The Regina Jonas Seminary is part of a long and rich tradition of rabbinical education in Germany.
We train rabbis who serve Jewish communities and institutions of Liberal Judaism in Germany and Europe with competence and passion.
Teaching and studies focus on the richness of the biblical scriptures, rabbinic literature and Jewish tradition in synagogue and life practice from Sinai to the present day.
We are guided by our connection to the entirety of the Jewish community (Klal Yisrael) and the State of Israel; we are committed to the values of Torah study, Jewish solidarity, pluralism and egalitarian Judaism, interfaith dialog and social justice.
We recognize our responsibility for the religious, spiritual and ethical development of all our students.
We study the Megillot (biblical books), apocryphal, and rabbinic texts that underlie Jewish holidays and memorial days or are assigned to them as liturgical readings. The connection of these texts to the calendar, their liturgical use, and traditional and modern interpretations facilitate a deeper understanding of these sources. This course continues the course begun in the summer semester, but is also open to newcomers. In the winter semester, we will study Kohelet and Megilat Esther, as well as the books of Maccabees and sources for Tu B’Shvat.
This two-semester course examines the development of darshanut over the centuries and its role and influence in Jewish community life both inside and outside the synagogue. The literature used ranges from Torah to the challenges of modern times. Students will apply the techniques they have learned in a practical component.
In this course, students deal with the historical, structural and sociological characteristics of the Jewish community in Germany.
We learn about the main features of post-war history, the emergence of communities and Jewish institutions after the Shoah and their different conditions of existence in East and West Germany.
The development in unified Germany, the immigration of Jews from the former Soviet Union, the challenges, conflicts and changes lead up to the present day.
This course introduces students to their future professional environment and is taught in German.
The Hellenistic and Roman Period (2nd Temple period and Rabbinic Thought) marks the foundations of Post-Biblical Jewish thought: philosophy, mysticism, and midrash. The course will introduce to Philo’s thought and hermeneutics, early mystical approaches, and Rabbinic thought.
The course is adequate for rabbinical and cantorial students of the various seminars, as well as to students with strong primary acquaintance with rabbinic texts and an initial proficiency in Hebrew.
We will meet the three main branches of mediaeval Jewish Thought: religious rational philosophy (Maimonides), irrational religious philosophy (Yehudah Halevi), and Kabbalah (text from early Jewish mysticism and Zohar). Through these examples we will try to draw a tentative picture of mediaeval Jewish Thought’s legacy to modern Jewish discourse.
The course is adequate for rabbinical and cantorial students of the various seminars, as well as to students with strong primary acquaintance with Greek philosophy and an initial proficiency in Hebrew.
At the end of the semester, two-week block seminars on selected key topics take place in cooperation with other seminaries of the Levinson Foundation.
Other courses at the Regina Jonas Seminary (summer semester):
