The academic catalog is a comprehensive resource designed to help students prepare for their time at AJU. In it you'll find descriptions of degree programs, course descriptions, admissions criteria, graduate division information, information on joint degree programs, as well as academic policies and procedures. Please visit the academic catalog for the latest information about course offering.
The key to greatness in a Rabbinical School curriculum, as in any institutional focus, is to assess and to bolster the strengths and capacities of the institution, and then to pursue those intended outcomes with vigor. The focus of the School’s academic program will be on two broad arenas:
- Machshevet Israel (Jewish thought)
- Professional development
These two rubrics respond to the demands placed on the contemporary Rabbinate — Jews are seeking meaning and guidance from their heritage, they look to Judaism for solace and inspiration, and they turn to their religion to provide ethical rigor, a sense of value, and a community of belonging. Focusing on Jewish thought gives the Ziegler rabbi the tools needed to meet that demand. At the same time, the riches of Jewish thought must be transmitted through the building and maintenance of synagogues, schools, and other institutions, and its rich message must inspire through well-crafted sermons, effective teaching and preaching, pastoral counseling, and the myriad professional demands that today’s rabbi must master. The curriculum is consciously crafted to meet those dual necessities.
Additionally, the curriculum is designed to provide a rational flow, both from one semester to the next, and among the courses offered each semester. The curriculum challenges each student to find her or his passion within the broad range of Jewish studies and to pursue depth and excellence within that selected area. Finally, the curriculum contains the total number of credits required from each student, based on the conviction that excessive busy-ness precludes a deep and transformative encounter with the material offered during rabbinical school.