Converted Woman Wanting to Become a Rabbi

Question

Dear Rabbi,

I really want to become a rabbi; however, from everything I hear and read, female Conservative rabbis have a hard time-many people apparently still think the rabbinical field is a man's job. Would you say this information is correct? Has this been the case for you? Would you encourage or discourage it? What would I need to know before entering rabbinical school and where can I learn it? Oh, and are converts even allowed to become rabbis? Thank you and Shabbat shalom,

Answer

If you really feel you want to become a Rabbi and feel you have the vocation, go ahead. It is true that women Rabbis may face more difficulty to finding positions, but there are almost 150 women Rabbis in the Conservative Movement, and most work in the field.
For more details about the curriculum and the requirement, you should contact the Rabbinical school. There is one in New York: The Jewish Theological Seminary, 3080 Broadway, New York, NY 10027; (212) 678-8000; postmaster@jtsa.edu.
There is also one in Los Angeles: Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Dr.,
Bel Air, CA 90077 , (310) 440-1248; ziegler@uj.edu.
There are no impediments for a convert to become a Rabbi, I personally know two women Rabbis who were converted.
I hope this is the information you needed,
All the best,

Rabbi Monique Susskind Goldberg
June 2005