Note: We have added information about how frequently courses have typically been offered in the past. However, as AJR continues to grow, the frequency of some courses might change, and this information should be used to give a general sense of how frequently you might expect a course to be offered.
BIB 338 Between Love and Death: Readings in Song of Songs and Qohelet
Dr. Job Jindo
This course examines fundamental dimensions of the human experience—love, aging, mortality, and selfhood—through a close critical reading of the Song of Songs and Qohelet. Students will engage with the structure, purpose, and theological outlook of each book while grappling with their profound reflections on the complexity of being human and the search for lasting fulfillment. Equally important, we will consider how love and death open the possibility of life beyond life—an encounter with the reality of the holy. The course will also explore how to bring these texts into contemporary discourse, guided by AJR values of critical rigor, inclusivity, and commitment to pluralistic Jewish and broader communities.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Bible
2 credits
(New course)
Required textbooks:
1. Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, Jewish Study Bible-FL-Tanakh 2nd Edition, Amazon $39.98 ISBN: 0199978465
2. Michael A. Fishbane, JPS Bible Commentary: Song of Songs, Amazon $45.46 ISBN: 0827607415
3. Michael V. Fox, JPS Bible Commentary: Ecclesiastes, Amazon $41.20 ISBN: 0827607423
BIB 345 The Book of Genesis: An Exploration of the Human Condition
Dr. Job Jindo
This course is a close critical reading of Genesis, revolving around the themes of freewill and the human condition. By the conclusion of this course, the student will learn: (1) the structure, purposes, and theological outlook of Genesis; (2) the insight into the complexity of being human as well as the enduring dilemmas of soulcraft as reflected in Genesis; and (3) how to teach the book of Genesis to contemporaries with AJR values (i.e., critical rigor, inclusivity, commitment to the pluralistic, contemporary Jewish and broader communities).
Prerequisite: Introduction to Bible
2 credits
(Offered periodically.)
Required textbooks:
1. Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, Jewish Study Bible-FL-Tanakh 2nd Edition, Amazon $39.98 ISBN: 0199978465
2. Ruth Zielenziger, Genesis: A New Teacher’s Guide, Amazon $35.59 ISBN: 1929419066
CAN 311 Cantillation III: Festivals and Esther
Cantor Robin Joseph
This course is part three of the three-course cantillation program. It is an in-depth study of Eastern European cantillation for Shalosh Regalim and Esther. In addition to learning the history, function, and art of cantillation, participants will work to demonstrate a proficiency in recognizing and chanting the various cantillation phrases for these two tropes. (The specific schedule will be clear on the course syllabus.) This course is open to both rabbinical and cantorial students.
Prerequisites: CAN 308: Intro to Cantillation and students should be at or above the level of HEB 250: Hebrew 1A
2 credits
(Typically offered every few years.)
Required textbooks:
1. Dr. Joshua R. Jacobson, Chanting the Hebrew Bible, Amazon $31.11 ISBN: 0827608160
Recommended textbooks:
1. The Koren Illustrated Five Megillot Hebrew/ English (Hebrew Edition), Amazon $45.22 ISBN: 965301188X
OR
A.D. Cohen, The Five Megilloth (The Soncino Books of the Bible, Vol 3), Amazon $38.55 ASIN: B000JWP0P4
2. Abram Wolf Binder, Biblical Chant, Amazon $199.99 ISBN: 9333681353
HAL 401 Intro to Codes I
Rabbi Will Friedman
This course will introduce students to the literature of the halakhic codes, with a focus on Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. We will explore several facets of the text: its internal dynamics and unique features; the way in which it sets the standard for Jewish legal codification, and the ways in which it is faithful to its earlier sources and how it reshapes them. Emphasis will be placed on precise and accurate reading of the text, with commentaries consulted as necessary.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Mishnah and Hebrew IIA or the equivalent
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms.)
