Become
a Rabbi

women with Torah

We educate rabbis to serve the Reform Movement, the Jewish people, and humankind.

Through rigorous academic and professional study, mentored professional experiences, and opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, the HUC-JIR Rabbinical School will prepare you to:

  • Engage in the critical study of Jewish thought, tradition, culture, history, Hebrew language, and text
  • Teach people of all ages, across denominations and faiths
  • Organize and lead inspiring Jewish worship services and religious ceremonies;
  • Advocate and act for social justice
  • Promote meaningful relationships with Israel and its cultural life
  • Provide pastoral care and religious guidance
  • Serve effectively as a visionary leader in your work and community
  • Be self-reflective in your personal practice, ritual observance, and belief, and in fulfilling your professional commitments
  • Act as an informed spokesperson for Judaism and the Jewish people
  • Foster the vibrant development of the Reform Movement.

Our Programs

man blowing shofar

Rabbinical Program

Study in a cohort of colleagues, learners, and friends. Our five-year program combines text study, professional experience, and personal spiritual growth. Engage in Torah study and social justice, strengthen the Reform movement and the Jewish people.

Woman reading aloud from a book

Israel Rabbinical Program

The Israel Rabbinical Program sees its mission and purpose as being to train rabbinical leaders in order to bring change in Israeli society through communities, education, culture, and Tikkun Olam. Over the past 35 years, 121 rabbis have completed their studies in the IRP. They now serve in diverse positions in the communities of the Israel Reform Movement.

Our Programs

man blowing shofar

Rabbinical Program

Study in a cohort of colleagues, learners, and friends. Our five-year program combines text study, professional experience, and personal spiritual growth. Engage in Torah study and social justice, strengthen the Reform movement and the Jewish people.

95.6%

of rabbis ordained at HUC-JIR in the past five years have full-time positions at the time of ordination.

  • Denise Eger

    Alum

    quots icon

    My congregants and my work as an advocate and activist for the LGBTQ+ community have shaped me. My teachers, both rabbinical and lay leaders, have enriched my Jewish heart and soul.

    Rabbi Denise L. Eger, D.D. ‘88

    Senior Rabbi, Congregation Kol Ami Read Story
  • Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe

    Alum

    quots icon

    As the only ordained Reform Deaf rabbi in the world, my role is quite unique.

    Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe '93

    Moses Montefiore Congregation, Bloomington, IL Read Story
  • Aria Caligiuri

    Student

    quots icon

    One of my friends said that I should become a rabbi. I thought, “Wait a minute, me? You think I should become a rabbi?” I prayed on it, and I realized that as a rabbi, I could serve God and serve my community.

    Aria Caligiuri ‘23

    Read Story
  • Andrew Mandel

    Student

    quots icon

    I love the extent to which we balance academics and practical experience at HUC-JIR.

    Andrew Mandel

    Rabbinical Student, HUC-JIR/New York Student Rabbi, The Neighborhood, Central Synagogue, New York Read Story
  • Rabbi Nir Barkan headshot

    Alum

    quots icon

    We offer local Israelis the opportunity to be a part of our vibrant pluralistic and egalitarian Jewish community and to connect with their Jewish heritage in whatever ways they choose.

    Rabbi Nir Barkan ‘07

    Rabbi at Congregation YOZMA Read Story
Alum
Denise Eger
quots icon

My congregants and my work as an advocate and activist for the LGBTQ+ community have shaped me. My teachers, both rabbinical and lay leaders, have enriched my Jewish heart and soul.

Rabbi Denise L. Eger, D.D. ‘88

Senior Rabbi, Congregation Kol Ami Read Story
Alum
Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe
quots icon

As the only ordained Reform Deaf rabbi in the world, my role is quite unique.

Rabbi Rebecca L. Dubowe '93

Moses Montefiore Congregation, Bloomington, IL Read Story
Student
Aria Caligiuri
quots icon

One of my friends said that I should become a rabbi. I thought, “Wait a minute, me? You think I should become a rabbi?” I prayed on it, and I realized that as a rabbi, I could serve God and serve my community.

Aria Caligiuri ‘23

Read Story
Student
Andrew Mandel
quots icon

I love the extent to which we balance academics and practical experience at HUC-JIR.

