Orthodox rabbi drops plan for woman rabbi

Rabbi Avi Weiss, a prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi who guides the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, N.Y., has backed away from the idea of ordaining women as Orthodox rabbis under the term “rabba.”

Weiss took heat from the Orthodox community after he made the announcement in January that he would use the feminized version of rabbi for his student, Sara Hurwitz. She now has the title “maharat.”

The Rabbinical Council of America, an umbrella organization consisting mostly of Modern Orthodox rabbis, considered revoking his ordination, New York Jewish Week reported, though the veracity of the report is unclear.

The RCA issued a statement that it was “gratified” that Weiss had decided against using the rabba title. — jta