/Institutions/Hebrew-Union-College-Jewish-Institute-of-Religion/json/current/Academic-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Hebrew-Union-College-Jewish-Institute-of-Religion/json/current/Academic-Catalog.json

Institutional Overview

Institutional Overview: A Legacy Institution with a Distinguished History

Hebrew Union College is an international center of applied Jewish wisdom with a global reach that strives to create vibrant, inclusive, and respectful communities of learning. In-person and online. Our academic programs serve as laboratories for spiritual exploration, academic inquiry, and cultural creativity.

As the oldest institution of Jewish higher learning in the Western Hemisphere, Hebrew Union College was founded in Cincinnati in 1875 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, the architect of the institutions of American Reform Judaism, to educate rabbis able to provide progressive, enlightened, and modern spiritual leadership for the American pulpit. In 1922, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, the renowned advocate of social justice and Zionism, founded the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York as a nondenominational seminary. The two seminaries training liberal rabbis merged in 1950 and became Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC). A Los Angeles location opened in 1954, and in 1963 the foundation was laid for what is now the Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem. From these four campuses, HUC has been educating generations of Jewish leaders — rabbis, cantors, educators, and Jewish nonprofit professionals — as well as scholars and pastoral counselors.

Mission Statement

Our mission statement, most recently revised in 2017, serves as the foundation for our work:

HUC is North America’s premier institution of Jewish higher education and the center for professional leadership development of Reform Judaism. A multicampus academic and spiritual learning community, HUC builds vibrant progressive Judaism in North America, Israel, and around the globe by:

• Studying the great issues of Jewish life, history, and thought with an open, egalitarian, inclusive, and pluralistic spirit;
• Educating innovative, visionary clergy and professionals who embody the sustaining values, responsibilities, practices, and texts of Jewish tradition to inspire future generations; and
• Advancing the critical study of Judaism and Jewish culture in accordance with the highest standards of modern academic scholarship.

Programs of Study

HUC’s current programs of study include:

• Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music (DFSSM), with the Year-In-Israel Program in Jerusalem (year 1) and the remainder of the program (years 2-5) on the New York campus;
• Rabbinical School, with two options for the North American program: a Campus-based Pathway that involves the Year-In-Israel (year 1) in Jerusalem and North American programs for years 2-5 currently in Cincinnati (until 2026), Los Angeles, and New York, and a Virtual Pathway for second career students unable to participate in the residential program; and the Israel Rabbinical Program (IRP)
• Pines School of Graduate Studies, with residential MA-JS and PhD programs based in Cincinnati (sunsetting and no longer accepting new students) and a non-residential DHL for select alumni;
• School of Education, which offers advanced degrees for residential early career Jewish educators and clergy students (MEdL), an online program for mid-career Jewish educational leaders (Executive MA), and educational offerings for Jewish Day educators (DeLeT Certificate and MAT);
• Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management, which offers online programs that prepare students to lead the business of Jewish life (Master of Arts, Jewish Nonprofit Management; Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Innovation; Certificate in Jewish Organizational Leadership)

HUC has a large Jewish studies faculty, with 30 tenure-track faculty and other full-time and adjunct instructors, many of whom are internationally recognized for their scholarship, teaching, mentorship, and service to their fields. HUC is also renowned for its academic resources, which include the Klau Library system, which houses the largest collection of Hebraica and Judaica outside of Israel; the American Jewish Archives (AJA), one of the world’s largest archives of Jewish Americana; the Skirball Museum in Cincinnati and Dr. Bernard Heller Museum in New York; and the HUC Press.

The Taube Family Campus in Jerusalem houses the Year-In-Israel Program, the Israel Rabbinical Program, Rikma Program in Pluralistic Jewish Education with an MA in Education from the Hebrew University, Teachers’ Lounge and Democracy Labs, and the Blaustein Center for Pastoral Care. Louchheim School for Judaic Studies, the undergraduate program leading to a BA or a minor in Jewish Studies at the University of Southern California;

Dormitories and Housing

Hebrew Union College is not a residential campus and does not provide housing accommodations. The institution does not offer dormitory facilities for students, nor does the institution find or assist students in finding housing.

