In the Bible, there are many important female figures—although many fewer than the male figures—occupying a variety of roles far beyond the traditional domestic ones, including judge, queen, warrior, and “wise woman.” If Proverbs 31:10–31—the Eishet Hayil— can be taken as a description of the ideal wife, she is far from a meek homebody. If […]
The discussion of abortion in halakhah begins with the life of the mother. Pikuaḥ nefesh, the obligation to preserve life—in this case, the life of the mother—trumps every other obligation except for three: murder, sexual immorality, and idol worship. Until the head of the fetus or the majority of its body has exited the birth
What Does Halakhah Say About Abortion? Read More »
Over the past hundred years, as medical knowledge has advanced, it became clear that infertility was a problem among a small percentage of the halakhically observant population. Jewish families were being denied offspring solely because of their observance of the Torah commandments of taharat hamishpaḥah (family purity laws). This problem has been discussed sporadically in
Halakhic Infertility, Halakhic Solutions Read More »
The Call for Articles for this edition of the JOFA Journal began with this hook: “Our awareness of our human capacity for reproduction is a vital aspect of our view of our bodies and ourselves stretching from menarche to menopause.” As women, we are acutely aware of this aspect of our lives, particularly as experienced
It’s Both Public and Private Read More »
How do we make sense of the suffering of the COVID-19 pandemic within a Jewish framework? Rabbi Dr. Erin Leib Smokler has gifted the broadly defined Jewish community with a compilation of essays by a diverse range of authors offering a variety of thought-provoking ways in which we can understand our modern plague. Torah in
Torah in a Time of Plague: Historical and Contemporary Jewish Responses Read More »
Expectations don’t always tally with reality. COVID-19 may have closed mikva’ot for a time—or, at the very least, reduced their usage, as women feared becoming infected. In particular, potential immersees frequently asked how it could be that using the same pools of water for person after person would be sanitary and not increase the chance
Mikveh in Washington in the Age of COVID Read More »
Australia, for most people, conjures images of cuddly koalas, beautiful beaches, and picturesque landscapes with laid-back people. I was born in Melbourne, Australia, and can confirm that for those in coastal cities, this image is pretty accurate. Most people live relaxed lives and take their time to get things done. But on Sunday, May 9,
JOFA Makes It Down Under Read More »
I ’ve always enjoyed English language halakhah sefarim. There’s a certain peace that comes with clear descriptions of what is and isn’t allowed in a certain circumstance. It’s very calming. The Shabbat Guidebook for Parents has all of that calm joy, with the addition of some very heartfelt pastoral messages introducing and closing each section
In January 2024, the Jofa and Maharat mission to Israel met with a number of Israeli leaders, including Rabbi Seth Farber, founder and director of ITIM; Sarah Evron, CEO of the Religious Kibbutz Movement; Dr. Michal Prins, a sexual intimacy counselor to religious couples; Sharon Laufer, who identifies fallen women soldiers and prepares them for
Halakhic Considerations Raised by the October 7th War Read More »
A central piyyut of the Yamim Noraim, “adam yesodo mei’afar” (“the human being originates from dust”), attempts to capture human frailty by comparing finite human life to “a shattered vessel, a withered grass, a faded flower, a passing shadow, a vanishing cloud, gusting wind, floating dust, and a fleeting dream.” Ten years ago, on Rosh
As a Fleeting Dream: Coping with Pregnancy Loss Read More »
