Although Vashti and Esther never meet, the relationship between them is integral to understanding the events of Megillat Esther. Vashti disappears by the end of the first chapter, but she casts a long shadow over the rest of the book. As we encounter Vashti in chapter one, we learn the following about her: She is […]
The Mirror has Two Faces: An Exploration of Esther and Vashti Read More »
Esther Farber was a pioneer Orthodox feminist, initiated at the First National Jewish Women’s Conference, 1973. She stayed the course, working continuously to enhance Orthodox women’s lives. Esther kept growing all of her life. She helped plan the first International Conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy, 1997, and served as coordinator, running the whole enterprise from
Close to a thousand women and men attended JOFA’s Fifth International Conference on Feminism & Orthodoxy in New York, entitled “Zachar U’Nequevah Bara Otam (Male and Female God Created Them): Women and Men in Partnership.” Twenty per cent of the attendees at the conference were men, and there were representatives from all over the United
Fifth International Conference on Feminism & Orthodoxy Read More »
I suppose I would describe myself as an Orthodox feminist “fellow traveler;” one who sympathizes with the goals of Orthodox Jewish feminism, but for whom the feminist effort is not at the core of his religious life. By upbringing and intuition, my attitudes are abidingly traditional and, despite the deep inspiration and great personal satisfaction
An Inheritance For Us All Read More »
What I have to say may well surprise many who know me as a halakhic feminist. Over the past 33 years, I have been involved in numerous ways—both in theory and practice, in lecture and in print—with various aspects of the “Women and Halakha” issue. Many of the innovations that are taken for granted today,
Feminist Innovations in Orthodoxy Today: Is Everything in Halakha—Halakhic? Read More »
In my talk at JOFA’s Fifth Annual International Conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy this year, I argued that there are certain basic underlying values that permeate halakha. Some may wish to regard them as meta-halakhic principles, but I believe them to be basic guidelines within normative halakha. One such guiding principle is that the Torah
On Sensitivity and Compassion in Pesak Halakha Read More »
JOFA views Orthodox feminism as enhancing the religious life of the entire community, male and female. JOFA also recognizes, as the title of our 2004 conference clearly stated, that the only way for Orthodox feminist goals to be achieved is in partnership with the men in our communities. The theme of this issue is “From
From the Other Side of the Mechitzah Read More »
The JOFA mission statement speaks about effecting change in the status of Orthodox women in their personal and communal lives. Change does not occur in just one place, nor is it accomplished by one person, and it does not happen overnight. That is why the contribution of each one of us, wherever we may live,
To’anot, yo’atzot, madrichot ruchaniot, congregational interns, shul presidents, torah layners, executive directors, day school principals, mashgichot, gabbaiot, scholars-in-residence, contributors to halakhic journals, megillah chanters, tefillah organizers, ketubah readers—titles we never imagined, words that did not appear in our lexicon barely a decade ago. And the list grows day by day, with new roles moving onto
Orthodox Women and Leadership: The Journey Continues Read More »
I will never forget the first time I saw a woman wearing a tallit. I was 27 years old, living in Israel and attending the first International Conference on Women and Judaism. I arrived early, stumbled upon the “wrong” room and came upon a room full of women praying. Many had on tallitot, tefillin and
The Road to Wearing a Tallit: Why an Orthodox Woman Wears a Tallit Read More »
