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women rabbis

Rabbi Gesa Ederberg is installed as the president of the Rabbinical Assembly at Congregation Beth Sholom in Teaneck, New Jersey, March 11, 2026. (Courtesy RA via JTA)
March 20, 2026, 3:08 am
Berlin rabbi makes history as first European to head Conservative rabbis’ association
In a ‘major step forward’ in relations between US and German Jews of the major denomination, Rabbi Gesa Shira Ederberg is also likely the first convert to Judaism to assume the leadership role
By Toby Axelrod
A photo of Andrea Weiss, former provost of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. (Ellen Dubin via JTA)
March 5, 2026, 2:29 pm
Andrea Weiss, trailblazing Reform rabbi who merged scholarship and activism, dies at 60
Former Hebrew Union College provost, the first-ever woman to ordain rabbis in the Reform movement, is praised by colleagues for bringing her ‘whole heart’ to everything she did
By Grace Gilson
A group of female Torah scholars petitions the High Court of Justice to be allowed to take the rabbinical tests administered by the Chief Rabbinate in an image from 2019. (Courtesy, ITIM)
July 14, 2025, 11:32 pm
Chief Rabbinate must open rabbinical tests to women, High Court rules
The ruling does not imply that women are entitled to be ordained as rabbis, but it offers unprecedented recognition of their Torah scholarship
By Rossella Tercatin
Rabbi Deborah Waxman speaks at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College graduation in Abingdon, Pennsylvania, May 19, 2024. (Courtesy Reconstructing Judaism via JTA)
May 4, 2025, 3:57 am
Why Reconstructionist Judaism head Rabbi Deborah Waxman is stepping down after 13 years
After leading the progressive denomination for ‘almost a generation’ as it grappled with issues like interfaith relationships and anti-Zionism, she’s inviting in younger leadership
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Elsa Guedj plays a rabbi inspired by Delphine Horvilleur in Max's 'Reformed.' (Courtesy Max via JTA)
April 8, 2025, 4:29 am
New HBO Max series ‘Reformed’ depicts French woman rabbi based on Delphine Horvilleur
Inspired by the memoir of one of France’s few female Jewish clergy, the show portrays the internal and external challenges of a religious, political and intellectual pioneer
By Shira Li Bartov
'We Need to Talk About Antisemitism' responds to an era of rising concerns about hatred directed at Jews. (JTA illustration; Getty Images)
August 29, 2023, 1:39 am
An American rabbi answers her congregants’ question: Why do they hate us?
In her 10 years as a rabbi, Diana Fersko’s constituents have turned to her about the concurrent uptick in US antisemitism. Her new book gives thoughtful answers to their concerns
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Participants in chevruta, or partnered study, during Azara's summer orientation. (Ben Schwaub via JTA)
July 16, 2023, 4:09 am
A non-denominational yeshiva opens in Scotland, inspired by models in US and Israel
While such programs have existed for more than a decade, Azara is perhaps Europe’s first, hoping to offer a pluralistic space for intensive study of Talmud and other holy books
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Emile Ackermann and Myriam Ackermann-Sommer are leading what is thought to be one of the only Modern Orthodox congregations in France. (David Khabinsky via JTA)
July 3, 2023, 9:14 pm
France gets its first Orthodox woman rabbi, shaking the traditional establishment
Myriam Ackermann-Sommer wants to see women more involved with Jewish life, including in the synagogue. But not all welcome her — or even her Modern Orthodox denomination
By Alice D'Oleon
Hannah Kapnik Ashar is being ordained as a rabbi after studying at Yeshivat Hadar in New York City. She plans to start a women's prayer initiative in her home city of Denver. (Courtesy Hadar)
July 2, 2023, 11:49 pm
Egalitarian Yeshivat Hadar ordains its first — and for now, only — rabbis
The institute, which is committed to gender equality, LGBTQ inclusion and reaching Jews across denominations, will wait until it gathers another cohort that can execute its vision
By PHILISSA CRAMER
The cover of the new book by Rabbi Haviva Ner-David and Rachel Stock Spilker. (Bedazzled Ink Publishing)
March 20, 2023, 2:04 pm
Mysterious mikveh fish helps educate kids about ritual bath
New children’s book harnesses childish curiosity and wonderment to expose very young readers to the deeper aspects of the Jewish purification ritual
By Canaan Lidor
Deborah Newbrun. (Margot Yecies via JTA)
November 22, 2022, 2:16 am
Jewish marriage rites are robust; now a rabbi is making rituals for Jews who divorce
Remembering what was lacking when she divorced, Deborah Newbrun adapts existing practices to help people with healing and closure
By Alix Wall
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg said she donated to victims of sex trafficking to make amends for benefiting from the Wexner Foundation, whose benefactor had close ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (Collage from Instagram via JTA)
August 9, 2022, 10:29 am
Rabbi who benefited from Epstein-associated fund donates to sex trafficking victims
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg tries to make amends after receiving funding from US Jewish billionaire Leslie Wexner, whose ties to convicted sex offender Epstein have come under scrutiny
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Rabbanit Devorah Evron speaks to students from Ohr Torah Stone’s Women's Institute of Halakhic Leadership in an undated photograph. (Jared Bernstein)
June 24, 2022, 11:34 am
After two decades, female religious advisers get state recognition and hope for more
Government’s plan to pay salaries of female experts on Jewish law is important, says seminary head, but further steps are integral in bringing women into official religious life
By Charlie Summers
French-Swiss Rabbi Eliora Peretz poses for a portrait at a synagogue in Jerusalem on March 22, 2022. (Menahem Kahana / AFP)
June 24, 2022, 11:16 am
Born Christian, French woman becomes one of Israel’s few female Orthodox rabbis
‘I had no choice but to become a rabbi if I wanted to study what fascinated me,’ says 40-year-old former journalist Eliora Peretz
By Michael Blum
Nether Rabbi Amy Wallk nor Rabbi Mark Cohn had been looking for a relationship when they first met at the Shalom Hartman Institute in 2017. (Tamar Katz/ via JTA)
June 23, 2022, 3:09 am
Two rabbis, from two different denominations, get a second chance at love
After twice meeting at rabbinical seminars on opposite sides of the ocean, Amy Wallk and Mark Cohn realized that leading 2 congregations 700 miles apart couldn’t stop their romance
By Alix Wall
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