The 'Stained Glass Ceiling' and The Sisterhood 50 an editorial from The Forward The “stained glass ceiling” is such a common condition that it has its own Wikipedia page. It refers to the barriers placed before women who strive to become leaders in their churches - barriers that are both overt (no Catholic women need apply) and more subtle. The metaphor doesn’t quite fit the Jewish world, but the condition does, particularly because women are largely absent from professional communal leadership even as they have made great strides in the broader American society. Consider: Should Elena Kagan be confirmed, there will be more Jewish women on the U.S. Supreme Court than have led any of the 18 major Jewish community federations. Ever. In that context, it’s not surprising that when … Continue Reading
Shifting Paradigms in Synagogues
This week marks the 200th anniversary of a foundational event in Reform Judaism, the dedication of a Temple in Seesen, Germany. With the aim of reconciling Jewish tradition with modernity, it embraced a different aesthetic and modeled a new practice for Jewish worship. Today’s non-Orthodox synagogues face a different challenge - not to adapt their ideology to the present day, but rather to transform their institutions. The Jews of twentieth-century America celebrated their achievements partly by erecting magnificent buildings that conveyed the solidity and success of the communities they served. The staff and operations of the synagogues, which often became correspondingly large, were supported mostly by member dues. Although synagogue attendance may not have been frequent, members paid … Continue Reading
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