Programs

Rabbinic Leadership Educators Musician Spokesperson Master's Degree
Continuing Jewish Education Field Work Requirements Admissions

The Institute offers programs to train rabbis, leaders, musicians, and educators for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Each program provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to function effectively in our communities, while enabling them to work and learn on their own during their course of study.

The programs of the Institute are centered on a series of weekly and weekend seminars in a variety of fields: Jewish history, Jewish culture, Secular Humanistic Judaism, professional skills, and Jewish music.

Click here for a current schedule of seminars being offered

Rabbinic Program

Secular Humanistic rabbis are spiritual leaders and philosophic and cultural mentors for Secular Humanistic Jews. They serve as teachers, counselors, pastors, ceremonialists (celebration and ceremonial guides), and experts in Judaism.

Requirements for Ordination

The Rabbinic Program of the Institute consists of four years of rigorous course work and a one-year internship with a Secular Humanistic Jewish community. The Rabbinic Program requirements are:

Completion of 60 credit hours of graduate seminars
Completion of an accredited Master's Degree in Judaic Studies
Completion of a one year internship in a Secular Humanistic Jewish community (3 credit hours)
Completion of a rabbinic thesis (3 credit hours)

The thesis requirement is completed under the direction of a designated faculty member and supervised by the Dean. Graduates of the Rabbinic Program will also receive a Master's Degree in Secular Humanistic Judaism. A summer program in Israel in cooperation with an established secular college or university is recommended.

The graduate seminars required for the Rabbinic Program are offered during the summer, allowing students to pursue their Master's Degree studies simultaneously at the university of their choice. All seminars for the Rabbinic Program are offered by the Institute. The rabbinic internship is supervised by the Director of the Rabbinic Program.

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree
Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Reading and comprehension proficiency in Hebrew
Completion of the application form, including biographical essay, transcript, references, application fee
Interview with the Admissions Committee

Leadership Program

The purpose of the Leadership Program is to develop professional leaders who serve the needs of the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement. The first program created by the Institute, graduates of the Leadership Program earn the title of Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer/Leader, a Jewish professional who serves as a community guide, ceremonial officiant, philosophic counselor, educator, and movement spokesperson. Leaders serve the needs of their communities and the Jewish community in general in their area.

Upon completing the Leadership Program, the Leader/Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer must apply to the Leadership Conference of Secular and Humanistic Jews for certification as a recognized leader in the movement with all the rights and responsibilities of clergy.

Requirements for Graduation

Completion of 7 credit hours of weekend seminars (4 required, 3 elective)
Completion of 9 credit hours of graduate seminars (3 required)
Completion of papers for each seminar
Completion of 5 supervised fieldwork projects designed to give the students practical experience in their field. (PS 390 - 2 credit hours). The fieldwork projects may be completed concurrently with the program.
Reading proficiency in Hebrew or Yiddish

The required weekend seminars of the Leadership Program are: Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 100), Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 110), Celebration of Jewish Calendar and Holidays (JC 200), and Celebration of the Jewish Life Cycle (JC 210). The required graduate seminars, offered during the summer, are: Jewish Education and Curriculum Planning (PS 400), Leadership, Management, and Community (PS 410), and Philosophic Guidance and Counseling (PS 430). The elective seminars are any 100-level seminars in Jewish Culture, Jewish History, or Jewish Music other than JC 100 or JC 110.

Field Work is supervised by the Director of Student Affairs in collaboration with an approved Leader/Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer. The Director of Student Affairs also advises students on required program paper or project topics.

Admission Requirements

Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Completion of the application form, including two letters of recommendation, preferably from leaders in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Interview with the Admissions Committee

An undergraduate degree is preferred but not required.

Educators Program

Secular Humanistic educators serve as school directors and teachers in communities, developing curricula and educational programs. The Educators Program of the Institute provides an introduction to establishing Jewish education programs for children, teens, and mixed generation groups. The course of study includes classes on developing curriculum goals and content; learning processes; teaching methods; adapting and creating resources; hiring and training educators.

Requirements for Graduation

Completion of 5 credit hours of weekend seminars (3 required, 2 elective)
Completion of the graduate seminar "PS 400 - Jewish Education and Curriculum Planning" (3 credit hours)
Completion of six papers, one for each seminar
Completion of 4 supervised fieldwork projects designed to give the students practical experience in their field. (PS 390 - 2 credit hours). The fieldwork projects may be completed concurrently with the program.

The required weekend seminars for the Educators Program are: Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 100), Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 110), Celebration of Jewish Calendar and Holidays (JC 200).

Field Work is supervised by the Director of Student Affairs in collaboration with a designated Leader/Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer. The Director of Student Affairs also advises students on program paper or project topics.

Admission Requirements

Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Completion of application form
Two letters of recommendation, preferably from leaders in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Interview with the Admissions Committee

An undergraduate degree is preferred but not required.

