Pluralism. Scholarship. Community.

Since its founding in 1956 as a rabbinical school, the Academy for Jewish Religion has been at the forefront of pluralistic rabbinic and cantorial training.

Latest Torah

by Rabbi Susan Elkodsi (AJR '15)

When I began studying Hebrew grammar with my friend Rabbi Amanda Brodie, one of the first things I learned about was the vav ha-hippukh (flipped), also called “the consecutive vav” or “narrative vav.” Normally, this letter serves as a prefix meaning “and,” “but” and sometimes “or,” and the word following is in the imperfect tense (an uncompleted action). But when this letter has a patah vowel (straight line) and the next letter has a dagesh (dot) inside, it “flips” and translates to something like, “and then….” basically suggesting a continuation of the narrative, and a perfect (completed) action.

by Rabbi Gerry L. Ginsburg (AJR '19)

The portion Pikudei includes the action of building the mishkan, the portable sanctuary in the desert and the making of the vestments for the high priest. 

by Rabbi Rena H. Kieval ('06)

In challenging times, how do we stay strong and sustain our spirits? When I am in need of sustenance for my soul, I find myself turning to stories of people who retained faith, hope and their humanity in the most horrific times and circumstances. A midrash on this week’s parashah, VaYakhel, imagines such a story. It is a story of women, from the ancient narrative of our people’s enslavement in Egypt. 

by Hazzan Rabbi Luis Cattan ('20)

We are living in a time when good leadership is hard to find.

This Week @ AJR

Tuesday, Mar 19
  • Cantorial Practica of Leah Cassorla and Daniel Geigerman
    Tuesday, Mar 19 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:45 pm EDT

Wednesday, Mar 20
  • Morning Meditations
    Wednesday, Mar 20 @ 8:45 am EDT - 9:05 am EDT

  • Student Association Meeting
    Wednesday, Mar 20 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:45 pm EDT

  • Minhah
    Wednesday, Mar 20 @ 3:30 pm EDT - 3:50 pm EDT

Monday, Mar 25
  • Communal Recitation of Tehillim
    Monday, Mar 25 @ 8:45 am EDT - 8:55 am EDT

  • Purim Program
    Monday, Mar 25 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:40 pm EDT

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