Regina

Diana Groó’s poetic documentary Regina tells the story of Regina Jonas (1902-1944), who
made history by becoming the first officially ordained woman rabbi in the world. Through
graceful use of archival footage, and sensitive voiceover from Rachel Weisz as Regina, scenes
from Jewish life in Berlin during the early twentieth century come to life.
Regina Jonas, the daughter of an Orthodox Jewish peddler, grew up in Berlin’s slum, studied
at the liberal College for the Scientific Study of Judaism beginning in 1924, and was ordained
in 1935. Her sermons brought encouragement to the persecuted German Jews. At age 37, she
met the love of her life, Rabbi Josef Norden. Both of them were deported to Theresienstadt
concentration camp. Only their love letters survived the Holocaust.