Jewish Theological Seminary of America: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

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Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

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	Topics Jewish Theological Seminary of America Topic Home The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, known in the Jewish community simply as JTS, is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism is a modern Jewish denominations of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.... . Along with the in Los Angeles, in Los Angeles, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, located in Jerusalem, is an important academic and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism. It serves as one of the movement's main rabbinical seminaries alongside Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York City, the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, and the Seminario Rab?nico Latinoam... in Jerusalem, it is one the movement's main rabbinical seminaries. It takes its name and basic ideology from the no longer extant Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau Das J?disch-Theologische Seminar , The Jewish Theological Seminary of BreslauInstitution in Breslau for the training of rabbis, founded under the will of Jonas Fr?nckel, and opened in 1854.... . The Jewish Theological Seminary comprises five schools: Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies List College Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies is the undergraduate school of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. It was founded by Solomon Schechter in 1909 as the Teachers Institute with the original goal of training American Jewish educators.... , which is affiliated with Columbia University Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York , is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. Columbia's main campus lies in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, in New York City.... and offers joint/double bachelors degree programs with both Columbia and Barnard College Barnard College Barnard College is a Women's colleges in the United States Liberal arts colleges in the United States founded in 1889. Barnard is affiliated with Columbia University, but Barnard maintains an independent campus in the Morningside Heights, Manhattan neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, in New York City, and separate faculty, administrati... , The Graduate School, The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, H. L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music, and The Rabbinical School. The latter four schools are graduate schools. History The Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau Rabbi Rabbi Rabbi , in Judaism, means a religious ?teacher?, or more literally, ?my great one?, when addressing any master. The word rabbi derives from the Hebrew root word , rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ?great?, used in many senses, including the sense of a ?master? and apprentice, whence someone who is a distinguished ?teacher?.... Zecharias Frankel Zecharias Frankel Zecharias Frankel was a Bohemian-German rabbi and a historian who studied the historical development of Judaism. He was born in Prague and died in Breslau .... (1801-1875) at one time was in the traditional wing of the nascent Reform Judaism Reform Judaism Reform Judaism refers to the spectrum of beliefs, practices and organizational infrastructure associated with Reform Judaism in Reform Judaism and in Reform Judaism .... movement. After the second Reform rabbinic conference (1845, Frankfurt, Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.... ) he resigned after coming to believe that their positions were excessively radical. In 1854 he became the head of a new rabbinical school, the Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau Das J?disch-Theologische Seminar , The Jewish Theological Seminary of BreslauInstitution in Breslau for the training of rabbis, founded under the will of Jonas Fr?nckel, and opened in 1854.... . In his magnum opus Darkhei HaMishnah (Ways of the Mishnah Mishnah The Mishnah or Mishna is a major work of Rabbinic literature, and the first major redaction into written form of Jewish oral traditions, called the Oral Torah.... ) Rabbi Frankel amassed scholarly support which showed that Jewish law Halakha Halakha ? also Hebrew transliteration Halocho and Halacha ? is the collective body of Judaism religious law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.... was not static, but rather had always developed in response to changing conditions. He called his approach towards Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... 