The Forward: The cantors who captivated Hasidic rebbes
Long before women joined the cantorate, a few prominent men transformed the practice into a form of cultural connection and political diplomacy.
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Voices of Change: How Far We’ve Come—and What’s Still Ahead
August 13, 2025
Half a century ago, Barbara Ostfeld became the first woman ordained as a cantor—a milestone that transformed Jewish musical leadership. Since then, women have gone from rare exceptions to senior cantors in major congregations, leaders of cantorial schools, and creative forces expanding the sound and scope of Jewish worship.
Along the way, they have challenged gender bias, balanced the demands of family and congregation, and reimagined their roles to lead not from above, but alongside their communities. They have found their own voices, and lit the way for others to follow in their footsteps. Yet the transformation of the cantorate is far from over.
In our new article in the Voices of Change: 50 Years of Women in the American Cantorate series, ethnomusicologist Rachel Adelstein examines how far we’ve come, what it took to get here, and the vision that continues to guide the cantorate toward true equality, inclusivity and representation.
