Do you feel drawn to step forward in moments that matter?
Do you want to deepen your relationship to Jewish prayer, music, and sacred texts?
Do you want to elevate your impact as a Jewish leader?
Become a Shamash
JTS welcomes emerging and established leaders who care deeply about Jewish community and seek to deepen engagement in its prayer and ritual life. Through our low-residency, cohort-based master’s program, students deepen their skills in prayer leadership, Torah, Hebrew fluency, and the choreography of communal ritual. Graduates earn an MA in Ritual Leadership from JTS and the professional title of Shamash—a steward of Jewish communal life who is equipped to serve and support communities and clergy with knowledge, presence, and care.
Core Curriculum
The MA in Ritual Leadership provides students with academic, skills-based, and practical experiential learning, grounded in JTS’s long-standing tradition of training Jewish clergy and educators. This part-time, online program consists of 30-credit hours of coursework and a total of eight days in residence at JTS.
Synagogue Choreography
Learn the ins and outs of facilitating tefillah and Torah services.
Liturgy
Explore the history, structure, and theology of Jewish liturgy.
Nusah
Learn melodies and musical modes for weekday and Shabbat prayer selections.
Cantillation
Master practical skills for chanting the Torah and haftarah.
Biblical Commentary
Engage with the intellectual traditions that shaped how Jews find meaning in Torah.
Hebrew Language
Hone your ability to read with fluency and precision.
Electives
Students in the MA customize their educational pathway with electives from JTS’s Center for Pastoral Education and The William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education. Students can choose from multiple classes:
- Music, Art, and Texts of Comfort
- Dying, Death, Grief, and Bereavement
- Psalms and Spiritual Care
- Teaching Prayer
- Translating Jewish Theology for Educational Settings
- Rhythms and Rituals of the Jewish Calendar
Residencies
- Community Building: The MA in Ritual Leadership begins with a two-day, in-person residency at JTS, bringing the cohort together to build relationships and establish a shared foundation for learning.
- Synagogue Choreography Intensive: The centerpiece of the Shamash Program, this course and accompanying four-day intensive residency trains students in the facilitation of tefillah and Torah services while deepening their understanding of how to effectively build and support prayer communities.
- The Capstone: The program will conclude with a culminating project, a service designed and led by the student and workshopped by a panel of faculty, mentors, and peers over the course of the final two-day residency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Shamash?
In choosing the name Shamash (pronounced shah-MAHSH), we draw on the metaphor of the “helper” candle, which shares its light to illuminate the Hanukkah candles. We also invoke the historical role of the synagogue shamash, the community helpers and caretakers who were the stewards of the physical and spiritual spaces that allowed Jewish religious communities to thrive. This skilled sacred service tended to the practical and spiritual needs of the community and its clergy.
What is a low-residency program?
Low-residency programs combine synchronous and asynchronous distance learning with short, on-site residencies. Students pursuing an MA in Ritual Leadership spend a total of 8 days in residence at JTS, while taking online courses from wherever they live.
Do I need to complete this program in two years?
While this cohort-based program is designed to be completed in 2 years, there is flexibility for students to move through their requirements at their own pace.
Can my prior learning or professional experience count toward the degree?
Yes, the program recognizes that meaningful learning and skill development occurs beyond the classroom. Students may earn up to 12 credits through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), which evaluates substantial learning acquired through professional and educational experiences. PLA credits are awarded only for learning that meets program standards and institutional policies on academic integrity.
Is financial aid available for this program?
Yes. To be considered for a tuition fellowship, please submit the FAFSA application.
Do I need to be affiliated with the Conservative movement to enroll?
No, the MA in Ritual Leadership is open to emerging and established Jewish leaders from all backgrounds. While courses in Nusah and Liturgy are grounded in the Conservative Movement’s siddur Lev Shalem, students engage these materials with attention to their broader relevance across Jewish communal life.
What Hebrew level is necessary to enroll?
Applicants should be able to read and vocalize the alef-bet and demonstrate a readiness to continue developing their Hebrew skills. All students complete a placement assessment upon matriculation so that they can begin their studies at the level best suited to them.
Our Visioning Team:
While newly launched, the MA benefits from JTS’s expertise and experience in the training of rabbis, cantors, and pastoral caregivers:
- Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement
- Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, Pearl Resnick Dean of The Rabbinical School and Dean of the Division of Religious Leadership
- Rabbi Cantor Shoshi Levin Goldberg, Director of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School
- Rabbi Jan Uhrbach, Director of the Block / Kolker Center for Spiritual Arts
- Miriam Meir, Senior Lecturer of Hebrew Language
- Dr. Alisa Braun, Academic Director, Center for Lifelong Learning
- Dr. Lisa Springer, Associate Provost for Continuing and Digital Learning and Dean of the Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies
