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

With this portion, Jacob comes to end of his life’s journey, and makes preparations for his family. He blesses and adopts Joseph’s sons, Ephriam and Menasseh. He calls his sons together and offers words of blessing – and some less than blessing. He makes Joseph promise that after his death, Joseph will bury him in the family cave at Makhpelah in Canaan. It seems straightforward. The rabbis read more into Jacob’s calling his sons together, based on Genesis 49:2: הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; Hearken to Israel, your father… You might notice, that the word “V’Shimu” is repeated twice. And you might also realize that this word – whose root letters are Shin-Mem-Ayin – is closely connected to the word “Shema – Read More >

by Rabbi Gerry L. Ginsburg (AJR '19)

When I was a student at AJR, I was fortunate to take an elective entitled Bibliodrama with Dr. Peter Pitzele. We were told that the class would expand how we would view Torah, by making a parashah come alive by making it into a drama.

by Rabbi Greg Schindler (’09)

“The waiting is the hardest part Every day you see one more card You take it on faith, you take it to the heart The waiting is the hardest part.” -      “The Waiting”, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

by Rabbi Susan Elkodsi

One of my favorite TV shows growing up (with reruns on METV) was “Green Acres,” the story of Oliver Wendell Douglas, a New York lawyer, and his Hungarian socialite wife, Lisa who move from Manhattan to a farm in a place called “Hooterville.” There they encounter all sorts of characters as they try to make their way in a very different world than they’re used to. Played by the late Ava Gabor, Lisa both fits into the community, and at the same time, doesn’t.

This Week @ AJR

Wednesday, Jan 8
  • Intersession Minhah 4:30pm -4:50pm
    Wednesday, Jan 8 @ 4:30 pm EST - 4:50 pm EST

Thursday, Jan 9
  • Intersession Minhah 4:30pm -4:50pm
    Thursday, Jan 9 @ 4:30 pm EST - 4:50 pm EST

Monday, Jan 13
  • Opening Day Program
    Monday, Jan 13 @ 12:10 pm EST - 12:45 pm EST
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Tuesday, Jan 14
  • Student Association Meeting
    Tuesday, Jan 14 @ 12:10 pm EST - 12:45 pm EST
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