There is no longer much controversy over the right of women to be acknowledged publicly within the Modern Orthodox community. Therefore, a formal ceremony to celebrate a daughter’s birth is natural and necessary, allows her to feel she has a place within the community, and reciprocally encourages the members of the community to celebrate her […]
The past three decades have seen an explosion of women’s involvement and participation in various life-cycle events and public and familial ritual roles, especially in the more progressive and open parts of the Modern Orthodox community. These include activities such as women reciting hamotzi on the hallah at the Shabbat meal on behalf of the
Women’s Participation in a Brit Milah Ceremony: Kayeim et Hayeled Hazeh Le’aviv U-le’imo Read More »
It’s a sweet irony to be thinking about how the simhat bat ceremony got its name as I help the daughter for whom the name originated as she prepares for the brit of her newborn son. This new little boy’s four-year old sister came home from school the other day, visibly troubled by one of
How Simhat Bat Got Its Name Read More »
We made aliyah in 2007, when our youngest child and only daughter had just graduated from the Frisch School in Paramus, New Jersey. Elana was eager to move to Israel and felt strongly that the army would be the best place to absorb Israeli culture and language. For girls who have grown up in dati
My Daughter the Hayelet Read More »
Talmud Torah has become part of the lives of many women, sparking one of the greatest revolutions in religious Jewish life. What began as a personal quest has become a broad social phenomenon. Each year hundreds of young women cross the thresholds of batei midrash and devote a year or more to study of Torah
Talmud Torah for Women—Where Is It Going? Read More »
In January 1996, a group of seven women gathered to discuss the bleak situation facing religious women in Israel. They were brought together by a common sense of distress about what they considered the degrading treatment of women and women’s complete exclusion from all leadership positions within the religious community. The group was made up
Kolech—Your Voice: The Voice of Religious Feminism in Israel Read More »
Using the tools and methodology of qualitative sociological research, Yael Israel-Cohen plumbs the religious identities, strategies for effecting change, and aspirations for the future of fortyfive Israeli Orthodox feminists. Her interviewees are our Israeli sisters (and brothers, as some pro-feminist men are included) who are on the cutting edge of Modern Orthodoxy— in Kolech, Kehillat
It is incredibly easy to start a group on Facebook. A few clicks of the mouse, a name and an icon, maybe a picture selected for the top of the page, and there you have it. I did this myself one night, upon the realization that I had a few friends with similar interests, and
Emerging Voices: Teen Feminists Find Facebook Read More »
A crisp fall morning. A march of beautiful, resonating voices. Joyous celebratory dancing. Tears; tears of both simchah and longing for more. One Torah reading by women, for women. For the first time ever, this year my shul held a for-women-by-women Torah reading for Simchat Torah. Practicing with the Torah the day before yom tov,
Emerging Voices: One Small Step for a Feminist, One Giant Leap for Womankind Read More »
“From Zion will go forth Torah” (Isaiah 2:3). Today, a new kind of Torah—women’s Torah—is coming out of Israel from an impressive array of high-level batei midrash (study halls) for women. Over the course of Jewish history, only a handful of women have been cited as interpreting Jewish law. The daughters of Zelophehad, who requested
Manhigot: Models of Women’s Torah Leadership in Israel Read More »
