Pauline Bebe
Encyclopedia
Pauline Bebe is the rabbi
of Communaute Juive Liberale, a Progressive Jewish
congregation in Paris
. She was the first female rabbi in France, and the first female rabbi to lead a synagogue there. France has only three women rabbis, Bebe, Célia Surget and Delphine Horvilleur.
, France. Her family lived through the German occupation and hid in the south of France throughout World War II
. Her father was a pediatrician and her mother a lawyer. They were both Jews who, though nonpracticing, exposed their child to the lessons of the rue Copernic synagogue
: "They gave me the education which they could not get because of the war". Her desire to become a rabbi dates to her adolescence: "I wanted to be a rabbi to accompany people for the important periods of their life. The liberal Jewish movement lauded the equality between the man and the woman. I saw no obstacle to my desire..."
She attended the lycée Lamartine high school in the 9th arrondissement of Paris), taking classical studies. After graduation, she attended Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
at Paris
, where she learned English and Hebrew. She has a BA in English and American literature and civilization, and an MA and in Hebrew literature. Her Master's thesis was titled L'attitude du judaïsme face au prosélytisme et à la conversion ("The attitude of Judaism in the face of proselytism
and conversion
").
with five years of studies at the Leo Baeck College
. She stated "A liberal Rabbinical College in France does not exist, and I am attached to a Judaism based on the Enlightenment, to a religion which evolves according to periods and social circles."
She completed her Hebrew cursus in Jerusalem at the Hebrew Union College
. She was ordained in 1990, one of about 30 women rabbis ordained by the Leo Baeck College
between 1975 and 2006. Though less numerous than in the United States, female rabbis exist in Europe, mostly in England, Germany
and Netherlands
.
In 1995 with Remy Schwartz, Bebe created her own congregation, Communaute Juive Liberale d'Île-de-France (CJL) in Paris. The congregation adopted the name MAAYAN (Hebrew for "wellspring"), and opened a new synagogue building in May 2006. By 2008, membership exceeded 300 households. The CJL is affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism
.
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
of Communaute Juive Liberale, a Progressive Jewish
Progressive Judaism
Progressive Judaism , is an umbrella term used by strands of Judaism which affiliate to the World Union for Progressive Judaism. They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life...
congregation in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. She was the first female rabbi in France, and the first female rabbi to lead a synagogue there. France has only three women rabbis, Bebe, Célia Surget and Delphine Horvilleur.
Early life
Bebe was born in 1965 in Neuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, France. Her family lived through the German occupation and hid in the south of France throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Her father was a pediatrician and her mother a lawyer. They were both Jews who, though nonpracticing, exposed their child to the lessons of the rue Copernic synagogue
Union Libérale Israélite de France
The Union Libérale Israélite de France , sometimes called the rue Copernic synagogue, is a Reform Jewish synagogue, located in Paris, France. Founded in 1907 by Rabbi Louis-Germain Levy, it is the oldest Reform synagogue in France. It has been led by Rabbi Michael Williams since 1978...
: "They gave me the education which they could not get because of the war". Her desire to become a rabbi dates to her adolescence: "I wanted to be a rabbi to accompany people for the important periods of their life. The liberal Jewish movement lauded the equality between the man and the woman. I saw no obstacle to my desire..."
She attended the lycée Lamartine high school in the 9th arrondissement of Paris), taking classical studies. After graduation, she attended Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
The Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales is located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1795 after the French Revolution and is now one of the country's Grands établissements with a specialization in African, Asian, East European, Oceanian languages and civilisations...
at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where she learned English and Hebrew. She has a BA in English and American literature and civilization, and an MA and in Hebrew literature. Her Master's thesis was titled L'attitude du judaïsme face au prosélytisme et à la conversion ("The attitude of Judaism in the face of proselytism
Proselytism
Proselytizing is the act of attempting to convert people to another opinion and, particularly, another religion. The word proselytize is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix προσ- and the verb ἔρχομαι in the form of προσήλυτος...
and conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
").
Rabbinical education
In 1985, Bebe began her rabbinical studies in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
with five years of studies at the Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
. She stated "A liberal Rabbinical College in France does not exist, and I am attached to a Judaism based on the Enlightenment, to a religion which evolves according to periods and social circles."
She completed her Hebrew cursus in Jerusalem at the 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...
. She was ordained in 1990, one of about 30 women rabbis ordained by the Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College
Leo Baeck College is a rabbinical college and centre for Jewish education located in north London. As well as being the smallest academic college in England, it is also the largest Jewish Progressive University and Rabbinic College in Europe....
between 1975 and 2006. Though less numerous than in the United States, female rabbis exist in Europe, mostly in England, 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...
and Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Career
Bebe first rabbinic position was at Mouvement Juif Liberal de France in Paris between 1990 and 1995. She helped those with drug addiction, HIV-positive people and eccentrics who were rejected by the traditional religious institutions. Reactions to her as a female rabbi were mixed: "Some believers were very enthusiastic and trusted me, while others were violently opposed to the idea of having a woman rabbi."In 1995 with Remy Schwartz, Bebe created her own congregation, Communaute Juive Liberale d'Île-de-France (CJL) in Paris. The congregation adopted the name MAAYAN (Hebrew for "wellspring"), and opened a new synagogue building in May 2006. By 2008, membership exceeded 300 households. The CJL is affiliated with the World Union for Progressive Judaism
World Union for Progressive Judaism
The World Union for Progressive Judaism describes itself as the "international umbrella organization for the Reform, Liberal, Progressive and Reconstructionist movements." This overall Jewish religious movement is based in about 40 countries with more than 1,000 affiliated synagogues...
.
Personal life
Bebe is married to Rabbi Tom Cohen, an American expatriate who leads Kehilat Gesher, the American Jewish Congregation in Paris. Bebe is also the mother of four children; she says, "It's not always easy to be everywhere at the same time, but for the moment at least, my children aren't complaining".Writings
Bebe is the author of seven books and has written numerous articles: (This book is now out of print.)External links
- Bernard Edinger, Europe Report: Flourishing in France, Reform Judaism online, spring 2008
- Pauline Bebe, Reinterpreting the Mikveh. Making it relevant today in my Jewish learning, from The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, edited by Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Andrea L. Weiss (New York: URJ Press and Women of Reform Judaism, 2008).
- (French) Pauline Bebe, ISHA. Dictionnaire des femmes et du judaïsme, article in Clio, numéro 16/2002, by Joëlle Allouche-Benayoun
- (French ) Sermons of rabbi Pauline Bebe
- (French) Video, Paracha Hashavoua 5770: Du déluge à la tour de Babel, Noa’h: une lecture éthique des grands récits de l'humanité October 2009
- (French) Interview with Pauline Bebe