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Denise Eger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Denise Eger
Eger in 2010
Born (1960-03-14) March 14, 1960 (age 64)[1]
Education
Websiterabbieger.wordpress.com

Denise Eger (born March 14, 1960)[1] is an American Reform rabbi.[4] In March 2015, she became president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in North America; she was the first openly gay person to hold that position.[5][6]

Early life

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Denise Eger was born in New Kensington, and raised in Memphis.[3]

Education

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In 1982, Eger received a bachelor’s degree in religion from the University of Southern California.[2]

In 1985, she received a master’s degree from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.[2][3]

In 2013, she received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion.[7][8]

In 2023, Eger received a honorary doctorate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev.[9]

Rabbinical career

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In 1988, Eger was ordained by Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion at their campus in New York.[2][3]

She worked as the first full-time rabbi at Beth Chayim Chadashim for four years, after which she became the founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami in West Hollywood, which was founded in 1992.[10] She served Congregation Kol Ami for thirty years before retiring in 2023.[11][12]

In 2008, Eger officiated at the wedding of Robin Tyler and Diane Olson.[13]

In 2009, she became the first female and the first openly gay president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California.[14][10] 2009 was also the year she served as president of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.[15]

On March 16, 2015, she became president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in North America; she was the first openly gay person to hold that position.[5][6] She held the position until March 20, 2017.[16]

Personal life

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Eger is gay; she came out publicly as gay in 1990 in a story in the Los Angeles Times.[17][4]

In 1994, she and Karen Siteman were married by a rabbi. They remarried in October 2008, at their home in Cheviot Hills.[14] They also had a son, called Benjamin.[10] However, Eger later married Eleanor Steinman. Steinman is also a rabbi.[12]

Selected Bibliography

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  • 2019: Gender and Religious Leadership: Women Rabbis, Pastors and Ministers (co-edited with Hartmut Bomhoff, Kathy Ehrensperger, and Walter Homolka; published by Rowman & Littlefield)
  • 2020: Mishkan Ga'avah: Where Pride Dwells, A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual (edited; published by CCAR Press)
  • 2023: 7 Principles for Living Bravely (coauthored with Neil Thomas; published by TKG Communications)

Selected Awards and Honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b Denise Eger, LGBT history month.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2009/09-0727_misc_6-2-09.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ a b c d "Learning from the past, Rabbi Eger forges welcoming future for LGBTQ congregants | The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle".
  4. ^ a b Dart, John (June 30, 1990). "Lesbian Rabbi Comes Out of Closet to Be Role Model". Los Angeles Times.
  5. ^ a b Tess Cutler, "Rabbi Denise Eger seeks to open doors wider to all Jews", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, March 4, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Reform rabbis install first openly gay or lesbian president, Denise Eger | Jewish Telegraphic Agency". Jta.org. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  7. ^ "Rabbi Denise L. Eger | HuffPost". www.huffpost.com.
  8. ^ "Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Jewish Leader and Gender Equality Activist, To Receive Honorary Doctorate Degree from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev". jhvonline.com.
  9. ^ Goldsheft, Tali. "eger featured". A4BGU. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
  10. ^ a b c "[VIDEO] Women Rabbis: Trailblazers and Innovators". Jewish Journal. October 25, 2009.
  11. ^ Noonan, Ari L. (September 7, 2023). "Rabbis of LA | Rabbi Barry Lutz: Interim Leadership Is His Style". Jewish Journal.
  12. ^ a b Collins, Rance (June 15, 2023). "Rabbi Eger retires after 30 years at WeHo's Kol Ami". Beverly Press & Park Labrea News.
  13. ^ "After legal battle, California's first lesbian wedding takes place - under the huppa". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. June 17, 2008.
  14. ^ a b Helfand, Duke (May 12, 2009). "Gay activist leads rabbis". Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ "PARR - PARR History & Presidents". www.parrabbis.org.
  16. ^ Oster, Marcy (March 20, 2017). "David Stern becomes third-generation president of Reform rabbinical group".
  17. ^ Zoll, Rachel (16 March 2015). "Reform Jewish rabbis in U.S. install first openly lesbian president". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-03-16.
  18. ^ "Rabbi Denise L. Eger | Congregation Kol Ami of West Hollywood". www.kol-ami.org. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013.
  19. ^ Eckerling, Debra L. (March 31, 2022). ""Holy Sparks" Exhibition Celebrates 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate". Jewish Journal.
  20. ^ "Holy Sparks: Celebrating Fifty Years of Women in the Rabbinate". HUC.
  21. ^ "VIDEO: HOLY SPARKS – Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Rabbinate". Jewish Art Salon. January 30, 2022.
  22. ^ Heller, Sasha (May 20, 2022). "Nine Extraordinary Individuals Honored by Ben-Gurion University". Atlanta Jewish Times.
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