Of the three branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform, how many accept female rabbis? 0, 1, 2, or 3

The ordination of women as rabbis highlights the core philosophical differences between the major streams of modern Judaism. This divergence is rooted in their varying approaches to Halakha, or Jewish religious law. Both the Reform and Conservative movements ordain women, while the Orthodox movement does not, making the correct answer two out of the three branches.

The Reform movement, which views Jewish law as a set of evolving guidelines rather than a fixed code, was the first to formally embrace female rabbis. In 1972, Rabbi Sally Priesand became the first woman ordained in the United States, paving the way for thousands to follow. The Conservative movement, which seeks to conserve tradition while allowing for modern interpretation, engaged in a lengthy debate on the issue before officially voting to accept women into its rabbinical programs in 1983, ordaining its first female rabbi, Amy Eilberg, in 1985.

Orthodox Judaism, in contrast, adheres to a more traditional interpretation of Halakha, which it views as a binding and divinely-given system. According to this long-standing interpretation, key communal leadership and ritual roles, including that of the rabbi, are reserved for men. While some Modern Orthodox communities have created new leadership and scholarly roles for women, the formal title and authority of "rabbi" remains restricted.