Rabbinical College of America

What Rabbinical College of America does

The Rabbinical College of America (RCA) is a private nonprofit religious educational institution headquartered on an 80-acre campus at 226 Sussex Avenue in Morris Township, New Jersey. It functions as the regional headquarters of the worldwide Chabad-Lubavitch movement in New Jersey, overseeing 72 satellite Chabad centers statewide (grown from 64) and maintaining ties to over 4,000 Chabad centers globally. The institution is licensed by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and accredited by the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, granting Bachelor's of Talmudic Studies, Bachelor's of Religious Education, and Master's of Religious Education degrees.

RCA's product portfolio spans from early childhood through graduate-level rabbinical training, anchored by four core educational programs: Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim (advanced Talmudic scholarship), Smicha/Rabbinical Ordination (headed by Rabbi Chaim Schapiro), Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim (beginner to advanced learning with university-accredited courses), and the Kollel for Married Students (with on-campus family housing). Supporting programs include the Yeshiva Summer Program for ages 13-15, Cheder Lubavitch K-8 school (~300 students), and Gan Israel Day Camps. Adjacent community-service subsidiaries include Jewish Relief Agency MetroWest (food distribution), Friendship Circle (special-needs family support), Mental Health Initiative, and the Hadar Family Simcha Fund.

The business model combines recurring tuition (annotated as subscription-like in the source) with charitable donations and grants. RCA participates in Title IV federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants and CARES Act emergency relief (cumulative $806,152 received across 2020-2021). Distribution is primarily on-campus supplemented by the 72 NJ Chabad centers, broadcast Shiurim via WhatsApp/email, and integration with the Chabad.org digital platform. The institution is governed by a Board of Trustees co-chaired by Michael Zeiger and Adam Bedzow, with notable members including the Wilf family, Charles Kushner, Murray Kushner, and Senator Joe Lieberman (International Honorary Chairman); Rabbi Mendy Herson currently serves as Dean following the passing of Rabbi Moshe Herson OBM.

Name

Rabbinical College of America

Legal name

Rabbinical College of America

Website

http://www.rca.edu/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Rabbinical College of America is a Chabad-Lubavitch nonprofit rabbinical seminary and K-12 school on an 80-acre campus in Morris Township, NJ, training rabbis and educating Jewish students from preschool through graduate ordination across 72 New Jersey satellite Chabad centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Jewish Theological Seminaries & Rabbinical Colleges (EDAHAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Rabbinical education
• Talmudic studies
• Yeshiva programs
• Jewish seminary
• Religious ordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Morristown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Programs: Revenue from tuition fees for rabbinical ordination programs, Talmudic studies, and religious education programs ranging from early childhood through graduate level.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The institution relies on donations and charitable contributions from alumni, supporters, and the community to support operations and financial aid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Rabbinical College of America is a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbinical seminary that provides Jewish religious education and rabbinical ordination from early childhood through graduate level. Its core programs include advanced Talmudic studies (Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim), rabbinical ordination (Smicha), Jewish learning for beginners through advanced students (Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim), a Kollel for married students, a summer program for Yeshiva high school scholars, and the Cheder Lubavitch K-8 school, all delivered primarily on its 80-acre campus in Morris Township, NJ.

Product overview

The Rabbinical College of America is a Chabad-Lubavitch educational institution offering a unified portfolio of Jewish educational programs spanning from early childhood through graduate-level rabbinical training. The core offerings include Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim (advanced Talmudic scholarship), Smicha (rabbinical ordination), and Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim (beginner to advanced Jewish learning with university credit options). Supporting programs include the Kollel for Married Students, Yeshiva Summer Program for teens, Cheder Lubavitch K-8 school, and Gan Israel day camps. Community outreach programs include the Jewish Relief Agency food distribution, Friendship Circle for special needs families, and Mental Health Initiative. The institution operates 72 Chabad centers throughout New Jersey from its 80-acre campus in Morris Township, NJ.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim: Advanced Talmudic studies program developing scholars thoroughly trained in higher Jewish learning, preparing students for positions as rabbis, teachers, and communal leaders
• Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim
• Smicha - Rabbinical Ordination
• Yeshiva Summer Program
• Cheder Lubavitch
• Gan Israel Day Camps
• Friendship Circle
• Jewish Relief Agency
• Mental Health Initiative

