by Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus

More than Thirty Years Ago, When People Heard that her Daughter was a Rabbinic Student, They would Say to My Mother, “She’s going to be a woman rabbi??”

My mother answered, “I don’t know what other land she could be.” I recall visiting a patient when I worked as a hospital chaplain, hearing “You’re a rabbi, but you don’t even have a beard.” I responded, “No, and I’m not circumcised, either.” In those days, as now, it helped to have a sense of humor and a great deal of patience to face the reactions of those who were amazed at my bizarre career choice.

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Ordained

The articles in this special section:

When I was Ordained, It was Difficult to Find a Job.

by Sally Priesand

I Fear that the Epitaph on my Tombstone will Read “She was the One who Brought the Dildo to Reines’ Class.”

by Myra Soifer

When I Arrived, I had No Place to Stay, for No One at the Jerusalem School would Co-sign a Paper Needed for a Pre-rental Agreement.

by Helene Ferris

I Received the Article from My Mother, Who Sent it to me in Jerusalem, Where I was Studying at Hebrew University during my Junior year in College.

by Mindy Avra Portnoy

More than Thirty Years Ago, When People Heard that her Daughter was a Rabbinic Student, They would Say to My Mother, “She’s going to be a woman rabbi??”

by Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus

We Were all Very Young, Most of us Fresh Out of College.

by Ellen Jay Lewis

The Presence of Women in the Rabbinate Challenged People to Think about God in a Different Way.

by Laura Gelle