Save the date

Once every four years, we celebrate those who have achieved rabbinic ordination—the future leadership of the Orthodox Jewish community

Learn more

Sunday, March 7, 2010 • 21 Adar 5770

Chag Hasemikhah Dinner 09

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Beni Krohn
Semikhah student

Beni Krohn thumbThe atmosphere at RIETS has allowed me to focus on my personal spiritual growth while at the same time giving me the knowledge and professional skills necessary to succeed in reaching out to others.

As a future shul rabbi, I hope to be able to bring authentic Judaism, as it has been transmitted to me by my parents and exceptional rebbeim, to others in a fresh and exciting way. RIETS is helping me learn how to do just that.

TORAH FROM RIETS

Hear shiurim by our peerless Roshei Yeshiva at YUTorah.org.

Torah and stained glass

CHARTER AND MISSION

YU Shield

Under the terms of the original Certificate of Incorporation of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (1897), the institution was created to “promote the study of Talmud and to assist in educating and preparing students of the Hebrew faith for the Hebrew Orthodox ministry.”

In 1915, the Yeshiva Eitz Chaim that had been in existence since 1886 merged with RIETS. Yeshiva University, which is an outgrowth of the merger of those two schools, dates its inception from 1886.

In 1924, RIETS’ charter was amended to authorize the granting of the degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature.

In 1928, Yeshiva College was born. The name of the institution was changed to RIETS, and Yeshiva College and the school were authorized to grant Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

The school became Yeshiva University in 1945. By then, it had become authorized to grant several other degrees. The list of degrees granted by Yeshiva University has steadily grown since then.

At the same time that “RIETS and Yeshiva College” evolved into Yeshiva University, the institution was authorized to grant several degrees that pertained directly to RIETS—Bachelor of Hebrew Literature, Master of Hebrew Literature, Bachelor of Religious Education, Master of Religious Education, in addition to the degree of Doctor of Hebrew Literature granted earlier.

In 1970, RIETS and Yeshiva University were formally and legally separated. RIETS was chartered as a separate educational corporation; Yeshiva University’s authorization to grant several degrees that had essentially been the purview of RIETS was rescinded; and RIETS was authorized to issue most of these very same degrees (omitting only the Bachelor degrees of Hebrew Letters and Religious Education that neither institution now awards).

The RIETS charter, issued in 1970, declares the following to be the purpose of RIETS:

The purposes for which such corporation is being formed are to continue, maintain and conduct as an educational corporation this seminary which for many years has been an institutional branch of Yeshiva University. The purposes are to prepare students for the rabbinate and to issue the traditional Certificate of Ordination in connection therewith. The corporation shall be authorized to confer the degree of Master of Hebrew Literature (M.H.L.), Doctor of Hebrew Literature (D.H.L.), Master of Religious Education (M.R.Ed.), and Doctor of Religious Education (D.R.Ed.), in conformity with Rules of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York for the registration of institutions of higher education.