Products and services

• Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Advanced Talmudic studies program developing scholars thoroughly trained in higher Jewish learning, preparing students for positions as rabbis, teachers, and communal leaders within the Chabad-Lubavitch tradition.
• Smicha - Rabbinical Ordination Program Rabbinical ordination program where students receive ordination from leading rabbinical authorities, attracting students with high academic achievement pursuing rabbinical careers.
• Yeshiva Tiferes Bachurim Jewish learning program geared for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students, offering courses from the ABCs of Judaism to advanced Talmud and Jewish philosophy, including university-accredited semester courses and executive learning.
• Kollel For Married Students Educational program for young couples and their children offering a total living and educational experience with garden-style married student housing on campus, nursery school access, and communal activities.
• Yeshiva Summer Program (YSP) Summer residential learning program for Yeshiva high school scholars aged 13-15, featuring intense Torah study combined with recreational activities including sports, swimming, and trips.
• Cheder Lubavitch Morristown Traditional Jewish school for boys and girls from preschool through eighth grade, accommodating approximately 300 students with both religious and secular curriculum.
• Sherry Wilzig Izak Gan Israel Day Camps Jewish day camp offering activities for children from Kiddie Kamp (ages 4-5) through CIT division, with sports, games, crafts, and field trips, part of the Gan Israel network.
• Jewish Relief Agency-MetroWest (JRA) Volunteer-driven food distribution program serving disadvantaged families through door-to-door monthly deliveries, part of a nationwide network that feeds over 3,200 families monthly.
• Friendship Circle Program reaching out to families with children with special needs, connecting teenage volunteers with special needs children through shared Jewish and social experiences.
• Mental Health Initiative Statewide mental health awareness program by Chabad of New Jersey using Jewish values to support mental wellness and spread awareness across New Jersey communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of graduates serving as spiritual leaders worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chabad.orgcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Chabad.org for multimedia content distribution, video classes, audio shiurim, and digital learning resources. The RCA website and content are powered by Chabad.org infrastructure.
• Chabad MovementcoreOthersRCA is part of the worldwide Chabad movement with more than 4000 centers worldwide. Serves as headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch in the State of New Jersey with 72 satellite Chabad centers.
• Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) MetroWestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDynamic volunteer-driven organization helping Jews in need. Since founding in Philadelphia in 2000, JRA brings together individuals of all means, ages and backgrounds monthly in community and tikkun olam. JRA MetroWest began March 4, 2012 serving 25 families, now part of network serving 3,200+ families nationwide.
• Friendship CircleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReaches out to families who have children with special needs, extending a helping hand and involving them in Jewish and social experiences. Unique formula introduces teenage volunteers to children, enriching both through shared experiences.
• Mental Health InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental Health Initiative by Chabad of New Jersey transforms lives of tens of thousands of NJ residents through collaborative network of statewide communities, guiding, inspiring, educating and spreading mental health awareness using eternal values of Judaism.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Beth Medrash Govoha (Lakewood Yeshiva): Largest Orthodox rabbinical seminary in North America, located in Lakewood, NJ. Directly comparable as an advanced Talmudic and rabbinical ordination institution serving a similar Orthodox Jewish student base with degree programs and residential yeshiva life.
• Telshe Yeshiva (Telshe College): Lithuanian-style rabbinical seminary in Cleveland offering rabbinical ordination and advanced Talmudic study. Comparable in offering advanced Jewish learning and rabbinical credentials within an Orthodox residential framework, though in a different Chassidic/Lithuanian tradition.
• Yeshiva University: Major Jewish-sponsored university in New York offering undergraduate, graduate, and rabbinical ordination (RIETS) programs. Competes for the same rabbinical-student pool while offering broader secular degree options and more extensive accreditation footprint.
• Ner Israel Rabbinical College: Orthodox rabbinical seminary in Baltimore offering rabbinical ordination and graduate Talmudic degrees. Comparable in scale and program mix to RCA, with a similar traditional Orthodox/Chassidic orientation and residential yeshiva model.
• Hebrew Theological College: Chicago-based Jewish seminary offering rabbinical ordination and teacher training, including a women's program. Comparable as a regional rabbinical training institution serving a defined Jewish community with degree-granting authority.
• Yeshiva of Philadelphia (RIETS branch): Philadelphia-area affiliate providing rabbinical training within the broader RIETS/Yeshiva University system. Comparable as a regional rabbinical training site but operates under YU's umbrella rather than as an independent seminary.
• Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva / Yeshiva of South Fallsburg: Orthodox rabbinical seminary network offering advanced Talmudic study and rabbinical ordination with a focus on Chofetz Chaim ethical teachings. Comparable as an advanced yeshiva with rabbinical ordination programs serving Orthodox students in a residential setting.
• Bais Medrash Elyon (Monsey): Orthodox rabbinical seminary in Monsey, NY offering advanced Talmudic degrees and teacher training. Comparable as a smaller regional rabbinical institution with degree-granting authority and a similar Orthodox/Chassidic student base.

Broad incumbents

• Touro College: Larger Jewish-sponsored higher education network offering undergraduate and graduate programs with a Jewish-content orientation, including rabbinical studies via affiliates. Comparable as a Jewish-affiliated degree-granting institution but operates at much broader scale and scope.

Emerging players

• Central Yeshiva Beth Shmuel (Chabad-affiliated): Chabad-affiliated rabbinical training program offering Smicha credentials to students worldwide. Closest peer in denomination and ordination pathway; smaller scale and primarily distance-learning focused but occupies the same Chabad rabbinical-credentialing niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/116757581677021

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rabbinical College of America