Women in the Rabbinate: Educational Package

Program Description:

In the spring of 1985, Amy Eilberg made Conservative Jewish history as she stood to receive rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary. This landmark event in the history of the 119-year-old movement marked a fundamental shift for Jews that began with the Reform Movement's ordination of Sally Priesand in 1972. The long-term impact of this milestone is only just beginning to be felt today.

In honor of the Conservative Movement's twentieth anniversary of the ordination of women — 1985 to 2005 — a short-form documentary, produced by JTS in conjunction with Diva Communications, is now available with an educational guide authored by Rabbi Marc Wolf. This educational package is designed to help individuals learn about the modern-day history of women in the rabbinate and to foster a better understanding of the legacy Conservative rabbis are building today for the next century of Jewish leaders.

"In recent years, women rabbis have gradually begun reshaping the contours of Judaism, providing fresh perspectives on Jewish tradition and new models of gendered behavior in Jewish practice."* This educational package is designed to open up a dialogue about the role of women as religious leaders and the Conservative Movement's response to them.

The educational package includes a twenty-minute documentary on VHS and a companion teaching guide. It is ideal for small study groups as well as organizational programming. The cost of the package is $25 and it can be purchased from the JTS Department of Communications. Please call (212) 678-8902 or email to place an order.

* Tradition Renewed, Volume II. "The Politics of Women's Ordination," by Beth S. Wenger.

Educational Package (PDF, 91 KB)