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.

AJR In the News

Ora Horn Prouser

No Pipe Dream: Is There Really a Clergy Shortage?

Times of Israel Blog by Dr. Ora Horn Prouser

Latest Torah

by Cantor Robin Anne Joseph (’96)

Vayeitzei is a parashah with bookends: It starts with flight and ends with flight; it starts with a pillar and ends with a pillar (מַּצֵּבָ֔ה); it starts with a vow and ends with a vow. Such a nice, tidy frame around, arguably, a lot of commotion. It’s in that commotion, however, where change occurs, insuring that the Jacob at the start of the parashah is not the same Jacob at its end.

by Rabbi Rob Scheinberg

How does it feel to be unfavored? 

by Rabbi Cantor Inna Serebro-Litvak ('16)

Recently I was thinking a good deal about the fact that with so much going on in Israel, around the world and even here, in the United States, we forget to talk about LOVE. Unfortunately, we constantly worry - no wonder we are called the “anxious generation.”

by Hazzan Rabbi Luis Cattan ('20)

As Abraham reached the final stage of implementing God’s request — ready to make the ultimate sacrifice of his own son — he suddenly saw a ram caught in the bushes. At the angel’s direction, he lifted the ram and placed it on the altar in place of Isaac, offering it as the sacrifice. For Abraham, this resolved the “test” and maintained the life of his son. But what of the ram, the being that had no choice but to be sacrificed? Besides serving as a substitute for Isaac, what meaning can we derive by looking at the Akeidah from the ram’s perspective?

This Week @ AJR

Monday, Dec 9
  • Minhah 3:30 – 3:50PM EST
    Monday, Dec 9 @ 3:30 pm EST - 3:50 pm EST
    Zoom 09

Tuesday, Dec 10
  • Foresight Part 2: Program on Sustainability with Rabbi Dr. Jill Hammer
    Tuesday, Dec 10 @ 12:10 pm EST - 12:45 pm EST
    Zoom 09

  • Minhah 3:30 – 3:50PM EST
    Tuesday, Dec 10 @ 3:30 pm EST - 3:50 pm EST
    Zoom 09

Wednesday, Dec 11
  • MA Project Workshop with Matt Goldstone
    Wednesday, Dec 11 @ 12:10 pm EST - 12:45 pm EST
    Zoom 09

  • Minhah 3:30 – 3:50PM EST
    Wednesday, Dec 11 @ 3:30 pm EST - 3:50 pm EST
    Zoom 09

Thursday, Dec 12
  • Communal Recitation of Tehillim with Jef Segelman
    Thursday, Dec 12 @ 8:45 am EST - 8:55 am EST
    Zoom 09

  • Parashat Hashavua with Rabbi Jef Segelman
    Thursday, Dec 12 @ 3:30 pm EST - 4:00 pm EST
    Zoom 09

I am interested in…