Required textbooks: None
HAL 510 Advanced Codes
Rabbi Lexie Botzum
This course will focus on Joseph Karo’s Shulhan Arukh, the major medieval code of Jewish law that continues to inform contemporary practice. We will study many of the most important laws related to the observance of laws of mourning and dietary practices with secondary readings that offer more diverse perspectives on a variety of related issues.
Prerequisite: two trimesters of Introduction to Codes and Intermediate Codes or the equivalent
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms)
Required textbooks: TBD
HEB 250 Hebrew IA
Pelleg Halfin
Using the second volume of Hebrew from Scratch (‘עברית מן ההתחלה ב), students will read and listen to texts of different genres – informative, literary and narrative – and different historical registers. A vocabulary of about 500 additional words will be presented and practiced; special attention will be given to dictionary look-up skills. Grammatical topics include nominal and possessive sentences in the future, relative and conditional clauses, the future tense of Pa’al, and declensions of various prepositions.
Prerequisite: Mechina 150 or sufficient Hebrew background as determined by the Hebrew Placement Test
4 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms or as needed.)
Required textbooks:
1. Shlomit Chayat, Sara Israeli, Hilla Kobliner, Hebrew From Scratch Textbook Part II (English and Hebrew Edition) 2001 Edition, Amazon $65.00 ISBN: 084000849X
HEB 350 Hebrew IIA
Pelleg Halfin
This course will bring students to Chapter 12-13 of Hebrew from Scratch (עברית מן ההתחלה ב).
The focus of the course is on reading comprehension of adapted informative and narrative texts in Modern Hebrew, with an emphasis on vocabulary development and dictionary look-up skills. The grammatical component of the course mostly follows the textbook. It includes future tense of Hif’il, Binyan Nif’al, noun declension, prepositions, concessive clauses. Written and oral assignments will enhance communicative skills while improving absorption and integration of vocabulary and grammar.
Prerequisite: HEB 251: Hebrew 1B or the equivalent
4 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms or as needed)
Required textbooks:
1. Shlomit Chayat, Sara Israeli, Hilla Kobliner, Hebrew From Scratch Textbook Part II (English and Hebrew Edition) 2001 Edition, Amazon $65.00 ISBN: 084000849X
HEB 401 Hebrew IIIB
Yifat Avner
This course is a continuation of Hebrew IIIA. The focus of this course will be on reading and listening comprehension of informative and narrative texts in Modern Hebrew. Written, oral, and aural assignments will enhance communication and comprehension skills while improving absorption and integration of vocabulary and grammar.
Prerequisite: Hebrew IIIA or its equivalent
4 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms or as needed)
Required textbooks:
1. Gail Huminer and Tzuki Shay, Hebrew Matters Hebrew for Intermediate Level: Osim Inyan, Amazon $55.00 ASIN: B08PHZ49CP
INT 395 After Faith Breaks
Rabbi Menachem Creditor
Faith is often imagined as unshakable, but what is faith? And what happens when it is challenged, fractured, or even lost? This course explores the ruptures in faith through Jewish texts, theological reflections, and contemporary voices. Through selections from Tanakh, Midrash, and Talmud, alongside Hebrew Poets and the writings of figures such as Gershom Scholem, Viktor Frankl, James Fowler, Jill Hammer, David Hartman, Hayim Soloveitchik, Shalom Auslander, Paul Tillich, Louis Ginzberg, and Mara Benjamin, we will examine personal and communal confrontations with and crises of faith. All Hebrew texts will be available in English translation. This course will count as a spirituality or general elective credit.
2 credits
(New Course)
Recommended textbooks:
1. Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, Amazon $9.99 ISBN: 0807014271
2. Paul Tillich, Dynamics of Faith (Perennial Classics), Amazon $10.19 ISBN: 060937133
LIT 620 Yammim Noraim Liturgy
Rabbi Rob Scheinberg, PhD
This course focuses on the liturgy for the High Holy Days of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, with an emphasis on the portions of the liturgy that are most likely to be included by non-Orthodox communities. We will explore the history and theology of the liturgy for these days, including the earlier Biblical and Rabbinic material that is incorporated into the liturgy. We will gain facility with a range of High Holy Day prayer books as we spark creative thinking on how to use the liturgy and its themes to help Jewish communities to experience the Yamim Nora’im in a meaningful way.
