Tehilla Lichtenstein

Tehilla Lichtenstein, born Tehilla Hirshenson,^[1][2] (1893 – 1973) was a leader of Jewish Science as well as an author.^[3][4] She was born in Jerusalem and immigrated to America when she was 11.^[4] Her parents were Hava (née Cohen) and Rabbi Chaim Hirschensohn. She earned a B.A. in classics from Hunter College and an M.A. in literature from Columbia University.^[4][5]

She married Morris Lichtenstein in 1920. Together, they founded the Society of Jewish Science in 1921^[1] or 1922.^[6][7]

Lichtenstein originally ran the New York-based religious school of the Society of Jewish Science, where she also taught Hebrew and Bible.^[8] She became the spiritual leader of the Society of Jewish Science when her husband, Morris, who had been its leader, died in 1938.^[4] Morris's will had declared that the position should go to one of their sons or Tehilla if neither of their sons were willing, which, as it turned out, they were not.^[4] Thus, in 1938, Lichtenstein became the first Jewish American woman to serve as the spiritual leader of an active Jewish congregation (though she was not ordained).^[9] On December 4, 1938, Lichtenstein gave her first sermon as the new leader of the Society of Jewish Science. It was entitled "The Power of Thought".^[8] According to the New York Times, which gave a brief notice to the event, over five hundred people attended the sermon.^[10] She continued to preach from the pulpit until 1972.^[8] She gave over five hundred sermons in all.^[9] She also took over her late husband's duties as editor of the Jewish Science Interpreter magazine, serving until she died in 1973.^[1]

She hosted a weekly radio program in the 1950s, which was a combination of practical advice and Jewish Science teachings.^[4][8]

Her papers, known as the Tehilla Lichtenstein Papers, are now held at the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio.^[5]