Quick Facts
Biography
Dena Feingold became Wisconsin's first female full-time rabbi in 1982 when she was hired by Congregation Shalom in Milwaukee as assistant rabbi. She was ordained earlier that year by the Reform Jewish seminary Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, and was the first female rabbi native to Wisconsin. According to her, she was at one time the only female rabbi employed full-time in any synagogue in the entire Upper Midwest U.S. In 1985, she was appointed spiritual leader of Beth Hillel Temple in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A Spiritual Legacy Fund has been established at Beth Hillel in tribute to her. In 2007, she received a Doctor of Divinity degree commemorating her 25 years in the rabbinate.
She is the sister of former U.S Senator Russ Feingold.