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Rabbi Basil Herring Steps Down as RCA Chief

Rabbi Basil Herring is leaving his position as head of the Rabbinical Council of America.

Herring has served as executive vice president of the RCA, the umbrella organization for nearly 1,000 Orthodox rabbis in 14 countries, since 2003.

RCA President Rabbi Shmuel Goldin of Ahavath Torah in Englewood, N.J., told JTA that Herring was “transitioning out of his position,” but will continue with the RCA in some other capacity yet to be worked out.

A search committee will be convened to find his replacement, Goldin said.

Goldin described the move as Herring’s decision.

Herring’s tenure at the RCA was marked by high-profile controversies over the organization’s positions on issues such as organ donation and conversion, which some critics saw as indicative of a rightward shift.

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