She seems like a most unlikely hero. She smiles at the world, with quiet dignity. She is filled with compassion, patience and wisdom. She tries to always find the compromise position. And seems to be the one to go the extra distance to get there. Nonetheless, Rabbi Miri Gold has become the “poster-rabbi” in the fight for equal rights by the Reform and Conservative movements in Israel. And now, she is their hero.
Last week, after a protracted five-year legal battle fought by the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC), the attorney general of Israel agreed to recognize Rabbi Gold and 14 others as “rabbis of non-Orthodox communities” and begin paying them for their services to the Jewish people.
For years, the State of Israel has financed the salaries of thousands of rabbis throughout the country. These rabbis serve in cities, towns and regional councils all over the country. Until last week, all of these rabbis have been Orthodox men. In May 2005, IRAC submitted a petition on behalf of Congregation Birkat Shalom, Kibbutz Gezer and Rabbi Gold. The petition called for equal funding of religious services provided by rabbis, regardless of their denominational affiliation.
Rabbi Miri Gold was born in Detroit, where she was raised in a Conservative-affiliated family. In 1977, she made aliyah and settled with her husband, David Leichman, in Kibbutz Gezer. In 1999, she was to become the third woman ever to be ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Israel.
During her studies, and even before, she developed as the spiritual guide of the Gezer community. When she was ordained, and could be their “official” rabbi, the State of Israel would provide no funds. Their position was that only Orthodox men could fill that role. When the secretary for the Gezer Regional Council wanted to list her on their website as “Rabbi Miri Gold,” Miri was reluctant. True to her gentle nature, she wanted only to serve her congregation, Birkat Shalom, and didn’t care to create controversy. She and her husband had three children, a wonderful community of friends both in Israel and abroad. But, Miri Gold also possesses a strong moral compass. When an injustice occurs, she will work tirelessly to find a solution. When IRAC came to her in 2005, asking her to become the test case for non-Orthodox rabbis being recognized by Israel, she agreed.
Leaders of the Reform and Conservative movements in North America and Israel hailed the decision, handed down last week. They view it as another major milestone in their ongoing efforts to acquire equal status within Israel, alongside of the Orthodox establishment. As Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ), wrote in Ha’aretz newspaper, “It was truly an amazing moment to hear the news that Israel is prepared for the first time to give state recognition to a Reform rabbi; how fitting that the moment came on the heels of Shavuot, when we celebrate the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people.”
However, there is still much work to be done by the movements. There are some asteriks to the ruling regarding Rabbi Gold’s status. First, she and the 14 others are going to be paid by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, not the Ministry of Religious Services. Second, they will be called “rabbis of non-Orthodox communities.” Third, they will have no authority over religious and halachic matters. Finally, this ruling applies only to smaller communities and religious councils. It does not apply to any of the larger cities in Israel. Indicative of the work still to be accomplished, the Hebrew-edition of Ha’aretz newspaper published the article about Rabbi Gold on its front page but the picture it chose to print was of a male non-Orthodox rabbi, Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman.
All that does not discourage Rabbi Gold. She is thrilled at the outcome of the court case. As she was quoted upon hearing the news, “What joy! Finally there’s more than one way to be a rabbi in Israel.” In truth, though, there is only one way for Rabbi Miri Gold to be a rabbi ... and that is the way she has done so for over a decade ... with smiles, with quiet dignity, compassion and wisdom ... with finding the compromise position that comforts and nurtures all concerned.
