Rabbi Lee Wax 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 Lee Wax 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 Lee Wax reflects on her journey since her ordination at Leo Baeck College in 1994.
My first year at the College was not as a rabbinical student but as a senior Jewish educator, deepening my own learning. Two years later in 1991 I returned as a rabbinical student, having been inspired by faculty and students alike, and by a year in Israel.
Amongst the LBC graduates who were my early inspirations in different ways were Michael Leigh, Jonathan Wittenberg, Alex Wright, Lionel Blue, Jeff Newman and Howard Cooper. LBC gave me a love of Jewish scholarship (particular gratitude to John Rayner, Joanna Weinberg and Charles Middleburgh) and deepened my love of text, and it broadened my experience and understanding of the wider Jewish community (particular gratitude to Sheila Shulman, Wendy Greengross and Albert Friedlander).
Jonathan Magonet’s leadership in interfaith encounters, based in Germany, was life-changing for me. In truth, my time at the College wasn’t always easy, often challenging and frustrating, as it was then for the women students. I was only the 13th woman rabbi when I was ordained in 1994. Women rabbis and rabbinical students were still fighting the battle for egalitarianism in the College and in both of the movements and their synagogues, and the misogyny was wearisome. It is good to see how very different it is now for my younger female colleagues.
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.