Any Jewish adult who feels called to serve and has the right foundation can apply to become a rabbi at JSLI. That includes women and men, Jews by choice, LGBTQ Jews, and people coming to the rabbinate as a second career. Our students have included educators, therapists, physicians, community leaders and retired professionals.
What you need to begin
- The ability to read siddur (prayer book) Hebrew
- A working knowledge of Jewish history, texts, Shabbat, the festivals, the High Holidays, ritual and lifecycle
- Support for interfaith marriage, since JSLI trains rabbis to serve interfaith and unaffiliated Jews
- A real commitment to your own spiritual growth and to serving others
Every applicant has a personal interview with our Founder and Dean, Rabbi Steven Blane. It’s a real conversation about why you want to do this and whether you’re ready. If you need more background, we’ll point you to our Mechina preparatory year.
Is there an age limit?
No. Many JSLI students are in their forties, fifties and sixties, and they bring life experience no young student can have. Read Becoming a Rabbi as a Second Career: Is It Too Late?
Do I have to have grown up observant?
No. Many of today’s rabbinical students came to serious Jewish life as adults. What matters is where you are now and where you’re headed. See Can a Jewish Convert Become a Rabbi? and Can a Woman Become a Rabbi?