The Institute of Traditional Judaism, The Metivta, is an exciting young institution combining intensive Torah study, a profound love of the entire Jewish people, and a deep regard for the world in which we live. In the words of our Reish Metivta, the world renowned Talmud scholar, Rabbi Prof. David Halivni, "Our school strives to impart emunah tzerufah v’yosher da’at, genuine faith combined with intellectual integrity and ahavat Yisrael ".

A Message From The Dean

Welcome to our Metivta, the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Founded as a rabbinical school, our programs have expanded to include a mekhina (preparatory) program and MPA (master of public administration) as well as semikhah (rabbinic ordination) studies. Founders of this metivta saw it as the primary step necessary for the fulfillment of their dream for a truly open-minded observant Jewish community. The creation of the Institute of Traditional Judaism, based on the motto emunah tzerufah v’yosher da’at - Genuine Faith and Intellectual Integrity - marks our attempt to create a new kind of rabbinic leader for the Jewish community. Steeped in classical rabbinical learning, with full commitment to Halakhah as it has been understood throughout the generations, our musmakhim face the broader Jewish community with love and respect.

During the three to five years a man learns here in preparation for his yoreh yoreh semikhah, he will of course study the materials traditionally required for ordination. He will also cover much additional gemara and posekim as well as studies in Tanakh and History, taught by superb scholars. But he will also be required to study the basics of counseling and will have a project in shimush bakehilah - practical service in the community. The person who completes the semikhah program at the Metivta should personify the combination of serious Jewish learning and ahavat yisrael, love of all Jews, regardless of their affiliation.

Anyone contemplating entrance to this school should do so only on the basis of the ideology of the institution, faculty, and approach to study we can provide. Do not apply because of our small class size or our lunch program. (We don’t have a lunch program - we are however, located near 20 kosher restaurants!) Don’t apply because of the dormitory facilities (To date we do not have any. We are, however, located near several garden apartment complexes where students often rent apartments). Do not apply because of the pleasant atmosphere of our Beit Midrash (this, along with small classes, we do have!).

Apply to the Metivta if you are the kind of person who is prepared to learn hard and are committed to serving the Jewish community as a learned person who will always continue learning, from the Torah texts, and from kol haberiyot, all people and things, in order to bring yourself and those whom you serve closer to ha-kadosh barukh hu, the Holy One Blessed Be He.

The Jewish community today needs leaders with vision. It needs both rabbis and educated lay people who are committed to bringing the Jewish community closer to Jewish living and learning. It needs rabbis and administrators who are excited about the possibility of working in yeshivot, day schools, community centers, Federations and on campuses, as well as in synagogues. It needs people committed to intellectual and spiritual growth, full of observance of Halakhah and a spirit of caring openness to others. The Metivta trains rabbis, through its Yoreh Yoreh semikhah Program, who are guided by these commitments. It trains rabbis who have a vision of Jewish communities that are committed to learning Torah, keeping Mitzvot, and embracing the larger world around them. The Metivta trains rabbis who seek to create and nurture communities in which all Jews can learn from one another.

Rabbi Ronald D. Price

Meet Our Faculty

Rabbi Gershon Bacon - Associate Professor of Jewish History, Bar Ilan University, where he occupies the Klein Chair for the History of the Rabbinate in Europe in Modern Times. Author of The Politics of Tradition. Agudat Yisrael in Poland 1916-1939. Member of UTJ's Panel of Halakhic Inquiry.

Rabbi David Halivni - Reish Metivta of the UTJ's Institute of Traditional Judaism. Recipient of Israel's highest award, Pras Yisrael (The Israel Prize), the coveted Bialik Prize and author of numerous books, including the eleven-volume commentary on the Talmud, Mekorot u'Mesorot (Sources and Traditions), and the inspiring Holocaust memoir, The Book and the Sword. He is considered by many to be the world's greatest living Talmudist. He was Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Classical Jewish Civilization at Columbia University and Chairman of its Department of Religion. He is currently teaching at Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University as well as serving as our Reish Metivta.

Rabbi Dr. Michael Kaplowitz - He is head of the Division of Consultation—Liaison Psychiatry at the New York Medical Center of Queens and has a private practice. He teaches Rabbinic counseling and is involved in special education projects for the Metivta.

