Waiver
Relocating to Israel for a year poses challenges for almost all students, no matter how enthusiastic they are about the opportunity. JTS provides many resources to help students with the transition, including support in securing visas, housing, health-care and much more. Challenges which seem daunting beforehand generally subside as the benefits of living and learning in Israel together with fellow rabbinical students become apparent. Nevertheless, students who have serious concerns about the feasibility of a full academic year in Israel may apply for special accommodation.
The Rabbinical School Council has determined that while the academic year is integral, a student facing extraordinary challenges may apply instead to spend a full semester of 18 weeks (generally September 1 through January 15, or January 15 through May 31). Students who receive such a waiver but have not completed our advanced Hebrew level (HEB 5303 or C2) are also required to spend a summer studying Hebrew, for example on our JumpStart Israel program. Students who receive a waiver from any part of the Israel program are required to make up the courses taken by students in Israel with the closest approximations available in New York, in consultation with their academic advisor. They are also required to participate in Israel engagement activities during the missing semester, whether by remote access to the IEP, or with programming in New York.
Relocating to Israel for a year poses challenges for almost all students, no matter how enthusiastic they are about the opportunity. JTS provides many resources to help students with the transition, including support in securing visas, housing, health-care and much more. Challenges which seem daunting beforehand generally subside as the benefits of living and learning in Israel together with fellow rabbinical students become apparent. Nevertheless, students who have serious concerns about the feasibility of a full academic year in Israel may apply for special accommodation.
The Rabbinical School Council has determined that while the academic year is integral, a student facing extraordinary challenges may apply instead to spend a full semester of 18 weeks (generally September 1 through January 15, or January 15 through May 31). Students who receive such a waiver but have not completed our advanced Hebrew level (HEB 5303 or C2) are also required to spend a summer studying Hebrew, for example on our JumpStart Israel program. Students who receive a waiver from any part of the Israel program are required to make up the courses taken by students in Israel with the closest approximations available in New York, in consultation with their academic advisor. They are also required to participate in Israel engagement activities during the missing semester, whether by remote access to the IEP, or with programming in New York.