Pararabbinic Program
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.
Program Information
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 26 credits, consisting of 22 required courses and 4 elective courses. 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 5 credits per Fall or Spring Semester, and students are discouraged from enrolling in more than 3 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 page.
Required Courses
Required Courses
Of the 26 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 I
Parashat HaShavu’a II
Diversity & Accessibility: (1 credit required)
Beginning American Sign Language
Jewish History: (2 credits required)
Israel, Palestine, and Zionism
1 additional course in Jewish History
Jewish Languages: (4 credits required)
Beginning Biblical Hebrew I
Beginning Biblical Hebrew II
Intermediate Biblical Hebrew I
Intermediate Biblical Hebrew II
Jewish Liturgy: (3 credits required)
Liturgy of Shabbat and Weekdays
Liturgy of the High Holidays
Liturgy of the Three Festivals
Jewish Thought: (2 credits required)
Introduction to Jewish Philosophy
Jewish Ethics
Pastoral Care: (2 credits required)
Bikkur Cholim
Human Development
Practical Skills: (4 credits required)
Homiletics and Communications
Lifecycle Officiation
Pedagogy for Youth
Kehillah & Tefillah
Rabbinic Literature: (4 credits required)
Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
2 courses of Talmud Bavli
Survey of Midrashic Literature
Mysticism & Spirituality: (1 credit required)
Survey of Jewish Mystical Texts
The full Pararabbinic Program consists of 25 credits of Required Courses and the remaining 1 credit comprising an Elective course. 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.
Admissions Requirements
Students are likely to enter with unique abilities, skills, and bases of knowledge acquired prior to enrolling as a Rabbinical student. Nonetheless, we usually, but not always, expect that students who are beginning Hebrew Seminary’s Rabbinical School have:
- Identified as a committed member of a Jewish community for two or more years prior to enrolling as a Rabbinical student at Hebrew Seminary
- A BA or equivalent degree
- A strong ethical character
- An ongoing cultural and/or spiritual relationship with Judaism.
Hebrew Seminary’s Rabbinical School admits qualified students without regard to race, color, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability status, hearing status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Hebrew Seminary admits and ordains students who are single, students with Jewish partners, and students with partners who are not Jewish. Hebrew Seminary does not require applicants to have taken the GRE.
If you wish to apply:
- Submit one letter of academic reference, one letter from a leader in the Jewish community, and one letter of character reference.
- Submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate degrees and Clinical Pastoral Education. Note: prior graduate education and Clinical Pastoral Education are not prerequisites for admission into the Rabbinical School.
- Following review of the above, interview with Hebrew Seminary’s Rosh Yeshivah and Dean of Students.
Notification of the decision on the application will be made after completing these requirements.
We will be in contact with updates during the process.
Please allow cookies on your device to save your progress on the form below.
- There is a $36 fee for applying to Hebrew Seminary.
- Submit letters of recommendation through the application form.
- Submit all official undergraduate, graduate, and CPE transcripts electronically via the application form
or mailed as hard copy to
Hebrew Seminary: A Rabbinical School for Deaf & Hearing
4411 N. Ravenswood Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60640.
Transferring Credits
Students who complete the Pararabbinic Program at Hebrew Seminary are automatically eligible to enroll as Rabbinical students at Hebrew Seminary. All 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.
Learn With Us
All classes are currently held virtually and are open to Rabbinic and Pararabbinic students, as well as auditing students from around the world.