The Center for Jewish Life Presents;

Sacred Calling: Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate

Rabbi Dr. Carole Balin in conversation with Rabbi Sari Laufer

Monday, May 23, 2022 at 7 pm

Webinar

On June 3, 1972, Sally Priesand walked across the bimah at the Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati, OH and received her rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In that moment, she became the first woman ordained in America, the first woman ordained by a recognized seminary, and the second woman ever given the title of Rabbi.

In the 50 years since, women have followed through the door that Rabbi Priesand opened, becoming rabbis in not only the Reform Movement, but in Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox Judaism as well. Rabbis Balin and Laufer will talk about the ways that women in the rabbinate have and continue to change not only the rabbinate, but the American Jewish experience.  

Rabbi Dr. Carole Balin is Professor Emerita at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where her research interests included gender studies, Modern Jewish History, American Judaism---and the intersection thereof.