By Linda Boxer

Tomorrow, January 17, Women’s Network of Temple Beth Tzedek will celebrate Women’s League Shabbat. Members will fully participate in the service from ark openings to Torah reading. This long-standing tradition can trace its inception to 1918 when Mathilde Schechter created the National Women’s League of the United Synagogue of America, now known as the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism (WLCJ), an organization, as is stated on its website, dedicated to engaging Jewish women in religious life, education, and community.

Mathilde Roth Schechter was born in 1857 in Germany. Educated first in a home for Jewish orphans following her father’s death, her intellect obvious to the instructors, she was urged to continue at a municipal high school, and then a teacher’s seminary. She moved to England where she worked as the tutor to the daughter of the headmaster of London’s Jews’ College. It was there that she met her future husband, Solomon Schechter. According to Shuly Rubin Schwartz’ The Rabbi’s Wife, it was deemed a ‘real scholar’s wedding.’  Mathilde Schechter was known for her hospitality, all the while continuing to teach to help with the family’s finances, to rear their three children, and to act as translator and editor of her husband’s works.

In 1902 the family moved to New York City where Solomon was hired to head the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). In her book, With Strength and Splendor, Lisa V. Kogen notes that Mathilde was instrumental in establishing schools for Jewish girls that offered both vocational and religious training; young women had, until then, been denied such educational opportunities. She worked with Henrietta Szold in the formation of the organization we now know as Hadassah.

Following Solomon’s death in 1915, she continued editing her husband’s writings. Her lasting achievement was the creation of the forerunner of WLCJ. Seeing a need, she helped develop housing for JTS students, as well as soldiers and sailors on leave. Advancing that concept, the Mathilde Schechter Residence Hall Trust was established in 1971 between JTS and WLCJ; its intent to construct a residence hall for women students. That hall is named in her honor.

This year’s Women’s League Shabbat is also a celebration of 40 years of women being admitted into the Rabbinical Assembly, an arm of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.  While a woman named Regina Jones became the first known female rabbi in 1935, that milestone happened in Germany. She was murdered by the Nazis and was forgotten for decades.

In the U.S., the Reform Movement ordained Rabbi Sally Priesand in 1972. The Reconstructionist Movement followed in 1974, ordaining Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso.  The Conservative Movement finally joined the turning tide with Rabbi Amy Eilberg’s ordination in 1985.

Moses wrote five books and only mentioned his wife, Zipporah, by name three times. Only men served as rabbis and cantors for generations. Mathilde Schechter’s contributions to her husband’s career and significant writings were largely anonymous. Times have changed. Today, female clergy are on pulpits in our community. Women no longer need stand in the shadow of their spouses. Thank you to Mathilde Schechter for leading the way. 

Linda Boxer is the current president of the International Northeast Region of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and immediate past president of Temple Beth Tzedek.