Jewish Theological Seminary of America

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The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

Inscription on Seal Ve-Hasneh Aineno Uchal ("And the Bush was not consumed") -Exodus 3:2

Established 1886

School type Private

Chancellor Dr. Ismar Schorsch (Until June 30, 2006)
From July 1, 2006 until June 30, 2007 TBD
Dr. Arnold Eisen, Acting Chancellor (from July 1, 2007)

Location New York City, New York, USA

Campus Urban

Homepage [www.jtsa.edu]

Inscription on Seal	Ve-Hasneh Aineno Uchal ("And the Bush was not consumed") -Exodus 3:2
Established	1886
School type	Private
Chancellor	Dr. Ismar Schorsch (Until June 30, 2006) From July 1, 2006 until June 30, 2007 TBD Dr. Arnold Eisen, Acting Chancellor (from July 1, 2007)
Location	New York City, New York, USA
Campus	Urban
Homepage	[www.jtsa.edu]

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, known in the Jewish community simply as JTS, is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism. Along with the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Machon Schechter [link] in Jerusalem it is one the movement's main rabbinical seminaries. It takes its name and basic ideology from the no longer extant Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau.

Contents

0.1 The Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau
0.2 Positive-Historical Judaism in America

1 See also
2 Notable Faculty
3 Notable alumni
4 External links and references

The Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau

Rabbi Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875) at one time was in the traditional wing of the nascent Reform Judaism movement. After the second Reform rabbinic conference (1845, Frankfurt, Germany) he resigned after coming to believe that their positions were exceedingly radical. In 1854 he became the head of a new rabbinical school, the Jewish Theological Seminary of Breslau. In his magnum opus Darkhei HaMishnah (Ways of the Mishnah) Rabbi Frankel amassed scholarly support which showed that Jewish law was not static, but rather had always developed in response to changing conditions. He called his approach towards Judaism 'Positive-Historical', which meant that one should accept Jewish law and tradition as normative, yet one must be open to changing and developing the law in the same historical fashion that Judaism has always historically developed.

Positive-Historical Judaism in America

About this time in America, Rabbi Sabato Morais championed the conservative reaction to American Reform. At one time Rabbi Morais had been a voice for moderation within the coalition of Reformers. He had opposed the more radical changes, but was open to moderate changes that would not offend traditional sensibilities. After the Reform movement published the Pittsburgh Platform, Rabbi Morais recognized the futility of his efforts and began the creation of a new rabbinical school in New York City. He was soon joined by Rabbi Alexander Kohut and Rabbi Bernard Drachman, both of whom had received smicha (rabbinic ordination) at Rabbi Frankel's Breslau seminary. They shaped the curriculum and philosophy of the new school after Rabbi Frankel's seminary.

In 1902, Professor Solomon Schechter assumed presidency of JTS. In a series of papers he articulated an ideology for the nascent movement. In 1913 he presided over the creation of the United Synagogue of America. (The name was changed in 1991 to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.)

Prominent professors at the Seminary were such luminaries as Saul Lieberman, Alexander Marx, Louis Ginzberg and Louis Finkelstein and others as well.

In the early twentieth century, the Jewish Theological Seminary produced a radio and television show called "The Eternal Light." The show aired on Sunday afternoons and ran for over twenty years, featuring such social luminaries as Chaim Potok, Gene Wilder and Elie Wiesel. In accordance with Jewish law (and to differentiate its programs from other faith-based shows) broadcasts did not involve preaching or prayer, but rather drew from historical fiction in producing rich drama that focused on social issues. The broadcasts explored Jewish holidays and the nature of Jewish faith and life, but were also widely accessible to persons of any faith.

Notable Faculty

Notable alumni

Joseph H. Hertz, British Chief Rabbi and Author; first graduate of JTS
Gertrude Himmelfarb
Midge Decter, conservative thinker
Judith Hauptman, feminist Talmudic scholar
Norman Podhoretz, former Editor, Commentary magazine
Dr. David Gordis, President of [Hebrew College]

External links and references

Neil Gillman's book "Conservative Judaism: The New Century" [The origin of Conservative Judaism]
Frankel's essay "On changes in Judaism" is on-line at: [Frankel's understanding of Judaism]

Schools of Columbia University

Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation • School of the Arts • Graduate School of Arts and Sciences • Barnard College (Affiliate) • Graduate School of Business • Columbia College • School of Continuing Education • College of Dental Medicine • Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science • School of General Studies • School of International and Public Affairs • Jewish Theological Seminary (Affiliate) • Graduate School of Journalism • Columbia Law School • School of Nursing • College of Physicians and Surgeons • Mailman School of Public Health • School of Social Work • Teachers College (Affiliate) • Union Theological Seminary (Affiliate)


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