JOFA launched its first-ever Middle School Track at its 2010 Conference, providing an opportunity for male and female students to engage openly with topics central to their Jewish lives. The twenty-seven participants came from fourteen schools.
The guiding themes of the day were authority and empowerment. The conversation began with questions like: Who influences the decisions we make? What happens when different sources of authority in our lives guide us in different or even conflicting directions? How do we go about making choices that are different from the ones set out for us?
The day continued with a session about tzniut as a concept above and beyond school dress codes for girls. The participants thought about the considerations involved in making a school dress code and what a dress code they created themselves might look like. Aaron Steinberg, representing Moving Traditions, led a session that addressed finding and listening to your inner voice, as well as the importance of occasionally “unplugging” and reveling in silence.
Dyonna Ginsburg of Bema’aglei Tzedek had made reservations for the participants at the best “mock” restaurants in town! The students had to decide where to eat, but tasty food was not the only criterion. They also had to consider how the restaurant staff was treated and paid and whether the restaurant paid its taxes. Dyonna introduced the students to ethical seals for kosher restaurants such as the Tav Chevrati of her organization in Israel and the Tav Hayosher of Uri L’Tzedek in America. Everyone was eager to see which of their favorite restaurants bear these certifications and offered to help bring the symbols to their respective communities.
Daniel Rothner of Areyvut (Editor’s note: See his article in this issue) led the lunch session on “social action in action.” The students came up with ideas and outlined action plans to help their various communities. Wendy Amsellem, director of the Dr. Beth Samuels High School Program at the Drisha Institute, taught the final session. Several parents of participants joined in to learn about the education of Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, a Jewishly illiterate man who burned with the desire to study Torah. They explored Eliezer’s decision-making process and how he navigated thorny familial issues to become one of the great scholars of the Mishnaic period.
The highlight of the day was the “Ask the Rabba” session with Rabba Sara Hurwitz. For many participants it was their first time hearing about Rabba Hurwitz, and they responded with openness, honesty, sincerity, and curiosity. Questions ranged from the practical (Should women wear short sleeves?) to the theological (Do you think Hashem wants women to be rabbis?). The students and parents were captivated by Rabba Hurwitz’s thoughtful, graceful answers.
A month after the JOFA Conference, two middle school students from different states who met at the gathering wrote a joint letter to the Rabbinical Council of America in support of Rabba Hurwitz. They wrote, “We are two 13-year-old Jewish girls who heard Rabba Hurwitz speak, and were extremely moved by her cause… As young Jewish women, we find it exceedingly important that women play roles in clergy and Jewish Orthodoxy, so they can be our role models.”
Overall the middle school track was a great success. Feedback from the participants was positive and inspiring and included the following comments:
- “I really enjoyed the talk about tzniut, but even more than that, I thought that it was super interesting to meet other kids and hear their take on events.”
- “I especially loved the Rabba session, but I would have preferred it to be longer.”
- “I really liked the shiur on tzniut and the “Ask the Rabba” session. They were gr8!!! I took lots of notes!”