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Comments (2)An Orthodox clergywoman will now be known as “rabbah” rather than an acronym that had been created on her behalf.
Sara Hurwitz, who has been performing rabbinical duties at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in New York City, last year had been given the title of Maharat—a Hebrew acronym that stands for a leader in legal, spiritual and Torah matters.
But in a statement issued Wednesday, Rabbi Avi Weiss, spiritual leader of the Hebrew Institute and Hurwitz’s mentor, said the acronym had failed to take hold and that Hurwitz would henceforth be called “rabbah,” a feminized version of the title “rabbi.”
“This will make it clear to everyone that Sara Hurwitz is a full member of our rabbinic staff, a rabbi with the additional quality of a distinct woman’s voice,” said the statement issued by Weiss’ office.
Hurwitz, who has served at the Hebrew Institute for nearly seven years, has completed the same course of training and examination as male Orthodox rabbinical students. Her curriculum was modeled after that of the male students at the liberal rabbinical school Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in Riverdale, which Weiss founded and now leads.
First Federation Joins JGooders Donor Network
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington became the first U.S. federation to sign on with the JGooders online platform to reach new donors.
The Washington-area federation will use the JGooders platform to raise awareness for its projects and reach out to small donors.
JGooders connects donors and volunteers with Israeli and Jewish projects worldwide by giving nonprofit organizations cost-effective exposure to a large, often untapped pool of supporters around the world, including hard-to-reach demographics such as teenagers and young adults.
The Washington federation has four projects on the site.
JGooders has about 130 Jewish organizations as clients, including major groups such as the Jewish Agency, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Friends of Magen David Adom and World ORT, as well as small and medium-sized organizations.
Obama: Israeli Gov’t Holding Back Netanyahu on Peace Moves
President Obama said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being held back by his coalition in trying to make peace moves.
Obama, speaking at a town hall meeting Jan. 28 in Tampa, Fla., was asked why his administration continues to support Israel and Egypt despite their “human rights violations against the occupied Palestinian people.”
Obama started his answer by describing Israel as “one of our strongest allies” and a “vibrant democracy,” and said “we will never waver from ensuring Israel’s security and helping them secure themselves in what is a very hostile region.”
However, he said attention must be paid to “the plight of the Palestinians” and that “Israel has to acknowledge legitimate grievances and interests of the Palestinians.” Of both Israel and the Palestinians, Obama said the politics are “difficult.”
“The Israel government came in based on the support of a lot of folks who don’t want to make a lot of concessions,” the U.S. leader said. “I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is actually making some effort to try to move a little bit further than his coalition wants him to go.”
While Netanyahu’s government has acceded to some internal pressure to add housing in parts of the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem, he has frozen building in other areas.
The Palestinian Authority does not want to return to talks without a total freeze on settlement building.