Rachel Kohl Finegold

Rachel Kohl Finegold is an Orthodox Maharat for Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal.[1]

She earned a B.A. in Religion from Boston University and graduated from the Drisha Institute's Scholars Circle. She finished her internship at the National Synagogue.[2] She was a staff member at Camp Nesher in Pennsylvania for a number of years.

She spent six years as Education and Ritual Director at Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel in Chicago, where she held the Dr. Carol Fuchs Kaufman Rabbanit Chair. She was also involved with the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance.

In June 2013 Kohl Finegold was one of the first three women to graduate from Yeshiva Maharat, a four-year program in the Bronx to ordain Orthodox women as Maharats, spiritual leaders.[3] Because she is Orthodox, she still cannot be counted for a minyan, serve as a judge in a bet din or lead certain portions of a service.[1]

Kohl Finegold is married to Rabbi Avi Finegold and has three children. She is also a yogi.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bronis, Leeor (December 24, 2013). "The Orthodox Madame Rabbi". Women in the World. The Daily Beast.
  2. ↑ Arnold, Janice (April 12, 2013). "Montreal Orthodox shul hires first female clergy". The Canadian Jewish News.
  3. ↑ Maharat is an acronym for "manhigah hilchatit ruchanit Toranit"
  4. ↑ "Rachel Kohl Finegold". 2012 Double Chai in the Chi. Oy!Chicago. Retrieved January 13, 2014.