Awesome Historical Jewish Women, and Rituals We’d Like to Create or Destroy
This month on the podcast we’re talking about awesome historical Jewish women that we didn’t learn about when we were kids. And we’re going to talk about Jewish rituals that we wish existed, and ones we could do without.
Further reading
Awesome Jewish women in history
Take the Prominent Jewish Women in History quiz from MyJewishLearning.com.
Regina Jonas, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi who died in the Holocaust
Short film: In the footsteps of Regina Jonas
Ray Frank’s Yom Kippur sermon, 1890
Justine Wise Polier is dead; A judge and child advocate, by Edward Hudson in the New York Times
Rituals we love, hate, want to exist, and would do away with
Endorsements
Zahava recommends the Jewish Women’s Archive, and the poem called Ba’al Teshuvas at the Mikvah by Yehoshua November.
Mimi recommends The Meyerowitz Stories, and the Heavyweight podcast, specifically the episodes Buzz and Jeremy.
Tamar recommends the song What the Hell is Simchas Torah by Jewnmongous, aka Sean Altman.
If All the Seas Were Ink and How Parenting Changes Our Jewish Practice
This month on the podcast we’re talking about If All the Seas Were Ink by Ilana Kurshan, and we’ll be speaking with Ilana. And for our second segment we’re talking about how parenting can/should change your Jewish practice.
Further reading
If All the Seas Were Ink
Ilana recommends the Dafyomi4women podcast, as well as A Bride for One Night by Ruth Calderon, Maggie Anton‘s books, and a new book by Dr. Ruhama Weiss, in Hebrew, called Yalta.
Religious changes while parenting
Finding God in a Hot Slice of Pizza by Tova Mervis in the New York Times
Shpitzle’s Secret, an episode of the Longest Shortest Time
Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, a wife concluding that she’s a lesbian, and child custody, by Eugene Volokh in the Washington Post
Endorsements
Yael recommends the food, particularly the tahina shakes at Goldie, a kosher restaurant in Philadelphia.
Zahava recommends that everyone know that Rav Shlomo Aviner says that it’s prohibited to using the praying hands emoji because that’s idol worship. She also recommends an amazing video of the Chief Cantor of the IDF (apparently a real job) singing Unetaneh Tokef.
Tamar recommends the book 100 First Songs, a book and CD collection of classic Israeli children’s music. There is also a youtube version, which is less good.
Menashe and Biblical fiction
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Menashe, a new film about a single Hasidic father in Brooklyn, shot entirely in Yiddish. And for our second segment we’ll be talking about Biblical fiction–from The Red Tent to…everything else. Have these books helped or changed our thinking or understanding of the Bible?
Further reading
Menashe
Biblical Fiction
The Gilded Chamber by Rebecca Kohn
Rashi’s Daughters Book 1 by Maggie Anton
Good for the Jews by Debra Spark
Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Of the Books by Tamar Fox in Tablet (about my Christian fiction book club)
Endorsements
Mimi recommends talking to your white friends about what happened in Charlottesville, and talking about how to identify white supremacy and what it has done in our lives, and the episode of It’s Been a Minute where Sam Sanders talks to white people about Charlottesville.
Zahava recommends Mazel by Rebecca Goldstein.
Tamar recommends the blog Tales Out of Bais Yaakov, and Notes on Frump: A style for the Rest of Us by Emma Copley Eisenberg in alma.
Mixed seating on El Al, and Jewish Senior Services
This month on the podcast we’re talking mixed seating on El Al flights to and from Israel. The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that El Al employees cannot ask women to move in order to please Haredi men. And for our second segment we’ll be talking about older adults in the Jewish community–how is the Jewish community serving or not serving this demographic.
