Arguably the most significant change within Orthodox Judaism in recent years has been the increasing number of women engaged in high-level Torah learning, the proliferation of institutions to encourage this learning, and the development of new avenues through which they can put their learning to practical use.
Thus we see women serving as presidents of Orthodox synagogues and heads of day schools, as well as becoming certified as yoetzot halachah, or advisers in Jewish law — even though, for now, they are only permitted to advise other women, and only regarding “women’s issues.” It’s a start.
As more Orthodox women become learned, it is natural that they would look to provide Jewish leadership within the bounds of halachah. In the modern world, the question follows, how far can the envelope be pushed? If a woman is a true Torah scholar, recognized for her knowledge, her spirituality and her leadership, can she be recognized as a rabbi or, more to the point, a rabba?
The answer coming from many Orthodox women is “yes.” As our story this week relates, Rabbi Avi Weiss showed his visionary courage six years ago by listening to the call and ordaining Sara Hurwitz first as “maharat” and then “rabba.” She is now dean of the Bronx yeshiva he created to train more women like her.
Whatever title they are given, the effect is the same: These Orthodox women have attained the status of spiritual leaders and are being recognized as such by growing numbers of Orthodox men, women and institutions.
But the mainstream Orthodox world does not accept ordaining women. The Rabbinical Council of America, the umbrella body of Modern Orthodox rabbis, has issued resolutions since Hurwitz’s ordination decrying the move and stating that female rabbis, whatever their title, have no place in Orthodox life. The latest resolution came just last week, and the approbation has been expanded to forbid any Orthodox synagogue or other institution from hiring such women.
We expect this from the ultra-Orthodox. But not from Modern Orthodoxy, which purports to live in so-called modern society.
True, the Orthodox world moves slowly, and change is not looked upon kindly. Things have to evolve naturally, as one San Francisco rabbi told us. Well, that’s happening. If women are seeking this status, and if congregations are hiring them — as Berkeley’s Beth Israel did last year — then RCA resolutions opposing it look like the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, holding back the tidal wave of reality.