Source: India Abroad

http://us.rediff.com/news/2006/feb/09mata.htm?q=tp&file=.htm

On February 9, 2006 India Abroad reported, "Kashi Ashram Founder Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, who was born in a Jewish family, was last week given the honored title of Mata Maha Mandaleshwar at a special ceremony by Ma Yoga Shakti Saraswati at the Yoga Shakti Mission in Palm Bay, FLA. Maha Mandaleshwar, literally 'one who has crossed the ocean of bliss' or 'senior Abbott,' is a title usually reserved for men. Ma Yoga Shakti... was the first female recipient of this honor in l974... According to Ma Yoga Shakti, who was named Hindu of the Year 2000 by Hinduism Today, this marks the first time that an American has been given this great honor in the Hindu tradition... Ma Jaya is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World's Religions and was named Woman of Peace in l994 by Sikh Dharma International. Her Kashi Ashram, headquartered in Florida, has three other fully operating centers in Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. Through its network of volunteers, the Kashi Foundation serves approximately 300,000 worldwide annually."