NEO-HASIDIC SEMIKHAH CLASS WITH RABBI ARTHUR (AVRAHAM YITSHAK) GREEN
A two-year, weekly Zoom class, meeting on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm EST. The first hour will be a “master class” in reading Hasidic sources in the original Hebrew and discussing ways of “translating” them into a neo-hasidic language that will work for seekers in our day. The second portion of each session will feature open student-led discussion from Rabbi Green’s writings or another contemporary text. Class size will be limited so as to permit conversation.
BACKGROUND
As is well known, the migration of rabbinic ordination from the individual teacher-student relationship to institutions of rabbinic learning was a 19th century innovation. “Private semikhah,” the conferring of rabbinic ordination from teacher to student, still exists in the Orthodox community and has had a small revival in contemporary wider Jewish circles, largely through the efforts of our teacher R. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z”l. Over the years, I too have given semikhah to a few highly qualified people, and I take great pride in them. I generally refrained from doing so, however, so as not to compete with institutions to which I was committed.
Now that I am retired from Hebrew College, my hands are no longer tied in that way. I am very grateful to know that there are rabbis and rabbinical students out there who have read my works or have studied with me and consider themselves part of the neo-hasidic path in approaching Judaism. I would like to offer a small number of them the opportunity to receive my personal semikhah as a way of affirming their place within this neo-hasidic lineage of transmission.
I am not starting a new rabbinical school! This semikhah will be available only to those who already have rabbinic ordination from another recognized program. Current rabbinical students may participate, but they will only receive my semikhah after they are ordained elsewhere. The semikhah document (not yet written) will refer specifically to ability to teach and carry on the traditions of Hasidism for our age. It makes no claim to halakhic authority.
QUALIFICATION AND PREPARATION
The course is open to ordained rabbis and to current rabbinic students. A high level of fluency in reading rabbinic Hebrew, as well as some prior familiarity with the language of Kabbalah and Hasidism, is assumed. Highly qualified non-rabbis, having the needed skills, may apply to take the course on an ad hoc basis, but will not be candidates for semikhah. Texts will be distributed in advance of class and preparation will be expected, so that the sources can be read smoothly and without need to translate fully. You should find a hevruta partner within the group to prepare texts together.
GOAL
The creation of a neo-hasidic revival of Judaism to spread throughout the Jewish world, bringing together Jews of all denominations and Jews in Israel and throughout the diaspora who share a dedication ‘avodat ha-shem and the cultivation of the inner life. This begins with our shared love of Hasidic teachings, including their understandings of torah and tefillah, but extending outward to an attitude toward all of life. This is a Judaism that is mystical and devotional in its focus, sharing the joy of ahavat torah, ahavat yisra’el, and ahavat ha-briot.
The hope is that alumni of this program will carry forward the torch I received from my teachers and will work to create communities around their own understandings of these values. In the broadest sense, all of these are our way of seeking to rebuild our deeply broken civilization, awakening sparks of light within ourselves and all around us, and working toward the salvation of humanity and the much-threatened planet on which we live.
SEMIKHAH PROJECT
In the fourth semester of this learning (Spring, 2024), each hevruta will be asked to create a project that they present (orally or in writing) as preparation for their semikhah.
MEETINGS
In addition to our weekly classes, we will meet together in a retreat setting for three or four weekdays in June of 2023, and again for a retreat and semikhah ceremony in June of 2024. Dates will be announced ASAP.
COST
There will be a charge of $25 per session for participation in this class. Payment arrangements will be online or by check for blocks of ten classes. Reduced fees will be possible, especially for current rabbinical students who are already paying high tuitions. Rabbis, who are able, are welcome to contribute to make such scholarships possible.
REGISTRATION
If you are interested in reserving a place in this class, please click here. If we are not previously acquainted, I will ask you to follow up your registration with a brief Zoom interview/conversation. I will be in touch with you to arrange that.
If (as I suspect) there are more applications to join this group than there are places available, I shall have to make choices. I will give some preference to younger people. I ask your mehilah and understanding in advance if you are not chosen. With God’s help, I hope to offer this opportunity to another group, beginning two years hence.
SPREADING THE WORD
Please share this notice with others who are qualified and might be especially interested. Thanks!