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Jofa Journal

Unity: Aḥeinu v’Aḥoteinu Kol Beit Yisrael Jofa Journal Fall 2024

The latest edition of the Jofa Journal, which features thoughtful reflections and perspectives on our work, is available here. To see previous issues, visit our Jofa Journal page.

Rabbanit Leah Sarna

Rabbanit Sarna is an award-winning Jewish educator who is passionate about building intergenerational community around Torah and Mitzvot. She also currently serves as a member of the faculty at the Drisha ...

Rabbanit Tanya Farber

Rabbanit Tanya Farber is a Torah teacher with many years of experience teaching students of all ages, from kids to adults! Reb Tanya also worked for a decade with adults with developmental disabilities. She is ...

Rabbanit Mindy Schwartz Zolty

Rabbanit Mindy Schwartz Zolty is Rabbanit at Congregation Ramath Orah on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Mindy received a masters in Biblical and Talmudic Interpretation from the Graduate Program ...

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Project Ruth ~ Resources for Shavuot 5784/2024

To help enhance your participation and learning for Shavuot, check out Jofa’s Megillat Ruth & Shavuot Resources, including: Excellent recordings of both Megillat Ruth and the trope, accessible both online and via downloadable Apple app ...

holidayspurimresources

Purim Resources 5784/2024

Purim is just around the corner — Saturday night and Sunday, March 23-24! Please take a moment to complete this form if you know of a women’s Megillat Esther reading taking place in ...

Dina BrawerHanukkahShema Bekolah

Hanukkah: A Lesson in Fixed Spontaneity

By Dina Brawer [1] Imagine the elation felt by the Hasmoneans who recaptured the Temple and their jubilant euphoria when their frantic search produced a small jar of pure oil. ...

Channa Lockshin BobHanukkahShema Bekolah

Hanukah: The People’s Holiday

By Channa Lockshin Bob[1] Many cultures celebrate a midwinter holiday. In fact, many of these holidays are celebrated through candles and food. While Hanukah was only celebrated from post-Biblical times ...

High HolidaysShema BekolahShemini AtzeretSimchat TorahSukkotTorah

Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah

With many thanks to Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe, Jofa has resources to help you learn to leyn Megillat Kohelet for Shabbat Sukkot, or V’zot HaBracha for Simchat Torah. If you need ...

Daphne Lazar PriceJofaJournal Fall 2023

Jofa: The Next 25 Years

F R O M O U R E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R By Daphne Lazar Price In 1997 ...

agunotjewish divorce

Jofa Statement on New Jersey Legal Decision Supporting Agunah’s Free Speech

September 6, 2023 Background: Several organizations participated as friends-of-the-court. The ACLU of New Jersey, the ACLU, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, Sanctuary for Families, and Unchained at Last filed a ...

As we Turn Toward Elul,
Let’s Find Our Strengths
by Evonne Marzouk

This coming week is the reading of Parshat Shoftim, the first parsha of the month of Elul. It is a month, of course, associated with teshuva (return) in preparation for ...

agunotjewish divorce

The Agunah Crisis and the Courts:
New Attempt to Solve an Old Problem
By Anna Urowitz-Freudenstein

The complicated details of Jewish divorce are based on only two verses in the Torah (Deut. 24:1-2 – They are in this week’s Torah reading, Parashat Ki Teitzei). Clearly the ...

reproductive justice; reproductive freedom; religious freedom; abortion; reproductive rights

One Year Later: Reflections on the Dobbs Decision and What Remains at Stake
By Daphne Lazar Price

As we near the one year anniversary of the Dobbs decision – which overturned federal constitutional protections of privacy and abortion rights that have stood since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision – ...