Our program is based on a cohort-learning model, with students taking a core of the same courses at the same time, supplemented by one-on-one learning through our innovation incubator and static electives. We do not use a unit/credit system but instead a course number system.
All academic courses are taught by rabbis or educators with a MHL, MA or Ph.D. Our Innovation program is led by Jewish professionals with various educational backgrounds and experiences.
The PRS rabbinical program is quarterly (as opposed to the semester system), with four, eleven-week blocks per year. Between those quarters are a one-week intensive where students apply what they have learned from their core learning into an interdisciplinary “online retreat” with their fellow students and educators. There are three of these intensives per year with one, free one-week break from all learning.
Program Delivery
Our program is delivered through six learning approaches: online-moderated courses, live courses, online intensives, innovation program, one on one mentorship and static electives.
Online-Moderated courses are consecutive and are administered by an instructor, in one of the following academic areas: history, liturgy, text, philosophy/theology. Each course has nine static video lectures with a reading and homework assignment across nine weeks. For each lecture, there is an online discussion forum for that unit that students must participate in, in order to receive participation credit.
Live Courses are for classical and modern Hebrew as well as the two practical rabbinics courses. They meet nine times per quarter for two quarters each, in Zoom, a live streaming platform. Students can also receive two hours of one-on-one interaction with their educator on their schedule. Students can increase their one on one time with a language tutor for an additional fee.
Online Intensives are one week long, Sunday through Thursday, via Zoom. They are focused on providing a space where students interact with each other face-to-face. Each intensives combines and expands upon the material learned in the previous nine weeks for a cross-discipline approach to Jewish learning.
Both the Live Courses and Online Intensives meet at or after 7PM Eastern Standard Time.
Static Electives are a series of self-guided podcast-based courses, utilizing web-based, automated LearnDash quizzes to keep students engaged. They take approximately eleven hours per elective. Students are required to take eight of their choice in any series of topics per year.
Innovation is a series of guided online “boot camps” that teaches the business of rabbinical work, organization strategy and innovation. These are overseen by a rabbi with one-on-one support and can be taken at any time. By the end of their boot camp, students will have a business plan for their innovative Jewish project. Course materials are presented using self-guided podcast-based units similar to our Static Electives.
One On One Mentorship is your guide though the learning process. Your mentor will help you, by listening to your needs, and by coaching you through your time at Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary. This relationship will explore everything from academic to spiritual advancement, personal growth and development, and your plans for the future.
Course Outline
This is the rubric for courses students will take to meet the requirements of smicha. Details about each course, course guides, instructors and meeting times are announced each quarter.
Online Moderated Courses
Tanakh
- Survey of Torah
- Survey of Neviim
- Survey of Ketuvim
History
- Early Jewish History to Middle Ages
- Middle Ages to Modern Jewish History
Talmud
- Practical Halacha I
- Practical Halacha II
Rabbinic Literature
- Rabbinic Literature I
- Rabbinic Literature II
Liturgy
- Weekday and Shabbat Liturgy
- Holiday Liturgy
Theology
Live Courses
- Classical Hebrew
- Modern Hebrew
- Practical Rabbinics I
- Practical Rabbinics II
Static Electives
Students choose sixteen static courses they would like which include history, culture, philosophy, etc. The purpose of these static electives is to stretch the imagination of how core academics can be utilized cross-discipline.
Innovation
These are samples of courses within Innovation leading up to the launch of your student project. Details of courses to be announced.
- Introduction to Innovation
- Idea Development & Testing
- Marketing Essentials
- Pitch Practice: Homelitics For Business
- Essentials of Revenue Generation
- Basics of Administration
- Web and Technology For Jewish Professionals
- Independent Study & Final Project Mentorship
Intensives
The following are samples of intensives which may be provided
- Strengthening Hebrew Skills Through Liturgy
- The Intersection of Tanakh and Modern Hebrew
- Liturgy As A Tool For Practical Rabbinics
- The Talmud of Jewish History