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Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Receives Accreditation as an Israeli Academic Institution
by Israel's Council for Higher Education
enabling it to Grant Israeli Master's Degree in Jewish Studies
July 5, 2005
The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem has received official recognition as an Israeli academic institution by Israel's Council for Higher Education which enables it to grant Israeli Master's Degrees in Jewish Studies. For the last fifteen years, from 1990, the Schechter Institute acted as a branch of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, conferring degrees through JTS.
"Receiving recognition from Israel's Council for Higher Education indicates the contribution the Schechter Institute is making to Israeli higher education in the field of Jewish Studies as well as its contribution to Israeli society at large," said Prof. David Golinkin, President of the Schechter Institute.
Shimon Arbel, Director General of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, added that in the past year the institute has registered a large increase in the number of student applications to the school. "In response to the growing demand to study in our institution, we have embarked on a building campaign which will significantly increase the size of our Jerusalem campus. Israeli architect Ada Karmi was selected to design the new campus by an international panel of judges and campus plans are well underway," summed up Arbel.
The Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies is one of the leading institutions of Jewish studies in Israel. Schechter offers a wide and unique selection of specialized MA tracks in Jewish Studies. Alongside the classical Jewish areas of study such as Talmud, Bible, Jewish Law and Jewish Philosophy, Schechter offers interdisciplinary Jewish Studies tracks that combine with Family and Community Studies, Judaism and the Arts and Women's Studies.
Over four hundred students learn at the Schechter Institute. Coming from throughout Israel, students can condense their studies into two full days a week, enabling them to continue in their professions while earning an MA degree in two years. For most of the students, their study at Schechter is a first introduction to the different streams in Judaism. Most of the Schechter student body is involved in teaching, education and community services. Schechter has been able to create a warm and inclusive environment of religious pluralism that its more than 700 graduates take back to their respective work place and home communities.
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