Lesbian rabbis : the first generation / edited by Rebecca T. Alpert, Sue Levi Elwell, Shirley Idelson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Alpert, Rebecca T. (Rebecca Trachtenberg), 1950-

Elwell, Ellen Sue Levi.

Idelson, Shirley.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lesbian rabbis--Biography.

Lesbian rabbis.

Jews--Biography.

Jews.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

x, 252 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, N.J. : Rutgers University Press, [2001]

Summary:

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 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 languge of Jewish tradition touches the lives of lesbians and how lesbianism challenges traditional notions of the Jewish family.

Contents:

Part I Serving a Denominational Movement

Chapter 1 Struggle, Change, and Celebration: My Life as a Lesbian Rabbi / Linda Holtzman 39

Chapter 2 A Practical Theology of Presence / Nancy Wiener 50

Chapter 3 Working from the Inside, Out / Julie R. Spitzer 57

Chapter 4 Wholeness and Holiness: A Life's Journey / Sue Levi Elwell 66

Chapter 5 Being a Lesbian Rabbi / Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah 75

Part II Serving Congregations

Chapter 6 Ten Years on the Journey toward Wholeness / Leila Gal Berner 93

Chapter 7 Carrying On: A Lesbian Rabbi, Jewish Seekers, and All the Voices of Our Lives / Ellen Lippmann 106

Chapter 8 Shlichut: Claiming My Mission / Karen Bender 116

Chapter 9 Ger V'toshav: Member and Outsider / Sydney Mintz 131

Part III Serving Gay and Lesbian Congregations

Chapter 10 Gay and Lesbian Synagogue as Spiritual Community / Sharon Kleinbaum 141

Chapter 11 Why I Choose to be a Rabbi of a GLBT Synagogue / Lisa A. Edwards 152

Chapter 12 Ten Years and Counting ... / Denise L. Eger 161

Part IV Working with Jews "at the Margins" and on Campus

Chapter 13 On Being a Rabbi at the Margins / Rebecca T. Alpert 173

Chapter 14 My Piece of Truth / Julie Greenberg 181

Chapter 15 My Language Is My Country / Shirley Idelson 190

Part V Lesbian Rabbis and Conservative Judaism

Chapter 16 Saying No in the Name of a Higher Yes / Benay Lappe 197

Chapter 17 Notes from the Underground / Dawn Robinson Rose 217

Chapter 18 In Hiding / Anonymous 226.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0813529158

0813529166

OCLC:

45066597