In the Torah, women are major players whose actions often chart the paths of Jewish destiny. Beginning with Eve and then Lot’s daughters, followed by Sarah, Hagar, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Tamar, Yocheved, Miriam, Zipporah, and many others, each can be said to have affected the course of our history. But when we leave the biblical […]
Pirkei Imahot The Jewish Women’s Reclamation Project Read More »
Each time allegations of sexual abuse surface in the Jewish community I find that neither surprise nor shock are among the emotions I experience. While they may appear aberrant, cases of sexual abuse stem from negative attitudes towards women’s bodies that have existed widely in society and culture. These attitudes are subtle, yet pervasive, insinuating
Thanking God Who Has Made Me a Woman… Read More »
At a time in history when women lead multi-billion dollar companies, adjudicate on the Supreme Court, and have held the highest political office in many countries, it is perhaps surprising that more Orthodox women are not taking leadership roles in Jewish organizations. Could this be a function of the psychological mindset of Orthodox women or
Women in Leadership Positions Read More »
The shift in the Orthodox Jewish world toward greater stringency in halakhic interpretation and observance is obvious. The effect of this shift on Orthodox Jewish women is not obvious, and merits attention. Increasingly, stringency in religious observance has been equated with stringency regarding women. Increasingly, Orthodox communities have chosen to measure their religiosity by how
The traditions of the Jewish wedding ceremony are infused with halakhic and symbolic meaning. As my husband, Barry, and I were planning our wedding, we wanted to preserve this meaning, but we were concerned that our personal voices not get lost in the halakhic requirements. Because our wedding would be the first moments of our
A Marriage of Equals: In Her Voice Read More »
Introduction The piyyut (liturgical hymn) Va-Yehi ba-Hazi ha-Lailah (It Was in the Middle of the Night), sung at the seder on the first night, was composed by the classic liturgical poet Yannai, whom scholars date to the 6th to 7th centuries. The piyyut refers to events that occurred at various times in Jewish history on
ויהי החצי הלילה • It Was in the Middle of the Night Additional Stanzas Concerning Women Read More »
Two women bridge the stories of Genesis with that of the Exodus. Both women are involved in the birth of the nation and its redemption. They are Yocheved and Serah bat Asher. Both are granddaughters of Jacob; both are identified in different sources as the seventieth member of the family of Jacob to go down
Yocheved and Serah bat Asher Read More »
The invitation to write “From the Other Side of the Mechitzah” is an opportunity to observe and yet remain apart, to be involved in a discussion and yet not be a full participant. Paradoxically, the view from the “other side” is sometimes simultaneously clearer and yet more clouded. And this is true no matter from
Conscientious Consciousness Read More »
My mother, Judith Kaufman Hurwich, would often say, “There are two kinds of Jews—those who are serious, and those who are not” What she meant by “serious Jews” were those whose Jewishness is not a separate thread of their existence, but, rather, is central to their identity and a significant facet of all they do.
The recent proliferation of educated female Orthodox scholars and professionals has brought the halakhic issue of women in leadership positions to the forefront. Women hold high level positions of responsibility in every possible business and profession, are CEOs of their companies, and yet Orthodox Jewish society is slow to accept them as presidents of synagogues.
A King…and Not a Queen Read More »
