b"Oheb ShalomWelcomes NewClergy TeamIts all-female, but thats beside the pointBY MALIA RULON HERMANRabbi Abigail Treu is part of Oheb Shalom's all-female rabbinic team.C ongregantsofOhebSha- ropolitan region with an all-female clerical leadership. clergy positions are held by women.lom, a Conservative JewishBut to dwell on that detail would be to miss theA quick look at neighboring towns confirms that templeinSouthOrange,point.its not just a SOMA thing. Indeed, there are female gatheredthissummerforWhen asked how she felt about being part of therabbis in most surrounding towns as wellmany of anunusualceremony:thenewly appointed all-female rabbinic team at Ohebthem holding senior positions.passing of the Torah scrollShalom, Rabbi Treu told Matters Magazine in an in- InMillburn, to incoming Rabbi Abigailterview: Its awesome. Good clergy of all gendersTemple Shaarey Treu and Cantor Eliana Kissner from their immedi- serve people of all genders. Shalom,aRe-ate predecessors.On the one hand, its terrific to be part of anform synagogue, Rabbi Mark Cooper retired after 23 years, along- all-female team, she continued. In this moment,has been led by side Cantor Erica Lippitz, who retired from her po- where gender fluidity is something that is still new,afemalerabbi sition after 34 years. With joyful smiles and evidentits wonderful.But within the broader context, itsince2015 camaraderie, the pair addressed the congregation forfeels both exciting and a non-starter. whileCongre-the last time as their spiritual leaders before physi- Indeed,eversinceSallyPriesandmadehistorygationBNai cally handing over the ornately-dressed Torah scroll. in 1972 as the first woman ordained as a rabbi by aIsrael,whichis You are all witnesses, participants in a momentJewish seminary, women have joined clergy teams ofConservative, of generational transition, Cooper told the nearlysynagoguesReform, Conservative, Reconstruction- has two of three full sanctuary.istacross the country, most notably in New Jersey,clergypositions Indeed, during the same year in which the U.S.where Priesand spent the majority of her career. filled by women, swore in its first female vice president, congregantsJust down the street from Oheb Shalom is BethincludingCan-of Oheb Shalom, founded more than 160 years agoEl, also Conservative, which recently installed RabbitorLornaWal-in Newark, welcomed its newest clergy team, whichRachel A. Marder as one of its two spiritual leaders.lach, who was in Oheb Shalom welcomes a new happens to be all female. That makes Oheb one of theAnd in the other direction is Temple Sharey Tefilo- the fifth class toclergy team: Rabbi Abigail Treu few Conservative congregations in the New York met- Israel, a Reform synagogue in which two of threeallow women to(top) and Cantor Eliana Kissner.52/ matters magazine / fall 2021"