The Israelite Academy Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Brief History of THE ISRAELITE ACADEMY Page 1

MISSION STATEMENT Page 1

MOTTO Page 1

DISCLAIMER Page 2

PRODUCED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PROVOST Page 2

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES/FACULTY LISTING Pages 2-3

ACADEMICS/ EDUCATIONAL GOALS / FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES Page 4

Programs Page 4The Independent Study ProgramThe General Education Program

The Rabbinic Masters Program

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS Pages 4-5THE APPLICATION PROCESSREQUIREMENTS FOR MATRICULATION

OFFICE OF REGISTRAR Pages 5-6FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ACADEMY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Page 7

FACILITIES Page 7

STUDENT SERVICES Page 7

STUDENT INFORMATION Page 8

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR Pages 8-9

ACADEMIC CALENDAR Page 9

THE ISRAELITE ACADEMY

2018-2019 HANDBOOK

Brief History of THE ISRAELITE ACADEMY

In 1919, the late Chief Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew founded the Commandment Keepers EthiopianHebrew Congregation of the Living G-D, Pillar and Ground of Truth in Harlem, NY. The Israelite Academytraces its origin back to the Ethiopian Hebrew Rabbinical College that was established by Chief Rabbi W. A.Matthew in 1925. From 1925 to 1970, Chief Rabbi Matthew served as Dean and Rosh Yeshivah andproduced over 30 rabbis. Spiritual and intellectual giants were grown from this simple root.

The college acquired a new name in 1970 - The Israelite Rabbinical Academy. Rabbi Levi Ben Levy servedas the Dean of the Academy and the work continued. In 1977, Rabbi Levy was elected the next Chief Rabbiof the community and in 1978, he appointed Rabbi K. Z. Yeshurun to succeed him as Dean of the Academy.In 1992, Rabbi Sholomo Levy became the Dean of the Academy. During the summer of 2001, the membersof the Israelite Board of Rabbis voted to transform the Israelite Rabbinical Academy into an institution thatwould offer courses in Judaic/Israelite education. This change has allowed for women, laypeople, and thosenew to the faith to acquire knowledge in a friendly and welcoming environment without the four-yearcommitment required to enter the rabbinic program. Rabbi Baruch A. Yehudah and Rabbi MalchahNetanyahu are the currents Dean of the Academy a.

MISSION STATEMENTThe predominant mission of the Israelite Academy is to provide a place of learning for those who thirst forthe knowledge of Torah. Our aim is to create leaders for the Israelite world who are able to integrate thecovenant of our ancestors with the creative and intellectual insights of contemporary society by educatingspiritual leaders, intellectual leaders, and laypersons who will foster Israelite causes, serve the greaterIsraelite community, and the world. Born primarily as an institution for the training of rabbis, the IsraeliteAcademy has expanded its horizons to offer to the general public a comprehensive set of classes which willinstill in the men and women of the Academy the driving need to create and lead lives filled with substanceand meaning.

The Israelite Academy articulates a vision of Judaism that is Torah authentic, culturally relevant, pluralistic, historically accurate and grounded in Israelite oral and written history. Our curriculum constantly mediates Israelite texts and experiences with goals grounded in Torah tradition. We are committed to generations past,present and future.

MOTTOA Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken

ינתק במהרה לא המשלש והחוטThough one may be overpowered, two can defend themselvesA cord of three strands is not easily broken (Qohelet 4:12)

GOD TORAH ISRAEL

- 1 -

DISCLAIMERThe Student Handbook is a guide to practical and policy information for the Israelite Academy students.These matters are subject to change without notice.

