JOFA fills an important role in the Jewish world by striving to bridge the gap between men and women in traditional Judaism while understanding the importance of tradition and the slow processes of change within that tradition.
JOFA is a very empowering organization for traditional Jewish women. They lead the way in curriculum development, Jewish ritual practices, and scholarship that promotes gender equality within halacha.
As a fairly new observant Jewish woman, coming from a Progressive, feminist background and orientation, I consider JOFA often to be a port in the storm. Smart, active, and generous to newcomers like me, it's an inspiring and essential organization.
JOFA's newsletters and on-line insights are very informative. Conferences are a great learning experience and provide a forum for networking otherwise not available.
JOFA is a voice for Jewish women. Their support of scholarly work by women gives me resources to share with my students. JOFA conferences gave me the opportunity to learn more about how the Jewish community is addressing issues that affect me as a Jewish woman. JOFA's very existance testifies to the vitality of nurturing the next generation of Jewish women. In some way it empowered both me and my daughter so we could pursue and realize dreams of leadership in the Jewish community.
Innovative and compelling programs in general. Leadership amongst Orthodox women. Always good movies and panel discussions. Awesome literature to supplement study around the holidays too:)
I am not Orthodox, but it has helped me learn to chant Megillah Ester by providing a CD ram. Also, it has sent booklets and thoughts for Pesach and offers more services than I need to or can utlize. I am so proid of their Agunah service, although I do not need that help. I found them while seeking the Megillah, and it has been worthwhile being involved as a recipient. I DO FEEL A BIT GUILTY ABOUT NOT BEING ORTHODOX, BUT THEY DO NOT JUDGE ME.
Great organizations spreading Feminism and inclusion into the Jewish community. As a Rabbi at an all-women's college, I use their materials regularly and share them with my students.
JOFA is a unique organization in the Jewish community. It provides intellectual, emotional and spiritual support and refreshment to Jewish women who are both committed to Jewish tradition and practice and also engaged with the larger world. The conferences, publications and speakers are of the highest quality. It is a truly outstanding organization!
I live in a small community. The woman are professionals,traditional religiously, kind, generous and good people. BUT most are lacking in religious introspection. JOFA has given me a venue where I can share my conflicts between Orthodoxy and my feminism. The conferences have shown me that there are many other women (and men) who feel as I do and validate my frustrations and encourage me to work through them. Their monthly and holiday bulletens and divrei torah have fed my intellect and encouraged my spirituality. I have used these lessons at the seder table, Friday night shabbat dinners, and in conversations as I walk the boardwalk. I now say the motzei and when applicable the Zimun, and read the siddur more carefully.
I don't have any one special experience with JOFA. I have attended their conferences from the start and find them to be dedicated, bright women from a variety of backgrounds who are looking to help women all over the world find their religious Jewish voice--and ways to express it. It is comforting to have somewhere to turn to as a resource and support.
Jofa has an excellent Newsletter which keeps their donors informed and inspired. There is a creative spirit to this organization that gives you a feeling of vibrancy and deep caring about their mission. I am a proud beneficiary of Jofa's enthusiasm and dedication and thoughtfulness to this most important cause.
JOFA has made me feel: empowered, optimistic, spiritually engaged, uplifted and happy to be alive during this time of jewish feminism. It has helped me parent my son as well as my daughter, and has facilitated my own participation in a gratifying life of jewish observance and prayer
JOFA has served an essential role in my personal and religious growth. I attended my first conference while in college, 2003, and the organization's philosophy and passion has guided me ever since. I am grateful to the founders, scholars, and leaders that contribute to the way I think about myself as an orthodox Jewish woman. Specifically, JOFA has shown films such as "Tehora" and "Mekudeshet," which spurred fascinating conversations with articulate panelists. I have come to see issues such as family law and divorce law from a new, more critical perspective. I enjoy reading the journals and the holiday publications that JOFA sends out. I find the content stimulating, and I am impressed by the authors' scholarship. I organized an interfaith panel of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian woman for the 2007 tenth anniversary international conference to discuss their experiences as feminists in their religious communities. I found this planning experience exciting, and I learned a great deal about broader issues for religious women across faiths. My hope for JOFA is that it will continue to thrive and to strengthen the voice of orthodox women in the Jewish community and beyond. Having recently moved away from New York, I hope that JOFA will continue to create programming for other communities in the country.
I have been involved with JOFA almost from the beginning because it was the only organization that met the needs of intellectual and bright women in Orthodox Judaism. It was also an excellent source for fightinig the battle to free women whose husbands refuse to give them a "Get". The resources, the contacts, and the intellect of the people involved was a major help for me on the West Coast to connect with like-minded, helpful individuals. There are not too many of those in California.
JOFA provides a thrilling and unusual sense of community for Orthodox Jewish women and families who are also committed to the values of feminism.
JOFA is an organization that is based around the assumption that just because Judaism proscribes certain gender roles, that does not mean women have to be second class citizens. As an Orthodox woman who is studying to be a leader, I very much appreciate JOFA's thoughtfulness and commitment to furthering important conversations in the community.
My deepest ongoing experience is as a reader of the JOFA Journal and a person using their printed resources (unique in the field) downloaded from the Internet, and JOFA's excellent website. JOFA printed materials give thoughtful, informed info not available anywhere else. Whenever I've contacted JOFA staff, they've been absolutely wonderful.
As an Orthodox woman living in a smaller and less diverse Jewish community, JOFA is my connection to people, information, and resources that nourish my soul, replenish my spirit, and stimulate my intellect as a woman seeking opportunities for serious engagement with our texts, traditions, and rituals. From the thoughtful drashes for the Chagim by learned female scholars, to the halachic resources on the JOFA website detailing the contours of a partnership minyan, to JOFA's advocacy on behalf of agunot (women whose husbands refuse to provide a divorce), JOFA is a crucial voice for our community.
The JOFA conference's high school program allowed us to return to our high school and begin serious and valuable reflection on issues like sexual harassment and gender inequality within our Yeshiva High School's walls. The openness allowed was due to the legitimacy provided by the JOFA conference. We were able to have a school-wide Shabbaton dedicated to the theme of sexual harassment, for some a very shocking, but ultimately very rewarding experience.
I attended an interesting and informative lecture; JOFA continues to provide me with important updates that are not so easily accesible on other sites.
I have found jofa to be an enlightened organizaton that strives to educate jews of all denominations and levels in various areas in a non -judgmental environment. As someone with a great number of expenses, I find Jofa fills a need in the Jewish community by providing many lectures free of charge and in different venues. When I requested Brooklyn lectures they responded positively, very unusual for a Jewish Organization with roots in Manhattan.
Just about every woman I meet who has jewish roots is in a lifelong quest of jewish learning. JOFA always comes up in our conversations. i.e. the JOFA Journals. Judaism is our core and JOFA has become a signpost in our days and a resource we can share with one another.
I have experience volunteering for and being active in many Jewish organizations, as well as organiations with some feminist ideology. However, JOFA's turning to me in the year 2000 to ask me to lecture was only the first indication of the inclusivity of JOFA and its constant search for redefining needs of Jewish women. Since then I have been part of brainstorming, projects, conferences--at the same time as being active in other organizations. JOFA IS THE MOST MATURE of them all. There is ongoing development and reassesment of direction, with very wise decisioins being made--thus leading jewish women and answering their evolving needs.
As an Orthodox woman, there are many issues that confront me. In my neighborhood in Philadelphia, some practices are maintained just because "it's always been done that way." Articles in JOFA publications give me a chance to ponder new ways for women to be involved in Jewish life, and decide how I feel about them. Many of the opinions I read are more liberal than my own, and I wish that women with a broader spectrum of outlooks were involved. I think the problem is, that women who are troubled by certain issues, nonetheless do not want to identify themselves as feminist, so they stay away. JOFA is a wonderful forum for scholarly divrei Torah by women. It has also done a huge amount to raise awareness of the agunah problem. I think that has encouraged some rabbis to come up with some creative solutions.
a great organization that highlights issues of Jewish women and practice in the traditional community. engaging, and crucial to ongoing dialogue!!!
I have attended most of the JOFA conventions and always brought back important insights to my smaller community. Their classes and brochures help those of us outside the NYC area remain involved and informed about issues affecting women in the Jewish community.
I live on the West Coast, far from NY, the most active center of Jewish learning. I very much appreciate receiving JOFA's drashot. I share them with family and friends at holiday gatherings. I work full-time, so the arrival by email of the drashot fits in with my day and is always a highlight.
Jofa – (Jewish orthodox feminist alliance) promoted Jewish women's status in many aspects of life. It is the greatest and largest women organization which created a sisterhood empowering thousands of women in US as well as the entire world to know their rights and fight for them. Through the serious work and discussions of Jofa – women got the knowledge and power that enabled them changing there status in there respective communities. Its fights to speak out loud against domestic violence, sexual abuse, the need to change the legal status of women in courts, as well as neglecting the respect and status women deserve – caused a major changes in homes, families and communities, Its impact is far beyond US. We, orthodox women in Israel established Kolech – a similar organization of thousands members and we promote all these ideas, thanks to the power we got from Jofa.
add a star members are participatory, knowledgeable lecturers are incredible also functions as a network eg International Scholar personally supplied me with research material otherwise unobtainable due to copyright issues (his own writing). magazine fills real needs, not advertising
Excellent. Most valuable to me is the annual conference - I learn alot and meet a community of people with similar perspectives and concerns.
The JOFA provides a very important service to the Jewish community. I found their website to be extremely informative, including free in-depth articles on many important aspects of Jewish religious life for women (covering hair, etc.) They included a range of opinions (not just one perspective) and this was very valuable because this kind of information (in-depth discussion of Jewish law for women on topics like hair covering, birth control etc._ isn't readily available to Orthodox women. I discovered a wealth of information on various issues relevant to me as a feminist living within the Orthodox community. I also very much appreciate the work that they are doing on behalf of Agunas and other Jewish women trapped by abusive men hiding behind Jewish law.
JOFA has been a great educational, religious, and community resource for me, as well as a source of strength and inspiration since I attended their second conference in New York in 1998 as a college sophomore. As a liberal Orthodox Jewish woman, the challenge to remain true to my religion, but also to myself and my values is a constant struggle. JOFA has provided me and many others with a forum in which to discuss some of the more challenging issues, and a place to meet others facing the same tough decisions! I always leave a JOFA event feeling better about my choices in life, and connected to those in my community. They are a unique voice in the Orthodox community and one that is greatly appreciated.
JOFA is leader in representing women and their interests in the orthodox and non-orthodox worlds. There is no comparable organization engaged in all issues