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.

Latest Torah

by Rabbi Greg Schindler (’09)

Well everybody’s got a secret, son Something they just can’t face Some spend their whole lives trying to keep it They carry it with them every step that they take ‘till one day, they just cut it loose Cut it loose or let it drag ‘em down. Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town

by Rabbi Susan Elkodsi (AJR '15)

When I began studying Hebrew grammar with my friend Rabbi Amanda Brodie, one of the first things I learned about was the vav ha-hippukh (flipped), also called “the consecutive vav” or “narrative vav.” Normally, this letter serves as a prefix meaning “and,” “but” and sometimes “or,” and the word following is in the imperfect tense (an uncompleted action). But when this letter has a patah vowel (straight line) and the next letter has a dagesh (dot) inside, it “flips” and translates to something like, “and then….” basically suggesting a continuation of the narrative, and a perfect (completed) action.

by Rabbi Gerry L. Ginsburg (AJR '19)

The portion Pikudei includes the action of building the mishkan, the portable sanctuary in the desert and the making of the vestments for the high priest. 

by Rabbi Rena H. Kieval ('06)

In challenging times, how do we stay strong and sustain our spirits? When I am in need of sustenance for my soul, I find myself turning to stories of people who retained faith, hope and their humanity in the most horrific times and circumstances. A midrash on this week’s parashah, VaYakhel, imagines such a story. It is a story of women, from the ancient narrative of our people’s enslavement in Egypt. 

This Week @ AJR

Monday, Apr 1
  • Communal Recitation of Tehillim
    Monday, Apr 1 @ 8:45 am EDT - 8:55 am EDT

  • An Introduction to the Chai Mitzvah Program with Audrey Lichter, Exec. Dir.
    Monday, Apr 1 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:45 pm EDT

Tuesday, Apr 2
  • Cantorial Practica of Leah Cassorla and Steven Galen Edersheim
    Tuesday, Apr 2 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:45 pm EDT

  • Cantorial Practicum of Rachel Katz
    Tuesday, Apr 2 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:40 pm EDT

Wednesday, Apr 3
  • Morning Meditations
    Wednesday, Apr 3 @ 8:45 am EDT - 9:05 am EDT

  • Cantorial Practica of Sarah Metzger and Andrea Shupack
    Wednesday, Apr 3 @ 12:10 pm EDT - 12:45 pm EDT

  • Minhah
    Wednesday, Apr 3 @ 3:30 pm EDT - 3:50 pm EDT

I am interested in…