First Female Orthodox Rabbi Tackles Antisemitism Post-October 7th

In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, Tamar sits down with Rabbi Sara Hurwitz — trailblazer, teacher, and one of the most courageous voices reshaping the boundaries of modern Orthodoxy. From a young age, Rabbi Hurwitz felt called to public service in the world of Torah, but there was no roadmap for a woman to walk this path. In 2009, her ordination by Rabbi Avi Weiss and Rabbi Daniel Sperber marked a historic and controversial turning point, igniting debate across the Orthodox world. Yet Rabbi Hurwitz’s story is not one of confrontation, but of transformation.

As the co-founder and president of Yeshivat Maharat — the first Orthodox institution to ordain women as rabbis, she has been named one of the 50 most influential Jews by The Forward and one of Newsweek’s 50 most influential rabbis. Rabbi Hurwitz speaks with Tamar about breaking barriers, leading with conviction, what it’s been like for visibly Orthodox Jews post-October 7, and building a future where every voice in the Torah world can be heard.

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