Faith and Practice

Mandalas at the Mikveh

By Rabbi Haviva Ner-David

There is a strong tradition of writing intentions for mikveh immersion. Why not write one’s intention not merely in words, but in the form of a mandala or Shiviti? And so I found myself one winter evening with a circle of women around a table with a single candle, drawing paper, and various drawing and painting implements.

Arts and Culture

Feminist Art in Traditional and Religious Judaism

By David Sperber

Jewish feminist art by women active in the traditional religious world is still a marginal phenomenon in the general art world and in the Israeli art field in particular. This article, together with the first major exhibit in a museum to exhibit such work, “Matronita: Jewish Feminist Art” (The Museum of Art Ein Harod) invites a reflection on the complexities of the feminist Jewish religious experience. David Sperber, one of the curators of the exhibition (with Dvora Liss), here reviews the artistic horizons of this fascinating dialogue.

God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality | Boston

By Zeek

Harvard University Hillel
Thursday, March 29, 7 pm
52 Mount Auburn Street

Arts and Culture

Love, Hate & the Jewish State 5.0: Gender Discrimination in Israel

By Zeek

Congregation Beth Elohim, 7–10 pm
274 Garfield Place, Brooklyn, NY

Join us for the fifth in a series of highly interactive, non-persuasive, non-political discussions with a diverse group of people in their 20s and 30s.

Faith and Practice

Why Liberal Jews Should Read an Orthodox Social Justice Book

By Rabbi Margie Klein Ronkin

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz’s new book, Jewish Ethics and Social Justice is a must-read for Orthodox Jews interested in social justice. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them — yet. But liberal Jews should read it too.

Faith and Practice

A Blessing over Progesterone

By Joy Ladin

Every day I say a blessing in Hebrew over my medication: “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who has kept us, preserved us, and brought us to this time.”

Arts and Culture

Wrestling with Esther: Purim Spiels, Gender, and Political Dissidence

By Emily Nepon

Modern Purim celebrations use the traditional play as a vehicle for popular education around a broad range of issues by playing with the iconic roles typified by the Megilla’s characters: good girl, bad girl, stupid king, valiant citizen, evil politician. These traditional players can easily and informatively be mixed up with any combination of modern kings, s/heroes, insider/outsider activists, popular resistance movements, and evildoers-ex-machina.

Arts and Culture

Polyartist: An Interview with Richard Kostelanetz

By Rabbi Rachel Barenblat

There may not be a causal relationship between Jewishness and an avant-garde sensibility, but Jewish communities have given rise to some terrific avant-garde work. Or maybe Jews just tend to be comfortable outside the mainstream, which is often where the most interesting creative work flourishes and finds its home.

Events

CHAIku Poetry Performance

By Jay Michaelson

Next@19th, 9 pm
Miami, FL

Join Next@19th’s CHAIku program, featuring Jay’s ecstatic and energetic queer Jewish poetry (and music). Bring your own 17-syllable celebrations of queer Jewish experience to share.