List of rabbinical schools explained

Following is a listing of rabbinical schools, organized by denomination. The emphasis of the training will differ correspondingly:Orthodox Semikha centers on the study of Talmud-based halacha (Jewish law), while in other programs, the emphasis may shift to "the other functions of a modern rabbi such as preaching, counselling, and pastoral work.”[1] [2] Conservative Yeshivot occupy a position midway, in that their training places (significantly) more emphasis on Halakha and Talmud than other non-Orthodox programs.

Reform

In Reform Judaism, rabbinic programs span five years and incorporate a master's degree. Studies are mandated in pastoral care, the historical development of Judaism, academic biblical criticism, in addition to the study of traditional rabbinic texts. Rabbinical students also are required to gain practical rabbinic experience by working at a congregation as a rabbinic intern during each year of study from year one onwards. All Reform seminaries ordain women and LGBTQ people as rabbis and cantors.

Conservative

Conservative institutions, which unlike Orthodox institutions are open to ordaining women and LGBT people as rabbis and cantors, provide an "integrated program" of academic learning and professional development, spanning five or six years.

In addition to knowledge and mastery of the study of Talmud and halakhah, Conservative semikhah also requires that its rabbinical students receive intensive training in Tanakh, classical biblical commentaries, biblical criticism, Midrash, Kabbalah and Hasidut, the historical development of Judaism from antiquity to modernity, Jewish ethics, the halakhic methodology of Conservative responsa, and classical and modern works of Jewish theology and philosophy.Here, students are required to study for one year - usually the program's third - in Israel.

Conservative programs include also synagogue administration, pastoral care, chaplaincy, non-profit management, and navigating the modern world in a Jewish context, and incorporate professional placement.

Ordination is granted at:

Orthodox

Orthodox yeshivas are institutions of Torah study generally, "Torah lishma", [5] and are not [6] focused on the training of rabbis per se. Their curricula emphasize Talmud along with the study of halacha (Jewish law); if less emphasized, Tanakh (bible) and Jewish thought / Musar / Hasidic philosophy are also studied. (Orthodox yeshivas do not allow women to enroll.) Rabbinical training proper - often culminating up to a decade of study [7] - generally takes one of three forms.

Many Yeshivot host a specific Rabbinic kollel, or other program, focusing on Semikhah (ordination); these are then an integral part of the yeshiva. These programs build students' ability to "pasken", i.e. decide cases in Halacha, extending and relying on the textual and analytical skills built over the several prior years of Talmud study; this, in parallel, includes preparation of the specific sections of Shulchan Aruch required for certification-testing (always kashrut; often shabbat, niddah; sometimes avelut, marriage laws).[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] See and § Talmud study.These programs span 2-4 years, depending on the topics covered. Alongside their Rabbinic studies, students here typically participate in the Yeshiva's senior Talmud shiur.Institutions:

Some institutions specifically focus on rabbinic training; these are essentially "post-graduate", admitting students with an advanced Yeshiva background. These programs typically prepare all of the above topics, and extend the curriculum to other applicable areas of Jewish law (e.g. [18] laws of the synagogue and Jewish prayer, the moadim); these often place a parallel emphasis on "hashkafa", i.e. a systematic discussion of contemporary issues in light of Jewish philosophy; they may also offer some element of "practical Rabbinics" (e.g. homiletics and public speaking, life-cycle events, pastoral care), always secondary,[8] however. These programs average 3 years, but may be up to 5 years.Institutions well known for their Rabbinic training include:

Outside of these, it is common also for a student to prepare material independently, so as to be tested by a well known Rosh Yeshiva or posek, so called "private semicha"[8] (many from the late R. Zalman Nechemia Goldberg).This Semikhah certifies solely the holder's ability, and thus right, to pasken (i.e. "Heter Hora'ah"; see, again,).Recently, several institutions are established around semicha-testing (i.e. as opposed to Rabbinical training); these publish syllabi, with a corresponding learning program, and may provide online training,[37] and are then a hybrid of Yeshiva and private; they are sometimes referred to as "on-line semicha programs."[8] Not intended to produce community Rabbis, and testing a single Halakha-topic at a time (and where the focus may be applied as opposed to theoretical), in some cases, the study-program can be completed in one year.[38]

