Statement on Recognition of Clergy Titles in Reform Movement Settings

The Union for Reform Judaism supports the Central Conference of American Rabbis’ and American Conference of Cantors’ standards in determining usage of the titles rabbi and/or cantor in the context of our Movement-wide conferences, publications, and social media platforms.

The CCAR and ACC deem rabbinic and/or cantorial ordination/investiture bestowed as noted below from the following accredited academic institutions sufficient to meet the guidelines for the usage of the titles rabbi or cantor in a Reform Movement setting. Therefore, please choose the title Rabbi or Cantor only if you meet these guidelines or have been admitted to the CCAR or ACC.

Rabbinical Programs of: 

  • Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
  • Abraham Geiger College, Berlin, Germany
  • Academy for Jewish Religion, California
  • Academy for Jewish Religion, New York
  • Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA
  • Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY
  • Leo Baeck College, London, United Kingdom
  • Levisson Instituut, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, New York, NY
  • Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA
  • Seminario Rabinico Latinamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, Bronx, NY
  • Yeshivat Maharat, Bronx, NY
  • Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University, Los Angeles, CA 

Cantorial Ordination and In-Residency Cantorial Programs of: 

  • Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
  • Abraham Geiger College, Berlin, Germany
  • Academy for Jewish Religion, California
  • Academy for Jewish Religion, New York
  • Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA
  • Jewish Theological Seminary, H. L. Miller School, New York, NY
  • Reconstructionist Rabbinical College/Gratz College - Cantorial Ordination and Masters in Jewish Music, Wyncote/Philadelphia, PA
  • Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute, Tel Aviv, Israel

Cantorial Certification Programs of: 

  • Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, Cantorial Certification Program
  • American Conference of Cantors (pre-2007) Certification Program
  • Cantorial Intern of the Cantors Assembly (CICA) Program