This Shabbat morning, we will mark the 100th anniversary of the first Bat Mitzvah, and the 50th anniversary of the ordination of women from a rabbinic seminary. It is an apt time to celebrate women, as we watch women’s rights to choose their own future being taken away by the Supreme Court.
One girl, 100 years ago, Judith Kaplan (now Eisenstein), had the first Bat Mitzvah. She led her synagogue community in prayer and preached in front of them–something unheard of in traditional synagogues in America. Her voice on that day led to the sounds of girls voices singing throughout shuls all over the country. Her voice led women to bring their leadership to the Jewish and secular public sphere.
When I was growing up, there were no women rabbis. But, my Bat Mitzvah was influential for me. It was then that I realised that I wanted to be a rabbi. I had never met one, or heard of one, but that didn’t stop me. I went to my rabbi and told him that I wanted to be a rabbi. He discouraged me, and told me to be a teacher instead. I persisted, and eventually became the 141st woman rabbi in the world. I was not the first, and I will certainly not be the last.
But thanks to Judith Kaplan Eisenstein, and to the suffragette movement, the Reform, Reconstructionist and Conservative movements, and to the women rabbis who came before me, I could find my place as a leader in Judaism. Thanks to them, I could become the first woman senior rabbi of Mishkan Tefila. In fact, I was the first woman rabbi at all the synagogues for whom I have served in my career.
At our service this Shabbat we will celebrate Barbara Karas, the first woman president of CMT, and Myrna Cohen, who sat on the bima, and wore a kippah for the first time at CMT.
We will celebrate you, and all of CMT who have welcomed and valued women’s contributions and voices. We would not be the shul we are without our wise, strong, devoted women.
So join me as we celebrate Mishkan Tefila, women in Judaism, and all of us.
This Shabbat, may we each remember our strengths, and our ability to change the world, one person at a time.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Marcia Plumb
PS Tonight, join us for Kabbalat Shabbat when I will make a statement about the role of BDS at Harvard University.
