YIR: Orthodox Jewish Woman Rabbi Makes History
One of the first Orthodox Jewish women ordained, Miriam Udel chose the title, Darshanit, meaning “interpreter of text.”
Dave Schechter is a veteran journalist whose career includes writing and producing reports from Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.
History was made Feb. 1 as the opening prayer in the Georgia House of Representatives was delivered by Darshanit Miriam Udel, an Orthodox rabbi and professor at Emory University.
Udel was introduced by Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, who greeted the chamber with the words “Shalom, y’all,” not once, but twice.
Panitch said, to applause from the chamber, that, insofar as could be determined, Udel was the first Jewish female rabbi of any denomination to lead the House in prayer.
Udel is one of the first Orthodox Jewish women ordained, choosing the title, Darshanit, meaning “interpreter of text.” She is the Judith London Evans director of the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies and associate professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture.
Udel recognized “a little bit of history that we are making here today” as she began her remarks, a davar based on the coming Shabbat’s Torah portion, “Shabbat Shirah,” the Sabbath of song.
Video of Panitch’s intro and Udel speaking can be found near the beginning at this link: www.legis.ga.gov/video/house.
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