Job opportunities for rabbis are expected in all four major branches of Judaism through the year 2012. Rabbis willing to work in small, underserved communities should have the best prospects.
Graduates of Orthodox seminaries who seek pulpits should have opportunities as growth in enrollments slows and as many graduates seek alternatives to the pulpit. Rapidly expanding membership is expected to create employment opportunities for Reconstructionist rabbis. Conservative and Reform rabbis should have job opportunities serving congregations or in other settings because of the large size of these two branches of Judaism.
.To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary. Entrance requirements and the curriculum depend upon the branch of Judaism with which the seminary is associated. Most seminaries require applicants to be college graduates.
Jewish seminaries typically take 5 years for completion of studies, with an additional preparatory year required for students without sufficient grounding in Hebrew and Jewish studies. In addition to the core academic program, training generally includes fieldwork and internships providing hands-on experience and, in some cases, study in Jerusalem. Seminary graduates are awarded the title Rabbi and earn the Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters degree. After more advanced study, some earn the Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree.
In general, the curricula of Jewish theological seminaries provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible, the Torah, rabbinic literature, Jewish history, Hebrew, theology, and courses in education, pastoral psychology, and public speaking. Students receive extensive practical training in dealing with social problems in the community. Training for alternatives to the pulpit, such as leadership in community services and religious education, is increasingly stressed. Some seminaries grant advanced academic degrees in such fields as biblical and Talmudic research. All Jewish theological seminaries make scholarships and loans available.
Major rabbinical seminaries include the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, which educates rabbis for the Conservative branch; the Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion, which educates rabbis for the Reform branch; and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, which educates rabbis in the newest branch of Judaism. Orthodox rabbis may be trained at The Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and the Beth Medrash Govoha Seminary. The number of Orthodox seminaries is relatively high, but the number of students attending each seminary is low. In all cases, rabbinic training is rigorous. When students have become sufficiently learned in the Torah, the Bible, and other religious texts, they may be ordained with the approval of an authorized rabbi, acting either independently or as a representative of a rabbinical seminary.
Newly ordained rabbis usually begin as spiritual leaders of small congregations, assistants to experienced rabbis, directors of Hillel Foundations on college campuses, teachers in educational institutions, or chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces. As a rule, experienced rabbis fill the pulpits of large, well-established Jewish congregations.
.Persons who are interested in becoming rabbis should discuss their plans with a practicing rabbi. Information on the work of rabbis and allied occupations can be obtained from:
They conduct religious services and deliver sermons on the Sabbath and on Jewish holidays. Rabbis serving large congregations may spend considerable time in administrative duties, working with their staffs and committees. Some of their duties are intellectual and sedentary, such as studying religious texts, researching and writing sermons and articles for publication, and preparing lectures for adult education. Training and Other Qualifications To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary. The former requires a bachelor's degree for entry and has a formal 4-year ordination program.
Summary of: http://senior.billings.k12.mt.us/jobs/OOHB0076.htm
The format of the worship service and, therefore, the ritual that the rabbi uses may vary even among congregations belonging to the same branch of Judaism. Rabbis report directly to the board of trustees of the congregation they serve. Rabbis also may write for religious and lay publications and teach in theological seminaries, colleges and universities. Most seminaries require applicants to be college graduates. Lauderdale Florida-Ft.
Summary of: http://jobprofiles.monster.com/Content/job_content/JC_education__social_service__and_non_profit/JSC_ReligiousWorkers/JOB_Rabbi/jobzilla_html?jobprofiles=1
The Congress of Jewish Women, organized by Hannah G. Solomon, is held in conjunction with the Parliament. The HUC faculty and the Central Conference of American Rabbis conclude that there is no reason not to ordain women, but the HUC Board of Governors maintains the policy of ordaining only men as rabbis. There are only 37 Reform women rabbis with the requisite experience making them eligible to become senior rabbi of a congregation of more than 900 members . Three years earlier, there were only 7 women rabbis who were so eligible.
Summary of: http://www.loyno.edu/~wessing/docs/KeyDatesJudaism.html
Job opportunities for rabbis are expected in all four major branches of Judaism through the year 2010. Regardless of the branch of Judaism they serve or their individual points of view, all rabbis preserve the substance of Jewish religious worship. Those serving large congregations may spend considerable time in administrative duties, working with their staffs and committees. Rabbis also may write for religious and lay publications and teach in theological seminaries, colleges, and universities. Entrance requirements and the curriculum depend upon the branch of Judaism with which the seminary is associated.
Summary of: http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/ooh20022003/ocos062.htm
The role of the rabbi has undergone a number of transformations. In the Talmudic period, rabbis were primarily teachers and interpreters of the Torah. They developed the liturgy, calendar, and other aspects of post-Temple Judaism. Orthodox rabbis have to some extent also taken on such duties, although they continue to stress the traditional roles of judging, teaching, and studying Torah. The role of rabbis within Jewish communities has been and continues to be multifaceted.
Summary of: http://www.answers.com/topic/rabbi
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise founds Hebrew Union College (Reform) in Cincinnati, and encourages women to attend. However, they cannot be ordained as rabbis. The Jewish Theological Seminary (Conservative) is founded to train rabbis. The Congress of Jewish Women continues after the Parliament as the National Council of Jewish Women (Reform), the first national Jewish women's organization, with Hannah G. The issue of ordaining a woman rabbi is first raised by Martha Neumark, a student at the Hebrew Union College (Reform) and daughter of a HUC professor.
Summary of: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/judaism/FAQ/05-Worship/section-21.html
Regardless of their particular point of view, all preserve the substance of Jewish religious worship. Rabbis have a large amount of independence compared to other clergy since there is no formal hierarchy in their religion. Rabbis also may write for religious and lay publications and teach in theological seminaries, colleges, and universities. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary. The former requires a bachelor's degree for entry and has a formal 4-year ordination program.
Summary of: http://www2.jobtrak.com/help_manuals/outlook/ocos062.html
Graduates of Jewish seminaries have excellent job prospects, reflecting current unmet needs for rabbis and the need to replace the many rabbis approaching retirement age. Nature of the Work Rabbis serve Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Jewish congregations. Regardless of the branch of Judaism they serve or their individual points of view, all rabbis preserve the substance of Jewish religious worship. Some, particularly in voluntary nonprofit agencies, work part time. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement To become eligible for ordination as a rabbi, a student must complete a course of study in a seminary.
Summary of: http://guide.symplicity.com/resources/profession_article.php?id=91
Yoffie, President Where have all the rabbis gone. And the Jewish educators. A number of large congregations did not fill their assistant rabbi positions this year, and our smaller congregations are increasingly unable to find any rabbis at all. But it is inevitable that women students and men students will decide to marry each other, with the result often being that only one spouse can choose a congregational position. Reform synagogues want Jewish professionals who are trained in the philosophy and practice of Reform Judaism, and we must do everything in our power to respond to their wishes.
Summary of: http://urj.org/yoffie/archive/rabbis/