Other denominations

Non-denominational

Notes and References

  1. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ordination-semihah/2/ Ordination (Semicha)
  2. Rabbi Steven Blane (N.D.). "Ordination and Semicha", jsli.net
  3. Web site: Home . institutorabinico.org.
  4. The IIFRR serves the Latin American Reform communities and has had online teaching as part of its curriculum, counting as teachers and supporting lecturers rabbis from the Reform communities throughout Latin America, North America, Israel and Europe.
  5. Pirkei Avot 6:1
  6. See discussion by Rambam: Hilchot Teshuva 10:5 and commentary on Makkot 3:16
  7. Membership in the Rabbinical Council of America requires at least six year’s yeshiva study; see discussion under Master of Rabbinic Studies.
  8. http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/SemichaGuidelines22Dec2015.pdf Semicha Standards
  9. https://www.gov.il/he/departments/general/meida_rabanut מידע לנבחנים - רבנות
  10. http://rca.edu/media/pdf/1120/NbJg11207139.pdf CATALOG
  11. https://www.yu.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/semikhah_requirements_final.pdf Semikhah Requirements
  12. http://www.htc.edu/beis-midrash-college-mens-division/itemlist/category/130-schools.html Semicha Coursework
  13. https://rabbinicalcollegeboboveryeshiva.edu/Catalog/catalog.pdf Catalog
  14. https://www.lubavitch.com/a-new-crop-of-students-to-receive-rabbinic-ordination/ A New Crop of Students To Receive Rabbinic Ordination
  15. https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/5531615/jewish/Hundreds-Gain-Rabbinic-Ordination-While-Deep-Into-Successful-Careers.htm Hundreds Gain Rabbinic Ordination While Deep Into Successful Careers
  16. https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/4280202/jewish/-.htm שיחת יום ג' פ' וארא, כ"ד טבת, ה'תשי"ב
  17. The certificate - see example - may in fact specify that further apprenticeship is required if the holder is to serve as a community Rabbi.
  18. See, e.g.: "Community Rav Course"
  19. https://ots.org.il/program/kollel-israeli-rabbis/ Kollel for Israeli Rabbis
  20. http://www.mgl.org.il/%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%93/ תכניות לימוד
  21. https://graduate-school.biu.ac.il/en/node/1463 הכשרת רבני קהילות
  22. http://sscusa.org/ sscusa.org
  23. https://www.c4kd.org/ The Center for Kehilla Development
  24. https://nerleelef.com/ nerleelef.com
  25. https://mizrachi.org/musmachim/ Musmachim
  26. https://www.manhigut-toranit.org manhigut-toranit.org
  27. https://www.mosdot-ariel.org/en/institute-for-community-rabbis-in-the-diaspora/ Institute for Community Rabbis in the Diaspora
  28. http://www.eretzhemdah.org/content.asp?PageId=3459&lang=en Yadin-Yadin for the Diaspora
  29. https://www.har-el.org/ Beit Midrash Har’el
  30. Rabbi Herzl Hefter, "Why I ordained women"
  31. In recent years some midrashot offer specialized programs (although not ordination) in Rabbinic-level Halakha, including Talmud-intensive study. Two formal professional certifications are offered:Nishmat trains women as Yoatzot Halacha, advisors in the laws of Family purity; Lindenbaum, through a joint program, prepares women as to'anot, advocates in religious courts for matters relating to divorce.Three programs mirror the Chief Rabbinate’s ordination requirements for men:Ein HaNetziv trains students as "Teachers of Halacha";Lindenbaum in "Halachik leadership";Matan as "Halachik Respondents".
  32. https://mechonlhoyroa.com/ mechonlhoyroa.com
  33. https://kollelzyz.org/ kollelzyz.org
  34. See for example The Chassidishe Kollel, chicagojewishhome.com; Siyum by Kollel Zichron Yitzchok Zev, chicagojewishhome.com; Happening in… Chicago, mishpacha.com
  35. http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/ApprovedYeshivot.pdf Rabbinical Council of America List of Approved Yeshivot
  36. https://www.lahak.org/templates/lahak/article_cdo/aid/4259991/jewish/-.htm שיחת יום א' פ' פינחס, י"ג תמוז, ה'תשי"ב
