Lesbian Rabbis
The First Generation
Rutgers University Press
The office of rabbi is the most visible symbol of power and prestige in Jewish communities. Rabbis both interpret to their congregations the requirements of Jewish life and instruct congregants in how best to live this life.
Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation documents a monumental change in Jewish life as eighteen lesbian rabbis reflect on their experiences as trailblazers in Judaism's journey into an increasingly multicultural world. In frank and revealing essays, the contributors discuss their decisions to become rabbis and describe their experiences both at the seminaries and in their rabbinical positions. They also reflect on the dilemma whether to conceal or reveal their sexual identities to their congregants and superiors, or to serve specifically gay and lesbian congregations. The contributors consider the tensions between lesbian identity and Jewish identity, and inquire whether there are particularly "lesbian" readings of traditional texts. These essays also ask how the language of Jewish tradition touches the lives of lesbians and how lesbianism challenges traditional notions of the Jewish family.
"'Today I am completely 'out' personally and professionally, and yet I have learned that the 'coming out' process never ends. Even today, I find myself in professional situations in which yet again I must reveal that I am a lesbian, yet again I must prove myself worthy of functioning professionally in the 'straight' world. I still encounter moments of awkwardness, some hostility, and some sense of exclusion as I negotiate the pathways of my professional life."-Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, from Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation
Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation documents a monumental change in Jewish life as eighteen lesbian rabbis reflect on their experiences as trailblazers in Judaism's journey into an increasingly multicultural world. In frank and revealing essays, the contributors discuss their decisions to become rabbis and describe their experiences both at the seminaries and in their rabbinical positions. They also reflect on the dilemma whether to conceal or reveal their sexual identities to their congregants and superiors, or to serve specifically gay and lesbian congregations. The contributors consider the tensions between lesbian identity and Jewish identity, and inquire whether there are particularly "lesbian" readings of traditional texts. These essays also ask how the language of Jewish tradition touches the lives of lesbians and how lesbianism challenges traditional notions of the Jewish family.
"'Today I am completely 'out' personally and professionally, and yet I have learned that the 'coming out' process never ends. Even today, I find myself in professional situations in which yet again I must reveal that I am a lesbian, yet again I must prove myself worthy of functioning professionally in the 'straight' world. I still encounter moments of awkwardness, some hostility, and some sense of exclusion as I negotiate the pathways of my professional life."-Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, from Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation
This welcome collection reflects two visions: one that of a group of lesbians who came out at seminary and in their congregations with great risk to their dreams and livelihoods; the other of younger lesbians who were out at college and seminary, while they were on the job market, and in their professional positions. . . . The eighteen essays cover denominational movements, heterosexual congregations, gay and lesbian congregations, unaffiliated Jews and Jews on campus, and being a lesbian rabbi in the Conservative movement, the denomination that, after Orthodoxy, is the least flexible about sexual preference. . . . One comes away from this collection looking, like the younger woman pictured in [the bookÆs] front cover photograph, toward the future and the next generation, who will not have to fight as their older sisters did for acceptance and employment.
The eighteen diverse essays in this groundbreaking volume written by lesbian rabbis express, often with great eloquence and learning, the values of integrity, courageous leadership, and shlemut or wholeness. . . . The authors of these essays . . . are serious and courageous rabbis.
Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation gives voice to the women who followed Priesand in making history: the lesbians who marched bravely into an unfriendly sea and forced an open passage. In eighteen personal essays, their stories emerge as joyous, heartbreaking, and historical, outlining where Judaism has been and mapping where the future lies.
This fascinating collection of essays by 18 lesbian rabbis breaks new ground and will surely inspire and challenge anyone who lives contradictions between a religion that denies or questions oneÆs existence while responding to an inner sense of truth and belief. Highly recommended.
A new collection of reminiscences by trailblazing lesbian rabbis, Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation tells the tales of those who paved the way.
This marvelous collection shows great women living good lives engaging in excellent ministry.
