Orthodox Jewish Feminism: Developing the Next Generation of Jewish Leadership

A few weeks ago, Gital Dodelson brought the plight of agunot – Jewish woman chained to recalcitrant husbands who refuse to give them a “get,” or a legal Jewish divorce – to the national forefront by sharing her personal account in the New York Post. Her ex-husband, Avrohom Meir Weiss, is acting in defiance of the legacy of his great-grandfather, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the foremost rabbinic authority of this generation, who “was a major champion of agunot, and convinced many husbands to give their wives a get in his day,” says Ms. Dodelson. Since then, the issue has been covered in Newsweek, and has gone viral through the Facebook page "Free Gital: Tell Avrohom Meir Weiss to Give His Wife a "Get," which to date has more than 13,500 likes.

The issue of agunot is fiercely debated in the Jewish world. Why are women still allowed to be held hostage by their recalcitrant, often abusive ex-husbands? Why hasn’t the rabbinic leadership taken any definitive measures to change the laws that keep these women indefinitely imprisoned in a destructive relationship?

Issues like the predicament of agunot; the controversial ordination of Maharats (Manhiga Hilkhatit Rukhanit Toranit, or “teacher of Jewish law and spirituality”); of women taking active leadership roles in tefillah and throughout the Jewish community -- these not only affect Jewish women but the entire Jewish community. That is why they are discussed openly and respectfully at Beth Tfiloh Dahan HS. And that is why several members of the BT faculty and student body are tackling these and other topics at the educators’ track at the upcoming Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance’s conference, taking place Dec. 7 and 8.

BT Director of Education Mrs. Zipora Schorr will share best practices in gender education in a Jewish day school setting, offering insight into how Beth Tfiloh addresses feminist concerns that arise in various aspects of school life, including classroom management, teaching problematic texts, working in a diverse community, and extracurricular activities.

“Leadership is the way our girls demonstrate their sense that they matter – that they are central to the life of the school,” comments Mrs. Schorr.

Those opportunities for leadership –for mattering—are available to girls at BT because of the school’s leadership and the open environment that they’ve created. Notes Mrs. Laura Frank, BT Jewish History Department Chair, “At Beth Tfiloh, Mrs. Schorr and the school’s dean, Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, not only allow but encourage teachers to explore Jewish issues from all angles with our students. Using critical thinking and analysis, we examine truisms in the Jewish world while maintaining a high level of fidelity and kavod – respect – to the masoret – Jewish tradition."

High School Principal Rabbi Aaron Frank will deliver the educational track’s keynote plenary address, “Stretching the Walls of the Schoolhouse: a Quest for Broad and Transcendent Feminism in Education,” which will explore employing “a feminist lens in our school policies and school life, while remaining open to the ongoing evolution of what feminism means.” Comments Rabbi Frank, “The values of derech eretz and b’tzelem elokim, are at the core of Beth Tfiloh’s mission. From our two year olds up through our seniors, their daily learning – both of Judaic and secular subjects – is infused with a love of Torah, of G-d and of humanity. Feminism isn’t just about “girl power” – it’s about “person power” – recognizing that our girls are just as intelligent, just as capable, just as talented as our boys. It’s about offering them the same opportunities and advantages that our boys enjoy, and creating a nurturing, respectful environment where no question is off limits, where dialogue about the meaning of feminism – and many other challenging topics – are answered and discussed openly.” He continues, “That culture of openness and exploration, respect and love of Jewish life – that is very much what JOFA is about.”

Mrs. Frank will participate in a session about the gap year in Israel. While there are many moderate Jewish day schools in the US, many of the seminaries and yeshivot in Israel promote very different ideologies and perspectives on Jewish life and observance, creating a strong disconnect for alumnae of modern Orthodox day schools between their formative educational years and their college experiences upon their return from Israel.

Beth Tfiloh Dahan High School junior, Helyn S. '15, will also participate in the JOFA conference. Helyn, who founded Winyan (Women + Minyan) at BT “in hopes of establishing a secular and Jewish feminist platform for BT students,” notes that she is drawn to Jewish feminism because “I love my religion and my culture and want to give back to my people in an active way.”

Helyn’s activism extends beyond the halls of BT; she expresses her feeling about Jewish feminism on numerous blogs, including JOFA’s as well as her own, serves on JOFA’s teen council, speaks at her own shul, Ner Tamid, and has been published locally in the Baltimore Jewish Times.

“I realize that I am very lucky to have Rabbi Frank as principal and Mrs. Frank as one of my teachers and mentors. No teacher has ever approached me or argued with me over the existence of such a club or such beliefs,” shares Helyn, who is looking forward to exploring her beliefs not only with her peers, but also luminaries in the Jewish feminist world at the upcoming conference.

“I know I will find kindred spirits and meet some Jewish feminist “celebrities” such as Blu Greenberg, Rabbi Steven Greenberg, Rabba Sara Hurwitz, and the three Maharot,” says Steppa. “I plan to major in Jewish Women’s and Gender studies and JOFA exemplifies exactly what I want to do with my life. I’m especially excited to learn more about Jewish relationships and sexuality, delve into feminist issues in tefillah, and learn more about finding a feminist seminary for my gap year in Israel. All in all, this conference represents me and all I believe in; I know I will leave feeling spiritually and intellectually elevated. I mean, there’s a poetry slam AND a kumsitz—it doesn’t get better than that.”