  37. Dvora Lakein, 2010. Chabad Rabbi Launches Online Training Program for Rabbis
  38. Although these programs are sometimes criticized, their syllabi are standard - although their focus may differ as mentioned - and their role, in fact, is intended as providing structured learning in Halacha to those outside of a formal yeshiva; and their offerings then include non-semicha courses. See the discussion re “Non-practicing rabbis” under .As for the above, these programs assume a level of scholarship typically acquired over several years in Yeshiva. Note that the RCA does not include the time spent in an on-line program towards its requirement re years in Yeshiva.
  39. https://www.shulchanaruch.com/ Yeshiva Pirchei Shoshanim
  40. https://www.iyunhalacha.org/ Yeshivas Iyun Halacha
  41. https://chonendaas.org/ chonendaas.org
  42. https://vhalacha.com/about/ vhalacha.com
  43. https://kinyanhilchosshabbos.com/ kinyanhilchosshabbos.com
  44. https://kingdavidkabbalah.com/semicha-program/ Semicha Program
  45. http://www.onlinesmicha.com Online Smicha Institute For Rabbinical Studies, onlinesmicha.com
  46. https://onlinemachon.com/ Machon Smicha, onlinemachon.com
  47. https://shulchanaruchharav.com/home-study-semicha-program/ Home Study Semicha Program
  48. Machon Limud Halacha — Lema’an Yilmedu, lemaanyilmedu.com
  49. https://havineini.co.il/en/issur-veheter-course/ havineini.co.il
  50. https://webyeshiva.org/semicha/ webyeshiva.org/semicha
  51. Web site: Reconstructionists give green light to intermarried rabbinical students. Jweekly. Lisa Hostein. October 1, 2015. 17 March 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151003090111/http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/75811/reconstructionists-give-green-light-to-intermarried-rabbinical-students. October 3, 2015. mdy-all.
  52. https://web.archive.org/web/20120209114606/http://www.themetivta.org/semikhah Semikhah
  53. Web site: Rabbinical Program - Academy for Jewish Religion. Academy for Jewish Religion. 22 November 2015.
  54. https://ajrca.edu/programs/professional-schools-2/ Programs
  55. https://www.hebrewseminary.org/ Hebrew Seminary
  56. http://www.hebrewseminarydeaf.org/ hebrewseminarydeaf.org
  57. Web site: Testimonials . Hebrewseminarydeaf.org . May 3, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111204021558/http://www.hebrewseminarydeaf.org/testimonials.htm . December 4, 2011 . mdy-all .
  58. https://www.oranim.ac.il/sites/heb/hamidrasha/about/Pages/default.aspx Midrasha at Oranim
  59. https://www.hartman.org.il/hartman-and-hamidrasha-at-oranim-ordain-rabbis-at-jerusalem-ceremony/#Article Beit Midrash for Israeli Rabbis
  60. https://www.oranim.ac.il/sites/heb/hamidrasha/rabanut_israelit/pages/default.aspx רבנות ישראלית
  61. Rabbi Andrea Lobel (2021). A Different Path to Ordination, Tablet
  62. Josh Nathan-Kazis (2012). Online-Ordained Rabbis Grab Pulpits, The Forward
  63. Rabbi P. Beaulier (2019). Want More Diversity In Rabbinical Schools? Then Move Them Online, ejewishphilanthropy.com
  64. Yaakov Menken, 2013. The Cartel Has Been Broken
  65. Web site: Rabbinical Seminary International. rabbinicalseminaryint.org. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20110923144653/http://www.rabbinicalseminaryint.org/. September 23, 2011. mdy-all.
  66. http://www.openyeshiva.com/smicha.htm Smicha
  67. See also this program description
  68. https://www.adasforlife.org/rabbinical-academy Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk
  69. Web site: JSLI . JSLI . August 27, 2011 . May 3, 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120429115304/http://www.jsli.net/ . April 29, 2012 . mdy-all .
  70. Web site: Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary . PRS . January 23, 2019 . February 14, 2019 .
  71. Web site: Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary Meet Our Students. PRS . January 23, 2019 . August 20, 2023 .