Elyse Goldstein
Encyclopedia
Elyse Goldstein is the first female rabbi in Canada
, although she was born in the United States. Rabbi Goldstein is also the first woman to be elected as president of the interdenominational Toronto Board of Rabbis and president of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto.
, Pennsylvania
, USA. Goldstein's parents, Abraham (1918–1997) and Terry (Gallant, born 1922), were natives of greater New York City
. Her father was a purchasing agent and her mother the director of a youth organization. As a student, Elyse Goldstein served at Beth Or, a synagogue for the deaf in the New York
City, and she remains committed to Jewish education for the deaf.
(B.A. summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1978). She was ordained at Hebrew Union College
-Jewish Institute of Religion
in 1983.
in Toronto
between 1983 and 1986. From 1986 to 1991, she served as rabbi of Temple Beth David of Canton, Massachusetts
, before returning to Toronto.
In 1983, she married Baruch Browns-Sienna (born 1956), a Jewish educator and computer software producer, and they have three sons: Noam Ezra (born 1989), Carmi Shalom (born 1991), and Micah Benjamin (born 1994).
Since 1991, Rabbi Goldstein has headed Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning in Toronto, an institute in the tradition of the Lehrhaus in Germany
, offering Jewish studies to adults in classes, lectures, retreats, and in-depth seminars. It is the first such institution under Reform Jewish auspices in Canada
and one of only a handful in North America. Housed in its own building and serving an increasing number of singles and unaffiliated Jews as well as established members of the community, Kolel has become a significant and singular presence on the Jewish educational scene of Toronto
. In addition to her work at Kolel, Rabbi Goldstein lectures on campuses and to Jewish groups across Canada and appears frequently on radio and television.
Rabbi Goldstein serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Canadian Jewish News
.
:
She writes a monthly column for the Canadian Jewish News
. Her articles have appeared in The Journal of Canadian Women's Studies, The Journal of Reform Judaism and other periodicals.
She is one of seven women featured in the ground-breaking of Francine Zuckerman's documentary Half the Kingdom.
of Metropolitan Toronto presented her with the Woman of Distinction Award for excellence in the field of education. Her book ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens won the Canadian Jewish Book Award in the field of Bible 1998. She was named ORT
"Woman of the Year" in 2001. Elyse Goldstein received the 2004 UJA
Rabbinic Achievement Award. She is the 2005 recipient of the most prestigious award in Jewish education, the internationally recognized Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators. In May 2008 she received an honarary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, although she was born in the United States. Rabbi Goldstein is also the first woman to be elected as president of the interdenominational Toronto Board of Rabbis and president of the Reform Rabbis of Greater Toronto.
Youth and Early Life
Goldstein was born in 1955 in ScrantonScranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA. Goldstein's parents, Abraham (1918–1997) and Terry (Gallant, born 1922), were natives of greater New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Her father was a purchasing agent and her mother the director of a youth organization. As a student, Elyse Goldstein served at Beth Or, a synagogue for the deaf in the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
City, and she remains committed to Jewish education for the deaf.
Rabbinical school
Goldstein was educated at Brandeis UniversityBrandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
(B.A. summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1978). She was ordained at Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
-Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Institute of Religion
The Jewish Institute of Religion was an educational establishment created by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise in 1922 in New York City. While generally incorporating Reform Judaism, it was separate from the previously established Hebrew Union College...
in 1983.
Rabbinical life
Her first rabbinic positions were as assistant rabbi at Holy Blossom TempleHoly Blossom Temple
The Holy Blossom Temple is a Reform synagogue located at 1950 Bathurst Street in Toronto, Canada. It is the oldest Jewish congregation in Toronto. Founded in 1856, it has more than 7,000 members. W. Gunther Plaut, now retired, was a long time Senior Rabbi for this synagogue...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
between 1983 and 1986. From 1986 to 1991, she served as rabbi of Temple Beth David of Canton, Massachusetts
Canton, Massachusetts
Canton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,561 at the 2010 census. Canton is part of Greater Boston, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston.- History :...
, before returning to Toronto.
In 1983, she married Baruch Browns-Sienna (born 1956), a Jewish educator and computer software producer, and they have three sons: Noam Ezra (born 1989), Carmi Shalom (born 1991), and Micah Benjamin (born 1994).
Since 1991, Rabbi Goldstein has headed Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning in Toronto, an institute in the tradition of the Lehrhaus in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, offering Jewish studies to adults in classes, lectures, retreats, and in-depth seminars. It is the first such institution under Reform Jewish auspices in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and one of only a handful in North America. Housed in its own building and serving an increasing number of singles and unaffiliated Jews as well as established members of the community, Kolel has become a significant and singular presence on the Jewish educational scene of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In addition to her work at Kolel, Rabbi Goldstein lectures on campuses and to Jewish groups across Canada and appears frequently on radio and television.
Rabbi Goldstein serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Canadian Jewish News
Canadian Jewish News
The Canadian Jewish News is a weekly, English-language tabloid-sized newspaper serving Canada's Jewish community. Though independent, the newspaper has been, since 1971, owned by a group of Jewish leaders involved with Canadian Jewish Congress...
.
Writings
She is the author of four books at Jewish Lights PublishingJewish Lights Publishing
Jewish Lights Publishing is a publishing company based in Woodstock, Vermont. Founded in 1990, the company publishes works for children and adults that come from a Judaic perspective, yet provide wisdom to readers of any spiritual background. Topics covered include Jewish mysticism and...
:
- ReVisions: Seeing Torah through a Feminist Lens (1998)
- The Women’s Torah Commentary (2000)
- The Women’s Haftarah Commentary (2003)
- New Jewish Feminism: Probing the Past, Forging the Future (2004)
She writes a monthly column for the Canadian Jewish News
Canadian Jewish News
The Canadian Jewish News is a weekly, English-language tabloid-sized newspaper serving Canada's Jewish community. Though independent, the newspaper has been, since 1971, owned by a group of Jewish leaders involved with Canadian Jewish Congress...
. Her articles have appeared in The Journal of Canadian Women's Studies, The Journal of Reform Judaism and other periodicals.
She is one of seven women featured in the ground-breaking of Francine Zuckerman's documentary Half the Kingdom.
Awards
In 1996, the YWCAYWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
of Metropolitan Toronto presented her with the Woman of Distinction Award for excellence in the field of education. Her book ReVisions: Seeing Torah Through a Feminist Lens won the Canadian Jewish Book Award in the field of Bible 1998. She was named ORT
World ORT
World ORT is a non-profit non-governmental organization whose mission is the advancement of Jewish and other people through training and education, with past and present activities in over 100 countries....
"Woman of the Year" in 2001. Elyse Goldstein received the 2004 UJA
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
Rabbinic Achievement Award. She is the 2005 recipient of the most prestigious award in Jewish education, the internationally recognized Covenant Award for Exceptional Jewish Educators. In May 2008 she received an honarary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
.