rabbis as well as key social and political issues addressed in the study.

"STAR's inclusion in this distinguished list is a recognition both of Rabbi Herring's leadership and the dedication of all of the rabbis and congregations involved in STAR's programs," adds Lynn Schusterman, President of STAR and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. "I congratulate STAR's Synaplex, PEER and From Good to Great rabbis and encourage them to find additional ways for synagogues to shape and touch Jewish life in all of its diversity."

"I am honored to be a part of such a prestigious ranking and thank all of the rabbis, lay leaders and funders who have made the STAR initiatives possible," says Rabbi Hayim Herring. "I am also excited by the dialogue the list has created. We now need to turn this call for further debate about the future of American Judaism into increased community interest and involvement."

About STAR

STAR (Synagogues: Transformation and Renewal) promotes Jewish renewal through congregational innovation and leadership development and is a philanthropic partnership of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation and The Samuel Bronfman Foundation. STAR's other leading funders include the Goldman Fund, the Lasko Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York and other local family foundations. For more information about STAR, please visit www.starsynagogue.org.