PRODUCED BY THE OFFICE OF THE Dean of Research and CurriculumRabbi Malchah Netanyahu

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

FACULTY LISTING

A. Rabbi Eli Benjamin Aronoff - attended Temple University and Gratz College, wherehe focused on Hebrew and Judaic studies. He received additional training in rabbinicsand Jewish law under the tutelage of the late Rabbi Morris Schulson. He received hisshemechah from the late Rabbi L.E. Daily, under whom he served for 20+ years atCongregation Temple Beth’El in Philadelphia. Rabbi Aronoff represented thecongregation in various capacities including Controller and member of the Board ofDirectors. Rabbi Aronoff help found Temple Beth Emet, Washington, DC; a multi-culturally integrated synagogue.

B. Professor Dr. Harold Barnes, Sr. – President and CEO of the Center For Quantum Leadership, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation is also Chairman of the Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Foundation, founded by Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte. Professor Barnes received his J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law and his B.A. degree in Political Science from Elizabeth City State University where he later became a Professor. His religious career boasts positionsas Local Pastor of Fifth Tabernacle, Elizabeth City, NC and Associate Minister of Temple Beth El, Suffolk, VA where he was also Director of Development. His other accomplishments include Headmaster of the Work-Force Proficiency Institute, President/CEO of HESED Consultants, and Managing Partner of the law firm of Barnes,Faulcon, McKenna & Kithcart.

C. Chief Rabbi Capers Shmuel Funnye – Rosh Yeshiva - Israelite Academy - Chicago, Illinois - Rabbi Capers Shmuel Funnye is the rabbi and spiritual leader of Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, Associate Dean of the Israelite Academy, and a member of the faculty of the Academy. Rabbi Funnye received his undergraduate degree in Jewish Studies and a Masters Degree from Spertus Institute of Judaica, in Chicago, Illinois. Rabbi Funnye is a graduate of the Israelite Academy and received ordination from Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy in 1985. Rabbi Funnye has taught Jewish History, African American History, Talmud, Midrash, Bible and Hebrew for the Israelite Academy.

2

D. Rabbi Sholomo Levy- pursued a B.A. at Middlebury College in Vermont, completedpart of his rabbinic and secular studies at Tel Aviv University, graduated with a Master’sin African-American Studies from Yale University, received an M. Phil degree fromColumbia University in American History, and was installed as the Spiritual Leader ofBeth Elohim Hebrew Congregation in Saint Albans, New York. Other accomplishmentsinclude President of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, editor and contributor tothe Hakol newsletter, has held positions as professor of American and African AmericanHistory at LaGuardia Community College, Long Island University, Medgar EversCollege, and Middlebury College, and is currently a tenured Associate Professor ofHistory at Northampton Community College.

E. Rabbi Dr. Malchah Netenyahu – Dean of Curricula and Professor at the Israelite Rabbinical Academy of New York, is an accomplished scholar of Torah and Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Culture. She holds advanced degrees from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America and Colgate Rochester Bexley Hall, Crozer Theological Seminary. A gifted author, lecturer and teacher, Rabbi Malchah has presented workshops, keynote addresses and seminars throughout the United States and is the recipient of several scholarly awards and honors. She is the author of articles on Judaica, the Israelite experience and Africana history. Chronicling the Africana experience and the Africana perspective is one of her budding interests. Rabbi Malchah is the co-author of a trilogy on the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and the history of race relations in the United States.

F. Professor Gerald J. Wingster - Associate Professor for the past 14 years in the Mortuary Science Department at SUNY Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York holds an Associate Degree in Occupational Studies (AOS) from American Academy McAllister Institute of New York, a B.S and M.S in Organizational Management with a Certificate in Microcomputer Applications, and an Executive MBA in Business Administration from St. Joseph’s College of Brooklyn, New York. Prof. Wingster also serves the community as a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer.

G. Rabbi Baruch A. Yehudah –Dean of Students2 -Spiritual Leader of B’nai Adath KolBeth Yisrael in Brooklyn, NY received his Bachelor’s Degree in Life Sciences fromNew York Institute of Technology, graduated from the Israelite Rabbinical Academy, andreceived Sh’meka from the late Rabbi K’naizadek Yeshurun. He serves as ExecutiveSecretary of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis and is a member of the Board ofDirectors. Rabbi Yehudah has served in his post as Dean of the Israelite Academy since1999.

