The Jewish Theological Seminary Launches New MFA in Creative Writing
Acclaimed Israeli writer Etgar Keret to lead the new master’s degree
March 31, 2025 (New York, New York) – The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is thrilled to announce the launch of our new MFA in Creative Writing, a two-year, low-residency program for emerging writers. Inspired by the rich tradition of Jewish storytelling, this MFA welcomes writers who have a story to tell and want the opportunity to work with cutting edge contemporary writers and artists in an environment that offers the freedom to create across genres.
“By offering the MFA in Creative Writing,” says Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz, “JTS will provide a forum for emerging writers to hone their skills while deepening their knowledge of the role of storytelling in the history of the Jewish people. Immersion in JTS’s intellectually vibrant Jewish community, study with renowned faculty and celebrated storytellers, and access to the vast resources of The JTS Library will offer artists the opportunity to further develop their craft with superb guidance and mentorship. I am eager to welcome a new generation of storytellers to our hub of Jewish learning and see what they create.”
Etgar Keret, the director of the program, known for his short stories, graphic novels, and scripts for television and film, is a renowned storyteller in multiple genres. His work has appeared in The New Yorker and been featured on This American Life. The New York Times described his writing as “whimsical, surrealist and darkly funny” making “meaning from life’s smallest, most unremarkable interactions.” Keret learned about the power of storytelling from his mother, a Holocaust survivor. He says, “I don’t know if the capacity to tell a story was what saved my mother’s life, but I can say beyond a doubt that it did save her soul.” Keret is so passionate about this new MFA program because he believes that “the existential need to tell stories is no longer unique to Jews and other immigrant communities trying to preserve their identities in exile. Instead, it has become a fundamental life skill that every person must adopt.”
Dr. Lisa Springer, dean of the Division of Lifelong and Professional Studies, which houses the new MFA, played a pivotal role in its creation. Dr. Springer says, “I’m thrilled to help build a program that offers great creative freedom, flexibility, and possibility in working across genres and exploring new ways of telling stories. Storytelling is evolving, and these new forms can connect with audiences in powerful, unexpected ways.”
American novelist Jonathan Safran Foer will serve as the program’s founding advisor, headlining a diverse list of creative advisors including Shalom Auslander, Alex Edelman, Ira Glass, Jane Hirshfield, Jodi Kantor, Nicole Krauss, Liev Schreiber, Judith Shulevitz, Regina Spektor, and Deborah Treisman.
Funding for the MFA has been generously provided by Abby Joseph Cohen, Chair Emerita of the JTS Board of Trustees. “Literature has long been an essential element of the Jewish experience,” says Ms. Joseph Cohen. “From the beginning, words — both spoken and written — have formed our sense of community. This exciting new program will blend the creative arts with Jewish studies in a contemporary setting. It reflects the innovative new direction undertaken by Chancellor Schwartz and will benefit from the unique resources available at JTS.”
An online launch event entitled “A Vision for Storytelling” is planned for Sunday, May 4, featuring Etgar Keret in conversation with Jonathan Safran Foer. The two authors will discuss contemporary storytelling and the vision for the new MFA program.
Applications for the fall 2025 semester are available now. Please visit www.jtsa.edu/mfa-creative-writing to learn more.
