Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me
  • Forgot your password?
  • Forgot your username?
Facebook linkedin Twitter RSS
logo
  • Home
  • Elana
    • Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman
    • Elana's Books
    • Media Appearances
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Consulting Services
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Gender Issues in Education
    • Gender in Judaism and Orthodoxy
    • Gender in Israel
    • Politics and Leadership
    • Economics, business and working life
    • Body Issues
    • Men, boys and masculinities
    • Spirituality
    • Social Activism
    • Random Musings
  • Books
    • The Men's Section
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • Educating in the Divine Image
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • The War on Women in Israel
    • Masala Mamas
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Jewish Feminism Telecourse
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Sign Up
    • BRAND NEW TELECOURSE from JewFem.com
    • Desire: Favorite Readings
  • Discussions
Print

Dr Judith Rosenbaum brings excitement about Jewish women’s historical achievements to HUC

JewFem Blog: Gender in Judaism and Orthodoxy
Elana Sztokman
Friday, 08 December 2017
2434 Hits
0 Comments
Dr Judith Rosenbaum brings excitement about Jewish women’s historical achievements to HUC

 

“This is the first time I have ever received a fellowship named for a woman,” Dr. Judith Rosenbaum reflected as she opened her first talk as the Sally Priesand Fellow at Hebrew Union College this week. Dr. Rosenbaum, who is the Executive Director of the Jewish Women’s Archive as well as a decorated and accomplished Jewish feminist historian, came to HUC to teach about Jewish women, feminism, and her mother. Yesterday was the sixth anniversary of the death of her mother, Professor Paula Hyman, a pioneering Jewish feminist who broke many glass ceilings. Dr. Rosenbaum will be speaking on Shabbat about feminism, Judaism, and her mother’s legacy at the HUC synagogue in Jerusalem. And she brought along her 10-year-old daughter, Ma’ayan with her, making the celebration of Jewish girls and women a truly intergenerational project.

“It is incredible to stand under Rabbi Sally Priesand’s banner,” Dr Rosenbaum told the HUC rabbinical students. “It means that Jewish feminism has really come into its next cycle, the next generation.”

Rabbi Priesand was the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi in America – in 1972, as part of the Reform movement. For many years everyone thought that she was the first woman ever to be ordained. But after the fall of the Soviet Union, when records and archives opened up, the world learned about Rabbi Regina Jonas, a Jewish woman who was ordained in 1935 Germany. She served rabbinical duties even in Theresienstadt, and she was tragically murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz in 1944.

“The people who knew Regina Jonas’ story did not share it with the world,” Dr. Rosenbaum remarked. “We don’t know why. Her story was almost lost to us.” Scholars discovered a small box that Rabbi Jonas has kept safe, which included many of her writings and sermons, Dr Rosenbaum explained. It was a treasure, without which we may have never truly known about her remarkable achievements.  

HUC Dean Rabbi Naamah Kelman, who broke a lot of glass ceilings herself –  including becoming the first woman to be ordained as rabbi in Israel – provided more vibrant context about Dr. Rosenbaum’s visit. “Your mother was my mentor,” Rabbi Kelman said about Professor Hyman, who was the first woman dean of the Seminary College of Jewish Studies, first to chair a Judaic Studies department at a major university, possibly the first woman to hold a chair in Judaic Studies, and one of the founders of Ezrat Nashim, one of the first Jewish feminist organizations, in 1971. Then 1973 marked the first ever gathering of some 500 women sponsored by Network, a Jewish Students organization. It was called The Jewish Women’s Conference. "I like to describe it as the Big Bang of Jewish feminism," Rabbi Kelman said. “I was the youngest one there, all of 18 years old. That is where I met some of the most amazing women who become my friends and mentors over the years, like your mother,” she said to Dr. Rosenbaum.  

Dr. Rosenbaum’s unique and multi-generational perspective on the evolving role of women in Jewish life generated a lot of animated discussions at HUC. We talked about power dynamics in and out of the sanctuary, changing perceptions of gender roles, and the impact of current events on women in Judaism. The #MeToo movement and the election of an admitted sexual predator to the American presidency have highlighted some of the major challenges that women faced then and now.

“Rabbi Sally Priesand did not get where she did easily,” Rabbi Kelman said. “She faced a lot of obstacles. Many synagogues refused to hire a woman even in a student position. And, significantly, she found it impossible to start a family. She says that she could not both be a pioneer for Jewish women and also become a mother. It was just too hard.”

Hopefully some of that reality has improved.

Meanwhile, among the many exciting projects that JWA has launched to make Jewish women’s history dynamic and accessible, they also have a Women Rabbis project. This project chronicles the history and achievements of women rabbis across ALL the denominations. From Sally Priesand through Sara Hurwitz and so many others. It is a phenomenal cohort of women. The students at HUC have one more thing to look forward to after graduating: joining that group of Women rabbis. I’m excited.    

Tweet
Share on Pinterest
Tags:
Sally Priesand Naamah Kelman JWA Judith Rosenbaum HUC
When the abuser is a woman
How do you sing about rape? Chanting the rape of D...

About the author

Elana Sztokman

Elana Sztokman

The JewFem blog is written by the award-winning writer Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman, former Executive Director of JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. Elana's books include The Men’s Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World, which won the 2012 National Jewish Book Council Award for Women's Studies, Educating in the Divine Image: Gender Issues in Orthodox Jewish Day Schools, which won the 2013 National Jewish Book Council Award for Education (co-authored with Chaya Gorsetman), and the forthcoming The War on Women in Israel: How Religious Radicalism is Stifling the Voice of a Nation Elana writes frequently at The Forward, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Lilith, and more.

Author's recent posts
More posts from author
Friday, 22 January 2021 Inauguration: I'm breathing again
Friday, 22 January 2021 What happened to the women erased in the biblical genealogy?
Friday, 22 January 2021 What if Moses were a woman? Here's what would happen
Sunday, 20 December 2020 NEW RELEASE: Conversations with my Body
Friday, 16 October 2020 If you think Trump is a friend of the Jews, you are a 'freier'

Related Posts

How do you sing about rape? Chanting the rape of Dina on the International Day against violence against Women, and #MeToo

JewFem Blog: Body Issues

The HUC Ordination Ceremony: A celebration of the Jewish human spirit

JewFem Blog: Spirituality

What does it mean to really listen in prayer?

JewFem Blog: Spirituality

So a funny thing happened to me when I posted about the editor of the Talmud; or, what to do when people think you’re crazy

JewFem Blog: Spirituality

What happens when we mistake humans for God; or, an ode to editors

JewFem Blog: Spirituality
 

Comments

Already Registered? Login Here
No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment

Copyright © 2015 Elana Sztokman. All Rights Reserved.
Website created by LiteSites