Community-wide conversations about women’s inclusion in religious leadership and ritual were regularly being discussed on social media platforms and at Shabbat tables. Most developments have been initiated at the grassroots level, with people creating the change they want to see, especially in ritual participation.
Linked issues that affect Orthodox Jewish women have been highlighted by new grassroots organisations including Migdal Emunah, Nahamu and GettOutUK, all led by women. International Women’s Day has also been brought into the Jewish community’s calendar, on which the JLC now leads the way.
Hundreds of women who have sought ritual participation have been encouraged to learn new skills such as leyning from a Torah scroll and leading services. Orthodox shuls have in turn acknowledged women’s desire for more active participation by offering women-only Kabbalat Shabbat services, Shabbat morning tefillah groups, online Hallel, Simchat Torah celebrations, a monthly haftarah group at Kinloss and a recent leyning course at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue offered to both men and women.
Women’s Megillah readings, previously held in private homes, have been welcomed into many United Synagogues with around 20 taking place this past Purim. More women now recite Kaddish or mark a yahrzeit with a dvar torah in shul.
Women's Megillah reading in Borehamwood[Missing Credit]
The desire to mark a daughter’s bat mitzvah meaningfully has increasingly led families to organise services at home to enable their daughter to read from a Torah scroll. Others have opted to celebrate the occasion with women’s Megillah readings. Happy is a parent whose daughter was born just before Purim or Shavuot as she can take part in a public reading of Megillat Esther or Ruth for her bat mitzvah.
Creating leadership opportunities is more difficult to achieve. Individual women who have obtained Orthodox rabbinic ordination are not recognised as rabbis by Orthodox institutions in the UK, though this has not deterred them.
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While there are three women in the UK who have been ordained by Yeshivat Maharat, four more are studying on the programme (including Miriam Lorie), with another British woman at the Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership (Israel), which provides advanced halachic education equivalent to that given to rabbis. There are also several yoatzot halachah who are trained female advisers on family purity laws.
Educational opportunities initiated at the institutional level are growing. Building on the success of the Susi Bradfield Women Educator Fellowships training programme, which was founded at the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) in 2001 by Dr Tamra Wright, Chief Rabbi Mirvis has launched two educational courses for women: Ma’ayan and Ma’aleh. LSJS opened Iyun, which offers higher level study of halachic texts, in 2022..
The 2012 JLC Commission on Women in Jewish Leadership underlined the under-representation of women in leadership positions particularly in the Orthodox sector. Since 2016, women have been able to serve as United Synagogue chairs, ensuring these institutions can benefit from an individual’s skills, experience and willingness to serve, rather than discriminating because of gender.
Joanne Greenaway leads LSJS, and, last year, Jo Grose started working as the chief executive of the United Synagogue, which means each of these organisations has a woman at the helm for the first time in their respective histories.
The past decade has ushered in encouraging changes previously deemed impossible. Our community grows in vibrancy and passion through women’s inclusion in all spheres of religious life.
Yet there is still more that needs to be done, specifically regarding ritual involvement for women as well as for bat mitzvah girls, higher level education and Talmud study, and for the remaining agunot to be freed. By prioritising these areas, we can strengthen engagement and ensure women feel Orthodox Judaism offers them a relevant, dynamic and fulfilling Jewish space.
As for the acceptance of female rabbis? The community has spoken, and Rabbi Miriam Lorie has a following — from her synagogue, from the people who come to her for ritual and pastoral guidance and even from her regular BBC Radio 2 slot. We can look forward to the exciting and inclusive developments that she will be offering the next generation building on the significant work from so many who have come before her.
Lauren Hamburger and Eve Sacks co-chair Jofa UK
