Rabbi Alexandra Wright shares her story to celebrate 50 years of women rabbis in the UK

This year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Jackie Tabick’s ordination and 50 years of women in the UK rabbinate, Rabbi Alexandra Wright talks about her experience as a woman rabbi. 

For the past five decades, Leo Baeck College has been at the forefront of progress, ordaining over 70 women rabbis and shaping the landscape of Progressive Judaism. To mark this milestone, we have curated an archive of inspiring stories that highlight their remarkable journeys. In this blog post, Rabbi Alexandra Wright reflects on rabbinical student life at LBC and her own journey since her ordination at Leo Baeck College in 1986.

I entered Leo Baeck College in 1981, having been involved in WUPJYS and meeting a number of rabbinic students. After a spell in Israel and a week attending lectures during one ‘Summer Week’ at LBC, I applied and was accepted on to the rabbinic programme.

Hebrew with Rabbi Colin Eimer was rigorous and I am grateful to him for the forensic methods he used to mark our Hebrew homework. Bible was with Rabbi Professor Jonathan Magonet, a magnificent teacher, fostering a great love for all parts of Tanakh. Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs, a kind and encouraging teacher, taught Talmud. 

Professor Ben Segal, Rabbis Dr Albert Friedlander, Hugo Gryn, John Rayner and Dr Joanna Weinberg were all inspiring teachers and exemplars of profound scholarship and a compassionate and just Judaism. Wendy Greengross and Irene Bloomfield taught pastoral care and counselling and provided the vital skills to work with congregants – chief among them being to listen. They were the giants on whose shoulders we aspired to stand.

It was a blessing to be thrown into congregational work as early as the first year. The leaders of congregations were wise, experienced, kind and supportive. We learnt from their dedication and commitment to synagogue life.

Two things strike me in hindsight as I think about my time at the College. One is that I entered LBC 36 years after the perpetration of the most heinous crime against our people. Many of our teachers were survivors whose passion and commitment to Judaism were undoubtedly transmitted to their students.

I feel privileged to have been the seventh woman to be ordained by LBC in the footsteps of Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick and five others who all took the courageous step to enter what was a man’s world. We traversed a frontier and didn’t really know what the territory before us would look like. Now I look back and see the seventy faces of women who are confident and proud rabbis and teachers in Israel.

We can only build the future of Progressive Judaism with the generosity of our supporters

Celebrate this foundational milestone with us and support the next generation of inspirational Progressive Jewish leaders by helping us raise £50,000 for 50 years of women in the UK rabbinate.

This year, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous supporter, we’re pleased to announce donation top-ups, so for every £4 you donate, they’ll add an extra £1 to celebrate this momentous occasion – find out more on the donation page

We also invite you to join us online on 14th May 2025 as we celebrate this extraordinary event with Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick in conversation with Rabbi Professor Deborah Kahn-Harris.