Prerequisite: LIT 101: Intro to Liturgy
2 credits
(Typically offered every 4 terms.)
Required textbooks:
1. Bring an unabridged traditional Mahzor to each class session. Most highly recommended is the Koren-Sacks Mahzor (2 volumes), Amazon $69.90 ISBN: 9653013408.
2. Also available to use is the Birnbaum Mahzor 1 volume; free download at https://opensiddur.org/compilations/liturgical/mahzorim/rosh-hashanah-mahzorim/mahzor-ha-shalem-lrosh-ha-shanah-vyom-kippur-by-paltiel-birnbaum/
3. Please also bring a non-Orthodox Mahzor to each class session, for comparative purposes, so we will always have a variety of Mahzorim at hand during our discussions. On the first class session we will share which Mahzorim we each have access to and we will each commit to monitoring the material in an additional non-Orthodox Mahzor in addition to an unabridged traditional Mahzor.
Recommended textbooks:
1. *Philip Birnbaum, High Holiday Prayer Book, Amazon: $15.67 ASIN: B00MI8ZTE4
2. *Jonathan Sacks, Koren-Sacks Mahzor (2 volumes), Amazon $24.95 ISBN: 9653013580
3. *Reuven Hammer, Entering the High Holy Days, Amazon $13.65 ISBN: 0827608217 (also available as e-book)
*These are wonderful books for any rabbinic/cantorial library, and I recommend that you purchase at least one of them this trimester. All are available as e-books. All are also available as part of an Everand subscription, which may be useful to you for the duration of the trimester (approx $12/month after free trial; see everand.com
4. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, Rabbi Tony Bayfield and Rabbi Will Berkovitz, We Have Sinned: Sin and Confession in Judaism – Ashamnu and Al Chet (Prayers of Awe) (Prayers of Awe 3), Amazon $15.29 ISBN: 1683364783
5. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, Catherine Madsen and Dr. Annette M. Boeckler, All These Vows: Kol Nidrei (Prayers of Awe 2), Amazon $14.99 ISBN: 1681629755
6. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, Merri Lovinger Arian and Rabbi Tony Bayfield CBE DD, Who By Fire, Who By Water: Unetaneh Tokef (Prayers of Awe, 1), Amazon $28.99 ISBN: 1580234240
7. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, Yoram Bitton and Dr. Annette M. Boekler, May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism – Yizkor (Prayers of Awe 4), Amazon $16.99 ISBN: 1683361881
8. Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, The Closing of the Gates: N’ilah (Prayers of Awe Series Book 8), Amazon $17.99 ISBN: 1684422205
9. Hayyim Herman Kieval, The High Holy Days: A Commentary on the Prayerbook of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Amazon $23.00 ISBN: 9657105234
10. Max Arzt, Justice and Mercy: Commentary on the Liturgy of the New year and The Day of Atonement, Amazon $15.12 ISBN: 1805290223
11. Jeffrey M. Cohen, Prayer and Penitence: A Commentary to the High Holy Day Machzor, Amazon $16.99 ISBN: 1568210469
Ismar Elbogen and Raymond P. Scheindlin, Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History, Amazon $54.02 ISBN: 0827604459
Stuart Gershon, Kol Nidre: Its Origin, Development and Significance, Amazon $6.48 ISBN: 1568212003
PHI 480 Pluralism
Rabbi Len Levin, PhD and TA: Rabbi Cantor Michael David McCloskey
What is pluralism? What are its core value commitments, and how does it differ from relativism? In this class we will endeavor to clarify our core convictions regarding truth and pluralism; to determine to what extent pluralism is an authentic Jewish value; to extend and deepen our knowledge base concerning pluralism in general and the discussion over pluralism within classical and modern Judaism; to cultivate the virtues of pluralism in dealing with each other, with Jews of persuasions different from our own, and with fellow human beings of different faith communities or no faith community. We will use Studies in Judaism and Pluralism: Honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Academy for Jewish Religion as a study guide.
