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.

Stories My Mother Never Told: Learning to Lein

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

Stories My Mother Never Told: Leading A Zimmun

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

When Mercy Seasons Justice

A Daniel come to judgement! yea, a Daniel! The Merchant of Venice, IV.i.218Shylock’s triumphant interjection is an overt, if ironic, ...

Paying The Price For Being Single

In 2001, at the age of 52, I went from being Single and Orthodox to Married and (still) Orthodox. That ...

Elul-Leigh County Women

“I don’t want your Paradise, I don’t want your World to Come, I want only You—You alone.” —Rabbi Schneur Zalman ...

Passing the Torch

My thoughts of late – perhaps provoked rather than inspired – have been about women. Specifically, women in the military. ...

From Rehem to Rahamim

The surest way to evaluate a society’s achievement at creating a system that is equitable to all is to examine ...

(Outside) The Gates Of Prayer

On Shabbat, the 2nd of Av, about a week before Jews across the world fasted to mourn the destruction of ...

The Halakhic Prenup: Embracing Religious Tension

I spent the last two years learning in a beit midrash (Jewish hall of study) in Israel. My beit midrash ...

“I Thou” Parenting

My middle kid, Shir, just turned four. This morning, I came into his room to find him naked and tantrumming ...