JTS Student Ambassadors

JTS’s Student Ambassador initiative places a select group of rabbinical and cantorial students in Conservative synagogues across North America for one to two Shabbatot throughout the year. This program enhances the vital educational programming already being offered by synagogues while strengthening connections to JTS through inspiring encounters with students. JTS students also gain valuable experience by engaging with diverse communities and developing their skills in speaking and teaching in synagogue settings.

Emmanuel Calef (RS ’29) shared, “For me as a rabbinical student, being exposed to such different types of congregations, building relationships with future colleagues, and receiving their candid feedback, encouragement, and advice has been formative in ways that no classroom can replicate.”  Rabbi Adam Raskin, senior rabbi of Congregation Har Shalom expressed his enthusiasm after hosting a student ambassador, “The congregation was spellbound and deeply moved. Our student ambassador truly represents the best of JTS, and I couldn’t have imagined a better ambassador for our community.”

Host a Student Ambassador in your Community

As we look ahead to the 2026–2027 academic year, we invite clergy who are interested in hosting a student ambassador to visit this page, where you can learn more about the program, and complete a brief form.  We ask that all hosting requests be submitted by March 31, 2026. Clergy will be notified in June regarding the availability of a student match for their community.

Please contact studentambassador@jtsa.edu with any questions about this program.