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.
Pounding on the Gates of Heaven
We have much to lift our spirits and much to concern us in the attention paid to young women laying ...
Leyning In
Two summers ago I was having a relaxed conversation with Judy Heicklen, the president of JOFA. She mentioned to me ...
Singing is a Mitzvah
I have been hiding from the audience my entire life. I am not sure if this is because I have ...
Let’s Get The Conversation Started: LGBT Jews and Orthodox Communities
On Keshet, an anonymous group of parents reflects on their difficult journeys accepting their children—and the challenges their communities pose. ...
The Power of Allies
The excitement in the halls was palpable. Was the enthusiasm because of the record-breaking number of attendees (1,000), the new venue ...
Challenge: Give Voice to Esther
I’ve always really liked Purim. When I was younger, my main interest in the holiday was dressing up in fun ...
Confessions of the Tehillim Lady: Further Reflections on Learning How to Pray
This post references various parts of the morning prayer services, or Shacharit. For an overview of the parts of that ...
The Unexpected Gems I Found in Megillat Esther
I could never have anticipated the impact that reading Perek Daled (chapter four) of Megillat Esther would have on my ...
The Secret Garden
Reading the Torah has always fascinated me. I grew up in a home of leyners (readers of Torah, traditionally men) ...
Learning and Re-Learning How to Leyn
This blog post was written shortly after Purim 2013. If you’re reading megillah this year and need help learning the ...