My mom is special
because...

to be first." Lewittes agreed.
"All of the challenges have been
inevitable, healthy and necessary for
our movement to grow," she said.
"The impact is enormous. To touch
people, to teach people, to be a leader
of people as the movement grows, has
been an indescribable experience and
one that I would never trade."
These women have virtually
changed the face of Conservative
Judaism, said Meyers. Prayers, such as
the Amidah, have been feminized to
include the mention of the matriarchs
as well as the patriarchs. Text is being
seen in a whole new light as the
female rabbinic scholars add a dimen-
sion to the study that men had not in
the past considered.
"They have added a creativity in
helping us all view religious life, ritual
and prayer through a different per-
spective, a different set of eyes, differ-
ent values, which has really been
invaluable," Meyers said.
Orenstein pointed out that in addi-
tion to furthering healing and ritual,
female rabbis have influenced Jewish
law on a number of subjects, most
notably on mourning rites and still-
birth or death of a child in the first 30
days of life. The movement now per-
mits full mourning rites to those fami-
lies.
"I don't think it was a coincidence
that women were at the forefront of
that change," she said.
And the women themselves recog-
nize that while they may never change
the opinions of some of the older
members of the movement, they
undoubtedly have an impact on the
next generation.
Rabbi Brown recalled leading
morning prayer services at the
Solomon Schecter school where she
served as rabbi. Only one girl had put
on tefillin and a tallis before she
arrived on the New Jersey campus.
But as she began leading the morn-
ing minyan in prayer, she began to
notice a change in the schoolgirls. As
she carefully bound her forearms in
the leather straps of the tefillin, the
girls began to do the same. By the
time she left her post at the school,
nearly all of the girls donned both
tefillin and tallit.
"When I was growing up, I remem-
ber watching the boys and men
putting on tallis and tefillin and think-
ing how it must feel. Nobody ever
told me that I could do that, as well,"
she said.
No one had ever told her that she
could someday be a rabbi, either. ❑

Now is your chance to tell everyone just how
special your Mother truly is!

In 100 words, or less, explain why your mother deserves

to win beautiful jewelry from Tapper's.
(Open to kids 14 and under, pre-schoolers can send a drawing)

Win one of many great prizes for your mom!

Bring in, or mail, your essay or picture to Tapper's.
Include mother's name, child's name, address and phone number.
All entries must be received by Saturday, May 9th. Winner will be drawn
by random selection. Winning entries will be dispayed in our store.

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CHILD'S FIRST NAME

LAST

MOTHER'S FIRST NAME

LAST

ADDRESS

ZIP

CITY

PHONE

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Diamonds 6. Fine Jewelry

6337 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield

48322 248-932-7700 • 1-800-337-GIFT

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