Sulam Yaakov - Semicha Program

At Sulam Yaakov, we strive to make Halacha more accessible to the student, focusing in particular on the necessary, practical knowledge. In the field, a Rabbi will encounter numerous Halachic questions, thus, he requires the knowledge and the skills to provide basic Halachic determinations and to recognize more complex questions to refer to a higher authority. Through a comprehensive curriculum focused on a basic working level of the material, we enable the student to expand his knowledge and hone his skills.

Sulam Yaakov Semicha students study Halacha three hours a day, five days a week. The content of the Semicha course comprises the classic areas Kashrut, the laws of Shabbat and family relations. Courses in the laws of marriage, mourning and the synagogue follow a seminar format. Testing throughout the process ensures knowledge retention. Our students are encouraged to take the Semicha examinations of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate.

Prominent Halachic authorities teach our Halacha courses.

Beit Midrash

Three other tracks of study provide content and meaning in other areas of Torah. Each track follows a one-year program with three hours of daily study. We stive to provide our students with a spiritual perspective on whatever they study, to appreciate the profundity of the material and identify themes relevant to anyone they may teach. All content is taught at the highest academic and rabbinical levels.

Torah Shebichtav – An overview of the entire Tanach with insight into its deeper meanings. Students will gain a literary perspective of the Torah and acquire a methodology allowing them to teach Tanach to a broad audience.

Torah Sheba'al Peh –Developing Talmud study skills and acquiring a broad base of knowledge in the Oral Tradition. Students will acquire the tools to identify the deeper themes in the material, and learn how to deliver those insights to others through their own teaching.

Machshava – The study of Jewish thought, from classical Jewish philosophy to modern Jewish thought, connecting the ideas to life. Through experiencing the impact of the Jewish thought, they will become adept at introducing others to its spiritual and philosophical power.

Leadership Skills

Through master classes, leading and world-renowned practitioners in the areas of outreach and Jewish Education will train Sulam Yaakov's students.

Practical workshops in communication, facilitation, teaching, and public speaking skills will enable students to deliver presentations, classes and sermons while receiving feedback from their peers and professional trainers. Mandatory fieldwork for all participants will give them hands-on experience in a controlled environment.

Participants will undergo training in rabbinic counseling and personal coaching techniques to prepare them as a general spiritual resource for the communities they will serve.

Sulam Yaakov students will study networking, marketing and fundraising, thus providing them with practical skills for use in Jewish organizational work. These introductory level courses provide a well-rounded and sophisticated vision of public organizational life.

Mentoring and Practicum

Sulam Yaakov exists within a living, breathing Jerusalem community. Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, the program founder, director and Rosh Beit Midrash, is the Rabbi of Congregation Kol Rina, a vibrant and dynamic community not far from Sulam Yaakov. Our students will have the opportunity to actively participate in leading services, communal meals, and conducting weddings and life cycle events.

In partnership with local community centers, students will create and deliver programs as part of their training, contributing to the local community and gaining them valuable experience for future positions. In addition, the program provides each student with a mentor to guide them in developing their own professional development program, and lifetime professional goals.