Rabbis Dennis and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, married in Philadelphia in 1970 and the first rabbinical in Judaism’s 4,000 year history, are visiting Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (KI) in Elkins Park on May 17 and 18, according to the Jewish Exponent.

Eisenberg Sasso is a 1965 graduate of Cheltenham High School and grew up attending the synagogue. She became the first female rabbi in the Reconstructionist movement and met Dennis at the Philadelphia school (now in Wyncote) before serving Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis for 36 years together. They have both since retired.

The weekend residency will feature a preschool tot Shabbat, a Shabbat evening service and a reflection from Eisenberg Sasso on Friday night on her years at KI and her ordination. On Saturday, they will host a morning Torah study and an evening Havdalah, according to the Exponent.

“She wanted to celebrate the anniversary of her ordination at the place where she was first was introduced to Jewish life,” said Rabbi Benjamin David of Sandy Sasso. “I think her visit gives us a chance to hear stories about breaking down barriers and enacting change in the world. Her very existence speaks to undoing what had for centuries been the fact of an exclusively male rabbinate.”

For more on the Sassos, you can read the rest of the article here.

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Photo: Christian Theological Seminary