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United Synagogue creates new role for women
The women's officer post means there will be a female voice present when decisions are made on how to organise services
October 13, 2018 13:01
The women's officer post means there will be a female voice present when decisions are made on how to organise services
October 13, 2018 13:01Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is introducing the new role of women’s officer in United Synagogues to improve the experience of women in shul.
The post is designed to make it easier it for women to take part in services where they can, help arrange women-only services when there is a call for them and advise on the timing of services to make them more convenient for women.
The women’s officer “will support the engagement of our female members in community life and religious services with particular sensitivity to the issues which affect them,” Rabbi Mirvis explained in a briefing paper, which was presented to the United Synagogue Council, its umbrella lay body, on Monday.
“The purpose of this new portfolio is to ensure that our synagogues are welcoming and inclusive,” he said.
Council members will be given time to discuss the proposals locally before being asked to approve them.
The new post will be open only to women and its holder will join the synagogue’s team of honorary officers. Women can currently serve as chairmen, vice-chairmen or financial representatives of US congregations but the two wardens, who deal with the running of services, are always men.
The women’s officer will liaise with wardens during the service to make sure they are aware of a woman who wants to bensch Gomel — recite the thanksgiving prayer after recovery from illness or delivery from danger — or recite Kaddish.
If a woman wants to attend a weekday service, for example to say Kaddish, they would ensure a mechitzah is in place.
The new officer would also be there to advise on whether the congregation should run a second Kol Nidre service on Yom Kippur or Megillah reading on Purim for women unable to attend earlier because they might be looking after the children.
They would also advise on the lay-out of synagogues to make sure they are more inclusive of women; some US synagogues have already arranged for downstairs seating rather than confine women to an upstairs gallery.
The women’s officer could also help with the planning of batmitzvah or simchat bat — blessing of a newborn daughter — ceremonies.
Two meetings have been scheduled later in the year for synagogue members, where representatives of Rabbi Mirvis’s office and of the United Synagogue will be on hand to field questions about the new role.
One of the Chief Rabbi’s first decisions since he came to office in 2013 was to approve the election of women trustees for the US. He also launched a new course to train women as Ma’ayanot, community educators.
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