Further reading
El Al
Israeli Woman Who Sued El Al for Sexism Wins Landmark Ruling by Isabel Kershner in the New York Times
Israeli Judge Says Airlines Can’t Resear Woman At Request of Men by Larel Wamsley for NPR
El Al CEO on Haredi Seat Switching: ‘This happens on Every AIrline’ by Amy Spiro in the Jerusalem Post
El Al Petition Seeks to End Gender Discrimination by Stephanie Butnick in Tablet
New York – El Al Found Guilty Of Discrimination For Reseating Woman To Accommodate Male Passenger by Sandy Eller in Vos iz Neias
Jewish older adults
The Jewish Senior Homes That Aren’t (Anymore) by Nathan Guttman in the Forward
Being With People Like You Offers Comfort Against Death’s Chill by Lulu Miller for NPR
Exploring Senior Living Niches: Jewish Retirement Communities by Alyssa Gerce in Senior Housing News
Elderly Jews: An Increasing Priority for the American Jewish Community? by Professor Ira M. Sheskin in the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Endorsements
Mimi recommends contacting your local Jewish social services agency and asking how you can volunteer to help some older adults.
Zahava recommends The Women’s Balcony, a film by Shlomit Nehama and Emil Ben-Shimon
Tamar recommends The Ohel, a video about visiting the grade of the Lubavitcher rebbe, and donating to the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society.
Choosing to be Childfree, and Band Aid
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the choice to be childfree, with writer Chanel Dubofsky. In our second segment we’re talking about the film Band Aid with the film’s director and co-star Zoe Lister-Jones.
Further reading
Choosing to be Childfree
No Kids, No Regrets by Esti Ahronovitz in Haaretz
An Open Letter to Sarah Silverman by Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt in the Jewish Press
Low-Touch Parenting by Tamar Fox in Lilith Magazine
Regretting Motherhood: A Study by Orna Donath
The Pros and Cons of Having an Only Child by Avital Norman Nachman on Kveller
Band Aid
Band Aid trailer
Zoe Lister-Jones made ‘Band Aid’ with an all-female crew. Your move, Hollywood by Amy Kaufman in the LA Times
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Nechama Leibowitz’s Studies in the Weekly Parasha.
Tamar recommends Holy by Jamila Woods
Planning a wedding, and Jewish Millennials
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Jewish weddings–how can/should we create Jewish wedding rituals that are interesting, relevant, and/or feminist? And for our second segment we’re talking about a divisive piece in Jewish Currents called, A Taxonomy of Stupid Shit the Jewish Establishment Says to Millennials by David A.M. Wilenksy and Gabriel T Erbs.
Further reading
Weddings
A Jewish Woman’s Prayer Book edited by Aliza Lavie
Jewish millennials
A Taxonomy of Stupid Shit the Jewish establishment says to millennials by David A.M. Wilenksy and Gabriel T Erbs
Endorsements
Mimi recommends the The Handmaid’s Tale, and learning with your partner.
Zahava recommends The book I recommended: בקרוב אצלכם הזמנות לחתונה מארץ ישראל תחיה ספיר מוזיאון מישראל
And she also recommends keeping an eye on this Supreme Court case. Here’s a good article on its implications for school vouchers.
Tamar recommends the MyZmanim omer counting reminder emails, and the West Wing Weekly podcast, specifically Joshua Malina’s Jewish riffs.
Rabbi Wolff, and Feminism at the Seder
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Rabbi Wolff, a documentary about a German/British Reform rabbi, and then we’ll be sharing some of our favorite insights from the haggadah.
Further reading
Rabbi Wolff
Rabbi Wolff, a Gentleman Before God, trailer
This 90-year-old German rabbi is now a movie star by Toby Axelrod in JTA
Feminism at the seder
Organizing a Feminist Seder: Oranges, Miriam’s Cup, and More Ideas For Passover by Erika Owen in Bustle
Beyonceder, a tumblr by Amy Schiller
Ask a Grown-up from This American Life.
Inclusive fruits for reactionary timesby Jordana Horn in the UPenn Gazette
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Fault Lines/a> a new podcast about Israel from the Forward.
Mimi recommends the new podcast S-Town, and Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.
Tamar recommends a version of Ki Lo Naeh that she was taught by her mother. Listen to a version of it on Youtube.
