Nancy Morris
Encyclopedia
Nancy Morris is a Reform
rabbi
and was appointed to Glasgow Reform Synagogue
, formerly known as Glasgow New Synagogue, in October 2003, making her the first female rabbi in Scotland
.
Morris was born in Canada where she studied and qualified in Law before choosing to study for the rabbinate in London, qualifying in 2002.
in 1989 before continuing her studies to gain an LLB, also at McGill University
, before completing her Articles at Blake, Cassels and Graydon, in Toronto.
In 1997, she decided upon a career change and left Canada to study rabbinics at Leo Baeck College
in London, graduating in 2002.
In the final year of rabbinic studies, she returned to Canada where she served as Rabbi at Har Tikvah, in Brampton, Ontario
and Temple Shalom, in Kitchener, Ontario
/Waterloo, Ontario
from 2001 till 2003.
She is currently Rabbi of Glasgow Reform Synagogue having held this post since October 2003.
Rabbi Morris is also a Guest Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
where she lectures on Judaism
.
at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, however she additionally provides support to other progressive synagogues [i.e. those not connected to Orthodox Judaism
] in Scotland, on an ad-hoc basis. Whilst not necessarily affiliated with the Reform Movement
, these progressive
synagogues operate under a liberal interpretation of Judaism whereby a female rabbi is welcomed.
meetings as well as speaking at various events, presenting a modern, liberal, Jewish perspective on a variety of subjects.
On this basis, Rabbi Morris presented the Time For Reflection at the Scottish Parliament
on 25 June 2008.
's Thought For The Day slot where she presents, from a Jewish perspective, brief talks designed to cause listeners to pause for reflection.
Rabbi Morris also contributed to the BBC radio program on Matisyahu
with her predecessor at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, Rabbi Pete Tobias
response to Richard Dawkins
book The God Delusion
.
Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
and was appointed to Glasgow Reform Synagogue
Glasgow Reform Synagogue
Glasgow Reform Synagogue is a synagogue in Glasgow. It is a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism and is the only Reform synagogue in Scotland. It is based in Newton Mearns on the south side of Glasgow...
, formerly known as Glasgow New Synagogue, in October 2003, making her the first female rabbi in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Morris was born in Canada where she studied and qualified in Law before choosing to study for the rabbinate in London, qualifying in 2002.
Career
Morris gained an MA in Jewish History from McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1989 before continuing her studies to gain an LLB, also at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, before completing her Articles at Blake, Cassels and Graydon, in Toronto.
In 1997, she decided upon a career change and left Canada to study rabbinics at Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
in London, graduating in 2002.
In the final year of rabbinic studies, she returned to Canada where she served as Rabbi at Har Tikvah, in Brampton, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Temple Shalom, in Kitchener, Ontario
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
/Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
from 2001 till 2003.
She is currently Rabbi of Glasgow Reform Synagogue having held this post since October 2003.
Rabbi Morris is also a Guest Lecturer at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
where she lectures on Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
Role Within Scottish Jewish Community
Rabbi Morris is primarily based in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, however she additionally provides support to other progressive synagogues [i.e. those not connected to Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
] in Scotland, on an ad-hoc basis. Whilst not necessarily affiliated with the Reform Movement
Reform Judaism (United Kingdom)
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
, these progressive
Progressive Judaism (United Kingdom)
Progressive Judaism in the United Kingdom consists of two organizationally distinct denominations - Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism-Reform Judaism:...
synagogues operate under a liberal interpretation of Judaism whereby a female rabbi is welcomed.
Role As A Community Leader
As leader of the second largest stream of Judaism in Scotland, Rabbi Morris is often invited to participate in interfaithInterfaith
The term interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels...
meetings as well as speaking at various events, presenting a modern, liberal, Jewish perspective on a variety of subjects.
On this basis, Rabbi Morris presented the Time For Reflection at the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
on 25 June 2008.
Broadcasting
Since her appointment, Rabbi Morris has appeared regularly on BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
's Thought For The Day slot where she presents, from a Jewish perspective, brief talks designed to cause listeners to pause for reflection.
Rabbi Morris also contributed to the BBC radio program on Matisyahu
Matisyahu
Matthew Paul Miller , better known by his Hebrew name and stage name Matisyahu, is an American Hasidic Jewish reggae and alternative rock musician....
with her predecessor at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, Rabbi Pete Tobias
Publications
Rabbi Morris contributed to the book God, Doubt and Dawkins, a ReformReform Judaism (United Kingdom)
Reform Judaism in the United Kingdom in one of the two forms of Progressive Judaism found in the United Kingdom, the other being Liberal Judaism. Reform Judaism is both historically earlier and more traditionalist than Liberal Judaism....
response to Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
book The God Delusion
The God Delusion
The God Delusion is a 2006 bestselling non-fiction book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, professorial fellow of New College, Oxford, and inaugural holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford.In The God Delusion, Dawkins contends that...
.