JOFA’s Sixth International Conference on Feminism & Orthodoxy took place on February 10th and 11th at Columbia University. The conference, entitled, V’Chai Bahem: Passion and Possibility, also marked the celebration of JOFA’s 10th anniversary. Attended by close to a thousand women and men, this year’s gathering was filled with an energy and excitement that was echoed by the bright location of Columbia University’s Alfred Lerner Hall, as well as by an influx of new participants of all ages and a desire to celebrate everything that JOFA has accomplished in its first ten years.
The celebration began on Saturday night at Columbia’s Low Rotunda with a wine-and-cheese reception, after which attendees were invited to eavesdrop on “Uncensored”, a conversation between two of the Jewish community’s most controversial figures, Michael Steinhardt and Dr. Phyllis Chesler. Moderated by Dr. Adena Berkowitz, each speaker brought his or her own personal perspective and agenda to bear on the challenges facing the Jewish community at large and on JOFA in particular, as we embark on our next ten years.
On Sunday morning, the exploration of passion and its possibilities began in earnest. The theme of the conference was chosen to highlight the belief that feminism can lead to more passionate observance and reveal new possibilities for engagement and inspiration for both men and women. After morning services (both traditional and partnership-style minyanim were offered), Dr. Norma Baumel Joseph delivered the opening plenary address. She discussed what it means to say “I am a Jewish Orthodox Feminist” and explored the many different ways in which that nomenclature has been used and interpreted. She then moderated a discussion between Blu Greenberg and Dr. Tova Hartman on the conference’s theme.
The day continued with sessions ranging from discussions on how to develop meaningful prayer communities with Rabbi Dr. Elie Holzer of Israel, to how to develop a healthy Jewish sex ethic with Sara Hurwitz and Bat Sheva Marcus. A prominent new feature of this year’s conference was the development of an “Agunah Hour”—one hour during which all sessions were devoted to topics related to iggun. Included in this hour were discussions of the Tri-Partite Agreement and the cancelled global Rabbinic Conference on Agunot in Israel. Presenters included Sharon Shenhav, Susan Weiss, Rachel Levmore, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, and Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari. Other new features of this year’s conference included the development of a parallel track for high-school students, a “screening room” devoted to showing relevant and controversial films from Israel throughout the course of the day, and lunch discussion groups that allowed people to network informally on topics that mattered to them, such as the gay community, life after 60, living in a small community, and partnership minyanim.
In the afternoon, after a set of workshops, participants chose one of three forums that focused on the key arenas that Orthodox feminism seeks to invigorate—the Modern Orthodox home, school, and synagogue. The first addressed the delicate balancing act faced by feminist families in Modern Orthodox communities. The second forum investigated the “Hidden Curriculum,” the unspoken, yet palpable lessons our children are taught in Modern Orthodox day schools about their Jewish roles and identities. The third forum presented a discussion and exploration of new models of halakhic authority among traditional rabbinic figures, as well as among women who have assumed innovative positions in their communities.
In place of the usual closing plenary, JOFA commissioned a cantata to celebrate its ten years of existence. Monologues written and read by JOFA leaders were punctuated by the beautiful voices and arrangements of the Zamir Chorale, under the inspiring leadership of Matthew Lazar. Words and music combined to pay a tribute that was both uplifting and moving. The conference closed with participants dancing, as if at a simcha.
The overall feeling at the conference was incredibly positive and all participants were energized. Although there was a strong undercurrent of frustration that so little had been accomplished in the last ten years toward solving the plight of the agunah, many presenters during the course of the day made forceful calls to action on this issue. The conference saw the launching of JOFA’s agunah petition, which culminated in the remarkable six-page ad in the New York Jewish Week only two weeks later.
The goal of the program committee in developing the theme of this year’s conference was for participants to leave feeling empowered and impassioned, armed with the tools to effect real changes and to encourage positive developments in their own communities and personal lives. It is our hope that we accomplished this goal.