Para Rabbi Training/Jewish spiritual leadership

Para Rabbi Training/Jewish Spiritual Leadership

Why Para Rabbi?
The Jewish community worldwide is in desperate need of educated lay leaders who need additional training to lead small Jewish communities in worship and life cycle events where no Rabbi is available, or to assist rabbis who need educated laypeople. The few other Para rabbi programs available are very brief in duration, and teach extremely limited skills. Our program fills in the gap between what you know and the basic skills needed to function as a lay spiritual leader of a community. We can design the curriculum to fill in the gaps and give you a certification of para rabbi upon your successful completion of the curriculum. Some have gone on to receive smicha/ Rabbinic ordination

These are the topics generally taught.

1. Conduct a Jewish funeral
2. Conduct a hospital visit
3. Prepare and deliver a d’var Torah
4. Conduct a Shiva minyan
5. Conduct an unveiling
6. Lead a Passover seder
7. Conduct a baby naming and co-officiate with Mohel at a Brit Milah
8. Lead Birkat Hamazone
9. Make Kiddush for Shabbat meals
10. Lead Havdalah
11. Prepare lead and a Torah study
12. Have an aliyah to the Torah
13. Organize and lead Havurot
14. Preside at a Mezuzah affixing ceremony
15. Know bracha for putting on a Tallit
16. Know traditional Jewish songs
17. Know blessings and basic prayer melodies
18. Know how to lay T’fillin
19. Complete 100 Question test of Jewish knowledge
22. Lead Kabbalat and Erev Shabbat services
23. Fluent Hebrew reading ability
24. Knowledge Basic tunes for Torah and haftarah chanting
25. Lead Shabbat morning services
26. Know basic ashkenazic melody for shabbat mincha

             Para Rabbi Training /Jewish Spiritual Leadership

more details at www.pararabbitraning.blogpsot.com

Para-Rabbinic Program

Overview and Mission

The Para-Rabbinic program is designed to teach lay leaders a variety of skills to help them support communal worship, life-cycle events and educational opportunities. Participants in our program may use these skills in various ways—by serving a congregation that has no clergy; by working in an assisted living facility or adult community; or by assisting their congregational clergy. As you know, there is no officially recognized Para Rabbi title in the Jewish community. This program is to teach skills to help you to lead and in some communities has added stature to the lay leader. 

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students must demonstrate a good Jewish knowledge base. Ability to read Hebrew is necessary to complete the program.

Rabbinical Supervision

You will have regular access to our program rabbis to help you with various questions that arise in connection with Para-rabbinic training.

The Role of the Para-rabbi

Para-rabbis are trained to conduct life cycle events including funerals, unveilings  baby namings, weddings conduct Shabbat morning minyans, assist in Shiva minyans, conduct Torah study, conduct services at nursing homes and assisted living centers in the community and much more. Others may do more in their communities because their synagogues either lack a full-time rabbi or have part-time student rabbis.

Other Resources

You will have ready access to approximately 400 videos for quick background on subjects important for the training. Other course materials will be mailed to the student.

Cost, including course, certification session with beit sin and books is $1050. 

Curriculum

Successful completion of the Para-rabbinic program requires demonstrated competency in the following:

1. Conduct a Jewish funeral

2. Conduct a hospital visit

3. Prepare and deliver a d’var Torah

4. Conduct a Shiva minyan

5. Conduct an unveiling

6. Lead a Passover seder

7. Conduct a baby naming and co-officiate with Mohel at a Brit Milah

8. Lead Birkat Hamazone

9. Make Kiddush for Shabbat meals

10. Lead Havdalah

11. Prepare lead and a Torah study

12. Have an aliyah to the Torah

13. Organize and lead Havurot

14. Preside at a Mezuzah affixing ceremony

15. Know bracha for putting on a Tallit

16. Know traditional Jewish songs

17. Know blessings and basic prayer melodies

18. Know how to lay T’fillin

19. Complete 100 Question test of Jewish knowledge

20. Lead Shaharit daily services

21. Lead minha daily servics

22. Lead Maariv daily services

23. Lead Kabbalat and Erev Shabbat services

24. Fluent Hebrew reading ability

25. Knowledge Basic tunes for Torah and haftarah chanting

Optional

Lead Shabbat worship services

Chant Yom Tov Kiddush

Chant Hallel

Song leadership of traditional Jewish songs

Enrollment information  send to judaism36@gmail.com

Name: _________________________________________________________________

Street address: ___________________________________________________________

City: ______________________State/Province: _____________ Zip: _______________

Home phone: _________________ Cell or work phone: __________________________

Email address: _________________________________Date of Birth: _______________

Profession: ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Biographical Information

Please answer the following on a separate sheet:

1. Tell us about yourself including your religious background and your personal Jewish journey.

2. How have you been active in your congregation? In what capacities? As a paid professional or volunteer? Please detail some of the successes and challenges you have faced.

3. What skills do you hope to develop, and what information do you hope to obtain in this training?

4. Explain in detail your professional and personal goals in undertaking this course of study.

Special Circumstances or Needs

Please detail any special circumstances or needs you feel should be taken into consideration with your application.