Norms of Religious Identity and Practice

The Rabbinical School of The Jewish Theological Seminary seeks to be a supportive and nurturing community that is committed to spiritual development.

We celebrate the diverse backgrounds of our students and are committed to be דן לכף זכות (generous in our judgment of one another). Our faith and practice will be challenged over the course of time and through our experiences in the world. Self-reflection in an environment of dignity and compassion is an essential component of rabbinic training.

JTS trains its rabbinical students in the path made famous by Shimon Ha-Tzaddik in Pirkei Avot 1:2: "Three pillars support the world: Torah, Service of God, Acts of Loyalty and Love." Explicating these obligations is the task of a lifetime. The following list of beliefs and practices is not comprehensive, yet it indicates some of our most prominent ideals as Jews, and the norms of The Rabbinical School:

על שלשה דברים העולם עומד

על התורה Torah

  • Belief that Torah—written and oral—is the inspired and authoritative guide to Jewish life
  • Commitment to lifelong study of classical and contemporary works of Torah
  • Commitment to grant equal opportunity for men and women to study Torah, participate in the mitzvot, and assume leadership positions in the Jewish community
  • Commitment to study Halakhah L'ma'aseh, the evolving path of conduct that expresses the values and norms of the covenant between God and Israel

ועל העבודה Service of God

  • אהבת ה' ויראת שמים, Committed, questioning, and loving engagement with God
  • Commitment to traditional communal prayer throughout the day, starting with tallit and tefillin at weekday Shaharit
  • Commitment to observing kashrut
  • Commitment to observing Shabbat and festivals
  • Commitment to holiness in relationships, including halakhic and ethical parameters of sexual intimacy
  • Commitment to uphold the Rabbinical Assembly's Standards of Rabbinic Practice

ועל גמילות חסדים Acts of Loyalty and Love

  • The practice of honest, ethical, and compassionate behavior towards other people
  • Responsibility for the welfare of one's fellow Jews
  • Advocacy for a peaceful future for the State of Israel and its inhabitants
  • Stewardship of the environment and vigilant defense of the dignity of all people

In order to deepen their comprehension of these and other beliefs and practices, rabbinical students consult their deans, rabbis, and teachers, and engage one another in respectful dialogue. Religious policies for The Rabbinical School are formulated by the dean, who serves as its מרא דאתרא, the arbiter of Jewish practice.