JHSSD-Dr. Irene Fine Collection

Irene Fine, Ph.D., is former director and co-founder of The Woman's Institute for Continuing Jewish Education. Founded in 1977, TheInstitute's mission was to bring women together three times a year to studywith Jewish female scholars and artists who were doing cutting edge research and work. The Woman's Institute pioneered the teaching of Torah, Talmud and midrash by women and established the Shabbat lecture series in support of their mission.

The Institute has had an impact far beyond Southern California. Its eight books have served as a resource for Jewish women nationwide and have empowered lay women to reflect on Jewish sources and to create midrash and liturgy. "The San Diego Women's Haggadah" (1980) was the first women's text available for those seeking to hold a feminist seder. Similarly, "Taking the Fruit: Modern Women's Tales of the Bible" (1981) was the first collection of women's midrashim. "A Ceremonies Sampler: New Rites, Celebrations, and Observances of Jewish Women" (1991) brought together the new ritual and liturgy created by Jewish feminists.

Dr. Fine has written three books of her own that draw upon her life experience and professional expertise: "Educating the New Jewish Woman, A Dynamic Approach" (1985) and "Midlife: A Rite of Passage/ The Wise Woman A Celebration" (1988). This collection contains the complete documentation of all the programs and publications of the Institute, the first such women's institute in the nation.