Paula Ackerman
Encyclopedia
Paula Ackerman was the first woman to perform rabbi
nical functions in the United States
, leading the Beth Israel congregation in Meridian, Mississippi
from 1950-53 and the Beth-El congregation in Pensacola, Florida
from 1962-63. She led the National Committee on Religious Schools for the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.
Born as Paula Herskovitz in Pensacola, Florida
, she married Rabbi William Ackerman in 1919.
She led the congregation at the Temple Beth Israel
in Meridian, Mississippi
, full-time beginning December 12, 1950, when her husband died suddenly on November 30 of that year. She had led services before, when her husband was absent or ill.
She continued to lead the congregation until a replacement was found in September 1953 (she was not formally ordained, and served in the function for three years without having gone through the schooling process for ordination).
Regarding her chances of being selected for the job, Ackerman wrote to a friend, "I also know how revolutionary the idea is—therefore it seems to be a challenge that I pray I can meet. If I can just plant a seed for the Jewish woman's larger participation—if perhaps it will open a way for women students to train for congregational leadership—then my life would have some meaning." A woman would not be ordained in Reform Judaism
until 1972, when Sally Priesand
was formally made a rabbi. Ackerman later performed services at her home temple, Temple Beth-El
in Pensacola, from 1962 until a replacement was found nine months later.
, where she died in 1989, aged 95.
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...
nical functions in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, leading the Beth Israel congregation in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
from 1950-53 and the Beth-El congregation in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
from 1962-63. She led the National Committee on Religious Schools for the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.
Born as Paula Herskovitz in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, she married Rabbi William Ackerman in 1919.
She led the congregation at the Temple Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel (Meridian, Mississippi)
Congregation Beth Israel in Meridian, Mississippi is a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1868 and a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The congregation's first permanent house of worship was a Middle Eastern style building constructed in 1879...
in Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, full-time beginning December 12, 1950, when her husband died suddenly on November 30 of that year. She had led services before, when her husband was absent or ill.
She continued to lead the congregation until a replacement was found in September 1953 (she was not formally ordained, and served in the function for three years without having gone through the schooling process for ordination).
Regarding her chances of being selected for the job, Ackerman wrote to a friend, "I also know how revolutionary the idea is—therefore it seems to be a challenge that I pray I can meet. If I can just plant a seed for the Jewish woman's larger participation—if perhaps it will open a way for women students to train for congregational leadership—then my life would have some meaning." A woman would not be ordained in Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
until 1972, when Sally Priesand
Sally Priesand
Sally Jane Priesand is America's first ordained female rabbi, and the second ordained female rabbi in the world, after Regina Jonas.-Early life:...
was formally made a rabbi. Ackerman later performed services at her home temple, Temple Beth-El
Temple Beth-El (Pensacola, Florida)
The Temple Beth-El , located in downtown Pensacola, Florida, is the oldest dedicated Jewish house of worship in Florida. The temple was founded in 1876....
in Pensacola, from 1962 until a replacement was found nine months later.
Death
She eventually moved to Atlanta and then to Thomaston, GeorgiaThomaston, Georgia
Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,638 at the 2006 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville,...
, where she died in 1989, aged 95.
See also
- Regina JonasRegina JonasRegina Jonas was a Berlin-born rabbi. In 1935, she became the first Jewish woman to be ordained as a rabbi .-Early life:She became orphaned from her father when she was very young...
, first woman rabbi in modern times - Sally PriesandSally PriesandSally Jane Priesand is America's first ordained female rabbi, and the second ordained female rabbi in the world, after Regina Jonas.-Early life:...
, first woman ordained by the ReformReform Judaism (North America)Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
Hebrew Union CollegeHebrew Union CollegeThe Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem... - Amy EilbergAmy EilbergAmy Eilberg is the first female rabbi ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, one of the academic centers and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism.-Youth and early life:...
, first woman ordained by the ConservativeConservative JudaismConservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJewish Theological Seminary of AmericaThe Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
External links
- Ellen M. Umansky, an entry about Paula Ackerman profile, Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia