On May 19, 2011, Rachel Isaacs became the first openly lesbian rabbi ordained by the Conservative movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).  

Isaacs was born in New Jersey in 1983. She attended Wellesley College, where she was co-president of the Hille and graduated summa cum laude in 2005. She began rabbinical school at the Reform movement’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and later transferred to JTS, where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. She transferred to JTS because she desired to lead a “halachically observant community... that kept kosher, was more Shabbat observant and had more davenning with traditional nusach”—more in line with how she practices. She was mentored by Rabbi Carrie Carter, a closeted lesbian at the time. Carter played an important role in Isaacs’ ordination, draping Isaacs’ tallit around her.  

Isaacs is a rabbi at Beth Israel Congregation in Waterville, Maine. She is also the inaugural holder of the Dorothy “Bibby” Levine Alfond chair in Jewish Studies at Colby College, where she teaches Hebrew, Jewish theology, and Jewish humor. She is also the executive director of the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby.  

In 2014, the Forward named Isaacs one of "America’s Most Inspiring Rabbis.” In 2016, she delivered the final White House Hanukkah benediction of the Obama administration. In 2020, the Covenant Foundation awarded Isaacs the Pomegranate Prize, given annually to five influential Jewish educators. According to Harlene Winnick Appelman, z’ll, then Covenant's executive director, Isaacs “work has empowered individuals to revitalize their own Jewish learning and engagement and to take what they learn back to their communities. This is the kind of bold action that makes Rachel a truly outstanding rising leader in the field.” 

Isaacs lives in Maine with her wife Melanie and daughters Nitzan and Hadas.  

Sources: 

Debra Nussbaum Cohen May. “JTS Ordains Its First Openly Gay Rabbi.” The Forward, May 26, 2011. https://forward.com/life/138141/jts-ordains-its-first-openly-gay-rabbi/. 

“Home.” RabbiRachelIsaacs. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.rabbirachelisaacs.com/.  

“Leadership - Center for Small Town Jewish Life.” Accessed April 4, 2023. https://jewishlife.colby.edu/about/leadership/.  

“Rabbi Rachel Isaacs Wins Prestigious Jewish Educator Prize.” Colby News, October 28, 2020 Accessed April 4, 2023. https://news.colby.edu/story/rabbi-rachel-isaacs-wins-prestigious-jewish-educator-prize/.  

“Rabbi Rachel Isaacs.” Israel Policy Forum, August 9, 2018. https://israelpolicyforum.org/atid/programs/bronfmansummit/bronfman18/rabbi-rachel-isaacs/.