Bomb Threats at JCCs and Queen Esther Beauty Pageants
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the bomb threats to JCCs, and Queen Esther beauty pageants–a fascinating, inclusive and problematic chapter in Zionist history.
Further reading
JCC Bomb threats
Bomb Threats to Jewish Community Centers and Organizations By Ken Schwencke and Al Shaw, for ProPublica
All 100 senators urge swift action to stop threats against Jewish facilities By Ted Barrett, for CNN
Queen Esther beauty pageants
Teaching Megillat Esther by Deborah Kalpper in the Times of Israel
From Passive to Active- Esther as a Role Model by Atara Segal for The Eden Center
Searching for Hebrew Beauty: The Queen Esther Competitions, 1926–1929 by Nina S. Spiegel
A Cinderella Story
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Remember That We Suffered from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on CW.
Mimi recommends the old TV show Kings, which aired on NBC in 2009, and the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Tamar recommends the book The Fortunate Ones by Ellen Umansky, and the niggunim of Joey Weisenberg, in particular Lincoln’s Nign.
There Are Jews Here and the Immigration & Refugee Ban
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the documentary There are Jews here, by filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein, and the recent Executive Order banning people from seven countries from coming into the US.
Further reading
There Are Jews Here
There Are Jews Here film website
Trailer
Room for Jews by Jesse Bernstein in Tablet
More Jews Than History Here by Michael Jacobs in the Atlanta Jewish Times
Refugee Ban
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and Rabbinical Council of America Respond to Executive Order
Statement of Agudath Israel On President Trump’s Executive Immigration Order
IRF Statement on Executive Order Concerning Entrance to the United States from Muslim-Majority Nations
ADL Strongly Condemns President Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration and Refugees
AJC Statement on Trumpt Administration Refugee Policy
HIAS Outraged by Executive Order Suspending Refugee Resettlement Program
Endorsements
Mimi recommends the West Wing episode Take This Sabbath Day and the source sheet Is One Permitted to Punch a White Supremacist in the Face?, compiled by Rabbi Joshua Bolton.
Zahava recommends the letters from Values and Voices.
Tamar recommends The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, and The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears.
Jerusalem and Sufganiyot
This week on the podcast we’re talking about Jerusalem (the exhibit at the Met, and the City), and sufganiyot.
Further reading
Jerusalem
Jerusalem: 1000-1400 Every People Under Heaven at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the audio guide
Christian Monks Square Off at One of Jerusalem’s Holiest Sites by Nina Strochlic at The Daily Beast
Armenian and Greek Monks Fight in Jerusalem (video from MSNBC)
Maccabeats sing Im Eshkachech at Batsheva and Jeff’s wedding
Visit the Mifletzet
Zahava recommends spending Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem
Sufganiyot
Zahava made Apple Cider Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Doughnuts) with salted caramel filling from Chowhound but she filled them with apple butter
Mimi made Easiest. Sufganiyot. Ever. from mynameisyeh, but she baked the dough after frying it.
Tamar made Leah Koenig’s Cardamom Glazed Doughnut Bites from Williams Sonoma, and Blueberry Cream Cheese Doughnuts from mynameisyeh, but I made my own filling which was soom, butter, and pwodered sugar. Super delicious.
Zahava suggests sufganiot.com.
Everything You Know About Latkes in Wrong by Yoni Appelbaum in the Atlantic
8 Days (of Hanukkah) by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings in which a Hanukkah brisket
These Cranberry Curd Nutmeg Donuts are probably delicious but we haven’t tried them.
Zahava mocked this challah recipe that was inexplicably presented by the New York Times as a Hanukkah recipe.
Endorsements
Zahava recommends the Jewish Federation of Cleveland opposing Ohio’s fetal heartbeat bill, and When Politics and Halacha Meet: The Challenge of Abortion by Zachary Truboff in the Times of Israel.
Mimi recommends Jergens Hydrating Coconut Lotion, and The Principals of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman.
Tamar recommends the cookbook Aromas of Aleppo by Poopa Dweck.