Jewish Theological Seminary of America perspectives

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With my rabbi main character a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, I thought it would be helpful to watch videos of those who have graduated from this school and who are shaped by this school to nail my fictional character as a Messianic rabbi from this background. I have portrayed him as scholarly, passionate, deep and committed from a Jewish perspective. This particular real life graduate (whose videos I feature on this page) seems to have a lot in common with my main character. Though, of course, I will branch off from this real person and make my character Dor his own person and a Messianic rabbi. I actually went to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America website to see what coursework rabbis take there and all I can say is, it’s a good thing I’m studying Hebrew! I do need to have some knowledge of Hebrew to make my main character believable, and it’s good I’m studying both modern and classical Hebrew. It ain’t easy, let me tell you, but then whoever said writing a masterpiece would be easy? I take this novel I’m writing very seriously. I’ve gotten off to a great start and I always knew to write the end of my novel where my rabbi moves to Israel, I’d have to research more deeply into Judaism and Hebrew and Israel.

The main character has an orthodox Jewish sister, and is familiar with orthodox belief and at the Jewish seminary concentrated heavily in Bible. He reverts to a more orthodox position while in Israel. Here is a typical orthodox curriculum:

https://www.yu.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/BernardRevelspring2019courses.pdf

https://www.yu.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/BRGS_2018_Summer_Couses.pdf

https://www.yu.edu/sites/default/files/inline-files/BRGS_Fall_2018_Courses.pdf

https://www.yu.edu/revel/faculty