You can get a college degree in just about anything online, from sports management to fire science. If you’re of the religious persuasion, there are over two million hits on Google for virtual seminary programs for Christians, and you can even become an imam online. The Jewish world has its own options, depending on what slice of the Jewish pie you are a part of.
For a rabbinic semicha, we recommend the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI). The school’s focus is on progressive Judaism, relevant halachka, and Torah. Below is an interview with the dean of the school, Rabbi/Cantor Blane, and PunkTorah’s director, Patrick Aleph. To apply to JSLI, click here.
PunkTorah’s smicha program is for Darshanim, Jewish spiritual leaders focused on using story telling and Torah to engage and inspire unaffiliated Jewish communities.
- Prayer Book Hebrew
- Liturgy for Shacharit, Mincha, Maariv
- Shabbat and Holiday Services
- Jewish history, philosophy and literature
- The Jewish calendar
- Lay chaplaincy including hospital visits
- Life cycle events including bar/bat mitzvah, baby naming, funerals and shiva minyanim
- Practical halachka and Talmud
- Maggid training
Hey Guys,
Thanks for this. Michael, aren’t you studying at JSLI? It would be great to get your opinion on how it’s going so far.
Sandy
Michael actually decided that rabbinical school wasn’t right for him
But yeah, it would be cool to have your input Michael!!!! -Patrick
punktorah
Thanks Patrick, some of those programs are new to me, but familiar with ALEPH for years.
I think I found out about RLSI off of a link while listening to one of your podcasts or prayer services. I admit at this point in my life, I’m not sure I fit close to the mainstream enough to follow any rabbinic program at this point, particularly the sense of “what would I do with it”. Maybe I’m just not committed enough right now.
You find out anymore about the “interfaith” issues with any of these programs we discussed when we did the G-d Project interview? No luck here. I thought it was a Forward article, but haven’t found it, yet.
Aron G.
Got a lot of thoughts on this, but I’m tired, so just a couple. Glad to see some focus on spirituality and contemporary Jewish issues. The times they are area changin’ and the rabbinate has got to keep up with klal Yisrael and the world. People want spiritual and meaningful lives, and while within traditional Judaism there are titles for people trained in spiritual guidance, “Rabbi” is the most recognized and known Jewish communal teacher. More training for rabbis in spiritual matters can only help.
Secondly, however the role of rabbi evolves, rabbis have to know where the tradition has been and they need to crack the sefer barrier. All rabbis must have exposure to and knowledge of Jewish ritual cycles, life cycles and the calendar. They have to know about halacha, even if and as they reject it. They must know how to find what they don’t know. And they have to be able to pick up any of a myriad of Jewish Hebrew/Aramaic texts, from Torah to Talmud to the siddur to Mesilat Yesharim and so on, and do, with dictionaries is fine, an inside and outside translation (literal and rendered smoothly to the target language). They need to be able to teach/apply what they learn.
Good night y’all.
shalom v’ahava,
Menachem
Menachem
What is helpful for me about finding out about these programs is that I am trying to maintain my Jewish faith and spirituality in a rural community with no access to other Jews in person. I perused the JSLI link and plan to attend their Shabbat service online this Friday. I am hoping for a spiritual boost and a renewed sense of community and camaraderie with other Jews and also interfaith partners. Thanks for providing this info.!
Frances
what is the name of the consecration of a Hebrew boy at the age of fourteen before the wailing wall
Kedron Haggai
Now you also have a program in Spanish with Yeshiva Brit Braja: http://yeshivabritbraja.org
Paul