H. Professor Y’sudah Yehudah - holds a Master of Arts degree in Cultural Anthropologyand a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the New School for Social Research inNew York. She was awarded the A. D. Felheim Scholarship, which supported herparticipation in archaeological excavation of Canaanite Hazor in northern Israel and hasconducted fieldwork near Mbale, Uganda, where she gathered ethnographic data for herMaster’s thesis examining the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. Professor Y’sudah was alsoa visiting student at New York University where she participated in a seminar examiningthe alleviation of poverty at Uganda Martyrs University at Nkozi, Uganda. ProfessorY’sudah also holds an Advanced Business Certificate in Marketing from St. FrancisCollege in Brooklyn. She is currently an adjunct professor in Cultural Anthropology atthe City University of New York, a Lecturer in Anthropology and Religion, and Bursarat the Israelite Rabbinical Academy headquartered in Queens, New York.

I. Khizkeyahoo Chaim Ben Yehudah attended the university of Illinois (Chicago) and is3

retired electrical engineer. He joins the faculty for the 2018 academic years as an instructorin Biblical Hebrew.

ACADEMICS

EDUCATIONAL GOALSThe Israelite Academy invites applicants from people of any background who are sincerely interested in learning about Israelite history, culture, and practice. Perspective students should apply with the understanding that we are a private school with defined positions just as Orthodox Yeshivas and Christian Seminaries.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIESRegular attendance for the stated class time is required of all faculty members. The Dean is to be notified prior to any faculty absences in order that all classes may be covered. In accordance with regulations set forth in the Faculty Guide, faculty absences are limited to one week per semester for official business. Professors are expected to begin class promptly at the scheduled time; provide a comprehensive syllabus for each course following guidelines available from the Dean’s Office; be accessible to students for a minimum of two hours per week for consultation during each semester; be responsible for seeing that all tests are proctored; and for returningtests and papers within a reasonable length of time. Adjunct/affiliate faculty members are subject to the same expectations as regular faculty members.

ProgramsStudents may enroll in one of following programs:

The Independent Study Program is open to anyone who meets the minimal requirements. Students inthis program make take any course offered at any of our sites or, if available, online through ourdistance-learning center. It is an entirely self-designed program where students may take as many oras few courses as they wish. If there is a prerequisite—such as in a two-part course—students areexpected to take them in sequence. The rationale for this program is to help students with theirpersonal spiritual development. As such, it does not grant a degree or certificate; however, anycredits acquired in this program may be applied to one of the degree programs, should a studentdecide to continue their education with us.

The General Education Program requires a minimum of two years of study at The Israelite Academyand completion of a core of courses in Hebrew, Tephillah (Prayer), Torah, and History. At the end ofthe program, students are awarded a Certificate of Completion that establishes their qualifications toteach in most Talmud Torah Schools operated by synagogues within our community (communities).

The Rabbinic Masters Program - candidates for this program are expected to be devout laypeople ina recognized congregation who have the moral character, academic ability, and spiritual calling tobecome a leader and teacher of the faith. Acceptance into the program is determined by thecandidate’s level of academic preparation, the strength of his/her recommendations, and an interviewconducted by designated faculty of the Israelite Academy. Those who complete all the graduationrequirements will receive a Master’s Degree in Rabbinic Doctrine. Ordination (conferring ofSmecha) usually takes place one year after graduation; however, graduates may defer until such timethat they are ready to take on that responsibility. The Dean of the Academy may withhold ordinationfrom any student who fails to uphold the honor or principles of the Academy.

OFFICE OF ADMISSIONSThe Application ProcessThe Rabbinical School is open to any applicant, male or female, who fully intends to serve as a spiritual leader for congregations within the Israelite Community. Males and females may apply to and matriculate into the Rabbinic school, Applicants can expect a letter as an

4

official reply to their admission request within sixty-(60) days of receipt of their completed application and successful completion of all prerequisite exams or remedial courses.

