DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, two women made history in both the Denver and national Jewish communities. They were installed as chief rabbis of Temple Emanuel, marking the first rank of the congregation.
Rabbis Elizabeth Sacks and Emily Hyatt are now the first two women to become senior rabbis of the congregation, and it is also the first time in the history of the temple that they have had a collaborative rabbinic partnership and the second in the history of the United States that a senior rabbi partnership has been between two women.
Both are grateful for the opportunity to lead the congregation into the future.
“We are the eighth chief rabbi to lead the congregation in 151 years,” Hayat said.
The group is two years older than the state of Colorado. While women have been installed as rabbis for decades, these two women are the first to become senior rabbis at Temple Emanuel.
“We are truly grateful to all the women who came before us and helped make this moment possible; we know we stand on their shoulders,” Hayat said.
Hayat was also born and raised in the same neighborhood as Temple Emanuel, and even went to preschool there. Sacks feels representation in leadership is necessary at a difficult time for the Jewish community.
“We believe that at this moment it is important for every member of the congregation to find a way to see themselves in the clergy and see themselves in their rabbis and be inspired by that,” Sacks said.
Despite all these firsts, the two say being able to become rabbis at all is what means most to them.
“No matter who we are, this makes us feel strong and empowered, and we are truly honored by that,” Hayat said.
They say the group has responded well to the change.
“The community just showed up with their warmth, love and support,” Sachs said.
As they prepare to take on their new roles, they hope that both the congregation in the temple and the community outside will know that they have their back.
“We want to be here with you, we want to be here for you, whether you are part of our congregation or part of all of Colorado,” Sachs said.