The New Rabbinical School Israel Year
Program Goals. The JTS Rabbinical School trains leaders for the Jewish people--rabbis who are deeply versed and committed to Jewish tradition, conversant in the challenges and opportunities facing the Jewish people, and skilled in making Judaism dynamic, compelling and joyous in the lives of contemporary Jews. 80% of the world Jewish population lives either in America or Israel, and the plurality is shifting to the east. As such, it is essential that our school train rabbis who understand Israel--its people, cultures, history, language and politics--and that their rabbinic identity includes deep engagement with the Jewish state. Many JTS students have substantial prior experience of visiting, studying and living in Israel; nevertheless, including Israel study as part of rabbinical education with unique academic and experiential components is integral to our program.
The JTS curriculum includes a required year of Israel-based study that runs from early September through May. During this year our students take Judaica courses, most of them taught in Hebrew with a focus on subjects related to Israel, as well as participating in the Israel Experiential Program (IEP). The IEP brings our students into conversation with an extraordinary range of speakers--Jews and Arabs from across the political and religious spectrum--and brings us out into the field on a regular basis. The Israel year offers a unique opportunity for our students to build a relationship with the Masorti Movement and with their peers from the other Conservative-affiliated rabbinical schools, as well as students from other rabbinical programs.
Our students enjoy many extra-curricular experiences while in Israel. This is an excellent opportunity to form friendships with rabbinical students from other seminaries, both of the Conservative Movement and beyond. There are wonderful scholars who teach in our program, and others whose teaching is available from sister institutions such as the Conservative Yeshiva, Pardes, Hartman and more. We encourage our students to get out of the “Anglo” bubble and connect with diverse Israeli communities, and we facilitate this through our partnership with the Masorti Movement and Kibbutz Hannaton.
Program Components. Our year program consists of three stages of increasing length:
The first stage begins during the month of Elul and continues into Tishrei, allowing our students to get situated in the land and in the new year. It includes an extended visit to Kibbutz Hannaton in the Galilee, a base from which to explore the history and contemporary realities of the north and to connect with a vibrant egalitarian community associated with the Masorti movement. During Tishrei our program is less structured, giving students the chance to explore the country on their own and to experience the festivals in the diverse communities of Israel. Day trips and seminars are offered each week.
The second stage consists of a fall semester based at the JTS-owned Schocken Library on Balfour Street in Central Jerusalem. Learning is organized on a yeshivah-style, with Talmud studied all morning Sunday through Wednesday. Afternoon classes comprise of Hebrew ulpan, Bible, Jewish philosophy, halakhah and Jewish history. These classes are taken together with students from our affiliated rabbinical schools of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, the Ziegler School, and the Seminario Rabbinico. Thursdays are reserved for the Israel Experiential Program (IEP), which includes discussion of Israel education, speakers, cultural experiences and outings across the country. The IEP is offered in conjunction with other rabbinical schools, and is supported in part by a grant from the UJA Federation of New York. In addition, students will be assigned to a Masorti kehilah where they will visit approximately six times over the course of the year - - - learning about the Masorti Movement and actively participating in teaching and the prayer-life of the community.
The third stage consists of a spring semester where the focus is on academic Jewish studies, and is based primarily at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary. Students take additional courses in Talmud, history and halakhah, as well as in midrash and the history of Zionism and the State of Israel. Once again, Thursdays are reserved for the Israel Experiential Program in partnership with other rabbinical programs. Although the Israeli academic year continues through June, our schedule is coordinated with the Schechter Institute to assure completion of the academic year by the end of May, allowing JTS students to return for summer programs in the United States.