Requirement for Matriculation Into Rabbinical Program – Applicants must:1. Be at least 20 years old by the time of matriculation2. Be a member in good standing of a congregation under the auspices of the

International Board of Rabbis another duly recognized religious organization or be recommended by a member of the faculty of the Rabbinical School

3, Submit three (3) letters of recommendation – one from the spiritual leader of the applicant’s congregation, one from a personal relationship, and one from a professional relationship

4. Successfully pass rabbinical school prerequisite exams with a grade of B (85%) or above or successfully pass the remedial courses the office of the Dean recommends for you with a grade of B (85%) or better

6. Submit a fully completed application along with the requisite application fee7. Successfully complete the interview process8. Possess an earned Bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a nationally

recognized accredited agency (as recognized by the US Department of Education).

NB: The final decision for admission to the Rabbinical School remains with the Office of Admissions. If an applicant is not accepted, reapplication in a subsequent year can be considered.

The School of General Israelite Studies is open to any candidate who sincerely desires tolearn more about the history, philosophy, religion, customs, traditions, mores and values ofthe various Israelite communities throughout the world. The sacred and secular texts andoral traditions utilized by these communities will be studied. Texts and oral traditions thatare foundational, formative, or lend credence to the various Israelite communities’understanding of themselves and the greater world will be critically examined.

Requirement for Matriculation Into General Studies Program – Applicants must:1. Be at least 18 years of age or older2. Submit a completed application and the requisite application fee

Applications can be obtained and downloaded from the following Web Sites: israeliteacademy.net/ or http://www.bethshalombz.org or http://www.blackjews.org.

Requests for mailed applications can be obtained from:Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken E.H.C.c/o Office of Admissions6601 S. Kedzie AveChicago IL 60629or by calling 773-476-2924 (office)

A Certificate of Completion/Achievement will be issued to all students in the Israelite Academy School of General Studies who successfully complete 64 credits hours.

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR/BURSARBURSAR: Ms. Angela Parker

The Registrar's Office is located at the Chicago Campus and is open Monday-Thursday from 10am-4pm (Central Time) 773-476-2924 Fax 773-476-2259. Information pertaining to class registration, extensions, waivers, inactive status, leave of absence, withdrawal, independent study, change of program, academic calendar, class schedule, and transcripts can be obtained from this

5

office. Most forms related to the above are also available online at the Academy’s website. israeliteacademy.net/ or http://www.bethshalombz.org or http://www.blackjews.org. The Registrar's Office is responsible for all student records, registration, class scheduling and grades, courses, waivers, extensions, cross-registration, review and guidance of students on academic probation, and academic transcripts. The Registrar's Office is responsible for the content of the Academy Catalog. The Registrar reports to the Deans of the Academy.

FINANCIAL INFORMATIONFinancial AidFinancial Aid and scholarships are not currently available.

Payment Of Account All payments must be made by check, money order or credit card.

accepted. Full payment of all fees and tuition is expected prior to first day of class

Advance Deposits - students and potential students may make payments towards any future classes by submitting the requisite monies to the Office of the Bursar along with the fully completed Payment Of Student Fees form.

No refund of tuition money or fees will be granted after classes have begun.

If a student cancels a class enrollment less than four (4) weeks (28 days) prior to the firstday of the semester, a $100.00 penalty will be assessed. The Office of the Registrar must beinformed in writing of the cancellation request and this request must be signed andpostmarked within the appropriate time frame. If a cancellation request is postmarked morethan 4 weeks prior to the first day of the semester, then a full tuition refund will be processed(Application fees are non-refundable). No student will be admitted to the first day of class ifthe full tuition payment has not been received or without an official letter of financialclearance from the Office of the Bursar/Registrar. No student will receive a grade, transcriptbe admitted to any other program or class within the Academy or any other officialrecognition if s/he has an outstanding debt or financial obligation to the Academy

.Any check returned or not paid for any reason by a financial institution be will assessed a returned check/non-payment fee of $50.00.