Average housing monthly rental costs near HUC's US-based campuses at the time of catalog publication are:

• Cincinnati: $1,000-$1,700
• Los Angeles: $1,600-$4,500
• New York: $3,300-$7,000

Campuses & Facilities

Hebrew Union College is a global, multi‑campus academic and spiritual learning community, with locations in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem. Together, these four campuses serve as interconnected centers of Jewish leadership development, scholarship, cultural creativity, and community engagement, grounded in the values of inclusive and progressive Reform Judaism. Each campus' facilities include instructional, library, administrative, and student‑support facilities essential to the delivery of HUC's degree programs.

Cincinnati Campus

Established in 1875 as the historic birthplace of HUC, the Cincinnati campus stands as a vital center for Jewish learning, research, and cultural preservation. Located on seven acres, the campus features green spaces and distinctive architecture that foster reflection, inquiry, and spiritual growth. Its renowned facilities, including the Klau Library, the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, and the Skirball Museum, create a scholarly environment that attracts researchers, students, and community members from around the world. The city’s vibrant arts, culture, and outdoor amenities provide an enriching backdrop for academic and spiritual exploration.

• Klau Library: The largest of HUC’s libraries, containing over 530,000 printed volumes, 1,200 periodical subscriptions, manuscript collections, rare books, microfilm, digital images, and non‑book materials (e.g., maps, slides, sound recordings). Facilities include reading rooms, rare‑book storage, study areas, and exhibition spaces.
• Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives: Located in the former Bernheim Library Building, this center houses extensive archival collections documenting American Jewish history and includes specialized storage, research rooms, and staff work areas.
• Skirball Museum: Provides gallery spaces for permanent and rotating exhibitions and supports academic coursework involving museum collections.
• Classroom & Office Facilities: The campus includes classrooms, seminar rooms, faculty offices, and administrative suites supporting programs in rabbinical studies, history, thought, liturgy, pastoral care, and related disciplines.

New York Campus

Located in one of the world’s great urban centers, the New York campus embodies the dynamic intersection of Jewish learning, culture, and contemporary life. As part of HUCs long‑standing presence in the city, the campus supports advanced academic programs and serves as a hub of creativity, intellectual engagement, and interreligious collaboration. Situated amid New York’s diverse neighborhoods, the campus provides access to world‑class cultural institutions, synagogues, museums, and community organizations. Its environment encourages students to explore Jewish leadership and tradition within the context of a global metropolis.

• Library Facilities: Access to the New York branch of the HUC library system, containing materials supporting rabbinical, educational, and cantorial studies.
• Classroom & Office Facilities: The campus includes classroom & seminar rooms for instruction as well as offices for faculty, academic administration, and program coordination.

Los Angeles Campus

Set adjacent to the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles campus blends academic rigor with the diversity of Southern California. The campus environment reflects the region’s openness and innovation, featuring collaborative spaces, cultural programming, and proximity to major arts, media, and educational institutions. Ongoing renovations and modernization efforts aim to enhance natural light, technology infrastructure, and overall learning spaces, ensuring the campus continues to inspire future leaders.

• Frances-Henry Library: Provides circulating and reference collections supporting all on‑site programs and the USC‑HUC academic partnership.
• Classroom & Office Facilities: This campus includes multiple classrooms, seminar rooms, lecture spaces, and faculty offices supporting graduate‑level and professional training programs. The campus facilities are used jointly with USC through long‑standing academic partnerships.

Jerusalem Campus

Ideally situated in the spiritual and cultural heart of Israel, the Jerusalem campus serves as HUC’s gateway to global Jewish life. Established in 1963, this campus is home to the Year‑In‑Israel Program, the Israel Rabbinical Program, and the Taube Family Campus, which includes archaeological research centers, educational initiatives, and pastoral counseling programs.
The campus’s unique setting, rich with historic, religious, and scholarly significance, provides students with immersive experiences in contemporary Israeli society, Jewish tradition, and interreligious dialogue. Its libraries, museums, and archaeological resources make it a welcoming destination for international visitors, scholars, and community partners.

• Library and Cultural Facilities: This campus features the Jerusalem branch of the HUC library system, housing research materials for students and faculty as well as cultural and educational centers within the Taube Family Campus offering community programming and visitor services.
• Classroom and Office Facilities: This campus includes classrooms, seminar rooms, and faculty offices. The campus also supports archaeological research spaces connected to the campus’s historical focus on biblical archaeology.

A Unified Learning Community

Together, the four campuses of Hebrew Union College create a vibrant, interconnected academic and spiritual network across North America and Israel. Each campus offers its own distinctive environment, yet all share a commitment to pluralism, scholarship, leadership development, and the flourishing of Reform Judaism in communities worldwide.