Karen Soria
Encyclopedia
Karen Soria is the first female rabbi to serve in Australia, although she was born and ordained in the United States. She was originally from the Chicago
area, and graduated from the HUC-JIR Reform Jewish seminary in 1981. She then became Australia's first female rabbi, serving with congregations in Melbourne
from 1981 until 1989. Rabbi Soria later became the first female rabbi to serve in the U.S. Marines, which she did from 1992 until 1996; she was also the second female rabbi to serve in the U.S. Navy, a position she held from 1992 to 2003. In 2011 HUC-JIR awarded her an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. As of 2011, Rabbi Soria serves as Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area, and graduated from the HUC-JIR Reform Jewish seminary in 1981. She then became Australia's first female rabbi, serving with congregations in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
from 1981 until 1989. Rabbi Soria later became the first female rabbi to serve in the U.S. Marines, which she did from 1992 until 1996; she was also the second female rabbi to serve in the U.S. Navy, a position she held from 1992 to 2003. In 2011 HUC-JIR awarded her an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. As of 2011, Rabbi Soria serves as Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.