AJRCA was founded in 2000 by rabbis who recognized that there was an urgent need to produce a new kind of Jewish spiritual leader; one who could effectively serve the 21st century American Jewish community in all its diversity including those who are unaffiliated. Determined to create the highest caliber institution, our founders recruited an illustrious faculty representing all of Judaism’s denominations, highly accomplished students and dedicated community leaders. By 2006, our student body had grown so substantially that we moved our campus to the Yitzhak Rabin Hillel Center for Jewish Life at UCLA in the beautiful Westwood area of Los Angeles.
Today the Academy, which consists of a Rabbinical School, a Cantorial School, and a Chaplaincy School, has become an essential institution in service to the Jewish community. Our alumni are being hired by denominational and transdenominational institutions nationwide. They are leading established congregations and founding new ones, serving as the spiritual leaders of day schools, directing religious schools, heading chaplaincy organizations, teaching at universities, etc. Most importantly, they are transforming the Jewish communities in which they serve.
Together, the rich life experience and maturity of our students, the diverse expertise of our faculty, and the uniqueness of our curriculum and training have created an environment and community that is intellectually, personally and professionally dynamic, enriching and supportive.