No exceptions to these policies will be granted unless there is an official signed and dated waiver granted by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Office of the Bursar.

RATES AND FEES FOR 2018-2019 ISRAELITE ACADEMY YEARRabbinical School:1. Application Fee; $50.00 2. Courses: $160.00 per credit hour

School of General Studies1. Application Fee: $25.002. Courses, Seminars or Symposiums: $400.00 flat fee

Materials Fee—Rabbinical and General Studies Materials (if applicable this will be noted in the course description) $50.00

Application fees are non-refundable.

Official Transcript Request: $20.00Transcript request may be obtained from:Israelite Academy- Office of the Registrarc/o Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken E.H.C.6601 S. Kedzie AveChicago IL 60629

6

Transcript RequestA transcript is issued upon receipt from a student of a signed, completed transcript request form or a signed letter containing the necessary information, if all financial obligations to the Seminary have been met. Transcript request forms can be obtained from the Registrar's Office or online at the Academy’s website.An official transcript bearing the seal of The Israelite Academy is issued in a sealed Israelite Academy envelope to protect the authenticity of the record. Unofficial transcripts do not bear the University's seal or University Registrar's signature and may be given directly to the student or faxedto a third party at the student’s request. Seminary transcript services are free to currently enrolled students; graduates and former students must pay a $10 official transcript fee. No fee is charged for unofficial transcripts.

Verification of Enrollment: Letters verifying a student’s enrollment in coursework are provided by the Registrar's Office. Letters may be requested using the appropriate request form, available at the Registrar’s Office or online at the Academy’s website.

NB Each Rabbinical student will receive an unofficial transcript at the conclusion of each academic year.

ACADEMY POLICIES AND PROCEDURESAs chief academic officer of the Seminary, the Dean is responsible for all academic operations within the Rabbinical Seminary. Questions or concerns about any of the following policies should bedirected to the office of the Dean of Students.

GRADING/EVALUATION SYSTEMEvaluation of student work and growth toward competence takes place in numerous ways,including reflection on selected written and oral exercises, personal faculty feedback,comments on papers and examinations, peer input, theological field education, clinical andpastoral supervisor reports, and Mid Program Assessment. All forms of evaluation areinvitations to growth and further learning in order to maximize competence in light of thestudent’s vocational direction. To achieve this goal, the Academy uses a mixed gradingsystem in which most core required courses and required area electives are evaluated on thebasis of a clearly defined grade point system, while non-required electives may be taken on acredit/no credit basis unless the course syllabus states otherwise. If you wish to take a non-required elective course on a credit/no credit basis, and the syllabus does not prohibit this,you must inform your instructor during the first class period of your decision to take thecourse on a credit/no credit basis. Your decision to do so is irreversible after the first classperiod.

Point Value of Grades:A 4.0B 3.0C 2.0

Any grade/point value below a C (2.0) is a Fail

FACILITIES The Israelite Academy has established satellite campuses in Chicago, IL, Queens, NY, Brooklyn, NY,

Bronx, NY and offers an online program.

Student Services

Rosh YeshivaRabbi Funnye CapersBeth Shalom B'nai Zaken E.H.C.6601 S. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL 60629773-476-2924

Dean of CurriculaRabbi Malchah Netanyahu

7

773-476-2924

Dean Of StudentsRabbi Baruch Y’hudah773-476-2924

Counseling Services and Spiritual DirectionElder Dr. Harold Barnes773-476-2924

STUDENT INFORMATION

Student Responsibilities1. Attend all classes with an open mind and learning spirit2. Participate in all aspects of the class as required by the Instructor’s written curriculum3. Complete all assignments, exams, quizzes and tasks by the written date the Instructor has

required4. Complete and submit his or her own work5. If having any academic, social, medical or financial problems that may prevent successful

completion of the course work, the student is expected to seek out appropriate help from the Professor, Bursar or Dean of Students

6. The student will, as needed or suggested, make appropriate use of the resources of the Academy

7. Pay all fees and tuition by the necessary dates or make appropriate alternate arrangements with the required office(s).

