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 "...Moses received the Torah and transmitted it to Joshua, and Joshua transmitted it to the elders, and the elders transmitted it to the prophets, and the prophets transmitted it to the members of the Great Assembly..." Pirke Avot 1:1
 For thousands of years, Jewish tradition has been transmitted from one generation to the next - from the one who teaches to the one who learns, from the one who preaches to the one who listens, from the one who guides to the one who seeks, and from the one who comforts to the one who is in need.
Since 1875, over 2,500 men and women have been ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion to serve the Reform Movement. As transmitters of Torah, these Reform rabbis have perpetuated Judaism as a religious faith that speaks to the modern Jew. Becoming a rabbi means seeking a spiritual and professional way of life filled with opportunities as well as responsibilities, challenges as well as blessings. As builders and sustainers of communities, Reform rabbis make a difference every day - by sharing Judaism's ethical and moral teachings, building communities of meaning, inspiring worship, offering pastoral care and counseling, and participating in the sacred and celebratory moments of their congregants' lives. In becoming a rabbi, you will become a vital link in the enduring chain of Jewish history and strengthen the continuity of our Jewish heritage for the generations to come. History The Hebrew Union College was founded in 1875 in Cincinnati. It is the oldest institution of higher Jewish learning in North America. Its founder, Isaac Mayer Wise - the great architect of American Reform Judaism -- also established the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1873 and the Central Conference of American Rabbis in 1889. In 1922, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise established the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. The similar orientation of the two schools led to their merger in 1950. The Los Angeles School was opened in 1954. In 1963, the Jerusalem School was established. Today, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) offers academic and professional training for men and women seeking to serve the Reform Movement and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, communal service professionals, and scholars. HUC-JIR trains those who will lead in congregational, school, community, organizational, military, and university settings throughout the world. |
