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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 643

women rabbis

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
Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur. (Courtesy of MJLF)
June 6, 2022, 3:50 pm
France has 500,000 Jews and only 5 women rabbis, but this group wants to change that
Last month saw the second Daughters of Rashi conference, a cross-denominational event focusing on expanding women’s roles in Judaism — and for participants, it’s a call to action
By HANNAH STEINKOPF-FRANK
Rabbi Rebecca Eisenstadt leads a bat mitzvah at The Plaza Hotel in November 2021. (Heidi Green/ via JTA)
May 28, 2022, 4:14 am
This private, on-demand ‘hot rabbi’ may soon be the star of her own reality TV show
Rabbi Becky Eisenstadt started b’nai mitzvah tutoring in her hometown in Bethesda, Maryland. Twenty years later, as more Jews skip the synagogue, she’s made it into a mini-empire
By julia GERGELY
A screenshot of Woman's Day magazine's instagram post announces Rabbi Steven Leder will be the magazine's new "Rabbi in Residence." (Screenshot via Instagram via JTA)
April 26, 2022, 2:36 am
Outcry after Women’s Day magazine appoints a ‘rabbi in residence’ and chooses a man
Jewish readers upset that magazine, which normally elevates women’s voices, would not do same for its faith coverage when there are so many women rabbis
By Jackie Hajdenberg
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