From the Collection:
New Acquisition

The Heller Museum deeply appreciates the acquisition of Joan Roth’s portrait of Rabbi Sally Priesand into our permanent collection as a donation by the renowned photographer. Rabbi Priesand is depicted on her pulpit surrounded by the rainbows that have blessed her life and career.

On June 3, 1972, Jewish and American history were made when Rabbi Sally Priesand was ordained by HUC-JIR as the first woman rabbi in North America. A pioneer who opened the way for generations across all denominations and around the globe, Rabbi Priesand set in motion the first steps toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and empowerment of new cohorts of leaders for the Jewish people over the past 52 years.

Joan Roth described this portrait in the “Holy Sparks: Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate” exhibition and catalog in which it was featured:

“At 25, Rabbi Sally Priesand’s undeterred youthful vision and the support of her parents gave her the courage to dare and to dream. She smashed the glass ceiling of Judaism’s long-held patriarchy, holding the door open for others to follow. Committed to the study of Torah and the task of tikkun olam (repairing the world), she changed the course of Jewish history, divinely inspired by the miraculous rainbows that have accompanied her on her life’s journey. On this, her jubilee year, I am grateful for the opportunity to use my camera to reflect the radiance of her accomplishments.”

From 1981 to 2006, Rabbi Priesand served as rabbi of Monmouth Reform Temple in Tinton Falls, NJ, becoming rabbi emerita upon her retirement. Nationally she has served on the executive board of both the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the Union for Reform Judaism. She also served as a member of the Board of Governors of HUC-JIR, as President of the Rabbinical Alumni Association, and for three years as editor of the CCAR Newsletter. Locally, she is President of Interfaith Neighbors, an organization whose primary purpose is to provide rental assistance and support services for the working poor. A native of Cleveland, Rabbi Priesand lives in Ocean Township, NJ, with her Boston terrier, Zeke.