This past week, Rabbi Miriam had the privilege of speaking with Rev. Dr. Ellen Clark King, the Dean of King’s College London, at an event in Wimbledon titled "Voices of Change: Inspiring Women in Faith and Education." The conversation offered reflections on the journey of women in ministry, the evolving role of faith in modern life, and the power of education to transform communities.
Rabbi Miriam and Dr Ellen shared their personal inspirations for working in this field. Rabbi Miriam's influences ranged from timeless messages—like Gandhi’s “Be the change you want to see in the world”—to role models like Rabbi Dina Brawer, a trailblazer for women in Orthodox Jewish leadership.
Rabbi Miriam reflected on the language we use for God.
“Why we call God He? God is not male! Using male language for God shapes a reality in which we see men as more Godly, somehow preeminent and more important. We do have some feminine names and images for God - Shekhina for example. But all our names and pronouns for God are human graspings at something far beyond gender."
Rabbi Miriam further explained that she has committed to avoiding male pronouns for God, encouraging her students to do the same. “It sometimes feels clumsy,” she admitted, “but it’s worth it.”
When discussing how their interfaith dialogues have shaped their theology. Rabbi Miriam noted how these conversations broaden perspectives, fostering mutual understanding and empathy.
"You really see the depth of the faith of others, and question any lazy stereotypes you might hear about “all Muslims” and “all Christians".
"You see theology from more of a bird’s eye perspective. You reach conclusions which Rabbi Jonathan Sacks talked about in his book “the Dignity of Difference” and got in trouble for, but which I’ll proudly own today - views like “God is universal, humans are particular. Religion is the translation of God but into a particular language… God has spoken to mankind in many languages - through Judaism to Jews, Christianity to Christians, Islam to Muslims”
The discussion also touched on the challenges women in ministry face, from navigating expectations to deciding when to assert their titles. Yet, alongside these challenges are the joys: lifecycle moments, meaningful connections, and the gratitude of those who see her leadership as paving the way for future generations.
As Rabbi Miriam concluded, her hopes were both simple and profound:
“That the next generation won’t see this as an issue—that it will be obvious that women should stand alongside men, meeting the needs of our communities.”
This event served as a powerful reminder of the ongoing work needed to bring equity and compassion to faith leadership and education, and we’re so proud to have Rabbi Miriam representing Kehillat Nashira in these vital conversations.
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