Sara Hurwitz
| Rabba Sara Hurwitz | |
|---|---|
| Position | Rabba |
| Synagogue | Hebrew Institute of Riverdale |
| Position | Dean |
| Yeshiva | Yeshivat Maharat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Denomination | Open Orthodox |
| Spouse | Josh Abraham |
| Children | Yonah, Zacharya and David |
| Semicha | Rabbi Avi Weiss |
Sara Hurwitz is an Open Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader who received ordination from Rabbi Avi Weiss. She is the "Rabba" at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in Riverdale, Bronx, New York, and the dean of Yeshivat Maharat in Riverdale, Bronx, New York.
She is the curricular researcher and writer for JOFA's Gender and Orthodoxy Curriculum Project.
Hurwitz was born in South Africa. In 1989, Hurwitz moved with her family to Boca Raton, Florida. That year, she was in the eighth grade.
Hurwitz graduated from Barnard College in New York City with a Bachelor of Arts.
She was a student at Midreshet Lindenbaum in Talpiot, Israel, a post-high school religious seminary, not degree-granting.
Sara is married to Joshua Abraham and lives in Riverdale, NY with their three sons.
She went to the Drisha Institute in New York City as part of Drisha's three-year Scholar Circle Program. Drisha is a women's religious studies institution. She has a certificate from Drisha.
Hurwitz has a rabbinic degree issued by Rabbi Avi Weiss in a private 5-year study program.
In June 2009, Weiss ordained Sara Hurwitz with the title "maharat" (an acronym of manhiga hilkhatit rukhanit Toranit) rather than "Rabbi". In February 2010, Weiss announced that he was changing Maharat to a more familiar-sounding title "Rabba". The goal of this shift was to clarify Hurwitz's position as a full member of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale rabbinic staff. The change was criticised by both Agudath Yisrael and the Rabbinical Council of America, who called the move "beyond the pale of Orthodox Judaism". Weiss announced amidst criticism that the term "Rabba" would not be used anymore for his future students. However, in 2015 Yaffa Epstein was ordained as Rabba by the Yeshivat Maharat, which Weiss founded. Also in 2015, Lila Kagedan was ordained as Rabbi by that same organization, making her their first graduate to take the title Rabbi. Hurwitz continues to use the title Rabba and is considered by some to be the first female Orthodox rabbi.
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