Not if you’re comfortable with Zoom and email. JSLI classes are live and interactive, not recorded videos you watch alone. You see your teacher and classmates, ask questions, give your d’var Torah, and talk things through together, just like a seminary classroom.
How it works
Once a week your class meets by video conference for about two and a half hours. Each session opens with prayer, moves into the week’s Torah portion, and then covers the topic of the week, such as Shabbat, eschatology, conversion, liturgy or the High Holidays. Teachers do live demonstrations of how to officiate at b’nai mitzvah, weddings and funerals and how to prepare and deliver a sermon. Between classes, all your readings and assignments are in our online learning system, posted a week ahead so you can prepare.
What makes it easier
You don’t commute or relocate. You study from home, around your job and family. If you have to miss a class, you watch the recording and send in a short summary. And because classes are small and live, students get to know each other well. Many form lasting friendships and study in hevruta (pairs).
What makes it demanding
Online doesn’t mean easy. Expect four to eight hours of study a week plus class, and a d’var Torah every week. The year asks for real commitment, and that’s what makes the ordination meaningful. Read more in How to Become a Rabbi Without Relocating and Do I Have to Meet in Person?