Our History

In 1992, Rabbi Dr. Douglas Goldhamer z”l and a group of academic, religious and philanthropic leaders in the Chicagoland Jewish community founded Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf. Launched as “the first and only rabbinical school for the Deaf in the world,” HSD was the natural extension of Rabbi Goldhamer’s career-long commitment to bringing the depths of Jewish healing, mysticism, study, and life to the Deaf and hearing Jewish community.

When the rabbinical school opened its doors, students and faculty met in the library of Congregation Bene Shalom: Hebrew Association of the Deaf—the Skokie, IL, synagogue founded in 1972 by Rabbi Goldhamer alongside some dozen Jewish Deaf families in and around Chicago’s northern suburbs. 

Rabbis ordained through Hebrew Seminary have gone on to serve as congregational rabbis, Jewish educators, university chaplains, hospital chaplains, seminary faculty, counselors, and entrepreneurial Jewish leaders.

Rabbi Goldhamer led Hebrew Seminary as its President and Rosh Yeshivah until his death in February of 2022. In July of 2022, Rabbi Jonah Rank became the Seminary’s second President and Rosh Yeshivah. In January 2023, Hebrew Seminary moved from its longstanding home in the suburbs to the city of Chicago itself, housing the Seminary’s office and in-person learning at SketchPad Chicago in Ravenswood.

In February 2023, Hebrew Seminary’s past and future rabbinic ordainees who identify with the teachings of Jewish Renewal became eligible for membership in the global Jewish clergy membership organization OHALAH, expanding the networking, spiritual, and professional opportunities of the Seminary’s alumni.