Jewish Theological Seminary of America (no-board)

The Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) is an academic center for the study of Judaism, ranking as the 46th school in the United States. Located in New York City, JTS is a private not-for-profit that offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorates. It’s made up of five schools including the Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies, Gershon Kekst Graduate School, William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, the H.L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music, and The Rabbinical School.

Rabbis Dr. Sabato Morais and Dr. H. Pereia Mendes founded The Jewish Theological Seminary in 1886 in an effort to preserve historical Judaism. The first class was made up of ten students and was held at the oldest congregation in New York City, the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue. Today, the seminary consists of the five schools, a summer school, a high school, five research institutes, community education programs, and a world renowned library.

The Albert A. List College of Jewish Studies, or List College, is the undergraduate school at JTS. The school works in partnerships with Columbia University and Barnard College, offering dual degree programs while students study Judaics. Founded in 1909, the college was originally known as the Teachers’ Institute, with a focus on training Jewish educators. It was one of the first schools where women could study Judaics at a college level. In 1986, the name was changed to List College thanks to a large donation to school. Now, students follow a number of different career paths, not only limited to Jewish education.

JTS’s motto is וְהַסְּנֶה אֵינֶנּוּ אֻכָּל , or “And the bush was not consumed” Exodus 3:2, with a seal featuring the burning bush. Alumni have included a number of well-known names in the Jewish community including Amy Eilberg, Neil Gillman, Jonathan A. Goldstein, David M. Gordis, Hershel Matt, and Mordecai Waxman. Today, the school has approximately 320 students attend.