Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., November 09, 2008 Cheshvan 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:31 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

Historic moment in N.Y. as first woman named to lead Rabbinical Assembly By Anthony Weiss Tags: Rabbi Julie Schonfeld  The central organization for Conservative rabbis has appointed a woman as its top executive, making it the first of the three major Jewish denominations to appoint a woman as the head staffer for one of its organizational bodies. The Rabbinical Assembly announced on October 29 that Rabbi Julie Schonfeld had been appointed to take over as its new executive vice president. Schonfeld will replace Rabbi Joel Meyers, who will step down in July of 2009 after 20 years running the R.A. Advertisement "It's 23 years after the first woman was ordained in the movement," Rabbi Elliot Dorff, a professor at the American Jewish University told the Forward. "That's a generation, basically. We're finally at the point at which a woman could be appointed to a major administrative post within the movement." Despite the historic nature of the appointment, Schonfeld herself downplayed the importance of her gender. "I think that my rabbinate is really defined by the ideals that I share with all of my colleagues and with all Conservative Jews worldwide, regardless of my gender," Schonfeld told the Forward. The move comes at a time when the Conservative movement has been undergoing a major shift in its leadership. Arnold Eisen took over as chancellor of the movement's flagship school, the Jewish Theological Seminary, in 2006, and the movement's synagogue wing, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, is in the process of looking for a new executive vice president. In the last decade, the Conservative movement has struggled with shrinking membership roles and debates about the proper mission of the movement. Sense of territorialism Rabbi Andrew Sacks, director of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Masorti movement, Conservative Judaism's Israeli wing, said he hoped that the change in leadership would revitalize the movement and lead to greater cooperation between its agencies. "I think it will diminish the sense of territorialism and make the movement more appealing and stronger," Sacks told the Forward. Schonfeld will not be a totally new face to the R.A., having served as the organization's director of rabbinic placement since 2001. During that time, she worked on a variety of issues, including a comparative study of rabbis' career advancements by gender. Schonfeld will also offer continuity in another sense, as both she and Meyers are members of the Temple Israel Center in White Plains, N.Y. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Expecting change Hamas leader Meshal says Obama has no choice but to talk to group. Kosher Kiwi New Zealand elects a Jewish and conservative Prime Minister.

Read & React Iran's Ahmadinejad offers congratulations to Obama Responses: 222 IDF troops film themselves humiliating bound Palestinian Responses: 298 Israel and PA to continue talks with Obama's help Responses: 56 Vatican: Jewish charges against Nazi-era pope 'outrageous' Responses: 88 Jonathan Spyer: Israel has chronic myopia when it comes to Syria Responses: 39 More Headlines 01:49 Haniyeh: Hamas would accept state under 1967 borders 22:44 IDF: Air strike destroys rocket launcher in northern Gaza 02:04 At Rabin memorial, Barak calls right-wing extremists 'cancerous growths' 18:04 Saudi king musn't shake Peres' hand at interfaith meet, pan-Arab newspaper editor says 01:48 Gideon Levy / Let's hope Obama won't be a 'friend of Israel' 02:03 Jewish and conservative, New Zealand's elected PM promises change 02:31 Settlers deny Palestinian claim Hebron boy, 6, beaten with rock 23:41 Rice visits Jenin to tout PA success in combating terrorism 18:38 Report: Belgian far-right leader resigns over Holocaust song 18:15 Hamas deputy blames Abbas for breakdown in Palestinian reconciliation talks 18:42 Protest boat carrying European MPs arrives in Gaza Strip 20:43 Twenty hurt as bus full of Croatian tourists hits tunnel entrance in Haifa 14:53 IDF mistakenly shoots Thai migrant worker on northern border 17:39 Report: Auschwitz blueprints found in Berlin apartment Previous Editions Select Day 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved