Lesbian Rabbis

Lesbian Rabbis: The First Generation documents a monumental change in Jewish life as eighteen lesbian rabbis reflect on their experiences as trailblazers in Judaism's journey into an increasingly multicultural world. In frank and revealing essays, the contributors discuss their decisions to become rabbis and describe their experiences both at seminaries and in their rabbinical positions. They also reflect on the dilemma whether to conceal or reveal their sexual identities to their congregants and superiors, or to serve specifically gay and lesbian congregations. The contributors consider the tensions between lesbian identity and Jewish identity, and inquire whether there are particularly "lesbian" readings of traditional texts. These essays also ask how the languge of Jewish tradition touches the lives of lesbians and how lesbianism challenges traditional notions of the Jewish family.

Acknowledgments
Introduction / Sue Levi Elwell / Rebecca T. Alpert
PART I Serving a Denominational Movement
Struggle, Change, and Celebration: My Life as a Lesbian Rabbi / Linda Holtzman
A Practical Theology of Presence / Nancy Wiener
Working from the Inside, Out / Julie R. Spitzer
Wholeness and Holiness: A Life's Journey / Sue Levi Elwell
Being a Lesbian Rabbi / Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah
PART II Serving Congregations
Ten Years on the Journey toward Wholeness / Leila Gal Berner
Carrying On: A Lesbian Rabbi, Jewish Seekers, and All the Voices of Our Lives / Ellen Lippmann
Shlichut: Claiming My Mission / Karen Bender
Ger V'toshav: Member and Outsider / Sydney Mintz
PART III Serving Gay and Lesbian Congregations
Gay and Lesbian Synagogue as Spiritual Community / Sharon Kleinbaum
Why I Choose to be a Rabbi of a GLBT Synagogue / Lisa A. Edwards
Ten Years and Counting... / Denise L. Eger
PART IV Working with Jews ``at the Margins'' and on Campus
On Being a Rabbi at the Margins / Rebecca T. Alpert
My Piece of Truth / Julie Greenberg
My Language Is My Country / Shirley Idelson
PART V Lesbian Rabbis and Conservative Judaism
Saying No in the Name of a Higher Yes / Benay Lappe
Notes from the Underground / Dawn Robinson Rose
In Hiding / Anonymous
Glossary
About the Contributors
Index