My writing about Jewish life and culture has appeared in such venues as Tablet, the Forward, Lilith Magazine Blog, and the Jewish Women’s Archive Blog. And for the past several years, Lilith has hosted my annual column featuring 7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of that year (7 being the number associated with creation and blessing in the Jewish tradition). As a cultural commentator, I try to take Deborah Lipstadt’s advice to heart and chronicle the joy as well as the oy.
Manicotti Anyone?: A Kosher for Passover Easter Dinner
Fast forward a few years later when Easter and Passover once again coincided. I’d been chewing on menu ideas and stumbled upon a kosher for Passover recipe for blintzes using cake meal. Realizing that the blintz pancake is remarkably similar to the shell used for homemade manicotti (an Easter tradition in my partner’s family!), I caucused with my beloved. Read more
‘Are You or Have You Ever Been a Zionist?’ A Letter to Chicago Dyke March
Of course, you say that you’re not anti-Semitic, just anti-Zionist. Rather than apologize, you demonstrated your “inclusiveness” by selecting some Jews over others: “anti-Zionist Jewish volunteers and supporters are welcome at Dyke March and were involved in conversations with the individuals who were asked to leave.” Read more
We rightfully celebrate that Jews now have full access to higher education, housing, and the professions. But I wonder if we fully appreciate how, at the holiest time of the Jewish year, Jews are still routinely, subtly and powerfully required to make choices between their Jewishness and their wholesale belonging in various professional, communal, and organizational worlds. Read more
A Bicultural Jew Gives Thanks on Sukkot
My journey from New York to Texas has resulted in my viewing myself as a bicultural Jew: I have had the luxury and privilege of taking Jewishness for granted and I also know the depths of Jewish illiteracy and intolerance that plague parts of the country and some institutions of higher education. Read more
When an Accused Sexual Harasser is an Academic Superstar
Cohen’s sexual misconduct has apparently been part of his professional modus operandi for decades. He has not denied the multiple charges against him, which include touching women’s breasts in public, propositioning mentees for sex, and using sociological research as a screen for homophobic conduct. Read more
The Narrowness of Media Boys Clubs: A Primary Passover Story
Even before I reached the op-ed on Trump, I had the sensation of being sucker punched. While Steven was for Sanders, Stuart wrote for Clinton, Nick supported Cruz, Bradley rallied behind Kasich, and Jason opined for Trump. Yes, all the invited Jewish op-ed writers were men. Read more
The translator on my left clued me in to what was happening—the man did not want to sit next to impure me. She was clearly agitated; such cultural clashes were a frustrating part of her daily life in Israel. Read more
How Rainbow Jews Threaten a Black and White Haredi Worldview
The march continued after the stabbings, thus thwarting Yishai Schlissel’s desperate attempt to blot out queer Jewish pride in particular and Jewish diversity in general. Such a refusal to be cowed back into the closet should be inspiring to klal Israel. Read more
Keeping the Sabbath Post-Hyper Cacher
As the siege at Hyper Cacher (in English, super kosher) unfolded, those who know the rhythms of Jewish time understood that this market would be full of people preparing for the sabbath. Read more
Shiva Ribbons, Not Safety Pins
As history teaches us—over and over again—the kindness of strangers simply isn’t adequate when a cozy band of puppeteers that includes the likes of Stephen Bannon take control of democratic institutions and allow them to run amok. Read more
Communal Mourning: Dylann Roof “Acted Alone,” But He Did Not Stand Alone
A communal approach to mourning might guide us as we continue to come to grips with the atrocity that was committed in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Read more
This close proximity of Jewish and Muslim holy days is a welcome counter to the close proximity of bigotry that has plagued Jews and Muslims during this past week. Read more
7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2020
Yet, even with all its tsuris [Yiddish for trouble, and not the good kind], 2020 had some bright spots for Jewish feminists. Read more
7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2019
From Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Bella Abzug, to Tiffany Haddish, #MeToo and local politics. Read more
7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2018
But Jewish feminist hope, grit, and creative resistance were also part of 2018. As the secular year winds down, let’s remember and celebrate all that has healed and nourished our souls. Read more
7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2017
Jewish feminist manna to help us resist and persist. Read more
Celebrating 7 Jewish “Nasty Women” of 2016
Jewish feminists in particular have lots of experience reclaiming the insults meant to silence us. In keeping with Lilith’s tradition of praising big-mouthed Jewish women, let’s celebrate seven of the Jewish “nasty women” who made news in 2016. Read more
7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2015
But other, joyous moments have helped me keep the faith that Jewish feminism can and does make a difference by doing the work of tikkun olam in Jewish worlds, in feminist movements, and in the world entire. Read more
Helene Meyers 