The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The School of Advanced Jewish Studies was a Jewish educational facility for teenage students in Pittsburgh who wanted to pursue Jewish studies beyond religious school.
Following the Study of Jewish Educational Arrangements prepared by the American Association for Jewish Education, the United Jewish Federation merged the College of Jewish Studies with the Secondary and Teacher Training Departments of the Hebrew Institute in 1969 to create the School of Advanced Jewish Studies. It was described at the time as Pittsburgh’s “communal system of secondary and teacher education.” It provided certification for graduates to teach in religious elementary schools. Dr. Aharon Kessler oversaw the school as its dean for most of its existence. In its first year, the School of Advanced Jewish Studies operated sections at the Hebrew Institute in Squirrel Hill, at B’nai Israel Congregation in East End, and at Beth El Congregation in the South Hills.
Starting in the 1970 school year, the Pittsburgh Board of Education allowed city high school students to receive credits for School of Advanced Jewish Studies courses.
In addition to classroom activities, the School of Advanced Jewish Studies maintained an active publishing division, creating dozens of books and monographs on Jewish themes.
The School of Advanced Jewish Studies merged with the Hebrew Institute and Community Day School in 1991 to create the Jewish Educational Institute.