Stacy Offner
Encyclopedia
Stacy Offner is an openly lesbian American rabbi who has accomplished some important firsts for women and lesbians in the rabbinate. She was the first female vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism
, the first rabbi in a traditional congregation to come out as a lesbian, the first openly lesbian rabbi hired by a mainstream Jewish congregation, the first female rabbi in Minnesota, and the first woman to serve on the [U.S.] national rabbinical pension board, as well as the first rabbi elected chaplain of the Minnesota Senate.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kenyon College and earned an M.A. in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College
in New York. She also has an honorary degree from Hebrew Union College. She was ordained in 1984 by Hebrew Union College, and that year she became the first female rabbi in Minnesota. However, she was fired from her job as associate rabbi when she came out as a lesbian in 1987. She left with some of her congregants and in 1988 they founded Shir Tikvah, a Reform congregation in Minneapolis where she was the first rabbi. Thus in 1988 she became the first openly lesbian rabbi hired by a mainstream Jewish congregation (Shir Tikvah). In 2008 Stacy Offner became the first female vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism
, a position she held for two years. She is currently a rabbi at Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Her writing has been featured in the journal of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
(CCAR Journal).
Her papers were acquired by the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, and they are available at the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives in Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota.
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
, the first rabbi in a traditional congregation to come out as a lesbian, the first openly lesbian rabbi hired by a mainstream Jewish congregation, the first female rabbi in Minnesota, and the first woman to serve on the [U.S.] national rabbinical pension board, as well as the first rabbi elected chaplain of the Minnesota Senate.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kenyon College and earned an M.A. in Hebrew Literature 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...
in New York. She also has an honorary degree from Hebrew Union College. She was ordained in 1984 by Hebrew Union College, and that year she became the first female rabbi in Minnesota. However, she was fired from her job as associate rabbi when she came out as a lesbian in 1987. She left with some of her congregants and in 1988 they founded Shir Tikvah, a Reform congregation in Minneapolis where she was the first rabbi. Thus in 1988 she became the first openly lesbian rabbi hired by a mainstream Jewish congregation (Shir Tikvah). In 2008 Stacy Offner became the first female vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
, a position she held for two years. She is currently a rabbi at Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Her writing has been featured in the journal of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Central Conference of American Rabbis , founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada, the CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world....
(CCAR Journal).
Her papers were acquired by the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, and they are available at the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives in Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota.