Author Archives: rabbijuliaappel

Fighting for religious freedom in Israel — Women of the Wall

Posted on by

0

Me at a march for religious freedom in Jerusalem, spring of 2010. The bumper sticker says "Ha-kotel l'kulam/n -- the Kotel for all" with all being written in both the masculine third person plural and the feminine third person plural.

Me at a march for religious freedom in Jerusalem, spring of 2010. The bumper sticker says “Ha-kotel l’kulam/n — the Kotel for all” with “all” being written in both the masculine third person plural and the feminine third person plural.

Exciting news in the fight for religious freedom in Israel. After years of Rosh Chodesh prayer services at the Kotel (Western Wall), with minimal disturbance until the last few years, when participants have been detained and arrested for simply wearing a tallit (prayer shawl), Women of the Wall are poised to win a great victory.

As reported in the New York Times, a proposal has been brought forth to add the Robinson’s Arch area, currently out of the way and only accessible at certain times, to the main complex of the Kotel, thereby equalizing access and honor to the area.

Women of the Wall had rejected a solution the state had already offered of holding egalitarian services at Robinson’s Arch, saying that was not an equal option. Currently part of an archeological garden, the area is tucked around a corner, out of sight, and access is limited to certain times.

Mr. Sharansky’s vision calls for unfettered access to the area and for platforms to be used to bring it to the same level as the rest of the Western Wall, a remnant of the retaining wall of the mount revered by Jews as the site where their ancient temples once stood in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The renovated area must be connected to the wall itself, Mr. Sharansky added, and there must be one entrance for all worshipers, regardless of the section in which they choose to pray.

I appreciate what Rabbi Anat Hoffman said about the plan, because she is trying to make it work. Compromising now, I think, can leave room for further pushing later, as women’s roles in prayer are normalized in the Kotel complex.

“It’s very ambitious, a dramatic change, and it will make history,” Ms. Hoffman, who is currently in the United States, was quoted as saying. “It’s not everything we were hoping for, but we will compromise. You don’t always have to be right, you have to be smart, and compromise is a sign of maturity and understanding what’s at stake here.”

Continue reading →

Come talk about Judaism and feminism with me! Book club in April!

Posted on by

0

Come talk about Judaism and feminism with me! Book club meets at Shaare Zion; you don’t have to be a member there to come. The book will be available for purchase at the first meeting, but call to register if you want a copy so we order enough.
yentls-revenge
Yentl’s Revenge: A Jewish Feminist Book Club
Wednesday nights, April 10, 17, 24, May 1 and 8
7:00-8:00pm
Shaare Zion Congregation
5575 Cote St. Luc Road, Montreal

To register: 514-481-7727

The last four decades have seen a revolution in the Jewish world, as Jewish feminism has brought women into positions of communal leadership and women’s perspectives into the center of the Jewish conversation. As the people of the book, Jewish feminism has a rich literature. From foundational texts like Dr. Judith Plaskow’s “Standing Again At Sinai” came articles, magazines, manifestos, books, and even teshuvot (rabbinic rulings). We will be looking at recent Jewish feminist writing from the last decade, with our core text being “Yentl’s Revenge: The Next Wave of Jewish Feminism,” edited by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, as well as additional articles and readings. Participants will be asked to read 10-20 pages each week in preparation for our discussion together. No experience with feminism necessary, and all genders are welcome to the conversation!

The Tent Peg Business

Posted on by

0

I was talking with Rabbi Ron Aigen the other day and he pointed me to an article by Rabbi Larry Kushner on making congregations thrive — or rather, on avoiding the pitfalls that cause congregations to stagnate and lose sight of what is really important. I loved the article and I think it is important for all congregations to keep in mind, especially rabbis and lay leaders.

I was most interested in Kushner’s point that synagogues are for the purpose of congregants’ doing “primary religious acts that they should not, and probably cannot, do alone.” He writes that we should not get confused between primary religious acts (“communal prayer, holy study, and good deeds, or in the classical language of Pirke Avot: avodah, torah, and gemilut hasadim”) and secondary religious acts which are to support the primary (“running a photocopier, attending committee meetings, and organizing bingo” as well as “maintaining a building, raising money, and perhaps forming a board of directors”). When we as Jewish professionals and lay leaders spend all our time encouraging secondary religious acts, we lose sight of the whole reason the synagogue exists, and we lose the opportunity to create and maintain Jews in their Jewish exploration.

I’ve pasted the whole article below, with the link.

Continue reading →

Find me around town this winter!

Posted on by

0

If you’re looking to connect, join me at one of the events I’ll be leading around town this winter!

February 9: I’ll be giving the dvar torah at Dorshei Emet, 10am, 18 Cleve Rd, Hampstead.

February 16: I’ll be leading Cool Shul, Shabbat morning services for young adults, at Shaare Zion, 5575 Cote St. Luc Road, Montreal. An abbreviated, egalitarian, songful, joyful service, 10:30am-12pm, followed by kiddush lunch. Future dates: March 16, April 20, May 25.

February 23, Purim: Cool Shul Young Adult Purim Party and Musical Jam! 6:45pm, Shaare Zion, 5575 Cote St. Luc Road, Montreal.