Gerson D. Cohen

Gerson David Cohen (August 26, 1924 – August 15, 1991) was a Jewish historian, a Conservative rabbi, and the Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America from 1972–86.

He received his Ph.D. in Semitic Languages at Columbia University in 1958.

[1] Cohen served as Gustav Gottheil Lecturer at Columbia University and in a number of posts at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

[2] Cohen is especially noted for ordaining the first female rabbi in Conservative Judaism in 1985.

[3] As Chancellor, he appointed a special commission to study the issue of ordaining women as rabbis in 1977.