CCJ Foundational Principles

The College for Contemporary Judaism exists to educate the next generation of rabbis. CCJ will recruit, educate, and empower worthy candidates who are devoted to leading, teaching, and serving the Jewish people.

CCJ’s graduates will be well prepared for the contemporary rabbinate. CCJ’s distinctive curriculum will offer this new generation of rabbis the authenticity, knowledge, and skills needed to meet the myriad challenges that confront American Jewry today.

The school’s faculty and curriculum will be fully committed to the school’s distinctive mission and its foundational principles, including:

A genuine commitment to modern expressions of faith, the eternal search for God, transcendent meaning, and religious values, recognizing that throughout the course of history, Jewish thought has embraced diverse paths and practices as an expression of our people’s search for meaning–individually and collectively.

A recognition that reason and the modern critical study of classical Jewish texts furnish us with the resources we need to gain a meaningful understanding of Judaism’s religious, spiritual, and cultural heritage. Knowledge of our past is an essential tool for addressing contemporary issues and challenges.

An awareness that Judaism’s sacred literature–the Hebrew Scriptures and the writings of the ancient rabbis–and their ongoing interpretation by sages, philosophers, mystics, historians, and teachers–are a product of their respective times. The spiritual significance of these immortal works is enhanced and enlarged when they are studied in their historical and cultural contexts and then applied to contemporary needs and realities.

A recognition that throughout the course of Jewish history, religious observance, rituals, customs, and spiritual practices have always been creatively adapted to the needs of the times to enhance their meaning for each generation of Jews, balancing innovation with the spirit of Jewish tradition and its core values.

A commitment to the centrality of Jewish peoplehood across time and geography coupled with an affirmation of mutual solidarity between Israel and the rest of world Jewry.

A deep commitment to the principles of personal autonomy, including life choices, and social responsibility grounded in the teachings of the Hebrew Prophets and the rich interpretive and lived ethical tradition through the ages.

A dedication to gender equality and equal opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

A commitment to the vital role that rabbis and learned teachers, grounded in Judaism’s ethical and moral precepts, must play in the perpetuation of Jewish life and the betterment of society.

A commitment to free expression and viewpoint diversity within an appropriate code of conduct, with an emphasis on civil discourse.

A commitment to creating a culture of connection, belonging, and enduring friendships; partnership and teamwork among faculty, students, and staff; and ethical behavior among all involved.

A commitment to the highest levels of academic standards and applied learning, and to continuous adaptation and improvement.