Rabbinical School FAQ
I have been receiving many inquisitive emails from family and friends asking about rabbinical school so I though I would post some frequently asked questions (FAQ), along with my answers...
Q: How many rabbinical schools are there?
A: In the Conservative Movement there are two seminaries in the United States. The oldest is the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and the newest school is the Ziegler School at the University of Judaism (UJ) in Los Angeles. I will be attending the UJ. There were about eight or nine students studying in Jerusalem who applied to rabbinical school; most applied to both but I only applied to UJ.
Q: How long is rabbinical school?
A: That depends. If I am able to improve my Hebrew to a competent level by the summer or fall, I might finish the program in five years; otherwise it might take me six years. Either way, that's A-OK, I'm thrilled to have been accepted and to be starting this amazing journey!
Q: What does competent level mean?
A: While I already have the minimum Hebrew knowledge to start in the fall (beginning the Hebrew 2 class in the fall), I would like to start in Hebrew 3 or even Hebrew 4, if possible at the UJ.
While Hebrew classes in Israel don't exactly follow the same structure as academic courses, I am just in the beginning stages of the likely equivalent to Hebrew 2. I hope to successfully complete this class by the end of March and then continue after Passover with the next level, which is approximately equivalent to Hebrew 3. If I can complete that level and even continue, depending on timing, I might successfully test into (and know enough to take) Hebrew 4 when I arrive at UJ.
I have a 22-page Hebrew and Bible placement test that I need to submit by late February to help determine my future placement but I believe that I can re-take the test again in the summer as I expect to learn much, much, more Hebrew before I start school
Q: When are you leaving Israel?
A: Our lease expires in June. We could return to California earlier or later, depending on a variety of circumstances, including Hebrew abilities. I would like to be settled in Los Angeles somehow by mid-July in order to take summer school Introduction to Biblical Hebrew course offered by the UJ in the late summer in order to be well-prepared for my classes in the fall.
Q: Where will you live?
A: We currently plan to move to the San Fernando Valley. We want to live within walking distance of a Conservative synagogue so that we can walk there on Shabbat. There are many synagogues in the Valley so finding a place shouldn't be a problem.
Q: What courses will you take next fall?
A: A brand-new curriculum has been approved for the upcoming school year and I am excited to be a part of it! (See P. Pod's blog where she mentions how awesome the new curriculum is!) So, I expect to take classes about the Torah, Introduction to Jewish Philosophy, Hebrew (of course!), an Introduction to the Mishna, and an Introduction to Jewish Law (Halakhah). I am so excited!
Q: What happens after rabbinical school?
A: I currently plan to become a pulpit rabbi and will probably start out as the assistant rabbi at a large congregation.
Q: How many rabbinical schools are there?
A: In the Conservative Movement there are two seminaries in the United States. The oldest is the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and the newest school is the Ziegler School at the University of Judaism (UJ) in Los Angeles. I will be attending the UJ. There were about eight or nine students studying in Jerusalem who applied to rabbinical school; most applied to both but I only applied to UJ.
Q: How long is rabbinical school?
A: That depends. If I am able to improve my Hebrew to a competent level by the summer or fall, I might finish the program in five years; otherwise it might take me six years. Either way, that's A-OK, I'm thrilled to have been accepted and to be starting this amazing journey!
Q: What does competent level mean?
A: While I already have the minimum Hebrew knowledge to start in the fall (beginning the Hebrew 2 class in the fall), I would like to start in Hebrew 3 or even Hebrew 4, if possible at the UJ.
While Hebrew classes in Israel don't exactly follow the same structure as academic courses, I am just in the beginning stages of the likely equivalent to Hebrew 2. I hope to successfully complete this class by the end of March and then continue after Passover with the next level, which is approximately equivalent to Hebrew 3. If I can complete that level and even continue, depending on timing, I might successfully test into (and know enough to take) Hebrew 4 when I arrive at UJ.
I have a 22-page Hebrew and Bible placement test that I need to submit by late February to help determine my future placement but I believe that I can re-take the test again in the summer as I expect to learn much, much, more Hebrew before I start school
Q: When are you leaving Israel?
A: Our lease expires in June. We could return to California earlier or later, depending on a variety of circumstances, including Hebrew abilities. I would like to be settled in Los Angeles somehow by mid-July in order to take summer school Introduction to Biblical Hebrew course offered by the UJ in the late summer in order to be well-prepared for my classes in the fall.
Q: Where will you live?
A: We currently plan to move to the San Fernando Valley. We want to live within walking distance of a Conservative synagogue so that we can walk there on Shabbat. There are many synagogues in the Valley so finding a place shouldn't be a problem.
Q: What courses will you take next fall?
A: A brand-new curriculum has been approved for the upcoming school year and I am excited to be a part of it! (See P. Pod's blog where she mentions how awesome the new curriculum is!) So, I expect to take classes about the Torah, Introduction to Jewish Philosophy, Hebrew (of course!), an Introduction to the Mishna, and an Introduction to Jewish Law (Halakhah). I am so excited!
Q: What happens after rabbinical school?
A: I currently plan to become a pulpit rabbi and will probably start out as the assistant rabbi at a large congregation.
posted by Matt | 12:52 AM
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