our mission
The Academy for Jewish Religion serves the needs of the Jewish People by ordaining rabbis and cantors and training leaders. We affirm our commitment to a vibrant and inclusive Jewish pluralism; to an interweaving of sacred texts, critical inquiry, spiritual engagement, innovative approaches, and thoughtful creativity; to providing educational content to the Jewish public; to creating opportunities for dialogue with interfaith partners; and to meaningful engagement with the diverse spiritual, cultural, and historical dimensions of Israel – all grounded in Torah and a profound awareness of living in the presence of God.
AJR’ S COMMITMENT TO ZIONISM AFFIRMS THAT: Am Yisrael( The Jewish People) have a right to safe existence in our ancestral homeland.
Eretz Yisrael( The Land of Israel) and Hibat Tzion( yearning for the ancestral Jewish homeland) are central pillars of our theology, history, and sacred texts.
Medinat Yisrael,( the State of Israel) is a modern, diverse Jewish nation-state and the expression of the Jewish people’ s self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Israel’ s Declaration of Independence describes Israel as“ based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.” We embrace this vision and yearn and work for its complete fulfillment.
Tzelem Elohim( the image of God) – the Biblical concept affirming that all human beings are inherently unique, deserving of dignity, and equally precious – is a foundational value.
144 AJR 2026