'Positive-Historical', which meant that one should accept Jewish law and tradition as normative, yet one must be open to changing and developing the law in the same historical fashion that Judaism has always historically developed. Positive-Historical Judaism in America About this time in America, Rabbi Sabato Morais Sabato Morais Sabato Morais was an Italian-American rabbi, leader of Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel, pioneer of Italian Jewish Studies in America, and founder of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.... championed the reaction to American Reform Reform Judaism Reform Judaism refers to the spectrum of beliefs, practices and organizational infrastructure associated with Reform Judaism in Reform Judaism and in Reform Judaism .... . At one time Rabbi Morais had been a voice for moderation within the coalition of Reformers. He had opposed the more radical changes, but was open to moderate changes that would not offend traditional sensibilities. After the Reform movement published the Pittsburgh Platform, Rabbi Morais recognized the futility of his efforts and began the creation of a new rabbinical school in New York City New York City The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population.... . He was soon joined by Rabbi Alexander Kohut Alexander Kohut Alexander Kohut was a rabbi and orientalist. He belonged to a family of rabbis, the most noted among them being Rabbi Israel Palota, his great-grandfather, Rabbi Amram , and Rabbi Chayyim Kitssee, rabbi in Erza, who was his great-granduncle.... and Rabbi Bernard Drachman Bernard Drachman Rabbi Dr. Bernard Drachman was a leader of Orthodox Judaism in the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century.Drachman was born to parents who were immigrants from Galicia and Bavaria.... , both of whom had received semicha Semicha Semicha , also semichut , or semicha lerabbanut is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism.... (rabbinic ordination) at Rabbi Frankel's Breslau seminary. They shaped the curriculum and philosophy of the new school after Rabbi Frankel's seminary. The first graduate to be ordained was Rabbi Morris Mandel who went to lead Adas Israel congregation (Washington, D.C.) Adas Israel Congregation (Washington, D.C.) Adas Israel, located in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, is the largest Conservative Judaism synagogue in Washington, D.C.... . In 1902, Professor Solomon Schechter Solomon Schechter Solomon Schechter ?????? ???? ???? was a Moldavian-born Romanian and England rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and architect of the United States Conservative Judaism movement.... assumed presidency of JTS. In a series of papers he articulated an ideology for the nascent movement. In 1913 he presided over the creation of the United Synagogue of America. (The name was changed in 1991 to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America. It closely works with the Rabbinical Assembly, the international body of Conservative Rabbis, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.... .) Prominent professors at the Seminary at the time included such luminaries as Saul Lieberman Saul Lieberman Saul Lieberman , also known as Rabbi Shaul Lieberman or The Gra"sh , was a rabbi and a scholar of Talmud. He served as Professor of Talmud at the Jewish Theological Seminary for over 40 years, and was for many years, head of the Harry Fischel Institute in Israel and also president of the American Academy for Jewish Research.... , Alexander Marx Alexander Marx Alexander Marx was an United States historian, bibliographer and librarian.... , Louis Ginzberg Louis Ginzberg Rabbi Louis Ginzberg was one of the outstanding Talmudists of the twentieth century. He was born on November 28, 1873, in Kovno, Lithuania; he died on November 11, 1953, in New York City.... and Louis Finkelstein Louis Finkelstein Rabbi Louis Finkelstein was a Talmud scholar and expert in Halakha. He taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the first American seminary of Conservative Judaism.... and many others. Between 1940 and 1985, The Jewish Theological Seminary produced a radio and television show called . The show aired on Sunday afternoons, featuring well-known Jewish personalities like Chaim Potok Chaim Potok Chaim Potok was an American Jewish author and rabbi.... and Elie Wiesel Elie Wiesel Elie Wiesel is a Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, the best known of which is Night , a memoir that describes his experiences during the Holocaust and his imprisonment in several Nazi concentration camps.... . Broadcasts did not involve preaching or prayer, but drew on history, literature and social issues to explore Judaism and Jewish holidays in a manner that was accessible to persons of any faith. Admission of GLBT students Effective March 26, 2007, The Jewish Theological Seminary accepts openly gay students into their rabbinical and cantorial programs (the Seminary's other three schools upheld such non-discrimination policies prior to this date). An announcement in the press, first posted on the school's website and reported by the press. has been made about the admission of and ordination of homosexual students for the rabbinate and the cantorate. A Conservative Jewish seminary in New York has agreed to admit gays and lesbians who want to become rabbis and cantors, but declined to take a stand on whether rabbis should officiate at