Rabbi Jonas, a female religious leader
In the heart of Berlin, a remarkable woman named Regina Jonas made history in the 1930s. Born in 1903 in the city's Mitte district, Jonas grew up in a strictly orthodox Jewish home, nurturing a desire from an early age to become a rabbi.
Jonas' ambition was not easily realised. The profession of rabbi had been exclusively male for centuries, and her quest for ordination was met with resistance. However, her determination was unwavering. She wrote a thesis titled 'Can a Female Hold the Rabbinical Office?' in 1930, arguing for the equality of religious teachers in Jewish law. Her work was well-received, earning her a good grade, but she was not yet ordained.
From 1933, more Jewish children flocked to religious schools in Berlin as a place of preparation for later emigration. Jonas taught at these schools, but was not allowed to deliver a sermon in a synagogue. Nevertheless, she continued to share her wisdom and inspire her students.
In 1935, a turning point came when the liberal rabbinical association agreed to ordain Jonas as a rabbi. She was ordained by Rabbi Max Dienemann, becoming the first female to be recognised as a rabbi in Berlin. Known as 'Fräulein Rabbiner Jonas,' she began preaching throughout the country in communities that no longer had a rabbi.
However, Jonas' joy was short-lived. In the fall of 1941, she was forced to work in a cardboard factory but continued to help with community services and give courage to the persecuted. Despite the hardships, she remained resilient. Many liberal rabbis, including Leo Baeck, congratulated her, but there was also resistance.
In 1938, Jonas expressed a desire to go to Palestine and work as a rabbi. Unfortunately, she was not granted the opportunity. Instead, she was deported from Theresienstadt to the extermination camp Auschwitz in October 1944 and was murdered.
Despite her tragic end, Jonas' legacy lives on. She is widely known as the first female to become a rabbi, her name etched in history as 'Fraulein Rabbiner Jonas' of Berlin. Her rabbinical diploma, which stated, 'May God support and assist her and be with her on all her ways,' serves as a testament to her courage and determination. Jonas' story is a reminder of the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.
