A doctorate in Hebrew Letters is not that common in the United States although some schools are offering the degree program. This degree is mostly limited to students who are granted the title of Rabbi.
Apart from its exclusivity to Jewish people, most Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree programs also require a campus setting for the whole duration of the course. However, aspiring students can take the program part-time without being expected to attend the classes on campus in some institutions.
Another school also offers the course through long-distance learning giving the students the freedom to participate in the courses according to their schedules. This encourages students to expand their knowledge and satisfy their love of learning in a program designed for independent study.
So far, no schools are offering the course entirely online yet. Other doctorate degrees on Hebrew studies can be found online though, like the Ph.D. in Hebrew Studies and Ph.D. in Hebrew Literature.
Ultimately, a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree is not for everyone. Most students who follow this path have been ordained as Rabbi or in-service Jewish professionals. If you are one of them and quite interested in being educators and communal service workers, then taking your education a step further will help you prepare for that future.
Best Doctor of Hebrew Letters Schools
RECONSTRUCTIONIST RABBINICAL COLLEGE
DOCTOR OF HEBREW LETTERS
School Highlights: The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Pennsylvania supplies numerous master’s and certificates, as well as a highly refined Doctor of Hebrew Letters, all of which train rabbis to draw deeper connections between traditional and contemporary Jewish faiths.
The degree requires applicants to have completed a doctoral dissertation at another institution of higher education before seeking admittance to the DHL.
The coursework for all students, despite their educational pathway, is broken down into three distinct learning sections. The Mekhinah Year prepares students for their future studies, and the curriculum itself is five years in length.
Coursework Sample:
- Mekhinah Year
- Core Program, Years 1-3
- Core Program, Years 4-5
Campus Location: Wyncote, PA
Accreditation:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 74% Retention Rate: 71% Graduation Rate: 67%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RECONSTRUCTIONIST RABBINICAL COLLEGE’S DOCTOR OF HEBREW LETTERS
SPERTUS INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH LEARNING & LEADERSHIP
DOCTOR OF HEBREW LETTERS
School Highlights: The Spertus Institute is deeply committed to providing existentially moving educational experiences that strictly apply to Jewish thought and society today. The Doctor of Hebrew Letters program is designed for in-service professionals–rabbis, specifically–and requires each student to establish a personalized learning process.
The coursework emphasizes skill-based knowledge and academic excellence as such directly applies to Jewish life. Applicants are required to hold a Master’s in Jewish Studies or its equivalent. Graduates from Spertus demonstrate exceedingly well-developed skills in broad-based methodologies and in-depth knowledge of Jewish literature, both modern and classic.
Coursework Sample:
- Jewish Thought
- Key Issues in Contemporary Jewry
- Jewish Community: Historical and Sociological Developments
Campus Location: Chicago, IL
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 89% Retention Rate: 91% Graduation Rate: 84%
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPERTUS INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH LEARNING & LEADERSHIP’S HEBREW LETTERS DOCTORATE
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE – JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION
DOCTOR OF HEBREW LETTERS PROGRAM
School Highlights: The Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion provides an extensively academic, research-focused Doctor of Hebrew Letters curriculum that has eleven unique major and minor options.
The program is broken down into three comprehensive sections including major coursework, oral examinations, and a dissertation.
HUC requires its doctoral students to choose at least one major and two minors under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Many students choose topics that correlate across each curricular component but are free to explore as many areas of Judaism as they want.
Concentration Options:
- Jewish Liturgy and Worship
- Jewish Philosophy
- Judaism and Early Christianity
Campus Location: New York City, NY
Accreditation:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: –% Retention Rate: –% Graduation Rate: –%
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEBREW UNION COLLEGE’S DOCTORAL DEGREE OF HEBREW LETTERS
JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
DOCTOR OF HEBREW LITERATURE
School Highlights: There is a multitude of exciting and incredibly unique options available within the Doctor of Hebrew Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Gershon Kekst Graduate School.
For example, students who choose to follow the Talmud and Rabbinics focus area can also enroll in the JTS Executive DHL, which combines online coursework with in-residence components.
Otherwise, there are ten specializations in total, all of which approach significantly different disciplines within Jewish history and literature. The program is designed for doctoral learners who are not pursuing a traditional degree.
