Rachel Cowan

Rachel Cowan (1941 – 2018) was a social worker, civil rights activist, rabbi, author, and founder of the Jewish healing movement.[1] [2]

Early life

She was born Rachel Ann Brown, the oldest of four children in Princeton, N.J. She got a BA from Bryn Mawr College and a MSW from University of Chicago.[1] Cowan came from a Protestant family[3] that included descendants who arrived in America on the Mayflower.[4]

Career

Cowan was a trained social worker.[5] Cowan was the first Jewish convert to be ordained by the reform movement’s Hebrew Union College.[6]

She was the program director for Jewish life at The Nathan Cummings Foundation for 14 years.[7] Cowan founded Purple Circle Early Childhood Program School, a parent cooperative in 1970. She also co-founded the Jewish Healing Center in 1990[8] and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. [9] Prior to her death, Cowan took on a mission to underscore the human side of healthcare policies.[10]

Cowan and her husband were active in the Ansche Chesed synagogue in Manhattan where they were involved in its resurgence.

Publications

Among Cowan’s writings are “Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience & Spirit”[11] which she cowrote with Dr. Linda Thal, and “Mixed Blessings: Overcoming the Stumbling Blocks in an Interfaith Marriage” which she cowrote with her husband Paul Cowan.[12]

Recognition

In 2007 and 2012 she was named as one of 50 influential rabbis by Newsweek magazine. In 2010 she was listed as one of the 50 most influential female rabbis by The Forward.[13] [14]She was the subject of a 2020 film by Paula Weiman-Kelman, [15] “Dying Doesn’t Feel Like What I am Doing,” documenting her experience with glioblastoma, aggressive brain cancer.[16] [17]

Family life

Cowan married author and Village Voice journalist Paul Cowan in 1965. She converted to Judaism fifteen years after their marriage. The couple were active social and civil rights activists and spent time on Peace Corps missions in Ecuador.[18] Paul died of cancer at 48 years old.[5] The couple had two children, Matthew and Lisa.[3]

References
  1. Berger, Joseph (2018-09-01). "Rachel Cowan, Innovative Rabbi, Is Dead at 77". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  2. "Rachel Cowan | Jewish Women's Archive". jwa.org. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  3. "Rabbi Rachel Cowan, the mother of Jewish healing, dead at 77". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  4. Bahr, Bob (2018-10-11). "Rabbi Rachel Cowan Leaves a Legacy". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  5. "Rachel Cowan, 1941 - 2018 | Jewish Women's Archive". jwa.org. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  6. Bolton-Fasman, Judy. "New Documentary Follows Rabbi Rachel Cowan's Last Year". JewishBoston. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  7. "Remembering Rabbi Rachel Cowan". The Nathan Cummings Foundation. 2019-02-11. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  8. "Remembering Rabbi Rachel Cowan, z"l". URJ. 2018-09-04. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  9. Sandee Brawarsky. "Rachel Cowan's Lesson Before Dying". jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  10. "Rabbi With Brain Cancer Has A Healthcare Message For Washington". Auburn Seminary. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  11. Foundation, Righteous Persons. "Righteous People, Righteous Work: Rabbi Rachel Cowan". RPF. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  12. "Rachel Cowan: Helping Us Age Wisely". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  13. "Rachel Cowan". Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  14. BirknerJul 21, Gabrielle; 2010. "The Sisterhood 50". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-06-24.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. Weiman-Kel, Courtesy Paula. "An intimate tribute to Rachel Cowan, trailblazing rabbi". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  16. "Rachel Cowan's wisdom on dying – and living – could help us now". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  17. "Dying Doesn't Feel Like What I'm Doing {World Premiere}". Athena Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  18. JTA. "Rabbi Rachel Cowan, pioneer in the Jewish healing movement, dies at 77". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
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