About AJR

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. Our graduates and students serve both movement-affiliated and non-affiliated congregations in North America and around the world, fulfilling the needs of Klal Yisrael in this post-denominational era.

The Academy for Jewish Religion is unique because:

• Our teachings respectfully span the full spectrum of Judaism; our faculty and students cross denominational lines, representing the full spectrum of the Jewish community.
• Students ranging in age from their 20′s through their 60′s study together as colleagues.
• We are the only seminary committed to training rabbis and cantors as equal partners in spiritual leadership. Both rabbis and cantors are prepared to:
  • lead dynamic, spiritually uplifting, meaningful religious services using the liturgy and nusah of all denominations;
  • Give skillful, compassionate counseling;
  • Be engaged teachers of Torah using both traditional and contemporary interpretations;
  • Incorporate spiritual practices and meditative techniques into their personal and communal prayer experiences.
  • Officiate at moving, beautiful Jewish life cycle ceremonies;
  • Guide congregations in their creation of supportive, spiritual, religiously meaningful communities.