At the age of 60, I embarked on a life-changing journey—one I never expected. Born into a secular Jewish family, I grew up without even a glimmer of Jewish knowledge. my family lit the menorah before putting up our Christmas tree; we attended easter egg hunts and had a Seder. That’s about it for me—no […]
On Being an Older Learner Read More »
When I graduated from college in 1980, my two younger sisters made me a tee-shirt that said, “Save the Female Whales in Ethiopia.” They were, of course, sweetly making fun of me. They saw me as a bleeding-heart liberal: Give Ann a cause and she’ll jump right in. I was a feminist. Gloria Steinem was
Portrait of a Modern Jewish Woman Philanthropist Read More »
For the past several years, about the time we read parashat Lekh Lekha, I have found myself remembering, briefly, “Sandra’s Big Adventure.” no, I did not go to live on a kibbutz for six months, or go on a “walkabout” in the red heart of Australia—not that I haven’t considered those as things I might
Taking Leaps into the Unknown in Midlife Read More »
As a young girl, I cherished our winter-break visits to my maternal grandparents’ bungalow in southern Florida. I remember every sensation vividly—the rush of humid air upon exiting the terminal, the breathless squeeze of my grandfather’s embrace, the tanginess of fresh juice made from oranges picked out back, the satisfying click of shuffleboard pucks, and
More Precious than Pearls: Preserving the Stories that Matter Read More »
A decade ago, when I formally began the process of joining the clergy of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, I could not imagine synagogue members turning to a woman to officiate at lifecycle events. I was convinced that congregants would gravitate toward custom and tradition during such life-altering moments, and that there would be no
“Summon the Mekonenot (Dirge-Singers) and They Will Come” Read More »
At a JOFA Board meeting three years ago, when I was forty six, I referred to myself as middle-aged. Two Board members, both in their sixties, immediately responded, “Judy, you’re not middle aged. You can’t be, because we’re middle-aged.” How could I argue with that? They are active, vibrant women, involved in family, community, and
“The Measure of Our Life Is Seventy Years” Read More »
My story of becoming the first woman president of an Orthodox shul in St. Louis, Missouri—and perhaps only the second in the Midwest—is not a story of resistance. It is not a story of fighting the old guard. Rather, it is a story of welcome and delight, of the convergence of events that I thought
Making History, Without Making Waves: On Becoming a Shul President Read More »
“My question is for the rabbi,” the woman said into the microphone. “She’s not a rabbi,” the moderator emphatically interrupted. As I listened to her words echoing through the loudspeakers to reach the 300 Muslim women in the convention center in Malaysia, I smiled awkwardly from the stage, thinking that this would not be the
What I Learned from Interfaith Dialogue Read More »
When my student followed me out of the room after class, I assumed she had a question about the shiur. Instead, she said, “I saw something interesting on your source sheet. Can I call you ‘rabbanit’?” She was referring to what I had assumed was the least important item on the handouts: In the top
What’s in a Title? Read More »
Eight years ago, I was privileged to become the marta d’atra (halakhic authority) of Kehilat Orach Eliezer (KOE) on the Upper West Side of New York City. The congregation refers to me as rosh kehillah—“head of the congregation.” In this role, I deliver drashot on Shabbat. Throughout the week, I am available to answer halakhic
On Being Marta d’Atra, the Spiritual Leader, of My Congregation Read More »