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms.)
Required textbooks:
1. Rabbi Dr. Leonard Levin, Studies in Judaism and Pluralism: Honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Academy for Jewish Religion, Amazon $7.34 ISBN: 1934730610
2. Moshe Halbertal, People of the Book : Canon, Meaning, and Authority, Amazon $38.50 ISBN: 0674661125
3. Donniel Hartman, The Boundaries of Judaism, Amazon $47.45 ISBN: 0826496644
4. Avi Sagi, The Open Canon, Amazon $50.00 ISBN: 0826496709)
Recommended textbooks:
1. Sami Adwan, Dan Bar-On and Eyal Naveh, Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine, Amazon $14.29 ISBN: 1595586830
2. Alan Brill, Judaism and Other Religions: Models of Understanding, Amazon $89.99 ISBN: 0230622267
3. Rabbi Irving Greenberg, For the Sake of Heaven and Earth — The New Encounter Between Judaism and Christianity, Amazon $13.99 ISBN: 0827608071
4. David Hartman, A Heart of Many Rooms — Celebrating the Many Voices Within Judaism, Amazon $18.13 ISBN: 158023156X
5. David Hartman, The God Who Hates Lies, Amazon $19.99 ISBN: 1580237908
6. Richard Hidary, Dispute for the Sake of Heaven: Legal Pluralism in the Talmud, Amazon $64.64 ISBN: 1930675917
7. Yossi Klein Halevi, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, Amazon $15.19 ISBN: 006284492X
8. Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations, Amazon $19.06 ISBN: 0826468500
PRO 001 and 006 Core Concepts I and VI
Dr. Ora Horn Prouser
This is a multi-year sequence of seminars. The seminars cover some of the fundamental values, concepts and vocabulary of Jewish tradition. Students are expected to first gain a basic acquaintance with these terms and to then delve more deeply into them so as to appreciate their range of significance. The goal of the seminars is not simply to gather information, but to develop an integrated way of thinking about and expressing these value concepts, so that students may grow from having an appreciation of the tradition to actively and creatively participating in the discourse of Torah. Every student is required to take two years of the seminars given in the sequence, but they need not be taken in order. Core Concepts I begins with the term emunah and Core Concepts VI begins with the term teshuvah.
Note: 001 and 006 are offered as two separate courses, one or both may be taken, see schedule. Core Concepts I meets May 12 – June 30 and Core Concepts VI meets June 30 – August 4 (note that these two overlap on June 30).
These courses are for matriculated students only. No tuition is charged for these courses but students must also be registered for credit bearing courses simultaneously.
No Credit
(Offered periodically)
Required textbooks: None
PRO 165 Voice Training for All
Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor
The focus of this class will be concentrated on teaching students how to use their voices correctly and applying that to prayer services. We will explore how simple tools can make one feel empowered to sing with confidence and joy. This course is intended for Rabbinical, MA, and Gesher students.
1 credit
(Offered Periodically)
Required textbooks: None
PRO 312 Homiletics
Rabbi Scott Glass
Whether at worship services, life cycle events, interfaith gatherings, congregational meetings, or civic occasions, preaching and public speaking are ongoing responsibilities and challenges. For hundreds of years, Jewish leaders have used their words to influence their communities’ actions. In this course, we will discuss sources, techniques, obstacles, and the opportunities that community leaders experience as they pursue this time-honored practice.
