Remembering Mary Tyler Moore, an Icon of Hope for This Jewish Woman
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore has died today at 80. Who was she and why am I crying?
Links for Later: The Women’s Marches, Assessed
The DC Women’s March.
Donald Trump became President of the United States. On Friday, as I recall. On Monday, he signed a ban on federal funding for foreign health care services that mention the possibility of abortion. On Saturday, a whole lot of women marched to protest against Trump’s presidency and for women’s rights. Analysis of the marches ensued:
Can Orthodox Judaism Be Feminist?
Feminist, to me, has never been a dirty word. In fact, as soon as I learned the word and its meaning, I embraced the term, cloaking myself in the righteousness of women’s rights, brandishing the banner of feminism as a challenge to those around me. When I was younger, I took on the childish causes that I understood to be of utmost feminist importance: my bat mitzvah thank-you cards were addressed to Mrs. and Mr., or Dr. and Mr. as the case would allow, but never Mr. first; I read fairy tales in which damsels rescued knights and women saved villages from angry dragons; I insisted that one day, I would propose to my husband, for certainly that would make a statement as feminist as burning a bra, only without the messy cleanup.
Jewish Feminist Magazine Lilith Covers Nationwide Women’s Marches
No, not that Lilith.
Feminist Jewish magazine Lilith just launched its sweeping coverage of Jewish women’s participation in the recent Women’s Marches. I’d especially like to direct Sisterhood readers to upcoming coverage of 18 different marches, and to a post already up, by Rabbi Alicia Magal, in Arizona. Let this be a gentle reminded that there are Jews, including politically engaged Jewish women, across America, and not just in the Zabars-Fairway corridor.
How Donald Trump’s Dangerous Inflexibility Hurts Women
Resolve on display at the Los Angeles Women’s March.
Each morning, observant Jews pray that God will “zokef kefufim” — straighten the bent. I used to understand this prayer literally: that those with physical disabilities should be able to participate fully in life’s activities. But with the intransigence of our new president, I’m now translating this prayer figuratively and re-assessing its message. The fact is that we all need to know when to bend and when to straighten.
