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.

On Being Stuck in Traffic with a Full Minivan

In 2013, I gathered together seven friends from my community to attend the JOFA Conference.  We clambered into my Toyota ...

Meditation and Medication

Judaism is not just a religion based on commandments and laws. Practicing Judaism and knowledge of Jewish Philosophy gives us ...

Spiritual Medicine

Jewish sages decided that intense mourning time should be seven days only.

Refuat HaNefesh: Perspectives on Mental Health in the Orthodox Community

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans suffers from a mental illness each year. And no, that’s not just a general statistic; ...

The Illness You Will Not See

By writing this anonymously, I am perpetuating the very same stigma about which I write. Yet I promised my family. ...

That Time the Lulav Made Me Cry

I love the holiday season – I even love a three day yontif (yom tov, or holiday).  With the exception ...

Reflections on Liturgy of the High Holy Days

We spent the whole morning of prayers during the High Holidays on our pleas for forgiveness from God, and our ...

Birthday Wishes

Happy birthday world Hayom Harat Olam Congratulations On making it another year, On faking it another year Like they earned ...

One Small Sound for Women, One Large Blast for Womankind.

On the first day of Rosh Hashana I was invited to call the kolot (sounds) for the shofar. I must ...

Stories My Mother Never Told: My Bat Mitzvah Speech

“Stories My Mother Never Told” is a three-part blog series dedicated to re-envisioning what it can mean for parents and ...