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Canada Gets First Woman Rabbi

June 6, 1980
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Joan Friedman, 27, of Marblehead, Mass. has been appointed assistant rabbi of Holy Blossom Temple here, the first woman rabbi in Canada. Rabbi Friedman was ordained June I in graduation ceremonies in New York City of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Richard Lorie, president of the synagogue, said Rabbi Friedman will begin her duties at Holy Blossom next month.

Rabbi Harvey J. Fields, Holy Blossom’s sender rabbi, commented that women comprise about 20 percent of the rabbinical students at the HUCJIR and about 35 percent of the students at the Reform cantorial school. He said women are “emerging into the Reform rabbinate and cantorate as competent, compassionate and knowledgeable Jewish teachers.”

CORRECTION

The Daily News Bulletin of June 5 reported erroneously that Israeli police arrested Yossi Dayan, an aide to Rabbi Meir Kahane, leader of the ultranationalist “Kach” group. The arrest was reported by Israel Radio which later retracted the report.

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