Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) stands as the international seminary for Reform Judaism, a pioneering institution dedicated to training future generations of rabbis, cantors, educators, and leaders in Jewish non-profit management. With a rich history spanning over 145 years, HUC-JIR offers a vibrant, multi-campus experience across Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem, providing a comprehensive and deeply engaging educational journey for those committed to Jewish life and scholarship.

Founded in Cincinnati in 1875 by the visionary Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, HUC-JIR has been at the forefront of significant developments in American Judaism. Its early history includes the pivotal 1883 "Trefa Banquet," an event that, while controversial, helped shape the trajectory of American Conservative Judaism. The college expanded significantly through its 1950 merger with the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, followed by additional campuses in Los Angeles (1954) and Jerusalem (1963). HUC-JIR is particularly renowned for its progressive stance, proudly ordaining Sally Priesand as the first female rabbi in the U.S. in 1972, and later ordaining Naamah Kelman as the first female rabbi in Israel, and a nonbinary candidate in 2022.

Academically, HUC-JIR offers a wide array of programs beyond its foundational Rabbinical School, including Schools of Graduate Studies, Education, Jewish Non-Profit Management, and the esteemed Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Students can also pursue a program in Biblical Archaeology and an Israeli rabbinical program. The Los Angeles campus benefits from a long-standing collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC), which includes the co-creation of the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement, an interfaith think tank fostering understanding and dialogue.

Prospective students will find a dynamic and evolving institution. For instance, the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music offers a unique five-year graduate program that begins with a foundational year in Jerusalem before continuing in New York, integrating intensive Jewish music, liturgy, and professional development. While the residential rabbinical program in Cincinnati is slated to close by 2026, HUC-JIR's New York campus is also undergoing a significant transition, having sold its West 4th Street building for $75 million to New York University and planning a relocation to a new Manhattan building by 2027, ensuring its continued presence and impact in the heart of Greenwich Village.