Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI)

Cantorial School Admissions and Fees

Tuition at a glance: $18,000 for the complete two-year program leading to ordination as Cantor and Spiritual Leader. There’s a $300 enrollment fee, and cantorial texts run about $300 to $400. Payment plans are available, and you don’t pay it all up front. Payment details are below.

Who we’re looking for

The JSLI Cantorial School welcomes Jewish vocalists who feel called to lead a community in prayer. You don’t need to play an instrument. You do need:

  • A good singing voice
  • The ability to read simple music notation
  • The ability to read Hebrew in a siddur and machzor
  • A basic knowledge of Jewish history, texts, Shabbat, the festivals, the High Holidays, ritual and lifecycle
  • A commitment to your own spiritual growth and to serving others. Ordination is the beginning of a lifetime of learning, not the end.
  • Support for interfaith marriage. Many Jews are married to partners who aren’t Jewish, and they’re often overlooked by Jewish organizations. JSLI trains its cantors to serve interfaith and unaffiliated Jews, so this is a core requirement.

If you need more background first, our Mechina preparatory year can help.

When to start

We offer rolling admissions. You can begin in September or January.

How to enroll

  1. Apply online.
  2. We’ll set up a personal interview with our Founder and Dean, Rabbi Steven Blane.
  3. If you’re accepted, you’ll complete the enrollment paperwork and pay the enrollment fee.

New to the cantorate? Start with What Is a Cantor? Learn more about the program on the Cantorial School and Cantorial Curriculum pages, or contact us with questions.

Admission and Fees

Non Refundable Enrollment fee: $300

Students are required to purchase Cantorial and Liturgical texts- approximately $300-400 total.

Cantorial School Tuition

The full tuition is $18,000.  Included are all Musical Modules, as well as JSLI’s Life Cycle classes (Funerals, Weddings, Baby Namings and B’nai Mitzvot), as well as participation at an online Shabbaton/Ordination weekend.

Unlike mainstream seminaries, we do not require all of the tuition upon your enrollment. You can discuss a payment plan with our Administrator.




FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Payment Plans are available. Call us to discuss.

Take a look at the document “Finding Funds” for funding suggestions.