Andrew Mandel

Rabbinical Student, HUC-JIR/New York Student Rabbi, The Neighborhood, Central Synagogue, New York Read Story
Alum
Rabbi Nir Barkan headshot
quots icon

We offer local Israelis the opportunity to be a part of our vibrant pluralistic and egalitarian Jewish community and to connect with their Jewish heritage in whatever ways they choose.

Rabbi Nir Barkan ‘07

Rabbi at Congregation YOZMA Read Story
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Featured Faculty

Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D.

Rabbi Aaron D. Panken Professor of Rabbinics; HUC-JIR Rabbinical School Director

CAMPUS: Los Angeles National

EMAIL: deweisberg@huc.edu

PHONE: (213) 765-2103

EXTENSION: 4203

Rabbi Lisa Grant, Ph.D.

Director of the New York Rabbinical Program; Eleanor Sinsheimer Distinguished Service Professor in Jewish Education

CAMPUS: National New York

EMAIL: lgrant@huc.edu

PHONE: (212) 824-2237

Rabbi Jonathan Hecht

Dean, HUC-JIR/Cincinnati

CAMPUS: Cincinnati National

EMAIL: jhecht@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 221-1875

EXTENSION: 3255

Adam Kamesar, D.Phil.

Professor of Judaeo-Hellenistic Literature

CAMPUS: Cincinnati

EMAIL: akamesar@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 487-3260

EXTENSION: 3260

Adriane Leveen, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer in Hebrew Bible

CAMPUS: National New York

EMAIL: Aleveen@huc.edu

PHONE: (650) 248-4887

AJ Berkovitz, Ph.D.

Faculty

CAMPUS: New York

EMAIL: aberkovitz@huc.edu

Alyssa Gray, J.D., Ph.D.

Emily S. and Rabbi Bernard H. Mehlman Chair in Rabbinics; Professor of Codes and Responsa Literature

CAMPUS: New York

EMAIL: agray@huc.edu

PHONE: (212) 824-2284

EXTENSION: 2284

Autumn Wheeler-Peterson

Executive Assistant to the Dean; Faculty Secretary; Outreach & Engagement Manager

CAMPUS: Cincinnati

EMAIL: awheeler@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 221-1875

EXTENSION: 3231

Ben Ratskoff, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Modern Jewish History and Culture

CAMPUS: Los Angeles

EMAIL: bratskoff@huc.edu

PHONE: (213) 765-2150

EXTENSION: 4250

Bruce Phillips, Ph.D.

Professor of Jewish Communal Service

CAMPUS: Los Angeles

EMAIL: bphillips@huc.edu

PHONE: (213) 765-2151

Rabbi Carole Balin, Ph.D.

Professor Emerita of History

CAMPUS: New York

EMAIL: cbalin@huc.edu

Daniel May, Ph.D.

Instructor

CAMPUS: New York

EMAIL: dmay@huc.edu

Daniel Fisher-Livne, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Bible

CAMPUS: Cincinnati

EMAIL: dfisher@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 221-1875

EXTENSION: 3290

Rabbi David H. Aaron, Ph.D.

Professor of Hebrew Bible and History of Interpretation

CAMPUS: Cincinnati

EMAIL: daaron@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 487-3265

Evie Rotstein, Ed.D.

Senior Education Advisor

CAMPUS: New York

EMAIL: erotstein@huc.edu

Rabbi Gary Zola, Ph.D.

Executive Director, American Jewish Archives; Edward M. Ackerman Family Distinguished Professor of The American Jewish Experience & Reform Judaism

CAMPUS: Cincinnati National

EMAIL: gzola@huc.edu

PHONE: (513) 487-3000

Rabbi Julie S. Schwartz, M.A.H.L., D.D.

Associate Dean, Certified Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education, Adjunct Associate Professor of Human Relations, Director of the Stein Program

CAMPUS: Cincinnati

EMAIL: jschwartz@huc.edu

Sarah Bunin Benor, Ph.D.

Vice Provost; Director, Jewish Language Project; Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Linguistics

CAMPUS: Los Angeles National

EMAIL: sbenor@huc.edu

PHONE: (213) 765-2187

EXTENSION: 4287