THE REFORM MOVEMENT
LIBRARY:
Background information and source material
THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN AS RABBIS IN THE REFORM MOVEMENT
Visit the exhibit on Sally Priesand at the Jewish Women's Archive.
A) Correspondence from Hebrew Union College to Sally Priesand. Rabbi Priesand's statement in the exhibit gives some important background information. She writes:
While in high school, I requested admission information from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The letters I received in response reflect some uncertainty on the part of college officials as to whether or not there was a place
for women in the rabbinate. Nonetheless, I was accepted into the undergraduate program, a joint program between HUC-JIR
and the University of Cincinnati, and four years later officially welcomed into the rabbinic program.
www.jwa.org/feminism.
After reading the correspondence carefully, answer the following questions:
1. What is HUC's initial reaction to Miss Priesand's application to its rabbinical school?
2. What suggestion does HUC initially make for Miss Priesand's role in the Jewish community?
3. How long does it take for HUC to admit Miss Priesand to the rabbinical school? What do you think transpired during this time?
B) Photograph of the ordination of Sally Priesand: Examine this photograph, taken from the personal collection of Rabbi Priesand.
Answer the following questions:
1. What are some adjectives you would use to describe this photograph?
2. What messages about Reform Judaism does the photograph convey to you?
3. What messages about the role of rabbi in the Reform Movement are conveyed by this photograph?
C) New York Times article about Sally Priesand: NYT Sally Priesand.pdf
After reading this article carefully, answer the following questions:
1. How does Dean Roseman of the Hebrew Union College describe Sally Priesand? Do you think that his description/impression of her impacted on the Reform Movement's decision to begin ordaining women with her?
2. How does Dean Roseman describe the reasons women cannot be rabbis?
3. What reasons does he give for the Reform Movement changing this tradition?
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