Women in Leadership: JOFA’s Position on Women’s Communal and Religious Leadership  

JOFA advocates for increased opportunities for women to:

• function as religious, spiritual and halakhic leaders  in synagogues and  communities
•  assume professional and lay leadership roles   in all spheres of communal life
• teach Talmud and halakha  in institutions of higher learning

We applaud the exceptionally capable women who currently serve in important positions within the community and the many more young women who seek to function and succeed as future communal  religious leaders.  We encourage their aspirations, their religious learning, halakhic commitment, and generous service to the community.  The Jewish community will be greatly enriched when women are able to fully utilize their talents and potential in leading the Community.

We support the schools and individual teachers and Rabbis that provide the educational opportunities, mentorships and experiences that form the necessary foundation upon which to build these expanded roles.  

We will partner with any organization or individual that wishes to provide meaningful professional religious and communal training and opportunities for women. 

We recognize that many members of the Orthodox community do not believe, as we do, that women should be recognized as members of the Orthodox clergy.  Our differences should be viewed under the rubric of “kol mahloket she’hi le’shem shamayim…,” an argument for the sake of Heaven.

We encourage you, our members and supporters, to join your voice with ours in advocating for expanding both the quality and quantity of meaningful leadership experiences open to women in Orthodox institutions today.

Click here to read JOFA’s letters to the Members of the RCA

Click here to read JOFA Statement on RCA Resolution on Women's Communal Roles in Orthodox Jewish Life

Click here to read JOFA Statement on Mahara"t Sara Hurwitz and Yeshivat Mahara"t

Click here to read Responsa on Women and Ordination