The Kohenet Institute, also known as the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute, is a Jewish neopagan organization which trains women to be Jewish spiritual leaders.[1] The institute was founded in November 2005 by Rabbi Jill Hammer and Holly Taya Shere.[2][3] The institute held its first training program August 14–20, 2006, at the Elat Chayyim Retreat Center in Accord, New York. In July 2009, the institute ordained for the first time 11 women as kohanot (priestesses).[2] As of early 2021 the institute has graduated almost 100 women as priestesses. Ordination requires the completion of a three-year training and program including 13 paths which explore different "female archetypes".[4]

The organization has been criticized by some Jewish leaders for its embrace of pagan rituals.[5]

References

  1. ^ Rock-Singer, Cara (Fall 2020). "Milk Sisters: Forging Sisterhood At Kohenet's Hebrew Priestess Institute". Nashim: A Journal of Jewish Women's Studies & Gender Issues. 37 (37): 87–114. doi:10.2979/nashim.37.1.07. S2CID 231625103.
  2. ^ a b "Kohenet: the Hebrew Priestess Institute, launches its first training institute in Accord, NY". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  3. ^ Kestenbaum, Sam (6 November 2016). "Finding God — Who's a She — at the Kohenet Institute". The Forward. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  4. ^ "'There's no one right way to kohenet': The Hebrew priestess movement aims to center women's voices". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  5. ^ Gillick, Jeremy (August 20, 2010). "Priestly Caste: There's a growing movement of women who practice their Judaism through feminist, earth-based rituals". Tablet.

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