JOFA's Torch
The Torch explores gender and religion in the Jewish community. Named for Deborah the Prophetess, “the woman of torches,” the blog highlights the passion and fiery leadership of Jewish feminists, while evoking the powerful image of feminists “passing the torch” to a new generation. Disclaimer: All posts are contributed by third party authors. JOFA does not assume responsibility for the facts and opinions presented in them.
The Quiet Greatness of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein: One Woman Remembers
Tucked away, among a pile of folders and spiral notebooks that contain the photocopied sources and notes of classes gone ...
Modesty – How Everyone Gets It Wrong, and Why We Need to Get it Right
The use of tzniut, modesty, as a cudgel against Jewish women has been well documented in the JOFA Journal, conferences, ...
A Shabbat of Learning, Prayer, and Growth at UPenn
This summer, I had the privilege of attending a conference about Partnership Minyanim, hosted by Shira Hadasha in Jerusalem. I ...
What!? You Mean Women Can Actually Study Talmud?
Memories of the film, Yentl, came to mind when a number of highly Jewishly educated women invited me to join ...
Sex and Modern Orthodox Singles: Between Halakha and Reality
I was a Girl Scout for ten years, from 3rd-12th grade. I learned how to start a fire, cook for ...
Let’s Talk About Orthodox Conversion
I completed my Orthodox conversion with the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) in 2011. My process was an incredibly positive ...
Marching for My Mom, the Agunah
Last Sunday, March 22nd, a march was held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY in order to raise awareness of the ...
Megillah, Matzah, and Equality
This is an exciting time of the year to be an observant Jew. The religious momentum in the months of ...
Can Modesty Be A Feminist Choice?
By the time I finally bought my first bikini, I was sixteen years old. As a chubby kid who had ...
The Maternity Leave Mitzvah
The details may vary from patient to patient, but the scenario is usually the same. A mother and newborn baby ...