27 Facts About Denise Eger

Denise Eger was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, the 2nd daughter of Bernard Eger and Estelle Eger.

Denise Eger studied voice at Memphis State University, then transferred to the University of Southern California, where she majored in religion.

Denise Eger then studied at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, from which she earned a master's degree, and went on to pursue rabbinic studies.

Denise Eger came out publicly as gay in 1990 in a story in the Los Angeles Times.

Rabbi Denise Eger was ordained in 1988 at the New York campus of Hebrew Union College, following which she served as the first full-time rabbi of Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles, the world's first gay and lesbian synagogue recognized by Reform Judaism.

Denise Eger previously served as the chair of the Search Alliance Institutional Review Board and Treasurer of the Women's Rabbinic Network, and is a past president of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.

Denise Eger chaired the Gay and Lesbian Rabbinic Network of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and is past chair of the Task Force on Gays and Lesbians in the Rabbinate.

Denise Eger is a founding member of the Religion and Faith Council of the Human Rights Campaign and a founding executive committee member of California Faith for Equality.

Denise Eger is a Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute.

Rabbi Denise Eger was instrumental in helping pass the March 2000 CCAR resolution in support of officiation and gay and lesbian weddings.

Denise Eger is co-author of the official Reform movement gay and lesbian wedding liturgy.

Denise Eger officiated at the wedding of activists Robin Tyler and Diane Olson, on June 16,2008.

Denise Eger is the editor of the groundbreaking book Mishkan Ga'avah: Where Pride Dwells, A Celebration of LGBTQ Jewish Life and Ritual.

Denise Eger is a noted author contributing to anthologies such as Torah Queeries, Lesbian Rabbis, Twice Blessed, and Conflicting Visions: Contemporary Debates in Reform Judaism.

Denise Eger wrote the piece "Creating Opportunities for the 'Other': The Ordination of Women as a Turning Point for LGBT Jews", which appears in the book The Sacred Calling: Four Decades of Women in the Rabbinate, published in 2016.

Rabbi Denise Eger has made activism in pursuit of justice for all people a cornerstone of her rabbinate.

Denise Eger has been active in helping to negotiate for improved labor conditions in local hotels and in the agriculture industry; in working for a moratorium on the death penalty in California and in efforts to halt genocide and crimes against humanity around the world.

Denise Eger has facilitated an HIV+ support group for 30 years.

Denise Eger served as co-chair of the Community Advisory Board of the Shanti Foundation and is a past Chair of the Spiritual Advisory Committee of AIDS Project Los Angeles.

Denise Eger is past co-chair of the Institutional Review Board for Search Alliance, an AIDS drug research organization.

Denise Eger cofounded the LGBT Interfaith Clergy Group of Southern California and served as its first president.

Denise Eger served on as a founding member of the board of ZIONESS, a progressive Pro-Israel advocacy organization.

Denise Eger has helped to mentor young rabbinical students at the Hebrew Union College and served as a mentor to rabbinical students for AIPAC.

Denise Eger is a founding member of the Religion and Faith Council of the Human Rights Campaign.

Denise Eger was a founder of the California Faith for Equality and helped to organize Jews for Marriage Equality.

Rabbi Denise Eger is a Trustee of the Reform Pension Board, a joint project of the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

Denise Eger sits on the Camp Committee for the URJ's Henry S Jacobs Camp, in Utica, MS.