8. The student is expected to understand and be aware of all policies and procedures outlined inthe Israelite Academy Student Handbook. Upon registration the student will sign a statementthat verifies that the student has read and agrees to the policies and procedures of The Israelite Academy

UNACCEPTABLE ACADEMY BEHAVIORPlagiarism is a serious academic, ethical and legal offense and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism mayresult in a failing grade and/or expulsion from the Academy. Any student suspected of plagiarism must have an interview and review by the Dean of Students and/or his/her appointed representative. If plagiarism is confirmed by the first review then the student may request a formal review conducted by the Office of The Dean of Students. The decisions of this formal review are binding. Plagiarism is “the use of another person's ideas or wordings without giving appropriate credit” (William Campbell, Stephen Ballour and Carol Slade, Form and Style [Boston: Houghton Mifflin], 2009). Three or more words taken from another source, spoken, printed, or electronic are a direct quote and must be enclosed in quotation marks and footnoted. Ideas and their expression are, by law, the intellectual property of the original author or speaker. You must also acknowledge in footnotes all sources of distinct ideas, facts, paraphrases or opinions. Intentional or unintentional failure to use appropriate documentation in research papers, examinations, oral presentations, or other academic work may result in grade reduction, failure for the course, or expulsion from the Academy. Additionally, students who plagiarize may expect to meet with the Dean of Students or his or her designee for full discussion prior to the determination of consequences.

Other examples of unacceptable academic behavior include but are not limited to:- Submitting a paper written by another student or person as if it were your own.- Submitting a paper written for another course or occasion without explicit knowledge and consent

of the instructor.-Fabricating evidence or statistics, which supposedly represent your original research.- Cheating of any sort on tests, papers, projects, reports, etc.

Two good sources that the student must consult and is responsible for understanding the concepts contained therein:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/plagiarism/

8

http://www.plagiarism.org/

Cheating - Academic honesty is tantamount at the Israelite Academy. Any student accused or suspected of cheating will have a formal complaint lodged against them by the person making the accusation. The accused will have a review by the Office of the Dean of Students . The decisions of the review are binding.Harassment – The Academy seeks to respect the rights and dignity of each individual. Accordingly, it is strongly opposed to any discrimination based on race, national origin, gender, age or physical challenges. The Academy does not condone and will not tolerate any behavior, verbal or physical, by members of faculty, administration, staff, or student body, that constitutes sexual harassment in any form against any member of the Academy community. Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate behavior, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

1) such conduct is pursued among persons who are not married to each other and/or persons who have not mutually consented to such conduct,2) submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition for a person's employment or matriculation at the Academy;3) submission to, or rejection of, such conduct is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions;4) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work/academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive residential/working/academic environment.

Charges of sexual harassment involving students will be handled according to the grievance processoutlined with such modifications as necessary, as determined by the Office of the Dean of Students.A representative committee will hear the evidence and make recommendations to the Dean.

Calender- The annual academic is available to view and download on our WEB sites: israeliteacademy.net/ or http://www.bethshalombz.org or http://www.blackjews.org.

Miscellaneous- In accordance with the laws of kashrut and the various halachic regulations concerning kashrut, please refrain from bring any food to the classroom. At the discretion of the instructor, refreshments will be made available to attendees.

9

We hope that your experience with The Israelite Academy will be academically and spiritually fulfilling. May The Holy One be magnified, glorified and extolled as we continue on our endeavor to become “a kingdom of priest and a holy nation.” Be one of the strong cords that binds us aa a family, a people and a nation.

Motto - The Israelite Academy

A Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken

ינתק במהרה לא המשלש והחוטThough one may be overpowered, two can defend themselvesA cord of three strands is not easily broken (Qohelet 4:12)

GOD TORAH ISRAEL

10

11