1 credit
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms)
Required textbooks: None
PRO 342 Life Cycle II
Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman
This course will focus on life cycle issues and rituals beginning after the marriage ceremony and continuing through death and mourning. Topics will include: innovative rituals addressing transitions in individual adult life, milestones in marriage and parenting, and concerns regarding the end of a marriage and divorce. Also included will be the topic of bikkur holim and issues of caregiving to elderly parents, end of life concerns, and a practical and philosophical study of the laws of death and mourning. Students in this course will be able to: create innovative rituals surrounding adult life cycle events, articulate issues and guide families with regard to end of life decisions, explain and facilitate the process and ritual of the Jewish divorce. Students will also learn how to officiate at funerals, burials, and other rituals associated with Jewish practices of death and mourning. Life Cycle I is not a prerequisite for this course.
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms)
Required textbooks:
1. Rela M. Geffen, Celebration and Renewal: Rites of Passage in Judaism p 132-251, Amazon $4.10 ISBN: 0827605102
2. Martin Cohen, The Observant Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews p. 275-304 and 806-813, Amazon $37.05 ISBN: 0916219496
3. Goldie Milgram, Living Jewish Life Cycle: How to Create Meaningful Jewish Rites of Passage at Every Stage of Life p. 190-250, Amazon $19.99 ISBN: 158023335X
4. Isaac Klein, A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice p. 450-508 and p. 270-300, Amazon $24.95 ISBN: 0873341740
5. Rochel U. Berman, Dignity Beyond Death: The Jewish Preparation for Burial, Amazon $33.43 ISBN: 9657108667
PRO 355 Conversion
Rabbi Lisa Rubin
What prompts someone to convert to Judaism? How do they go about doing it? How do the different movements approach conversion? How has conversion changed throughout history? Who gets to decide “Who is Jewish?” and what are the implications? How are Judaism and the Jewish community changing in the 21st century? And what is the role of the rabbi in preparing someone for conversion? These are some of the questions we will explore in our course on conversion, exploring the historical, theological, sociological and practical elements of conversion to Judaism.
This course meets for the first 6 weeks of the term, May 15 – June 26, 2025.
1 credit
(Typically offered every 3-4 terms)
Required textbooks:
1. Anita Diamant, Choosing a Jewish Life, Revised and Updated: A Handbook for People Converting to Judaism and for Their Family and Friends, Amazon $16.95 ISBN: 0805210954
PRO 490 Difficult Conversations
Dr. Fran Mendelowitz
This course will provide students with a social-emotional understanding of how to negotiate difficult conversations. Students will explore what can make social interactions uncomfortable and how to approach communication in effective and compassionate ways. The course includes opportunities for developing the skills and confidence to handle these difficult situations more comfortably. Students will learn how to manage anxiety about and avoidance of difficult dialogue, how to explore what makes these conversations personally problematic for them, and how to structure conversations that can promote shared understanding. Classes will include discussion of ideas as well as experiential practice and role-playing of real-life situations.
1 credit
(Typically offered every 3-5 terms)
This course runs the first half of term – May 13 – June 24, see schedule.
Required textbooks: TBD
PRO 700 Field Work Support Seminar
Teacher TBA
This seminar group focuses upon issues that arise in the course of rabbinical and cantorial work. Students will explore the challenges that they face in their work and in their developing rabbinate/cantorate through the presentation of a case study. Participation is required of all students whose work is counting as a required internship experience. All Fieldwork must be approved prior to the beginning of the semester by Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman.
No credit
(Typically offered every term.)
Required textbooks: TBD
RAB 101 Intro Mishnah
Laynie Soloman
This course will introduce students to the study of Mishnah and its place in rabbinic literature. Combining an overview of the Mishnah with in-depth study of a sampling of mishnayot from each of the Mishnah’s six orders (shisha sedarim), we will gain a deeper understanding of this unique text’s structure and the various literary styles it contains. and the various literary styles reflected within it. Additionally, we will explore the historical context that gave rise to this foundational rabbinic text, and its reception history as part of the classical rabbinic corpus.
