Mimi Feigelson, Orthodox Female Rabbi

Jewish People & Ideas: Conversations with Jewish Thought Leaders

Mimi Feigelson—also known as Reb Mimi—is the Mashpiah Ruchanit—Spiritual Mentor—of the Schechter Rabbinical School in Jerusalem where she also teaches Talmud and Chassidic Thought. She served in the same position for 16 years at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles. Born in the United States, Mimi moved to Israel at age 8 and began studying with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach at 15. In 1994, She was ordained by Rabbi Carlebach. In a secret ceremony, she became the first Orthodox Female Rabbi post Shoah. This was only made public in 2001. Still, 20 years later, the Orthodox Jewish community is challenged when it confronts the growing number of female Orthodox rabbis. She was also the Associate Director of the popular Yakar synagogue and Beit Midrash in Jerusalem and it’s Rosh Beit Midrash l’nashim – the women’s beit midrash. I sat down with Mimi in her apartment in Jerusalem to discuss her experience as a spiritual mentor for American and Israeli Jews, what it’s like to be the public figure “Reb Mimi”, her time with Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and many deep answers to simple questions.