Sara Hurwitz: Difference between revisions
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Hurwitz has a rabbinic degree issued by Rabbi [[Avi Weiss]] in a private 5-year study program.<ref name="Maharat faculty"/><ref name="nymag"/> |
Hurwitz has a rabbinic degree issued by Rabbi [[Avi Weiss]] in a private 5-year study program.<ref name="Maharat faculty"/><ref name="nymag"/> |
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==Controversy== |
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In June 2009, Weiss ordained Sara Hurwitz with the title "Maharat" (an acronym of ''manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yeshivatmaharat.org/|title=home - Yeshivat Maharat|accessdate=1 February 2011}}</ref>) rather than "Rabbi".<ref name="Forward 50">{{cite news|url=http://www.forward.com/forward-50-2009/|title=Forward 50, 2009|last=Eisner|first=Jane|date=2009-11-14 |publisher=The Forward|accessdate=13 March 2010}}</ref><ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c52_a16167/Editorial__Opinion/Gary_Rosenblatt.html</ref> In February 2010, Weiss announced that he was changing Maharat to a more familiar-sounding title "Rabba".<ref name="Heeb">{{cite news|url=http://www.heebmagazine.com/rabba-sara-hurwitz-rocks-the-orthodox/|title="Rabba" Sara Hurwitz Rocks the Orthodox|date=March 10, 2010 |publisher=Heeb Magazine|accessdate=13 March 2010}}</ref> The goal of this shift was to clarify Hurwitz's position as a full member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale rabbinic staff. The change was criticised by both [[Agudath Yisrael]] and the [[Rabbinical Council of America]], who called the move "beyond the pale of Orthodox Judaism".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.momentmag.com/do-1-rabba-2-rabbis-and-1-yeshiva-a-new-denomination/|title="Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?| author=Staff| publisher=Moment Magazine | accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref> Weiss announced amidst criticism that the term "Rabba" would not be used anymore for his future students. Hurwitz will continue to use the title Rabba and is considered by some to be the first Orthodox woman ordained in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/03/09/1011006/weiss-backs-away-from-rabba-title-for-women |title=Amid Furor, Weiss Backs Away from 'Rabba' Title for Women |last=Harris |first=Ben |publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=March 9, 2010 |accessdate=March 22, 2010 }}</ref> |
In June 2009, Weiss ordained Sara Hurwitz with the title "Maharat" (an acronym of ''manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yeshivatmaharat.org/|title=home - Yeshivat Maharat|accessdate=1 February 2011}}</ref>) rather than "Rabbi".<ref name="Forward 50">{{cite news|url=http://www.forward.com/forward-50-2009/|title=Forward 50, 2009|last=Eisner|first=Jane|date=2009-11-14 |publisher=The Forward|accessdate=13 March 2010}}</ref><ref>http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c52_a16167/Editorial__Opinion/Gary_Rosenblatt.html</ref> In February 2010, Weiss announced that he was changing Maharat to a more familiar-sounding title "Rabba".<ref name="Heeb">{{cite news|url=http://www.heebmagazine.com/rabba-sara-hurwitz-rocks-the-orthodox/|title="Rabba" Sara Hurwitz Rocks the Orthodox|date=March 10, 2010 |publisher=Heeb Magazine|accessdate=13 March 2010}}</ref> The goal of this shift was to clarify Hurwitz's position as a full member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale rabbinic staff. The change was criticised by both [[Agudath Yisrael]] and the [[Rabbinical Council of America]], who called the move "beyond the pale of Orthodox Judaism".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.momentmag.com/do-1-rabba-2-rabbis-and-1-yeshiva-a-new-denomination/|title="Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?| author=Staff| publisher=Moment Magazine | accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref> Weiss announced amidst criticism that the term "Rabba" would not be used anymore for his future students. Hurwitz will continue to use the title Rabba and is considered by some to be the first Orthodox woman ordained in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/03/09/1011006/weiss-backs-away-from-rabba-title-for-women |title=Amid Furor, Weiss Backs Away from 'Rabba' Title for Women |last=Harris |first=Ben |publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=March 9, 2010 |accessdate=March 22, 2010 }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 06:34, 16 October 2013
Rabba Sara Hurwitz | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Born | Johannesburg, South Africa[1] |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Spouse | Josh Abraham[1] |
| Children | Yonah, Zacharya and David[1] |
| Denomination | Open Orthodox |
| Position | Rabba |
| Synagogue | Hebrew Institute of Riverdale |
| Position | Dean |
| Yeshiva | Yeshivat Maharat |
| Semikhah | Rabbi Avi Weiss |
Sara Hurwitz is a Modern Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader who received ordination from Rabbi Avi Weiss. She is the "Rabba" at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in Riverdale, Bronx, New York[2] and the dean of Yeshivat Maharat in Riverdale, Bronx, New York.[3]
She is the curricular researcher and writer for JOFA's Gender and Orthodoxy Curriculum Project.[4]
Early life and education
Hurwitz was born in South Africa.[5] In 1989, Hurwitz moved with her family to Boca Raton, Florida. That year, she was in the eighth grade. (source: interview called Woman Orthodox "Rabbi" Sara Hurwitz on Shalom TV)
Hurwitz graduated from Barnard College in New York City with a Bachelor of Arts.[1][6]
She was a student at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Talpiot, Israel, a post-high school religious seminary, not degree-granting.[1]
