Sandy Eisenberg Sasso facts for kids

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (born January 29, 1947) is a very important person in Reconstructionist Judaism. She was the first woman ever to become a rabbi in this Jewish movement. She became a rabbi on May 19, 1974, after studying at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. Besides being a rabbi, she has written many popular children's books about religious ideas.

About Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

Her Early Life and Dreams

Sandy Eisenberg Sasso was born in 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she was young, she was very active in her local Reform Jewish community. At just 16 years old, she started thinking about becoming a rabbi. This was a big dream because, at that time, women were not allowed to be rabbis. She also studied at Gratz College during this period.

Becoming a Rabbi

In the fall of 1969, Sandy joined the second group of students at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. While she was studying, she married her classmate, Dennis Sasso. They became the first married couple in Jewish history where both partners were rabbis. As one of the few women studying to be a rabbi, Sandy helped change how women were seen in Judaism. She achieved many "firsts" as a female rabbi.

Her Work as a Rabbi

Sandy Sasso first worked as a rabbi for the Manhattan Reconstructionist Congregation. Then, from 1977 until 2013, she served as a rabbi with her husband at the Beth-El Zedeck congregation in Indianapolis. This made them the first couple in the world to serve as rabbis together.

In 2005, Sandy appeared in a documentary called And the Gates Opened: Women in the Rabbinate. This film shared stories and interviews with her and other pioneering women rabbis like Sally Priesand and Amy Eilberg.

On December 6, 2010, Sandy met with other important women rabbis for the first time. These included Sally Priesand (the first Reform female rabbi), Amy Eilberg (the first Conservative female rabbi), and Sara Hurwitz (considered by some to be the first Orthodox female rabbi). They and about 30 other women rabbis lit Hanukkah candles. Then, they talked about their experiences in an open discussion.

They all met again on June 3, 2012, to celebrate. This time, it was to honor the four first women rabbis from their different Jewish movements. It also marked 40 years since Sally Priesand became a rabbi.

In May 2013, Sandy Sasso retired from her role as senior rabbi at Beth-El Zedeck.

Her Books and Other Writings

Children's Books

• God's Paintbrush, illustrated by Annette C. Compton, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, VT), 1992.
• In God's Name, illustrated by Phoebe Stone, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1994.
• But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1995.
• A Prayer for the Earth: The Story of Naamah, Noah's Wife, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1996.
• God in Between, illustrated by Sally Sweetland, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1998.
• For Heaven's Sake, illustrated by Kathryn Kunz Finney, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1999.
• God's Paintbrush, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1999.
• What Is God's Name?, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 1999.
• God Said Amen, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 2000.
• Cain and Abel: Finding the Fruits of Peace, illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 2001.
• Naamah, Noah's Wife, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 2002.
• Adam and Eve's First Sunset: God's New Day, illustrated by Joani Keller Rothenberg, Jewish Lights Publishing (Woodstock, Vermont), 2003.
• Abuelita's Secret Matzahs, Emmis Books (Cincinnati), 2005.
• Butterflies under Our Hats, Paraclete Press (Orleans), 2006.
• The Shema in the Mezuzah: Listening to Each Other, Jewish Lights Publishing, 2012.
• Regina Persisted: An Untold Story, illustrated by Margeaux Lucas, Apples & Honey Press, 2018.

Other Writings

• Call Them Builders: A Resource Booklet about Jewish Attitudes and Practices on Birth and Family Life, 1977.
• The Voices of Children, Co-editor with Siddur Kol HaNoar, 2005.
• God's Echo – Exploring Scripture with Midrash, 2010.
• "How Jewish Women Have Come to Read the Bible: The Creating of Midrash" in The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate, 2016.

Awards and Honors

Sandy Sasso has received many awards throughout her career:

• Honorary Doctor of Humanities from DePauw University, 1986.
• Special Merit award, Vermont Book Publishers, 1992, for God's Paintbrush.
• Children's Books of Distinction Award finalist, 1994, for In God's Name.
• Best books of the year honor, Publishers Weekly, 1995, for But God Remembered: Stories of Women from Creation to the Promised Land.
• Best books of the year honor, Publishers Weekly, 1996, for A Prayer for the Earth.
• Sagamore of the Wabash award from the Governor of Indiana, 1995.
• Named among Influential Women in Indiana by the Indianapolis Business Journal, 1997.
• Honorary D.H.L. from Butler University, Indianapolis, 1999.
• Honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, 1999.
• Honorary degree from Christian Theological Seminary, 2000.
• Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Literature, 2004.
• National Jewish Book Award in the Illustrated Children's Book category for The Shema in the Mezuzah: Listening to Each Other, 2012.
• The Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 2013.
• In 2022, an art exhibit called “Holy Sparks” featured art about 24 pioneering female rabbis. Debra Band created the artwork about Sandy Sasso for this exhibit.

See also

• Timeline of women rabbis