Neighbor News
Temple Shalom of Newton makes history
For the first time in the U.S., two women have been installed as co-senior Rabbis at a synagogue
Rabbis Allison Berry and Laura Abrasley officially became the first senior, female co-rabbis in the U.S. at installation services on Friday night at Temple Shalom of Newton. More than 300 people attended this momentous occasion including clergy from area religious institutions.
Last April, the Board of Trustees selected them as senior rabbis after they had been interim clergy leaders following the resignation of Senior Rabbi Eric Gurvis in 2016. The temple conducted focus groups and fielded an online survey to help reach its decision.
In the picture from left-to-right are Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, who spoke at the service; Rabbis Berry and Abrasley; and, Rabbi Elaine Zecher, senior Rabbi at Temple Israel of Boston. Rabbi Abrasley worked at Temple Israel before she began her studies to become a rabbi.
