Through our field work program, you will experience the wide range of professional roles that you may ultimately choose from, or create, after graduation.

Most opportunities for field experience fall into five categories: congregational placements, campus placements, chaplaincy, clinical pastoral education, organizational work and education.

We have a wide range of paid internship opportunities with Hillels, congregations, hospitals, elder-care facilities, schools, camps, and communal, social justice and multifaith organizations in the Philadelphia area and beyond. The Director of Rabbinic Formation is eager to support you in finding meaningful work and succeeding on the job. We also emphasize the integration of your fieldwork into your rabbinical education. As part of the curriculum, you will participate in supervision groups led by rabbis and other expert Jewish organizational professionals. These groups will enable you to reflect on your work experiences and maximize your learning from the field.

Congregational Placements

You will gain appropriate experience in congregational work at a range of skill levels through shadowing, leading programs, internships working with a senior rabbi, leading High Holiday pulpits and internships where you are the primary spiritual leader. These supervised experiences familiarize you with the day-to-day rhythm of the congregational rabbinate and acquaint you with religious practices in flourishing communities.

Sample of recent placements:

Adath Shalom, Bethesda, Md.
Am Haskalah, Bethlehem, Pa.
CBST Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, New York City
Germantown Jewish Centre, Philadelphia
Kehilat HaNahar, New Hope, Pa.
Kol Tzedek, Philadelphia
Kolot Chayenu, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia
Society for the Advancement of Judaism (SAJ), New York City
Society Hill Synagogue, Philadelphia
West End Synagogue, New York City
Woodstock Jewish Congregation, Woodstock, N.Y.

Campus Placements

You will gain valuable experience as a campus professional at an area college or university, filling such roles as Jewish student advisor, rabbinic intern or educator. Some of these positions are developed and supervised jointly with Hillel of Greater Philadelphia. In your work on campus, you will learn about serving in a pastoral role and facilitating Jewish learning, social and cultural programming, religious expression, social justice organizing and more. Through work experience and supervision, campus interns build expertise in engaging students, fostering Jewish presence on campus, developing leaders and strengthening Jewish student identity.

Sample of recent placements:

Drexel University, Philadelphia
Goucher College, Baltimore
Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pa.
West Chester University, West Chester, Pa.
Haverford College, Havertown, Pa. 
Arcadia University, Glenside, Pa.
University of Delaware, Newark, Del.
Temple University, Philadelphia

Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education Placements

You will have a range of opportunities for supervised fieldwork in chaplaincy. Helping elders and those who are ill are only two forms of pastoral care. Community organizations also look for Jewish chaplains who can tend to the needs of underserved populations such as immigrant communities, people living with HIV-AIDS and boarding home residents. In addition, we offer credits for Clinical Pastoral Education and opportunities for funding support to individuals who undertake this rigorous course of training.

Sample of recent placements:

Abramson Center for Jewish Life. North Wales, Pa.
Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
Hebrew Senior Life, Boston
Jewish Theological Seminary, New York City
Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, Penn.
Lions Gate Retirement Center, Voorhes, N.J.
Monroe Village Retirement Communities, Monroe Township, N.J.
Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Philadelphia

Organizational Placements

RRC offers opportunities for you to work as an employee or intern in a variety of Jewish community organizations, where you assist with programming, planning, education, administration, community organizing and providing spiritual support for activists. Students have served local agencies, such as federations and community centers, as well as local and national social justice and multifaith organizations. Some students have pursued personal goals (such as helping to promote reproductive rights) as part of their community work.

Sample of recent placements:

American Federation of Teachers, District of Columbia
American Federation of Teachers, Philadelphia
Avodah, District of Columbia
Avodah, New York City
Bend the Arc, Philadelphia
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), New York City
JOIN for Justice, Philadelphia
The Shalom Center, Philadelphia

Educational/Camp Placements

As a student at the College, you will teach pupils of every age, from preschool through retirement. You might lead religious school or adult education classes or tutor b’nei mitzvah students. Frequently, our students serve as synagogue education directors, provide family education or oversee children’s services. Because of the Philadelphia region’s rich and diverse Jewish community, students can work in a wide array of settings that may be Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, secular or unaffiliated.

Sample of recent placements:

Beth David Reform Congregation, Gladwyne, Pa.
Camp Havaya, Wyncote, Pa.
Kol Tzedek, Philadelphia
Ramah Day Camp, Melrose Park, Pa.