same-sex unions. The Jewish Theological Seminary announced its decision yesterday, more than three months after the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards authorized the ordination of gays and lesbians. On Wednesday, March 26, 2008 JTS held a day long program titled Hazak Hazak V'Nithazek: Celebrating Strength Through Inclusion, marking the one year anniversary of Chancellor Eisen's decision to admit gay and lesbian students into the rabbinical and cantorial schools. A survey conducted prior to Chancellor Eisen's decision indicated that 58% of the rabbinical student body supported a change in admission policy. Some students who opposed the change in admission policy said they felt excluded from the day's program because it did not sufficiently recognize the pluralism in the student body. Notable Faculty Cyrus Adler Cyrus Adler Cyrus Adler was a United States of America educator, Jewish religious leader and scholar.Adler was born in Van Buren, Arkansas, Arkansas, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania in 1883 and gained a Ph.D.... Gerson Cohen Miles Cohen Arnie Eisen José Faur José Faur Jos? Faur is a Rabbi and a scholar. He was a professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary and is currently Professor of Talmud at Bar Ilan University.... Louis Finkelstein Louis Finkelstein Rabbi Louis Finkelstein was a Talmud scholar and expert in Halakha. He taught at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the first American seminary of Conservative Judaism.... Israel Francus Shamma Friedman Stephen Geller Neil Gillman Neil Gillman Neil Gillman is an USA rabbi and philosopher, affiliated with Conservative Judaism.... Louis Ginsberg H. L. Ginzberg David Weiss Halivni David Weiss Halivni Rabbi David Weiss Halivni is an United States Israelis world-acclaimed scholar in the domain of Judaism and professor of Talmud, born in Carpathian Ruthenia.... Judith Hauptman Judith Hauptman Rabbi Judith Rebecca Hauptman is a feminist Jewish Talmudic scholar. She grew up in the Brooklyn Political subdivisions of New York State of New York City, New York, United States.... Abraham Joshua Heschel Abraham Joshua Heschel Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Warsaw-born American rabbi and one of the leading Jewish theologians of the 20th century.... Carol K. Ingall Mordechai Kaplan Saul Lieberman Saul Lieberman Saul Lieberman , also known as Rabbi Shaul Lieberman or The Gra"sh , was a rabbi and a scholar of Talmud. He served as Professor of Talmud at the Jewish Theological Seminary for over 40 years, and was for many years, head of the Harry Fischel Institute in Israel and also president of the American Academy for Jewish Research.... Dov Mandelbaum Barbara Mann David Marcus David Marcus David Marcus is an History of the Jews in Ireland editor who has been a lifelong advocate and editor of Irish fiction.Born in County Cork in 1924, Marcus has edited numerous anthology of Irish fiction and poetry, including the Phoenix Irish Short Stories collections.... Alexander Marx Alexander Marx Alexander Marx was an United States historian, bibliographer and librarian.... Alan Mintz Yochanan Muffs David G. Roskies David G. Roskies David G. Roskies is the Sol and Evelyn Henkind Chair in Yiddish Literature and Culture and Professor of Judaism Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.... Joel Roth Joel Roth Joel Roth is a prominent United States rabbi in the Rabbinical Assembly, which is the rabbinical body of Conservative Judaism. He is a former member and chair of the assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards which deals with questions of Halakha, and serves as the Louis Finkelstein Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law at the Jewish... Solomon Schechter Solomon Schechter Solomon Schechter ?????? ???? ???? was a Moldavian-born Romanian and England rabbi, academic scholar, and educator, most famous for his roles as founder and President of the United Synagogue of America, President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and architect of the United States Conservative Judaism movement.... Raymond Scheindlin Ismar Schorsch Ismar Schorsch Ismar Schorsch was the sixth Chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary and is the Rabbi Herman Abramovitz Professor of Jewish history. He served as Chancellor for 19 years and retired on June 30, 2006.... Edna Nahshon Gordon Tucker Gordon Tucker Gordon Tucker is a prominent rabbi, with a reputation as both a political and a theological liberal in Conservative Judaism. He currently has a position as senior rabbi of Temple Israel Center in White Plains, New York, New York.... Burton Visotzky Burton Visotzky Burton L. Visotzky, born in Chicago, Illinois, 1951, is a Conservative Judaism Rabbi and professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary who also studied moral development at Harvard University under Lawrence Kohlberg.... Jack Wertheimer Jack Wertheimer Jack Wertheimer is a Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the flagship yeshiva of Conservative Judaism.... Dov Zlotnick Notable alumni