Woman rabbi to lead largest conservative group

A New Jersey synagogue has become the largest of its size in Judaism’s Conservative branch to hire a woman rabbi.

The board of the 575-family Congregation Beth El in South Orange, N.J., has named Francine Roston as its new leader.

Though Conservative Judaism has ordained female rabbis since 1984, a survey last year found no women were leading Conservative congregations with 500 or more families. Orthodox Judaism does not ordain women.

The president of the South Orange congregation, Michael Morris, said gender didn’t enter into the hiring process. “Our search committee was focused on selecting the best person,” he said.

But the move could be controversial, admitted James Schwarz, co-chair of the search committee.

“There will be a few members of the congregation who will resign because they feel this is not what they want,” Schwarz said.

Roston, 36, has worked at Congregation Beth Tikvah in New Milford since graduating from Jewish Theological Seminary. Married and the mother of two, she expects to take the new post in July.

“I’m mainly excited because (Congregation Beth El) is a great congregation in a great community, and it’s a great job,” she said. “But I’m also excited because a path is being set.”