Our History

HUC-JIR is the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR cultivates scholars, leaders, and change-makers transforming Jewish communities worldwide.

About Our Founding

In 1875, the Hebrew Union College was founded in Cincinnati by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise as the first permanent Jewish institution of higher learning in America. In 1950, HUC merged with the pluralistic Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, founded in 1922 by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise. The Los Angeles campus opened in 1954 to serve the second-largest Jewish population. The Jerusalem campus opened in 1963, today serving as the center for stateside/Israeli academic programs.

A Timeline of Firsts

1875: 1st Rabbinical Seminary in North America

Established the first permanent rabbinical seminary in North America

1947: First Interfaith Graduate School

Inaugurated the first interfaith school of graduate studies located in a Jewish seminary

1948: First Cantorial School in North America

Founded the first cantorial school in North America

1963: Dedicated Our Campus in Jerusalem

Created our campus in Jerusalem, in recognition of the importance of Israel for the training of Jewish leaders

1969: Launched School of Jewish Communal Service

Launched the graduate program in Jewish communal service (Jewish nonprofit management today)

1970: Established Year-In-Israel Program

Started requiring rabbinical students (and later education and cantorial students) to study in Israel as part of their academic journey

1972: Ordination of First Woman Rabbi in North America

Ordained Rabbi Sally F. Priesand as the first woman rabbi in North America

1975: Ordination of First Woman Cantor in North America

Ordained Cantor Barbara J. Ostfeld as the first woman cantor in America

1990: First Clinical Pastoral Education Program

Established the first Clinical Pastoral Education Program in a Jewish seminary

1992: Ordination of First Woman Rabbi in Israel

Ordained Rabbi Naamah Kelman as the first woman rabbi in the State of Israel

2006: Ordination of First Transgender Rabbi

Ordained Rabbi Reuben Zellman as the first transgender rabbi

2009: Ordination of First African-American Rabbi

Ordained Rabbi Alyssa Stanton as the first African-American rabbi

2017: 100 Reform Rabbis Ordained in Israel

Ordination of the 100th Israeli Reform rabbi

2022: 50th Anniversary of Women in the Rabbinate

861 Reform women rabbis ordained to date in the U.S. and Israel