Conservative Judaism's premier seminary for rabbinical, cantorial, and Jewish studies education in New York City.
JTS offers comprehensive Jewish higher education through five main schools: the Rabbinical School, H. L. Miller Cantorial School, List College (dual BA with Columbia or Barnard), the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, and the Gershon Kekst Graduate School. The Kekst Graduate School awards master's and doctoral degrees in 15 areas of specialization including Jewish History, Bible, Talmud, and Jewish Philosophy. Additional programs include an MFA in Creative Writing, MA in Spiritual Care and Counseling, and MA in Ritual Leadership. The institution emphasizes rigorous textual study in original languages and combines historical scholarship with contemporary engagement.
Established in 1886 to preserve historical Judaism and counter the Reform movement's rapid expansion, JTS became the intellectual and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism. Under Solomon Schechter (1902–1915), the seminary articulated Conservative Judaism's ideological foundations. The institution pioneered women's ordination in 1983, ordaining the first female Conservative rabbi, Amy Eilberg, in 1985. JTS also founded Camp Ramah, The Jewish Museum, and Avodah, among other influential organizations. The seminary's library survived a significant 1966 fire that destroyed 70,000 books.
Located in Manhattan at 3080 Broadway, JTS occupies an urban campus featuring distinctive hand-wrought iron gates (presented in 1934). The institution provides residence life and summer housing for college interns. Students benefit from New York City's intellectual, cultural, and social resources as a learning laboratory. The community includes approximately 3,500+ alumni worldwide and maintains a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, fostering close mentorship and collaborative scholarship.
The Jewish Theological Seminary Library houses the largest collection of Judaica in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most significant collections worldwide. The library provides access to rare manuscripts, special collections, and extensive resources for students and scholars globally. Library services include author conversations, exhibits, and specialized research support.
JTS operates multiple research and educational centers including the Center for Pastoral Education, Block/Kolker Center for Spiritual Arts, Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue, and the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious & Social Studies. The institution also maintains the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem and offers immersive programs in Israel for rabbinical students.