Rabbinical School Student Organization (RSSO)

President: Jeremy Yoskowitz
Vice president: Josh Rabin
Treasurer: Michael Fel
Secretary: Yonina Creditor

Email: The.RSSO@gmail.com

The Rabbinical School Student Organization (RSSO) is the representative body for rabbinical students in New York and Israel. The RSSO exists to foster community, learning, celebration, and spiritual and professional development for rabbinical students at JTS. It actively supports student initiatives and programming. The RSSO also seeks to be a resource and advocate for individual students and for the student body in all areas of JTS life, represent them through dialogue and regularly scheduled meetings, and increase student involvement in deliberations and decisions that affect their lives.

RSSO programs in a typical year include the Visions of the Jewish Future series, in which leaders of the Jewish community meet with students to articulate different models for our future; the always-popular Meet the Deans Night; study breaks; Relaxation Night; social programs (including a fall opening program for students and their families); and lunchtime learning programs. In addition, representatives of each class plan class programs and dinners.

The president of the RSSO sits on The Rabbinical School Board of Overseers. RSSO members serve on The Rabbinical School's Student Curriculum Committee, which meets several times during the year to discuss issues and policies affecting The Rabbinical School curriculum. The vice president of the RSSO is a student liaison to the Faculty Curriculum Committee for The Rabbinical School. The RSSO also works closely with the Office of Student Life to sponsor and cosponsor numerous programs and events during the school year.

In the fall, elections are held for student representatives from each class, including two member-at-large positions. Anyone interested is encouraged to run for these offices. General elections for all other positions are held in the spring for the following academic year.

Finally, the RSSO has its own placement service (RSPS) for students interested in High Holy Day pulpits, student pulpits during the year, teaching positions, tutoring jobs, and other types of employment. Contact RSPS Director Eytan Hammerman at rsps@jtsa.edu for information.

We hope everyone will get involved and have a great year!