Rabbinical Seminary International

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The Rabbinical Seminary International (RSI) is a rabbinical seminary located in Elmsford, New York. [1] RSI was founded in 1955 by the Hungarian Hasidic rabbi and Kabbalist Dr. Joseph H. Gelberman, a graduate of City University of New York and Yeshiva University, who is also known as a pioneer in inter-religious dialogue. [2] The Rabbinical Seminary International is a trans-denominational rabbinical seminary in the Neo-Hasidic tradition; it prepares students to "serve as a teacher, counselor, worship facilitator, spiritual healer and teacher of the faith".

The course of study at RSI is self-guided with students provided reading lists and guides for studying under one or two rabbi mentors. Students can complete their training in as little as one year; the average time to receive a semikhah is two years. This is far more rapid than the traditional five to six years of study for prospective rabbis.

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References

  1. Dashefsky, Arnold; Sheskin, Ira M. (2020-07-02). American Jewish Year Book 2019: The Annual Record of the North American Jewish Communities Since 1899. Springer Nature. p. 486. ISBN   978-3-030-40371-3.
  2. "Know Your Seminary: Rabbinical Seminary International - Woodstock Jewish Congregation". 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2023-01-10.