Linda Joy Holtzman Explained

Linda Joy Holtzman
Honorific-Prefix:Rabbi

Linda Joy Holtzman is an American rabbi and author.[1] In 1979, she became one of the first women in the United States to serve as the presiding rabbi of a synagogue, and the first woman to serve as a rabbi for a solely Conservative congregation,[2] when she was hired by Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County, which was then located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.[3]

Biography

She had graduated in 1979 from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia, yet was hired by Beth Israel despite their being a Conservative congregation.[4] Holtzman was thus the first woman to serve as a rabbi for a solely Conservative congregation, as the Conservative movement did not then ordain women.[2] However, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso served as rabbi along with her husband at the congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis from 1977 until 2013; Beth El Zedeck is identified with both the Reconstructionist and Conservative movements.[5] [6] In 1979, The New York Times published the article "Only Female Presiding Rabbi in U.S. Begins Her Work in a Small Town", in which the author described Holtzman's hiring as "a marked breakthrough for the growing numbers of women who have faced obstacles in becoming a rabbi-in-charge", and quoted Holtzman as saying "the fact that I have an appointment in a small town and that they have entrusted me with functions they believe are important is very significant for women and for the Jewish community". In 1981 Holtzman became the first female rabbi to give a keynote speech for the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jews.[7]

She is the author of the article "Struggle, Change and Celebration: My Life as a Lesbian Rabbi" in the book Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation, edited by Rebecca Alpert, Sue Levi Elwell, and Shirley Idelson (Rutgers University Press, 2000).[8] She also wrote a chapter in Twice Blessed (Beacon Press, 1989) titled "Jewish Lesbian Parenting."[8] [9]

She is now the Adjunct Associate Professor of Practical Rabbinics at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the rabbi of the Tikkun Olam Chavurah in Philadelphia.[10] [11] She is also the leader of her local Reconstructionist chevra kadisha.[12] She is married to Betsy Conston, with whom she has raised two sons, Jordan and Zachary Holtzman-Conston.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County . Jwa.org . 1979-08-01 . 2012-07-21.
  2. Book: New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the Future - Elyse Goldstein . 9781580233590 . 2012-07-21. Berman . Donna . 2009 . Jewish Lights Pub. .
  3. Web site: 22 Women Now Ordained As Rabbis Most of Them Do Not Have Pulpits. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 29 October 2014.
  4. News: First woman rabbi to head template seeks to lead way for more women. The New York Times. The New York Times. The Ledger. 18 August 1979. 21 July 2012.
  5. Web site: Life - Indianapolis Star - indystar.com. Indianapolis Star. 29 October 2014.
  6. Web site: Sandy Sasso ordained as first female Reconstructionist rabbi. This Week in History. Jewish Women's Archive. 24 December 2010.
  7. Book: Like Bread on the Seder Plate. 9780231096614. 29 October 2014. Alpert. Rebecca T.. 1997. Columbia University Press .
  8. Web site: Rabbis and Staff . Mishkan.org . 2012-07-21.
  9. Web site: Linda Holtzman • Profile • LGBT-RAN. 29 October 2014.
  10. Web site: Rabbi Linda Holtzman . Rrc.edu . 2012-07-21 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110105195413/http://www.rrc.edu/faculty/rabbi-linda-holtzman?print=1 . 2011-01-05 .
  11. Web site: Tikkun Olam Chavurah: A spiritual and political community grounded in Jewish tradition. 2019-12-29.
  12. Web site: Honoring the Dead: The Reconstructionist Hevrah Kaddishah of Philadelphia . Reconstructing Judaism . 2016-03-01.