Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music

A division of YU-affiliate, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), the Philip and Sarah Belz School of Jewish Music is one of the nation’s foremost centers for the professional training of cantors. Since its inception in 1946, more than 6,000 students have attended the Belz School, including professional cantors, Jewish musicians, and laymen.

Its curriculum includes preparation for leadership in synagogue prayer, music education, and other educational endeavors that help meet vital Jewish communal needs.

The Belz program serves to counter the serious shortage of professionally educated cantors, ba’alei tefillah, and music teachers. The synagogue service comprises the predominant component of the program, and is considered in all its parts: the prayer-chants for Sabbath and holiday as well as weekday; Biblical cantillation; liturgy; shofar blowing; ensemble; congregational singing; and group leading.

The purpose of the Belz School is to produce, in the words of Israel Abrahams describing the 14th century Rabbi Jacob Molin (Maharil), “members of a class of clerical musicians.”