She went to the Drisha Institute in New York City as part of the Scholar Circle Program. Drisha is a women's religious studies institution. She has a certificate from Drisha.[1][6][7]
Hurwitz has a rabbinic degree issued by Rabbi Avi Weiss in a private 5-year study program.[6][7]
Controversy
In June 2009, Weiss ordained Sara Hurwitz with the title "Maharat" (an acronym of manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit[8]) rather than "Rabbi".[5][9] In February 2010, Weiss announced that he was changing Maharat to a more familiar-sounding title "Rabba".[10] The goal of this shift was to clarify Hurwitz's position as a full member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale rabbinic staff. The change was criticised by both Agudath Yisrael and the Rabbinical Council of America, who called the move "beyond the pale of Orthodox Judaism".[11] Weiss announced amidst criticism that the term "Rabba" would not be used anymore for his future students. Hurwitz will continue to use the title Rabba and is considered by some to be the first Orthodox woman ordained in the United States.[12]
Interdenominational meetings
On December 6, 2010, Hurwitz met for the first time with Sally Priesand, the first Reform female rabbi, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, the first Reconstructionist female rabbi, and Amy Eilberg, the first Conservative female rabbi, at Temple Reyim in Newton, Massachusetts. With a group of about 30 other women rabbis, they lit Hanukkah candles and spoke about their experiences in an open forum.[13]
Priesand, Sasso, Eilberg, and Hurwitz met again on June 3, 2012 at Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, New Jersey for a celebration honoring the four first women Jewish spiritual leaders to be ordained in their respective denominations, and the 40th anniversary of Priesand's ordination.[14]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Sara's Story - Yeshivat Maharat". Yeshivat Maharat website. Retrieved 2 May 2010. Cite error: The named reference "Sara's Story" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Contact Page". Retrieved 13 Dec 2010.
- ^ "About Us - Yeshivat Maharat". Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Speaker's Bureau - Sara Hurwitz". JOFA. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ a b Eisner, Jane (2009-11-14). "Forward 50, 2009". The Forward. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ a b c "Faculty and Staff". Yeshivat Maharat. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
- ^ a b Pogrebin, Abigail (July 11, 2010). "The Rabbi and the Rabba". nymag.com. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ "home - Yeshivat Maharat". Retrieved 1 February 2011.
- ^ http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c52_a16167/Editorial__Opinion/Gary_Rosenblatt.html
- ^ ""Rabba" Sara Hurwitz Rocks the Orthodox". Heeb Magazine. March 10, 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ Staff. ""Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?". Moment Magazine. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ Harris, Ben (March 9, 2010). "Amid Furor, Weiss Backs Away from 'Rabba' Title for Women". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- ^ Imber, Elizabeth (December 8, 2010). "Celebrating the First Lights of Women Rabbis". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
- ^ "Four First Women Rabbis". Monmouth Reform Temple. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
Further reading
- Barenblat, Rachel (March 10, 2010). "Sara Hurwitz's 'Rabba' Title Sparks Orthodox Jewish Condemnation". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Brown, Elicia; Rosenblatt, Gary (March 16, 2010). "'Rabba' Hurwitz Mulling Retracting New Title". The Jewish Week. Retrieved March 22, 2010. [dead link]
- Cohen, Debra Nussbaum (March 3, 2010). "Woman 'Rabba' Roils Orthodox World". The Forward. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Cohen, Debra Nussbaum (March 17, 2010). "The First 'Rabba' Is Given a Standing Ovation at Jewish Feminist Conference". The Forward. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Dresner, Stacey (March 4, 2010). "First Orthodox Woman Rabbi is ordained in NY". Jewish Ledger. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Freedman, Samuel G. (July 26, 2013). "A Jewish Pathbreaker Inspired by Her Countryman Mandela". The New York Times. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
- Harris, Ben (March 3, 2009). "Orthodox Female Rabbi? False Alarm". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Harris, Ben (May 26, 2009). "Orthodox Program Aims to Give Women Rabbinic Training". The Jewish Tribune. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Harris, Ben (March 15, 2010). "Rabba Sara Speaks". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Mark, Jonathan (February 23, 2010). "Rabbis Set To Rumble Over Rabba?". The Jewish Week. Retrieved March 22, 2010. [dead link]
- Orbach, Michael (March 5, 2010). "RCA, Rabbi Weiss Agree: Todah, No Rabba". The Jewish Star. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- Pastor, Kate (November 5, 2009). "Women in Judaism: Jewish Women Come to the Fore in Riverdale". Riverdale Press. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
- "Yeshiva to Train Women to 'Function as Rabbis'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. May 21, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
External links
- "Rabba Sara Hurwitz addresses the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance conference in New York City" (Video). Jewish Telegraphic Agency. March 14, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
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