An Academy for Liberal Judaism to train and ordain Liberal rabbis in a four-year course in New York has been established, it was announced here today. Between 1922 and 1953 a full Liberal rabbinic course was offered at the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, but since the merger of Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati with the JIR. Reform rabbinic students spend their third, fourth and fifth years of study at the Cincinnati institution, and are ordained there.
Director of the new Academy is Dr. Louis I. Newman, Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. Rabbi David Neiman, of the Community Reform Temple, is secretary. Chairman of the executive committee is Jacob S. Manheimer, former president of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. Ira Frank, president of the Free Synagogue, is vice-chairman of the executive.
The Academy will be opened with a public ceremony next month. Students will be divided into two categories: pre-rabbinic and graduate rabbinic candidates. Ordination will be awarded at the completion of four years of graduate work or its equivalent. The faculty will include a group of visiting professors and instructors.
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