JSLI’s Cantorial School takes about two years. You meet online every other week, from September through June, with an experienced cantor, and you finish with ordination as Cantor (Hazzan) and Spiritual Leader at our online Ordination Shabbaton.
What fills those two years
The program covers four musical modules, each teaching the traditional nusach for one part of the Jewish year: the High Holidays, Shabbat, Weekdays and the Festivals. You also join our rabbinical students for lifecycle Master Classes on weddings, funerals, b’nai mitzvah and baby namings, plus pastoral care.
How it compares
Traditional cantorial programs at the major seminaries are typically multi-year, full-time and residential. JSLI’s program is part-time and fully online, so you can keep your job and stay in your community while you study.
If you need to build your Jewish background first, our Mechina preparatory year can come before. See the Cantorial School Curriculum and Cantorial Admissions and Fees.