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A Historical Moment in Israel, An Orthodox Synagogue Has Appointed Its’ First Woman Spiritual Leader
In the past, women were only serving in positions of spiritual leadership alongside male rabbis in Orthodox synagogues in Israel.
Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis was appointed as the sole spiritual leader and halachic authority at the Shirat Tamar Synagogue in Efrat. Rabbanit Shira has made history as she is the first woman ever appointed to the role. Up until now, Orthodox women who were appointed as leaders would serve alongside male rabbis.
Mirvis being appointed created a powerful landmark for Orthodoxy in Israel. Women have been advancing in spiritual and halachic leadership positions for many years but never made it to the full communal leadership position until recently.
Stuart Winer is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.
Screen capture from video of Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis speaking to her community after she was appointed as the spiritual leader of the Shirat Hatamar synagogue in Efrat, April, 2021. (YouTube)
An Orthodox synagogue in the West Bank settlement of Efrat has appointed a woman to be the community’s sole spiritual leader, the first time that a woman has held such a position in an Israeli Orthodox community.
Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis was nominated with the support of 83 percent of the Shirat Hatamar synagogue’s voting members earlier this week, the synagogue announced in a statement Tuesday.