The Case of Feminism— Mechanisms of Change 71

ordination.” This demonstrated either a failure of nerve or a lack of broader interest in this issue. Although women had studied at HUC and received a Bachelor's Degree, none were ordained or pushed hard in that direction.” No male rabbis stepped forward to provide private ordination as did Max Dienemann (1873-1939) who ordained Regina Jonas in Berlin in 1935 almost four years after she had fulfilled all the requirements of the Hochschule fiir die Wissenschaft des Judentums (1870-1942), the liberal German rabbinic seminary. Leo Baeck added his signature to the ordination in 1941. Regina Jonas , after some difficulties, served the Berlin community until her deportation first to Theresienstadt(1942) and then to her death in Auschwitz (1944).%

Jonas had written a halalkhic thesis with the title’Can a Woman Hold Rabbinical Office” for Professor Baneth who was to ordain. He regarded it as“good.” This could have been the basis of aresponsum, but remained unknown.

The question of ordination was revisited by the Central Conference in 1956 with the approval of Nelson Glueck , the president of the Hebrew Union College . However this did not lead to a positive resolution.” Subsequently there were resolutions by the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, but no follow through by them; an Emma Goldman was lacking.

We should note that the simple path of innovation first taken by Israel Jacobson , and Max Dienemann finally resolved the issue of Women’s ordination in North America and largely in the same way. lt was a unilateral decision taken with little internal or institutional discussion by Nelson Glueck , President of the Hebrew Union College , Who admitted Sally Prisant or Alfred Gottschalk , his successor, who Ordained her in 1972. There was no debate at the Central Conference, by the Board of Governors of the College or the Union of American