FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students attend Hebrew College?

What is Hebrew College’s relationship with Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS)?

Who are Hebrew College’s academic and community partners?

When was Hebrew College founded?

Is Hebrew College accredited?

Do you have to be Jewish to attend Hebrew College?

What is pluralistic Jewish education?

How many students attend Hebrew College?

Hebrew College serves a wide range of students through our various programs.

Graduate Studies: About 230 students — mostly at the graduate level — are enrolled in academic degree and certificate programs and courses.

Adult Learning: Through Me’ah, Hebrew College serves about 500 adult learners annually. Several hundred adults attend Hebrew College special events and lectures each year.

Youth Education: Our Prozdor Hebrew High School and Makor Middle School programs enroll over 500 teens from Greater Boston and southern New England. Camp Yavneh is home to about 520 children and teens during the summer.

What is Hebrew College’s relationship with Andover Newton Theological School?

Since the Newton Centre campus was in its early planning stages, Hebrew College and the theological school have been engaged in a collaboration to strengthen interfaith relations.In 2008, the two institutions founded the Center for Interreligious and Communal Leadership with a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. CIRCLE’s mission is to help cultivate relationships among the students, staff and faculty of the two schools through formal and informal programming.

Who are Hebrew College’s academic and community partners?

Combined Jewish Philanthropies has been a major partner of Hebrew College in creating a variety of adult learning programs, including Me’ah, our two-year, intensive adult learning curriculum; Parenting Through a Jewish Lens, an adult learning program for parents of young children; Parenting Your Teen Through a Jewish Lens; and Eser, a program for young adults. CJP also supports Hebrew College’s work in providing professional development opportunities for Boston area Jewish educators.

Hebrew College also has collaborative relationships with a variety of academic institutions and communal organizations. In addition to Andover Newton Theological School (see above), the college collaborates with Northeastern University to offer a Doctor of Education in Jewish Education Leadership; with the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies to provide a graduate program for day-school educators; and with BBYO, in providing training to Jewish youth educators. The college is also a member of the Boston Theological Institute, a consortium of theological schools and seminaries in the greater Boston area. BTI provides cross-registration of courses, library privileges and joint academic programs.

When was Hebrew College founded?

We were founded as Hebrew Teachers College in 1921. The college’s first campus was a converted home on Crawford Street in Roxbury, Mass. For the full story of Hebrew College’s founding, please see our page on the history of Hebrew College.

Is Hebrew College accredited?

Hebrew College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has been accredited by the commission since 1955. Its accreditation by the New England Association encompasses the entire institution. More information on accreditation is available here.

Do you have to be Jewish to attend Hebrew College?

No. Although most of our students are Jewish, we welcome students of all backgrounds and beliefs.

What is pluralistic Jewish education?

Hebrew College’s commitment to pluralism means that we are open to all forms of Jewish expression, commitment and practice. We seek to engage diverse perspectives on any given Jewish topic, both to encourage a dynamic exchange and to foster respect for other points of view. Hebrew College, true to our roots, strives to encompass the broadest spectrum of Jewish life and to model k’lal Yisrael, a community of all Jews, while welcoming members of other faiths to join our vibrant conversation.

We welcome you to learn about our educational programs here.