Community | Ordination Program for Israeli Rabbis

Committed spiritual leadership possessing a deep, well-rounded knowledge of fundamental Jewish sources is the first and foremost requirement for sustainable Jewish-Israeli growth. The Ordination Program for Israeli Rabbis is the only one of its kind, an egalitarian program training pluralistic Israeli spiritual community leaders to catalyze a process of spiritual rejuvenation for the Israeli public sphere and its emerging Jewish communities.
The Ordination Program, developed in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, brings together voices representing the diversity of Israeli-Jewish experience to define an Israeli rabbinical leadership model for our times. The program creates a cadre of community spiritual leaders versed in a pluralistic Jewish language, with the drive, vision, and know-how to establish and lead spiritual communities within Israeli society.
Based on a vision of Jewish peoplehood, the program emphasizes the development of a common values-based language for Jewish society in Israel. Program participants will learn and develop a new, meta-denominational language of Jewish identity that draws from Israel’s diverse and rich culture and heritage. They will also gain the pastoral skills to effectively guide their communities in the contemporary world.
The program’s curriculum addresses some of the most compelling topics for Israeli society, including contemporary challenges, community and community support, sacred time (Shabbat, holidays, and lifecycle ceremonies), God and theology, family, mitzvah, halakhah, and law, and personal, community, and national morals.
The pilot cohort is composed of 18 senior Israeli spiritual leaders, many of whom are already leading pluralist Jewish communities or programs in Israel. Future cohorts will comprise candidates with a significant background in Jewish studies who will undergo scholarly and conceptual development and training focused on creating a common vision and building community leadership capacity.
Upon completion of the 18-month program in July 2016, participants will be ordained as Israeli Community Rabbis.
Program Directors
Program directors are Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum and Shay Zarchi from HaMidrasha at Oranim and Dr. Biti Roi and Dr. Shraga Bar-on from Shalom Hartman Institute.