Rabbi Stacy Offner papers

Stacy K. Offner was born in Long Island, New York. She received her B.A. in Religion from Ohio's Kenyon College, graduating magna cum laude in 1977, going on to pursue her M.A. in Hebrew Literature at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles before eventually finishing in 1982 at Hebrew Union College's New York campus. After receiving her rabbinic ordination in 1984 from the HUC seminary, Offner moved to Minnesota where she accepted the Assistant Rabbi position with Mount Zion Temple in Saint Paul, Minnesota, eventually becoming Associate Rabbi in 1987. In 1988, Rabbi Offner resigned amidst speculation regarding her sexual orientation; in the public downfall of allegations regarding discrimination, a group of congregants spoke out on behalf of Rabbi Offner and subsequently left Mount Zion to form a new reform congregation. In 1988, Rabbi Offner was elected head rabbi of this newest reform synagogue known as Shir Tikvah, located in Minneapolis. During her time with Shir Tikvah, Rabbi Offner was also an active spokesperson regarding women's issues, medical ethics and interfaith relations; she served as an adjunct professor at Hamline University, teaching courses in Jewish ethics, as well as serving on committees for the Minneapolis Children's Hospital and the Reform Pension Board.

Rabbi Offner remained with the Shir Tikvah for nearly two decades, until 2008 when she was offered the role of Vice President to the Union for Reform Judaism, a position she held until 2010. After a time as interim rabbi at Adath Emanu-El in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, she is currently the rabbi at Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison, Connecticut. Rabbi Offner's career thus far has been marked by many milestones including: Minnesota's first female rabbi, the nation's first openly lesbian rabbi, the Minnesota State senate's first Jewish chaplain and the first female vice president of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Offner now resides in Connecticut with her partner Nancy Abramson.