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 the Other Side of the Mechitzah”, and all of its contributors are male. They include rabbis, scholars and laypeople who are all advocates of increasing the participation of Orthodox women in study, prayer and in public religious life. We have deliberately included the views of some who have reservations or criticisms regarding certain directions the Orthodox feminist movement has taken. We expect this issue to stimulate much thought regarding the goals and strategies of Orthodox feminism, and we invite reader responses, which we hope to publish as a supplement to the next JOFA Journal.
With this issue, we wish to extend a “Yasher koach” to all Orthodox feminists on the other side of the mechitzah.
The Editors