Sally Priesand was ordained as the first woman rabbi in the U.S.
On June 3, 1972, Sally Priesand was ordained as a rabbi by Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. This historic ordination at the Plum Street Temple in Cincinnati marked Priesand as the first woman rabbi in the United States and the first woman rabbi ordained by a North American rabbinical seminary. Her ordination confronted centuries of male-dominated religious tradition, opening the doors for women seeking similar paths in religious leadership. Her courage and persistence in advocating for gender equality set a significant precedent in religious communities worldwide.