- Nancy Morris
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Nancy Morris (Born 2 November 1961) is a Reform rabbi and was appointed to Glasgow Reform Synagogue, formerly known as Glasgow New Synagogue, in October 2003, making her the first female rabbi in Scotland.
Morris was born in Canada where she studied and qualified in Law before choosing to study for the rabbinate in London, qualifying in 2002.
Contents
Career
Morris gained an MA in Jewish History from McGill University in 1989 before continuing her studies to gain an LLB, also at McGill University, before completing her Articles at Blake, Cassels and Graydon, in Toronto.
In 1997, she decided upon a career change and left Canada to study rabbinics at Leo Baeck College in London, graduating in 2002.
In the final year of rabbinic studies, she returned to Canada where she served as Rabbi at Har Tikvah, in Brampton, Ontario and Temple Shalom, in Kitchener, Ontario/Waterloo, Ontario from 2001 till 2003.
She is currently Rabbi of Glasgow Reform Synagogue having held this post since October 2003.
Rabbi Morris is also a Guest Lecturer at the University of Glasgow where she lectures on Judaism.
Role Within Scottish Jewish Community
Rabbi Morris is primarily based in Glasgow at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, however she additionally provides support to other progressive synagogues [i.e. those not connected to Orthodox Judaism] in Scotland, on an ad-hoc basis. Whilst not necessarily affiliated with the Reform Movement, these progressive synagogues operate under a liberal interpretation of Judaism whereby a female rabbi is welcomed.
Role As A Community Leader
As leader of the second largest stream of Judaism in Scotland, Rabbi Morris is often invited to participate in interfaith meetings as well as speaking at various events, presenting a modern, liberal, Jewish perspective on a variety of subjects.[1][2]
On this basis, Rabbi Morris presented the Time For Reflection[3] at the Scottish Parliament on 25 June 2008.
Broadcasting
Since her appointment, Rabbi Morris has appeared regularly on BBC Radio Scotland's Thought For The Day slot where she presents, from a Jewish perspective, brief talks designed to cause listeners to pause for reflection.
Rabbi Morris also contributed to the BBC radio program on Matisyahu with her predecessor at Glasgow Reform Synagogue, Rabbi Pete Tobias[4]
Publications
Rabbi Morris contributed to the book God, Doubt and Dawkins, a Reform response to Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion.
References
- ^ 2004 University of Dundee Margaret Harris Lecture on Religion covering women in the rabbinate
- ^ Brief bio and link to MP3 of lecture presented at Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities
- ^ Official Report Of Scottish Parliament For 25 June 2008
- ^ BBC Listen Again page on Matisyahu program
External links
Categories:- Ashkenazi Jews
- British Reform rabbis
- Canadian Reform rabbis
- Scottish Jews
- Women rabbis
- 20th-century rabbis
- 21st-century rabbis
- Living people
- 1961 births
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