Women’s History at Congregation Shearith Israel

1841 – Founding of the Womens’ Hebra, merging with the Hebra Hased Va-Amet in 1871

1877 – Sarah Lyons appointed principal of the Polonies Talmud Torah School, retires in 1913

1896 – Founding of the Sisterhood

1950 – First Consecration of Girls

1989 – First female elector, Gilda Angel, signs the Constitution

1990 – Dr. Victoria Bengualid serves as Treasurer

1991 – Eva G. Haberman serves as first woman trustee

1991 – First women’s Megillat Esther reading (from a Megillah donated by the Sisterhood in memory of Amy L. Gerstein)

1991 – First women’s Simhat Torah hakafot

1993 – First Women’s Shabbat morning service

1995 – First Women’s minha service

2002 – Naomi Dovdavany appointed Program Director

2006 – First girls’ Megillat Ruth reading for the Congregation

2007 – Lynn Kaye appointed Assistant Congregational Leader

2009 – First young women’s Shir Hashirim for the Congregation

2012 – Barbara Reiss appointed Executive Director

2013 – Rabbi Soloveichik initiates Tuesday morning women’s class

2013 – Lisa Septimus serves as community’s first Yoetzet Halakha