Important Dates for the 2017-2018 Academic Year
JTS JUMPSTART Hebrew University Ulpan. June 26, 2017-July 31, 2017; and August 7, 2017-August 27, 2017 (maximum of 3-5students)
Trimester I. Hannaton and Jerusalem Orientation. Monday, September 4, 2017-Monday, September 18, 2017; Tuesday Tiyulim between Rosh Hashana and Sukkot, September 26, October 3, & October 10
Trimester II. Fall Academic Semester. October 15, 2017-January 11, 2018
Mid Semester Break. January 12, 2018-February 3, 2018
Trimester III. Spring Academic Semester. February 4, 2018-May 17, 2018
The JTS curriculum includes a required year of Israel-based study that runs from early September through May. During this year our students take Judaica courses, most of them taught in Hebrew with a focus on subjects related to Israel, as well as participating in the Israel Experiential Program (IEP). The IEP brings our students into conversation with an extraordinary range of speakers--Jews and Arabs from across the political and religious spectrum--and brings us out into the field on a regular basis. The Israel year offers a unique opportunity for our students to build a relationship with the Masorti Movement and with their peers from the other Conservative-affiliated rabbinical schools, as well as students from other rabbinical programs.
Our students enjoy many extra-curricular experiences while in Israel. This is an excellent opportunity to form friendships with rabbinical students from other seminaries, both of the Conservative Movement and beyond. There are wonderful scholars who teach in our program, and others whose teaching is available from sister institutions such as the Conservative Yeshiva, Pardes, Hartman and more. We encourage our students to get out of the “Anglo” bubble and connect with diverse Israeli communities, and we facilitate this through our partnership with the Masorti Movement and Kibbutz Hannaton.
Program Components. Our year program consists of three stages of increasing length:
The first stage begins during the month of Elul and continues into Tishrei, allowing our students to get situated in the land and in the new year. It includes an extended visit to Kibbutz Hannaton in the Galilee, a base from which to explore the history and contemporary realities of the north and to connect with a vibrant egalitarian community associated with the Masorti movement. During Tishrei our program is less structured, giving students the chance to explore the country on their own and to experience the festivals in the diverse communities of Israel. Day trips and seminars are offered each week.
The second stage consists of a fall semester based at the JTS-owned Schocken Library on Balfour Street in Central Jerusalem. Learning is organized on a yeshivah-style, with Talmud studied all morning Sunday through Wednesday. Afternoon classes comprise of Hebrew ulpan, Bible, Jewish philosophy, halakhah and Jewish history. These classes are taken together with students from our affiliated rabbinical schools of the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary, the Ziegler School, and the Seminario Rabbinico. Thursdays are reserved for the Israel Experiential Program (IEP), which includes discussion of Israel education, speakers, cultural experiences and outings across the country. The IEP is offered in conjunction with other rabbinical schools, and is supported in part by a grant from the UJA Federation of New York. In addition, students will be assigned to a Masorti kehilah where they will visit approximately six times over the course of the year - - - learning about the Masorti Movement and actively participating in teaching and the prayer-life of the community.
The third stage consists of a spring semester where the focus is on academic Jewish studies, and is based primarily at the Schechter Rabbinical Seminary. Students take additional courses in Talmud, history and halakhah, as well as in midrash and the history of Zionism and the State of Israel. Once again, Thursdays are reserved for the Israel Experiential Program in partnership with other rabbinical programs. Although the Israeli academic year continues through June, our schedule is coordinated with the Schechter Institute to assure completion of the academic year by the end of May, allowing JTS students to return for summer programs in the United States.
Important Dates for the 2017-2018 Academic Year
JTS JUMPSTART Hebrew University Ulpan. June 26, 2017-July 31, 2017; and August 7, 2017-August 27, 2017 (maximum of 3-5students)
Trimester I. Hannaton and Jerusalem Orientation. Monday, September 4, 2017-Monday, September 18, 2017; Tuesday Tiyulim between Rosh Hashana and Sukkot, September 26, October 3, & October 10
Trimester II. Fall Academic Semester. October 15, 2017-January 11, 2018
Mid Semester Break. January 12, 2018-February 3, 2018
Trimester III. Spring Academic Semester. February 4, 2018-May 17, 2018