Mission Statement

The Academy for Jewish Religion serves the needs of the Jewish People by ordaining rabbis and cantors and training leaders. We affirm our commitment to a vibrant and inclusive Jewish pluralism; to an interweaving of sacred texts, critical inquiry, spiritual engagement, innovative approaches, and thoughtful creativity; to providing educational content to the Jewish public; to creating opportunities for dialogue with interfaith partners; and to meaningful engagement with the diverse spiritual, cultural, and historical dimensions of Israel – all grounded in Torah and a profound awareness of living in the presence of God.

  1. As an institution, the Academy for Jewish Religion will be committed to serving the Jewish community and providing knowledge of Jews and Judaism to the general community.
  2. Students will demonstrate the ability to integrate self-reflection as a means for developing personal Jewish values and a sense of mission in the service of the Jewish community as well as applying Jewish values to the general community.
  3. Students will demonstrate recognition of the legitimacy of multiple points of view and approaches, both historically in the Jewish tradition and in the interplay of contemporary Jewish movements and schools of thought.
  4. Students will demonstrate an awareness of contemporary issues in Jewish life and a willingness and ability to apply their learning to addressing those issues.
  5. Students will demonstrate mastery of core knowledge of Jewish tradition, ritual, language skills and an understanding of contemporary issues in Jewish study.
  6. Students will demonstrate competencies in critical thinking, written and oral communication, problem-solving, and a basic use of technology.

AJR’s Commitment to Zionism Affirms That:

  • Am Yisrael (The Jewish People) have a right to safe existence in our ancestral homeland.
  • Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel) and Hibat Tzion (yearning for the ancestral Jewish homeland) are central pillars of our theology, history, and sacred texts.
  • Medinat Yisrael, (the State of Israel) is a modern, diverse Jewish nation-state and the expression of the Jewish people’s self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Israel’s Declaration of Independence describes Israel as “based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.” We embrace this vision and yearn and work for its complete fulfillment.
  • Tzelem Elohim (the image of God) – the Biblical concept affirming that all human beings are inherently unique, deserving of dignity, and equally precious – is a foundational value.

AJR ordinees are fully prepared to:

  • Officiate at traditional and innovative Jewish life-cycle ceremonies
  • Lead dynamic, spiritually uplifting religious services using the liturgy of all denominations
  • Provide skillful, compassionate counseling
  • Serve as engaged teachers of Torah, using both traditional and contemporary interpretations
  • Incorporate spiritual practices and meditative techniques into their personal and communal prayer experiences
  • Guide congregations in their creation of supportive and religiously-meaningful communities
  • Use entrepreneurial skills to build strong welcoming communities

Program Goals

  1. Students will demonstrate recognition of the legitimacy of multiple points of view and approaches, both historically in the Jewish tradition and in the interplay of contemporary Jewish movements and schools of thought.
  2. Students will demonstrate competence in Jewish texts, history, and culture. This encompasses competence in traditional and academic approaches to reading and interpreting biblical, rabbinic, liturgical, and philosophical texts. Students will demonstrate competence in reading and comprehending ancient, medieval, and modern texts in their original languages of Hebrew and Aramaic.
  3. Students will demonstrate competence in the professional and pastoral aspects of their clerical roles. This encompasses core knowledge of counseling, education, the role of music in Jewish liturgical chanting (nusa h  and trope), and the skills to officiate at worship services and life-cycle events.
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of contemporary American, Israeli and world-wide Jewish communities–including the roles of the rabbi and the cantor–and a range of skills to creatively address long-standing issues as well as the most recent developments.
  5. Students will demonstrate engagement in the development of their identity as spiritual leaders and spiritual seekers in the Jewish community.

  1. Students will demonstrate recognition of the legitimacy of multiple points of view and approaches, both historically in the Jewish tradition and in the interplay of contemporary American, Israeli, and world-wide Jewish communities, movements, and schools of thought.
  2. Students will demonstrate strong musicianship skills, mastery of the range of Ashkenazic nusah and trope systems, and familiarity with Sefardic maqamat.
  3. Students will demonstrate a core understanding of the cantor’s voice in helping to facilitate peace and understanding within congregations, the larger community, and the world.
  4. Students will demonstrate competence in classical and modern Hebrew language along with a core knowledge of biblical, liturgical, and rabbinic texts.
  5. Students will demonstrate competence in a range of areas related to professional development: as chaplains, educators, creators of and officiants at life cycle events, and as effective leaders of worship services.
  6. Students will demonstrate engagement in the development of their identity as spiritual leaders and spiritual seekers in the Jewish community.

  1. Students will demonstrate recognition of the legitimacy of multiple points of view and approaches, both historically in the Jewish tradition and in the interplay of contemporary Jewish movements and schools of thought.
  2. Students will demonstrate core knowledge of biblical, rabbinic, and liturgical texts in their original languages and contemporary scholarship in these areas.
  3. Students will demonstrate competence in modern Hebrew language.
  4. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the most recent trends and changes in the contemporary Jewish community.
  5. Students will demonstrate competence in academic research (including library skills) in order to produce and present graduate-level academic, practical, or educational work.