Rabbi Leonard R. Levy - Received his Ph.D. in Jewish law and teaches Halakhah at the Metivta. Rabbi Levy chairs the UTJ Publications Committee

Rabbi David Novak - J. Richard and Dorothy Shiff Professor at the University of Toronto. A founder and Vice President of the UTJ, founding faculty member of the Metivta and coordinator of the UTJ's Panel of Halakhic Inquiry. Author of numerous volumes on Jewish law, ethics, and philosophy, and a renowned expert on interfaith dialogue. His latest books are The Jewish Social Contract: A Essay in Political Theology (Princeton University Press, 2005), and Talking with Christians: Musings of a Jewish Theologian (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005).

Rabbi Ronald D. Price - Executive Vice President of the UTJ and the Dean of the Metivta. Co-creator of "Taking the MTV Challenge", a Jewish response to pop culture, which is now taught in more than 300 educational institutions across the denominational spectrum. Also serves as spiritual leader of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Teaneck, NJ.

Hakham Isaac Sassoon - (The title "hakham" is the Sephardic equivalent of the Ashkenazic "rabbi".) A founding faculty member of the Institute of Traditional Judaism, he is the author of Ha-arev Na, a commentary on Torah, recently published in English. Hakham Sassoon studied at the Gateshead Yeshiva in England, and is knowledgeable of both Sephardic and Ashkenazic scholarship.

Rabbi Richard Wolpoe - Was ordained by Yeshiva University/Reits and graduate of Bernard Revel Graduate School, majoring in Jewish history. Rabbi Wolpoe is a pioneer on the "Jewish Internet" discussion groups such as UTJ-L and Aishdas Society's Avodah List.

Rabbi Alan J. Yuter - Faculty member of the ITJ and adjunct faculty member of Fairleigh Dickinson University where he teaches Judaic Studies. Author of many articles and papers on Jewish law and Jewish thought. Rabbi Yuter was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi M.D. Tendler, and the Israeli Sephardic Rabbinate, and holds a Ph.D. in Modern Hebrew Literature from New York University. He is the spiritual leader of B'nai Israel Congregation, the orthodox synagogue of downtown Baltimore, Maryland.

Mekhinah

This year-long program involves in-depth study of classical Jewish texts. The program is for those interested in a year of intensive beginner’s training in Jewish texts and observance. It also serves as a one-year preparatory program for those who wish to pursue semikhah. The Mekhinah Program is for both men and women, and can be on either a full-time or part-time basis. Acceptance is contingent upon completion of a written application and consent of the Dean.

The program has classes in Tanakh and Midrash, Talmud, Halakhah and Hebrew language, with the emphasis on developing skills in reading and understanding classical Hebrew texts.

Tuition is based upon the number of classes in which students choose to enroll.

Now in session and available for registration immediately:

Tuesday:

6:00-7:30PM EST Judaism from Within

Semester I – Shabbat / Semester II - Laws of Aveilut (Mourning)

After introducing the Jewish legal system through study of Sabbath laws, we will show how this system operates in dealing with end-of-life issues, exploring and evaluating the range of opinion and distinguishing between law, usage and folklore.

7:30-9:00PM EST Neviim Rishonim (Early Prophets)

Semester I - Joshua / Semester II - Judges

We will study these two works as religious literature, referencing the material culture and archaeological finds as relevant, exploring the perspective of classical Jewish and modern literary methodologies.

To be offered shortly

Sunday

10:00-11:00AM EST Topics in Jewish Law

Current Jewish issues will be presented from the perspectives of Jewish religious thought, contemporary Jewish politics and Talmudic legal theory. Participants will learn how to evaluate a Jewish legal opinion.

Wednesday

7:15-9:00PM EST Introduction to Judaism

Intended for candidates for Orthodox Jewish conversion but open to all seekers, we will survey the ideas, time-related observances and life-cycle events in Judaism.

Thursday

7:15-9:00PM EST Judaism from Without

Semester I – Ancient Near East

The course will survey the growth of culture, the emergence of Israel and the movement of ideas from the dawn of writing to the Greeks.

Semester II – the Book of Acts

How, when, and why the Church and Judaism split in the first century.

Semikhah

This course of study takes three to five years. Students with previous in-depth background in classical Jewish literature may be exempt from certain courses. The program focuses on the intensive study of Talmud, Halakhah, and Tanakh. Students also take shiurim in Jewish thought, theology, history, and practical rabbinics. All students are expected to complete a Master’s degree either before entrance to the program, or concurrent with their semikhah studies.

The semikhah Program is open to men who have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. After submission of an application, a semikhah Program candidate must have official college transcripts sent directly to the ITJ office. Once transcripts are received, a personal interview will be conducted and the candidate will be examined in his textual ability. He will then enter directly into the semikhah Program, or if his skill level is not appropriate, he may enter the Mekhinah Program.

