1960s: While Reform Judaism allows the ordaining of female rabbis, Conservative and Orthodox denominations do not.

1980s-1990s: After 1985, Conservative Judaism begins to ordain female rabbis.

1960s: Ozick's story mentions that the rabbi's parents had traveled to the "Holy Land." This refers to the nation of Israel, established in 1948 as a Jewish state. Ongoing conflict between Israel and surrounding Arab nations lead to several wars, which result in redrawing of boundaries and changes in the balance of power in the Middle East. The Six-Day War of 1967 marks a watershed in Israeli relations with bordering Arab nations, when Israeli acquires control over considerably more territory in the Middle East.

1980s-1990s: There have been various attempts at peace negotiations throughout the 1980s and 1990s between Israel and the Middle East.

1960s: Before the Six Day War of 1967, Israeli rule over Arab sections of the city...