Concentration Options:
- Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Studies
- Midrash
- Talmud and Rabbinics
Campus Location: New York City, NY
Accreditation:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Acceptance Rate: 50% Retention Rate: 100% Graduation Rate: 91%
LEARN MORE ABOUT JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY’S DOCTOR OF HEBREW LITERATURE
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree?
Explicitly designed for in-service Jewish professionals, a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree is an essential step for those who want to seek career enhancement, career change, and personal edification. The latter is vital as this degree primarily targets rabbis who wish to expand their knowledge and acquire additional skills that can help them contribute more fully to Jewish society.
An unconventional degree, this program encourages the individualized process of learning from each student. While there is a demand for academic excellence, skill-based knowledge is just as necessary. Critical thinking is just as important.
Students undertake this program to demonstrate their skills in conceptualizing and analyzing key ideas, practices, and issues. There are also courses tackling classical and modern Jewish literature. This includes:
- Talmud,
- Midrash,
- Biblical and Talmudic commentaries, codes,
- and Hasidic works.
Their knowledge of Jewish literature is integral in tracing the historical, conceptual, and analytical issues, ideas, and practices in Jewish society and contemporary Jewish life.
What are the requirements for a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree?
Usually, a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree program only admits ordained rabbis or those who earned a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters from an academically accredited Jewish institution. Some schools require a master of art in Hebrew letters and a two-year residency necessary for ordination.
Most schools offering Jewish studies programs grant it on a quarter-term system. This flexible setup allows for asynchronous registration and start dates. Instead of granting the credit in semester hours, the schools require quarter-hour credits.
To earn the degree, the program often requires three components, namely a course of study, a set of oral examinations, and an oral dissertation. Sometimes, students are required to take up one major field and two minor fields with an emphasis on research. These fields may vary, including:
- Bible and Related Literature,
- Jewish Liturgy and Worship,
- Talmud and Rabbinic Literature,
- Jewish Thought,
- Jewish History, among many others.
Some schools may ask for an applied, practical project grounded in Jewish sources and addressing current, setting-based issues. It is something that students can complete offsite, albeit under the advisement of the faculty. The program is expected to be completed within seven years.
What career paths do graduates in Doctor of Hebrew Letters usually take?
Most Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree holders work as rabbis. Being a spiritual leader with the Jewish faith, rabbis are employed in synagogues, schools, hospitals, and even in the military.
Rabbis provide spiritual guidance and chaplaincy for Jewish people. A rabbi usually designs worship services and offers spiritual teaching from the Torah.
They offer guidance and advice to the members of their congregation. Their duties also extend to officiating weddings, funerals, and other traditional Jewish events. Jewish leaders are also expected to take part in community outreach programs.
What salary range can I expect with my Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree?
Rabbis have a median salary of $100,726. Their wages can range from $82,781 to $114,154, excluding bonuses of anywhere between $500 to $20,000. Most Rabbis who choose to serve in Israel have state-paid salaries and other compensations that can let them lead a comfortable life all year round.
What schools offer online and traditional Doctor of Hebrew Letters programs?
There are very few educational institutions throughout the country offering Doctor of Hebrew Letters degrees. The only schools that we were able to locate include Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania; Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago, Illinois; and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion and Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, New York.
The latter offers the program in both on-campus and online format, along with a Master of Arts in Jewish Studies and a Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies. The academic standards and requirements for both settings are the same. They only differ in the delivery method.
For those devoted to Jewish knowledge and skills, earning a Doctor of Hebrew Letters can equip degree holders with advanced understanding and experience that are valuable to their career path.
Rabbis are essential members of Jewish society and being one requires a lot of skills and experience. A Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree can enhance and advance a rabbi’s career outlook.
If you are considering this degree program, you must learn all about the stringent requirements and comply with them to be admitted to institutions offering the degree program. Bear in mind that this program can benefit in-service Jewish professionals the most, primarily the rabbis.
However, if you only wish to concentrate on Hebrew literature, there are available doctorate programs in the U.S. that you can explore.
Is there a job demand for graduates with a Doctor of Hebrew Letters (D.H.L.) Degree?
The job market for those with a Doctorate in Hebrew Letters is quite limited. Most graduates with this degree pursue careers in the fields of Jewish Education or Jewish Studies or work in a synagogue, Jewish organization, or Jewish communal agency.
There may be opportunities in the field of Jewish publishing or Jewish media, but these are pretty limited.
