Pararabbinic Program

Student Body

The Pararabbinic Program at Hebrew Seminary is designed for emerging Jewish leaders who would like increased knowledge in matters of Torah study, Jewish ritual, and communal leadership but do not seek rabbinic ordination at the present time.

Length of Studies

The trajectory of studies at the Pararabbinic Program of Hebrew Seminary amounts to 24 credits. Depending on prior studies and experiences of students, some portion of these credits may be fulfilled in recognizing equivalent or related coursework and/or experiences, as determined by the Rosh Yeshivah and Dean of Students. The full course of the Pararabbinic Program is designed to take a full-time student approximately 2 years, but students may enroll as part-time students and may take longer than 2 years to complete the program. Students are discouraged from enrolling in more than 6 credits per Fall or Spring Semester, and students are discouraged from enrolling in more than 4 credits per Summer Semester. In the case of students who graduate from the Pararabbinic Program and later enroll in the Rabbinical School, credits earned through the Pararabbinic Program may be applied towards the 60 required credits of the Rabbinical School. To learn more about when a student is ready for our Pararabbinic Program, please view our Admissions Requirements.

Required Courses

Of the 24 credits required for graduation from Hebrew Seminary’s Pararabbinic Program, the following Required Courses–or, in special circumstances, the equivalent thereof as determined by the Dean of Students and Rosh Yeshivah–must be completed:

Biblical Studies: (2 credits required)
Parashat HaShavu’a with Commentary I
Parashat HaShavu’a with Commentary II

Diversity and Accessibility: (1 credit required)
1 elective

Jewish History: (1 credit required)
Israel, Palestine, and Zionism

Jewish Languages: (4 credits required)
Beginning Hebrew I
Beginning Hebrew II
Intermediate Hebrew I
Intermediate Hebrew II

Jewish Liturgy: (5 credits required)
Liturgy of High Holidays
Liturgy of Shabbat
Liturgy of Three Festivals
Torah Trop or Signed Torah
Weekday Liturgy

Jewish Thought: (2 credits required)
Jewish Values in Text and Action
Modern Books in Jewish Thought

Pastoral Care: (1 credit required)
Bikkur Cholim Practicum

Practical Skills: (5 credits required)
Approaches to Jewish Healing
Homiletics and Communications
Lifecycle Officiation I
Lifecycle Officiation II
Pedagogy for Youth

Sample Timeline

Although courses, except when indicated otherwise, may be taken in any sequence, the following is a sample of a 2-year trajectory for a full-time student in the Pararabbinic Program:

The full Pararabbinic Program consists of 21 credits of Required Courses and the remaining 3 credits comprising Elective courses. All Required Courses are offered online. Most Electives and Independent Study courses are offered online, and select Electives and Independent Study courses may be offered in person.

Transferring Credits

Students who complete the Pararabbinic Program at Hebrew Seminary are automatically eligible to enroll as Rabbinical students at Hebrew Seminary. Select credits from the Pararabbinic Program may be applied towards the 60 credits required for completion of studies in the Rabbinical School. All Required Courses are offered online. Most Electives and Independent Study courses are offered online, and select Electives and Independent Study courses may be offered in person.