Women Rabbis? Teens Weigh In

 This letter is being written in support of Rabba Sara Hurwitz. We are two 13-year-old Jewish girls who heard her speak and were extremely moved by her cause (“RCA Set To Rule On Women’s Roles,” April 23).
 
We think that it is really important for women to play key roles in Jewish society, as long as they follow the laws of Modern Orthodoxy. Even though she plays a similar role to rabbis, Rabba Hurwitz only does what is permitted for women to do. We would like to point out that she used the title “maharat” for about a year, and when Rabbi Avi Weiss changed her title to “rabba” she did not change anything that she was doing. We therefore think that if she was considered Orthodox as maharat, she should be considered just as Orthodox with the title rabba.
 

We are inspired when we see women playing roles in Jewish life. Since many people are not accepting Sara Hurwitz as Orthodox, it make us, young aspiring Orthodox Jewish women, feel unimportant, and feel as though women cannot play significant roles in Judaism. Therefore, we think the rabbis should accept Rabba Hurwitz for who she is, and what she has to offer.
 
 Eden Farber,
 Young Israel of Toco Hills, Atlanta
 
Leora Huebner,
 Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun,
 Manhattan