The student will be expected to model his life on the values of the Jewish tradition as understood and practiced throughout the ages. He will be expected to keep both the ritual and ethical mitzvot (bein adam lamakom, bein adam lehavero). He must consider himself a living representative of the Jewish tradition to both the Jewish community and the community at large.

Advanced Semikhah

The Advanced semikhah Program which leads to the granting of yoreh yoreh semikhah. It is open only to individuals who have already received ordination but are looking for an enhanced yoreh yoreh semikhah.The primary focus of this program is the intensive study of Tractate Hullin of the Talmud and the Yoreh Deah section of the Tur and the Shuichan Aruch. The same standards of personal behavior expected in the semikhah Program are also expected in this program.

Master Of Public Administration

This is a joint program with Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, which offers a Master of Public Administration degree with a specialization in Jewish communal service. A Jewish educational background is not required to enter the program.

The required MPA courses offered by the Metivta deal with the structure and function of Jewish communal institutions, as well as the diverse religious ideologies found in the modern Jewish world. Courses include Public Policy & Administration, Fundraising & Grant Writing, Information Technology Management, Budgeting & Financial Management, Institutional & Communal Relations, and several others. In addition to providing a strong grounding in the core areas of management, the FDU/ITJ MPA program features carefully-designed courses specific to the Jewish community which tailor your credentials for Jewish communal management and administration.

Course Offerings

Tanakh

Parashat Hashavu’ah I - Bereshit - Survey of Narratives, Near Eastern materials. Introduction to Mikraot Gedolot and methods of Mepharshim

Parashat Hashavu’ah II - Shemot - Survey of narrative and legal portions. Intensive readings of commentaries of Mikraot Gedolot and super-commentaries on Mikraot Gedolot

Parashat Hashavu’ah III - Vayikra and Bamidbar - Cult in ancient Israel. Along with Mikraot Gedolot and Targumim

Parashat Hashavu’ah IV - Devarim - Covenant ideal in ancient Israel. Use of modern scholarship to understand critical, secular, and religious refractions of sacred literature. Introduction of contemporary traditional commentaries.

Tehillim - Study of the Psalms in an attempt to understand their meaning and relationship to teachings found elsewhere in the Tanakh. Extensive use of traditional and modern commentaries.

Talmud & Rabbinics

Basic Gemara - Introduction to the Mishnah the questions put to the Mishnah by the Gemara, technical terms, generations of rabbinic sages and mastery of the language and logic of Rashi. Emphasizing translating Talmudic text and the commentary of Rashi.

Intermediate Gemara - Introduction of Tosafot and other rishonim, organization of a sugya, Gemara as source of law, use of technical and secondary scholarly materials, such as Dikdukei Soferim by Rabbinovicz. Skills in translating Tosafot are emphasized. Prerequisite is facility in Talmudic Aramaic and ability to translate the commentary of Rashi. Tractates studied in the past include Sanhedrin, Kiddushin, Ketubot, Shabbat, Bava Metzia and Beitza.

Hullin - In preparation for learning Issur v‘Hetter the chapters Gid haNasheh and Kol haBasar are learned in-depth with Tosafot and Rishonim with special attention paid to halakhic issues which are prevalent in Yoreh Deah. This shiur is taken only after having mastered the methodology of Intermediate Gemara.

Advanced Gemara - Sources and Traditions in Talmudic writing. The evolution of the sugya. A critical analysis of the Talmudic sugya and close reading in selected medieval and modern commentaries. Prerequisite is facility in Talmudic Aramaic, ability to translate the commentaries of Rashi and Tosafot.

Gemara Yomi - Daily Gemara shiur which allows students to read and explain without prior preparation with a maggid shuir. The students are expected to review the texts covered.

Midrash Aggadah - Selections from a wide variety of aggadic midrashim. Special emphasis on theology in a polemic context in Bereshit Rabbah and the rabbinical “essay” in Vayikra Rabbah.

Midrash Halakhah - Selection from the halakhic midrashim and their place in the history of the Oral Torah. Special emphasis on Mechitza and Mekhilta Sifre.

Pesak / Jurisprudence

Orach Hayyim I - This shiur is an in-depth survey of seder hayom and hilchot tefilla through the Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries, with special emphasis on Mishnah Berurah.

Orach Hayyim II - Hilchot Shabbat. In addition to the Shulchan Aruch, readings are assigned in Hayyei Adam, Mishnah Berurah and Shemirat Shabbat Ke-Hilchatah.