Musician Program

Jewish music is incorporated into celebrations, ceremonies, and inspirational programs of Secular Humanistic Judaism. The Musicians Program trains candidates to serve as music directors for the communities of the movement.

Requirements for Graduation

Completion of 6 credit hours of weekend seminars
Completion of 6 papers or projects, one for each seminar
Reading Proficiency in Hebrew or Yiddish

The required weekend seminars for the Musicians Program are: Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 100), Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 110), Celebration of Jewish Calendar/Holidays (JC 200), History of Jewish Music (JM 100), Music of Secular Humanistic Judaism (JM 200), and Music Direction for Communities (JM 210).

Students in the Musician's Program are required to perform certain field work tasks appropriate to their training. Field Work is supervised by the Director of Student Affairs in concert with a designated Leader/Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer. The Director of Student Affairs also advises students on program paper or project topics.

Admission Requirements

Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Completion of application form
Two letters of recommendation, preferably from leaders in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Interview with the Admissions Committee

Professional training as a musician is preferred but not required.

Spokesperson Program

This program was created to develop speakers who represent Secular Humanistic Judaism to the Jewish and general public, explaining its philosophy, observances, and celebrations.

Requirements for Graduation

Completion of 6 credit hours of weekend seminars (3 required, 3 elective)
Four papers or projects of approximately 1500 words each to be submitted within two years of the seminar.
Completion of 4 supervised fieldwork projects designed to give the students practical experience in their field. (PS 390 - 2 credit hours). The fieldwork projects may be completed concurrently with the program.

The required seminars of the Spokesperson Program are: Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 100), Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 110), and Celebration of Jewish Calendar and Holidays (JC 200). JC 100 may not serve as an elective.

Admission Requirements

Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
Completion of application
Two letters of recommendation
Interview with the Admissions Committee

Master's Degree Program (Accreditation Pending)

The Master's Degree Program in Secular Humanistic Judaism was created to strengthen the knowledge base of leaders, educators, and musicians in our movement. It was also created to provide an advanced course of Jewish study for those people who do not necessarily desire to be professionals in the Jewish world. Leaders who complete this Master's program or any program leading to a Master's degree in Judaic studies also will receive the title of Senior Leader/Moreh(at) Am.

Requirements for Graduation

Completion of 45 credit hours of week-long seminars
Completion of a Master's Thesis (3 credit hours)

The eight required graduate seminars are: Ancient Jewish History and Biblical Literature (JH 500), Second Temple Jewish History and Literature (JH 510), Rabbinic and Medieval Jewish History and Literature: Mishnah, Talmud, Codes, and Philosophy (JH 520), Modern Jewish History and Literature (JH 530), Jewish Calendar, Holidays, Liturgy, and Celebration (JC 500), Cultural Traditions of the Jewish People (JC 510), Philosophy of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 400), and History of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 500).

The thesis requirement will be completed under the direction of a designated faculty member.

Admission Requirements

Membership in the Secular Humanistic Jewish movement
An undergraduate degree
Reading proficiency in Hebrew
Completion of an application form
Two letters of recommendation
Interview with the Admissions Committee

Continuing Jewish Education

The Institute is committed to providing continuing Jewish education for the movement of Secular Humanistic Judaism. For those students who desire a more formal acknowledgement of their educational achievements, the Institute offers a certificate in Jewish education with the completion of 6 credit hours of weekend seminars (2 required, 4 elective). The required weekend seminars of the Continuing Jewish Education program are Roots of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 100) and Basic Ideas of Secular Humanistic Judaism (SHJ 110).

Individual communities may also choose to make the Jewish education program part of an adult bar/bat mitsva program.

Field Work Requirements

The Institute Leadership programs develop individuals to be Secular Humanistic Jewish community leaders through both academic study (seminars, questions, papers) and practical experience (fieldwork requirements) in relevant Areas of Expertise.

The five Areas of Expertise for Fieldwork are:

Educator or Educational Consultant
Philosophical Advisor/Philosophical Counselor
Festival Ceremonialist
Community Administrator
Life Cycle Ceremonialist (applies ONLY to Leader/Madrikh(a)/Vegvayzer Program)

The fieldwork experience for these areas consists of completing supervised and approved Tasks, relevant to the student's program and one for each Area of Expertise. The supervision of all Tasks is provided by the student's chosen mentor and the Director of Student Affairs (DSA). The DSA and the student's mentor are available for discussion of resources and options if the student encounters difficulties in completing a Task.

Students should read the full list of task examples before beginning their supervised fieldwork. Task examples serve as guidelines and should not stifle the student's creativity. Students may elect to perform tasks in each Area of Expertise that varies from the examples by submitting a request with full details to the DSA and the student's mentor.

Admissions

Admission to the programs of the Institute is by application. For an application packet or more information, please contact:

Linda Glass, Executive Director
International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism
28611 West Twelve Mile Road
Farmington Hills , MI 48334

Phone: (248) 476-9532
Email: info@iishj.org
Web: www.iishj.org