Rabbinical students entering Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will spend their first year in Israel concentrating on the study of the Hebrew language and literature, Dr. Nelson Glueck, president of the Reform theological seminary announced today. He said the innovation in rabbinical training would begin with the 1970-71 academic year which all first year students will spend at the HUC-JIR school in Jerusalem.
Dr. Glueck said that “a full command of Hebrew is and will always remain the foundation of rabbinic training. We now expect our rabbinic students to gain that basic command in the Hebrew language environment of Israel.” He observed that “one cannot be a rabbi without being deeply immersed in the life and spirit of Israel. The year in Israel for our rabbinic students will insure that every Reform rabbi whom we will ordain will possess a close knowledge of Israel” and “will further enrich and deepen the strong ties between American Reform Judaism and the land and ideals of Israel.”
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