The Jewish Institute of Religion (JIR) was a rabbinical school founded in 1903 in New York City. It aimed to provide advanced Jewish education and training for rabbis and Jewish leaders. JIR was known for its commitment to modern scholarship and progressive Judaism, emphasizing the importance of integrating Jewish tradition with contemporary life. In 1950, the Jewish Institute of Religion merged with the Hebrew Union College (HUC), which is the main institution for training Reform rabbis in the United States. This merger helped to strengthen the educational resources available for Jewish studies and expanded the reach of Reform Judaism across the country.