"Sally Opened Doors
is a captivating and beautifully illustrated work . . . It provides a model of perseverance that will inspire young people to create a more just world."
--Rabbi David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
"A beautiful and inspiring story of how one young woman's vision, determination, and generosity enabled her to fulfill her dreams and also make history." --Dr. Judith Rosenbaum, CEO, The Jewish Women's Archive
"Young readers will come away with an important and timeless lesson: 'Get up and get on with it.' Rabbi Sandy Sasso counsels, and follow your dreams. This delightful story book constitutes a moving tribute from one remarkable trailblazer to another." --Dr. Gary P. Zola, Professor, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and Executive Director, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
"Sally Opened Doors reminds us that everything is possible with hope, courage, and perseverance. In addition to its powerful life lessons, this book celebrates our communal history through Rabbi Sally Priesand's unique story." --Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, Executive Director, The Women's Rabbinic Network
"The modern era has introduced many changes into the lives
of Jewish women. Undoubtedly, one of the most notable was the Reform
movement’s 1972& ordination of Sally Priesand as the first American
female rabbi. As a token of our gratitude, we have the very Jewish
obligation to teach children about her courageous persistence. Priesand
did indeed open doors for those women, and men, who acknowledged the need for
gender reform in traditional Jewish spaces. Fifty years later, Sandy
Eisenberg Sasso and Margeaux Lucas have crafted an accessible introduction
to Rabbi Priesand’s life, perfect for young readers who may not realize how
firmly shut those doors once were.
While Lucas’s pictures capture the time period, they also
depict a modernization that is central to Priesand’s quest. For
instance, when she and a friend are conversing about the likely opposition
to women in the rabbinate, their dark brown hair and mid-century fabric patterns
stand out against the more generic congregants seated in front
of them.
For Sasso’s part, much of the story relies on invented dialogue
to advance the narrative. While each sentence accurately reflects the attitudes
of the era, the cumulative effect is somewhat ideological. "I now
know what I want to do. I want to be a rabbi … like you,"
remarks one grateful young woman. Priesand’s skeptical friend, whose "jaw
dropped" at the mere notion of female rabbis, warns her that no one will
accept her aspirations: "Sally … look around! Women serve coffee,
tea, and cake after services … they never take out the Torah." There is no
disputing the reality of these prejudices, but the characters who articulate
them seem more like symbolic adversaries than real people.
Sally Opened Doors is effective in that it focuses
on the most important parts of Priesand’s life, simplifying certain issues
for young readers and maintaining the momentum of an exciting story. Yet
some nuances are important. One visitor to Priesand’s synagogue rudely
contends, "A woman rabbi? Outrageous! You start opening the door to
change, and this is what happens." Here it would be appropriate for Sasso
to comment on the irony of his objection. Reform Judaism, after all, was predicated
on a perceived need for change. Priesand’s main concern was not resistance
to change in general, but the hypocrisy of those who opposed reform purely
on the basis of gender.
Sasso and Lucas showcase a Priesand who refuses to
let naysayers discourage her. Adults reading this book with children will
have opportunities to discuss the limits imposed on women in the past and
present, and to consider the ways in which a little bit of anger might
be productive in the face of ongoing inequality. We are fortunate to
have this new resource about a trailblazing Jewish feminist who would
not take no for an answer."
--Emily Schneider, The Jewish Book Council
