Friday Night Music and Women as Orthodox Clergy

There has been a marked growth in the use of instrumental music for Friday night services, including a rise in the use of “multiple instruments.” (Washington Jewish Week)

Rabbi Daniel Weiner “straps on his guitar and leads the shul band in a raucous, twice-monthly Rock Shabbat,” saying “When I’m playing the Sh’ma with this group of people, when I’m hitting the groove, that for me is the ultimate moment of transcendence.” (JWeekly)

The Religious Women’s Forum Kolech in Israel decided at their conference to choose a Hebrew title for a woman ordained as a rabbi by an Orthodox institution: “rabba.” (YNet)

Orthodox Rabbi Michael J. Broyde argues that training women as Orthodox clergy is proper, although the training would not be the same as for men, and this “does not mean women would or should be called ‘rabbi.'” (Jewish Press)