Rabbi Jacob Joseph School
Encyclopedia
The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School is an Orthodox
Jewish day school
located in Staten Island
, New York
that serves students from nursery through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1903 and named in honor of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
, chief rabbi of New York City
's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
After Joseph's death, his son Raphael and Samuel I. Andron obtained a charter from the New York Board of Regents
in 1903 to establish a school in his name. The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School was known for its rigorous Talmud
ic curriculum and remains open to students from nursery age through the twelfth grade.
Its founders originally established the school on Manhattan
's Orchard Street
in the Lower East Side
, but later moved it to Henry Street. In 1976, the school moved to the Richmondtown
area of Staten Island
, where it still maintains the boys' school campus; a girls division of the elementary school was established in Staten Island's Graniteville
section. In 1982, a boys high school branch and Beis Medrash was opened in Edison, New Jersey
.
Although the school ("RJJ") is no longer an "advanced" yeshiva, it "produced hundred of rabbis and community leaders in the late 1940s, the 1950s and the 1960s, and was also an important feeder school for the Lakewood yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha
"..
The School also produces a semi-annual scholarly publication, the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
("The RJJ Journal"), edited by one of its rabbinic alumni. The purpose of the Journal is to "study the major questions facing Jews... through the prism of Torah values," and "explore the relevant biblical and Talmudic passages and survey the halachic literature including the most recent responsa
. The Journal does not in any way seek to present itself as the halachic authority on any question, but hopes rather to inform the Jewish public of the positions taken by rabbinic leaders over the generations."
Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick
has served for over 30 years as the (unpaid) President of RJJ.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Jewish day school
Jewish day school
A Jewish day school is a modern Jewish educational institution that is designed to provide Jewish children with both a Jewish and a secular education in one school on a full time basis, hence its name of "day school" meaning a school that the students attend for an entire day and not on a part time...
located in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that serves students from nursery through twelfth grade. The school was founded in 1903 and named in honor of Rabbi Jacob Joseph
Jacob Joseph
Jacob Joseph served as chief rabbi of New York City's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, a federation of Eastern European Jewish synagogues...
, chief rabbi of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Association of American Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.
After Joseph's death, his son Raphael and Samuel I. Andron obtained a charter from the New York Board of Regents
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
in 1903 to establish a school in his name. The Rabbi Jacob Joseph School was known for its rigorous Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic curriculum and remains open to students from nursery age through the twelfth grade.
Its founders originally established the school on Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's Orchard Street
Orchard Street (Manhattan)
Orchard Street is a street in Manhattan which covers the eight city blocks between Division Street in Chinatown and East Houston Street on the Lower East Side...
in the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, but later moved it to Henry Street. In 1976, the school moved to the Richmondtown
Richmondtown, Staten Island
Richmondtown, is a neighborhood on Staten Island in New York City, New York, in the United States.Originally known as Coccles Town because of the abundance of oyster and clam shells found in the waters of the nearby Fresh Kills, Richmondtown gained its present name in 1728 when the village now...
area of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, where it still maintains the boys' school campus; a girls division of the elementary school was established in Staten Island's Graniteville
Graniteville, Staten Island
Graniteville is the name of a neighborhood in Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, USA.-History:Graniteville was originally named Bennett's Corners and Fayetteville...
section. In 1982, a boys high school branch and Beis Medrash was opened in Edison, New Jersey
Edison, New Jersey
Edison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
.
Although the school ("RJJ") is no longer an "advanced" yeshiva, it "produced hundred of rabbis and community leaders in the late 1940s, the 1950s and the 1960s, and was also an important feeder school for the Lakewood yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha is a Haredi yeshiva located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. It is commonly known as BMG, or Lakewood Yeshiva....
"..
The School also produces a semi-annual scholarly publication, the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
The Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society is a semiannual Orthodox Jewish academic journal published by the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School and edited by Alfred Cohen...
("The RJJ Journal"), edited by one of its rabbinic alumni. The purpose of the Journal is to "study the major questions facing Jews... through the prism of Torah values," and "explore the relevant biblical and Talmudic passages and survey the halachic literature including the most recent responsa
Responsa
Responsa comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them.-In the Roman Empire:Roman law recognised responsa prudentium, i.e...
. The Journal does not in any way seek to present itself as the halachic authority on any question, but hopes rather to inform the Jewish public of the positions taken by rabbinic leaders over the generations."
Rabbi Dr. Marvin Schick
Marvin Schick
Marvin Schick is a former Hunter College and New School for Social Research political-science and constitutional law professor. He is also known for his work in Jewish education.-Career:...
has served for over 30 years as the (unpaid) President of RJJ.
Notable alumni
- Robert AumannRobert AumannRobert John Aumann is an Israeli-American mathematician and a member of the United States National Academy of Sciences. He is a professor at the Center for the Study of Rationality in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel...
(born 1930), recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic SciencesNobel Memorial Prize in Economic SciencesThe Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, commonly referred to as the Nobel Prize in Economics, but officially the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel , is an award for outstanding contributions to the field of economics, generally regarded as one of the...
in 2005. - Ari L. GoldmanAri L. GoldmanAri L. Goldman is a Professor of Journalism at Columbia University and a former reporter for The New York Times.Goldman attended the Rabbi Jacob Joseph School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan...
(born 1949), author and former religion reporter for The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. - Louis HenkinLouis HenkinLouis Henkin , widely considered one of the most influential contemporary scholars of international law and the foreign policy of the United States, was a former president of the American Society of International Law and of the American Society for Political and Legal Philosophy and University...
(1923-2010), human rights law scholar. - Sheldon SilverSheldon SilverSheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
(born 1944), Speaker of the New York State AssemblySpeaker of the New York State AssemblyThe Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
.