Orach Hayyim III - The course focuses on the halakhot of the hagim and taaniyot. In addition to the Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries, students prepare with the Aruch haShulhan.

Darchey haHora’ah - This course focuses on the method of pesak halakhah. In explores how an individual posek comes to his conclusion, what is unique to each posek and what is (or should be) universal. This course is taught by a number of modern Jewish legal experts in order to provide the student with differing models of contemporary pesak halakhah.

Hilkhot Gerut - A detailed study of the institution of conversion to Judaism, especially the process of conversion itself, drawing from the Torah, Talmudic sources, codes and selected responsa (Rambam, David Zvi Hoffman, Moshe Feinstein). The emphasis of the course is on the various problems regarding conversion and converts a rabbi today is likely to encounter.

Issur v’Hetter - Ta‘arovot, Basar b‘halav and Melihah. This course deals with the basic issues of Kashrut. This class traces the issues in depth, from the Talmudic sources through the medieval commentators and the Shulchan Aruch. Special attention is paid to the Torat haBayit of the Rashbah, the Tur and Shulhan Aruch and its commentaries.

Hilkhot Niddah - This course deals with the laws pertaining to the rules of family purity. This class covers a selection of these laws, examining the basic sources in the Talmud and its commentaries. Special attention is paid to the Ba‘alei haNefesh of the Ra‘avad, the Torat haBayit of the Rashbah, the Tur and Shulchan Aruch and its commentaries.

Theology

Hashkafah - A weekly shiur with the Reish Metivta. Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni. He will communicate the aspirations of the founders of the school often through text and his own unique approach to its study.

Modern Jewish Thought - Readings from Jewish thinkers, with reference to classic and non-Jewish theologians of liberal (Kaplan, Geiger, Fackenheim) and traditional (Heschel, Soloveitchik, Hartman) approaches.

Sefer Ha‘lqqarim - A detailed study of the 15^th century systematic theological compendium of Rabbi Joseph Albo with special emphasis on its current significance.

Jewish History

Biblical History - A social, intellectual, and religious history of ancient Israel to the Hellenistic period.

Second Temple Period - Qumran, development of the Pharisaic sect, primitive Christianity and the emergence of the Mishnah documents.

Medieval History - Judaism of Babylon, Jewry in the orbits of Islam and Christianity. Modern Jewish History - Judaism and Nationalism, Holocaust, and Zionism.

Practical Rabbinics

Remedial Syngagoue Skills - Weekday, Shabbat, and Yom Tov nusah and/or taamei hamikra. Tutorials will be arranged.

Homiletics - Developing the d’var Torah. The instructor will use the text material being covered in other classes in teaching the student how to construct the text-based d’var Torah. A maximum effort will be made in developing the creative instinct of the student. The concept of “affect” of the spoken word will be emphasized. An understanding of the relationship of rabbi to his kehillah and how that affects what the rabbi preaches will be developed. Students will be expected to prepare and present divrei Torah which will be critiqued by fellow students and the instructor. When possible, they will also be videotaped and reviewed privately with the instructor for a deeper analysis.

Counseling - This course is designed to familiarize students with the various counseling opportunities they will potentially encounter in their professional careers. Topics include: developing a professional method in the counseling situation; recognizing various forms of psychopathology (depression, dementia, psychosis, suicidality, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and child psychopathology); developing a sense of value. Practical rabbinical counseling to aid families in distress, problems of aging, sickness, and death; learning when to refer a congregant to a mental health professional; and familiarization of the various mental health facilities in the community.

Field Experience - In addition to didactic education, exposure to various settings in which the rabbi is called upon to involve himself is crucial to the rabbi-in-training. A series of on-sight visits helps begin the practical education in rabbinical functioning. Field trips include: observing ritual meat preparation (slaughtering and salting); visitation to a hospital to interview patients and better understand the laws of bikur cholim; giving emotional support to the ill and their families, and the transitions through the mourning period; a visit to a house of mourning; attending a wedding and ketubah signing; attending a Belt Din and the signing of a get; conversion; and brit milah.

Life Cycle - This course aims to supply the rabbi in training with the ability to handle life cycle events: funerals, brit milah, bar mitzvah, wedding, old age (including living wills), and divorce.

Apply here!

Please contact our office for more information on the Mekhinah Program, the Semikhah Program, and the Advanced Semikhah Program as well as our co-sponsored Master of Public Administration degree with Fairlegh Dickenson University.

Call our office at (201)801-0707 ext 200 or fill out the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible

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