Are there ever likely to be any female Rabbi's???

Question

Or doesn't Judaism allow for a woman to be a spiritual leader???

Answer 1

It depends on what you call a Rabbi.

Are there ever going to be women, who meet the traditional Jewish law definition of Rabbi? No. Why? Because part of that definition is the person has to be a man.

Are there ever going to be women called Rabbi? There are today. More liberal groups of Jews created the institution.

Ironically it's gramatically horrible hebrew since Rabbi means My Great Man. Rabbanit (or Robbanis in Ashk. Heb.) is the proper hebrew, but they won't use it, because it's the traditional title for a rabbi's wife among sephardi (north african and asian) Jews. The Yiddish equivalent, Rebetzin, is also used for a Rabbis wife.

Now a more interesting question is are there ever going to be male Rabbis again?

You see the title Rabbi is for men who have a direct line of laying-on-of-hands transfer of leadership (called Smikha) from Moses. That line died out in the 1400s.

The people we call Rabbi today, have a different kind of SMicha, called Smichas Chokhamim. (Laying on of hands from Wise people) Traditionally, we call them Rabbi, but they aren't REALLY rabbis. It's a courtesy.

Answer 2

in Reform and Conservative Judaism there has been female Rabbis for over 30 years.

Even according to Orthodox Judaism their is nothing wrong with a woman getting a title of Rabbi, but it is not done because according to Jewish law (halacha) a woman cannot lead services because she has no obligation to pray in a group. It is also the rule of thumb that the only a person who is obligated can discharge the obligations of others such as leading services.

Answer 3

There are female Rabbi's and also as of this
week there are also Gay Rabbi's. And have
been ordered to Bless same sex unions.

TIMES ARE CHANGES.

Answer 4

Doubt it.... They still hold to the fact that a woman should be submissive...... Paul didn't think women should even speak in church.....

guess they didn't read the book of Judges where Deborah judged the nation of Israel and lead 10,000 men to war fighting with them, she did......

Don't think I can lift a sword to another man.... But, I can lift the bible every day.... I may not do so always, but it's some heavy work for some......

Your sister,
Ginger

Answer 5

There are female rabbis.

Answer 6

There already are female Rabbis.

http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_c/bl_women_rabbis.htm

All the best,

Laz

Answer 7

you just cant change tradition like that

Answer 8

jewish women are too ugly