Prerequisite: At the level of HEB 350 Hebrew 2A or above
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3 terms)
Required textbooks:
1. Marcus Jastrow, Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli, and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, Amazon $10.99 ISBN: 0910818053
RAB 150 Pirkei Avot
Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman
In this class, we will explore a selection of the mishnayot in Pirkei Avot. Delving deeply into rabbinic, chassidic and modern texts and commentaries, we will focus our attention on how clergy can use this work to evolve our personal theologies and to inspire and strengthen our spiritual leadership.
This course counts as a general elective.
2 credits
(Offered periodically)
Required textbooks: None
RAB 231 Introduction to Talmud II
Rabbi Jeff Hoffman, DHL
In this second half of the two-trimester Introduction to Talmud course, students will continue to develop their skills in decoding the dialectic of the talmudic discourse. This term, the text will be studied in its original languages. Students will prepare the Steinsaltz commentary (Hebrew) with the help of vocabulary sheets provided by the instructor. Modern critical methodologies of Talmud study – identifying the three layers of Tannaitic, Amoraic, and Stam material – will be introduced. Study of basic Aramaic terms and Talmudic organic logic will resume. The content will be the various halakhic and theological approaches to the Amidah found in Tractate Berakhot, chapter 4.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Talmud I or the equivalent.
Note: The Thursday Morning Havruta Section is required of all students in this class, see schedule.
2 credits
(Typically offered every 3 terms)
Required textbooks:
1. Aiden Steinsaltz, Koren Talmud Bavli, Volume 1a: Berakhot, Daf 2A-17B, Noe Color (Hebrew and English Edition), Amazon $9.95 ISBN: 9657765226
2. Marcus Jastrow, Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli, and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, Amazon $10.99 ISBN: 0910818053
3. Yitzhak Frank, The Practical Talmud Dictionary (English and Hebrew Edition), Amazon $27.85 ISBN: 1592644511
Recommended textbooks:
1. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Reference Guide to the Talmud: Fully Revised, Amazon $37.81 ISBN: 1592643124
2. Hermann L. Strack and Gunter Stemberger, Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash, Amazon $33.13 ISBN: 0800625242
3. Moses Mielziner, Introduction to the Talmud, Amazon $10.87 ISBN: 0819700150
4. Aryeh Carmell, Aiding Talmud Study, Amazon $29.98 ISBN 0873064283
5. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Koren Talmud Bavli, Noé Edition, Vol 1: Berakhot, Hebrew/English, Daf Yomi B&W (English and Hebrew Edition) Hardcover – May 22, 2012, Amazon $37.16 ISBN: 9653016088
RAB 430 Intermediate/Advanced Talmud
Laynie Soloman
We’ll learn key sugyot from Masekhet Yoma (82a-85b) that explore the concepts of pikuah nefesh / sefek nefashot, principles that prioritize saving a life over almost all religious obligations. Attention will be paid to how sugyot—and these concepts—are constructed. Through tracing the textual evolution of these concepts, students will (further) develop their ability to analyze a sugya with attention to historical layers, critically engage with parallel texts, and attentively surface the stamma’s agenda. Over the trimester students will also increase their facility with navigating an unlocalized page of Talmud, and with utilizing the tools on the daf to enhance their learning.
Prerequisite: Three terms of Talmud or the equivalent
2 credits
(An Intermediate/Advanced or Advanced Talmud class is typically offered each term.)
Required textbooks:
1. Oz Vehadar, Gemara Eruvin Talmidim Oz Vehadar Friedman Edition with Pictures Blue (Hardcover), Judaica Place.com $26.99
2. Gemara Bava Basra Talman with Maharsha, JudaicaPlace.com $20.99
3. Marcus Jastrow, Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli, and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, Amazon $10.99 ISBN: 0910818053
4. Rabbi Yitzhak Frank, The Practical Talmud Dictionary (English and Hebrew Edition), Amazon $28.95 ISBN: 1592644511