æToday I am completely æoutÆ personally and professionally, and yet I have learned that the æcoming outÆ process never ends. Even today, I find myself in professional situations in which yet again I must reveal that I am a lesbian, yet again I must prove myself worthy of functioning professionally in the æstraightÆ world. I still encounter moments of awkwardness, some hostility, and some sense of exclusion as I negotiate the pathways of my professional life.
Rebecca T. Alpert is a rabbi and codirector of the women's studies program at Temple University. She is the author of Exploring Judaism: A Reconstructionist Approach and Like Bread on the Seder Plate: Jewish Lesbians and the Transformation of Tradition. Sue Levi Elwell is a rabbi and director of the Pennsylvania Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. She is the editor of the Jewish Women's Studies Guide. Shirley Idelson is a rabbi who serves as associate chaplain at Carleton College and associate for Jewish Life at Macalester College.
Acknowledgments
Introduction / Sue Levi Elwell / Rebecca T. Alpert
PART I Serving a Denominational Movement
Struggle, Change, and Celebration: My Life as a Lesbian Rabbi / Linda Holtzman
A Practical Theology of Presence / Nancy Wiener
Working from the Inside, Out / Julie R. Spitzer
Wholeness and Holiness: A Life's Journey / Sue Levi Elwell
Being a Lesbian Rabbi / Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah
PART II Serving Congregations
Ten Years on the Journey toward Wholeness / Leila Gal Berner
Carrying On: A Lesbian Rabbi, Jewish Seekers, and All the Voices of Our Lives / Ellen Lippmann
Shlichut: Claiming My Mission / Karen Bender
Ger V'toshav: Member and Outsider / Sydney Mintz
PART III Serving Gay and Lesbian Congregations
Gay and Lesbian Synagogue as Spiritual Community / Sharon Kleinbaum
Why I Choose to be a Rabbi of a GLBT Synagogue / Lisa A. Edwards
Ten Years and Counting... / Denise L. Eger
PART IV Working with Jews ``at the Margins'' and on Campus
On Being a Rabbi at the Margins / Rebecca T. Alpert
My Piece of Truth / Julie Greenberg
My Language Is My Country / Shirley Idelson
PART V Lesbian Rabbis and Conservative Judaism
Saying No in the Name of a Higher Yes / Benay Lappe
Notes from the Underground / Dawn Robinson Rose
In Hiding / Anonymous
Glossary
About the Contributors
Index
Introduction / Sue Levi Elwell / Rebecca T. Alpert
PART I Serving a Denominational Movement
Struggle, Change, and Celebration: My Life as a Lesbian Rabbi / Linda Holtzman
A Practical Theology of Presence / Nancy Wiener
Working from the Inside, Out / Julie R. Spitzer
Wholeness and Holiness: A Life's Journey / Sue Levi Elwell
Being a Lesbian Rabbi / Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah
PART II Serving Congregations
Ten Years on the Journey toward Wholeness / Leila Gal Berner
Carrying On: A Lesbian Rabbi, Jewish Seekers, and All the Voices of Our Lives / Ellen Lippmann
Shlichut: Claiming My Mission / Karen Bender
Ger V'toshav: Member and Outsider / Sydney Mintz
PART III Serving Gay and Lesbian Congregations
Gay and Lesbian Synagogue as Spiritual Community / Sharon Kleinbaum
Why I Choose to be a Rabbi of a GLBT Synagogue / Lisa A. Edwards
Ten Years and Counting... / Denise L. Eger
PART IV Working with Jews ``at the Margins'' and on Campus
On Being a Rabbi at the Margins / Rebecca T. Alpert
My Piece of Truth / Julie Greenberg
My Language Is My Country / Shirley Idelson
PART V Lesbian Rabbis and Conservative Judaism
Saying No in the Name of a Higher Yes / Benay Lappe
Notes from the Underground / Dawn Robinson Rose
In Hiding / Anonymous
Glossary
About the Contributors
Index
