Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 11, 2024

Rabbis Dennis and Sandy Sasso (Courtesy of the Sasso family)

Judaism is almost 4,000 years old. In that long history, there was never a rabbinical couple until 1970. That was the year Rabbis Dennis and Sandy Sasso got married in Philadelphia.

Now the historic couple is coming back to the area for a weekend residency at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park on May 17 and 18.

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso grew up at KI. After her confirmation service, she came home, sat on the edge of bed and realized that she wanted to become a rabbi. She graduated from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and became the first female rabbi in the Reconstructionist movement.

It was at the Philadelphia school (now in Wyncote) that she met Dennis Sasso, a fellow student. They got ordained in 1974. They later went on to serve Congregation Beth-El Zedeck in Indianapolis for 36 years together.

Rabbi Sandy Sasso retired in 2013, and her husband followed 10 years later.

Their weekend at KI will feature a preschool tot Shabbat, a Shabbat evening service and a reflection from Rabbi Sandy Sasso on Friday night on her years at KI and her historic ordination. On Saturday, they will host a morning Torah study and an evening Havdalah.

The events will be sponsored by the Rabbi Simeon J. Maslin Distinguished KI Speakers Fund, according to kenesethisrael.org. Maslin led KI from 1979-1997 and knew the Sassos.

She wanted to celebrate the anniversary of her ordination at the place where she was first was introduced to Jewish life, said Rabbi Benjamin David of Sandy Sasso. I think her visit gives us a chance to hear stories about breaking down barriers and enacting change in the world. Her very existence speaks to undoing what had for centuries been the fact of an exclusively male rabbinate.

How They Met

As a trailblazer, Rabbi Sandy Sasso was also the only female student in a school, RRC, full of males.

There were some efforts for a while, but I was fortunate to triumph, said Rabbi Dennis Sasso, laughing.

They met by chance at KI. Rabbi Sandy Sasso got a call asking her to fill in as a religious school teacher for an RRC student who couldnt make it. As it turned out, Rabbi Dennis Sasso was able to come that day.

They met and both taught classes.

He was gracious and kind with exceptionally pleasant and good manners, Sandy Sasso said. I learned very quickly by being with him in seminary that he was also exceptionally bright.

She was actually shy, Dennis Sasso recalled. Its amazing how her quiet, shy personality flourished in the rabbinate into an affirmative and determined type of person.

Their Historic Marriage

The Sassos didnt think too much about the fact that they were making Jewish history.

They were getting ready to leave for their honeymoon when Sandy Sasso got a call from her mother.

Get The Evening Bulletin, she said, referring to Philadelphias evening paper at the time.

There we were on the front page, Sandy Sasso recalled.

Rabbi Bertram Korn, who led KI from 1949-1979 and mentored Sandy Sasso, had alerted the paper to the history.

When you are the participant, you are not aware of the significance, Dennis Sasso said.

For us, the focus of our marriage was the love we had for one another. It just so happened that this was a unique event, Sandy Sasso added.

How They Ended Up Working Together

After ordination, the Sassos spent three years in New York working at separate congregations. But then Dennis Sasso got a call from Ira Eisenstein, the founding president of the RRC, about an opening in Indianapolis.

Dennis Sasso interviewed.

They said, Were a growing congregation. We might like to hire another rabbi at some point, he recalled.

The young rabbi had just the candidate.

I said, I have a deal for you, he recalled.

It was them.

Partners

The Sassos were life partners and work partners. They complemented each other at shul just like they did at home.

We enjoyed what we did, Dennis Sasso said.

They both led services, gave sermons, taught and did life cycle events. They also had help from a full-time cantor and an educator, which allowed them to take vacations with their two children.

The congregation was very accommodating, Dennis Sasso said.

Sandy Sasso On Coming Home and Being Celebrated

Theres just such warm feelings to return to my synagogue home, she said.

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Original post:

First Rabbinical Couple in Jewish History Visiting KI This Month - Jewish Exponent

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