donutsweeper: (Default)
donutsweeper ([personal profile] donutsweeper) wrote2008-06-14 03:03 pm

I am woman, hear me roar

To be filed under the "a woman can do anything" category: 

The Rabbi of my temple will be leaving soon to become VP of the Union for Reform Judaism (which represents 900 congregations with a total of 1.5 million members in the United States and Canada), making the highest-ranking female Jewish clergy in North America.  This will be the first time that position was ever held by a woman.  Some other little firsts for Rabbi Offner?

• The first female rabbi in Minnesota.
• The first rabbi elected chaplain of the Minnesota Senate.
• The nation's first openly lesbian rabbi to serve a mainstream congregation.
• The first woman to serve on the national rabbinical pension board.

How cool is all of that?

(The local paper's article on her can be found here)

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2008-06-15 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
We are really sorry to see her go, especially since my daughter's bat mitzvah is soon and there hasn't been a new Rabbi hired yet, but it's such a good opportunity for Rabi Offner, it's hard to be upset