Vehigadet Levitekh
Some quality divrei Torah on Pesach can be found through JOFA's Vehigadet Levitekh project by Jennie Rosenfeld, Deena Grant and Lonnie Saks.
Divrei Torah by Women in the Synagogue
Thanks to former :( blogger Out of Step Jew for bringing this fascinating link to my attention. There was a dicussion thread on a Charedi internet forum called Bechadrei Chadarim about whether or not it is permissable for a woman to deliver a dvar Torah in shul.
There are actually a range of interesting responses, and if you are interested go and have a look. The one which I found most interesting brought the following responsa of the Satmar Rav who said it is totally forbidden for a woman to speak in a shul (see image below). However....
This commenter also wrote the following:
דברי האדמו"ר מסטמר נראה שזה איסור חמור
הפלא
הוא כשנפטר האדמו"ר מסטמר אשתו הרבנית הספידה אותו לפני מטתו כחמש דקות
בבכיות על רם-קול בהיכל הבית הכנסת הגדול במונראו קרית יואל לפני אלפי
חסידים ומאות רבנים. [הייתי שמה ושמעתי אותה]
ויש טייפים מהספידה.
In short: Even though the Satmar Rav said it was strictly forbidden, his wife, the rebbetzin eulogized him at his funeral through a microphone in the heichal of the synagogue (in Monroe, Kiryat Yoel) in front of thousands of chassidim and hundreds of rabbis (the commenter says "I was there and heard her.") And there are copies of her eulogy. 
Celebrating Birth
A new article is available on Torah Currents by Judy Slome Cohain about not taking the miracle of birth for granted.
Kallah Companion Website
Nishmat has created yet another impressive website through their Yoatzot Halacha program. The site, a companion to kallah classes, was put together by Dr. Deena Zimmerman, author of A Lifetime Companion to the Laws of Jewish Family Life. Here is a description:
We’d like to draw your attention to Kallah Companion, our new internet service. Kallah Companion is a comprehensive online curriculum in taharat hamishpacha designed especially for brides. Intended to supplement traditional personal instruction, the course enables kallot to prepare and review what they learn with their teachers, and to explore questions they might not otherwise encounter. It is also helpful for kallah or classroom teachers to use to supplement their instruction.
The course includes:
- Clear, friendly, practical instruction in the laws of taharat hamishpacha
- Explanations of the conceptual and logical framework underlying the halacha
- Interactive review questions following each lesson and each unit
- Helpful guidance for shalom bayit
- Straightforward information on women's health and intimacy
- Unlimited opportunities to ask questions and discuss issues with a yoetzet halacha (a female advisor certified in the area of taharat hamishpacha)
Kallah Companion, a not for profit project, was created under the direction of Dr. Deena Zimmerman, the author of A Lifetime Companion to the Laws of Jewish Family Life, who is both a yoetzet halacha and a practicing physician. Rabbi Yehuda Herzl Henkin, author of four volumes of halachic responsa B'nai Banim, provides expert halachic supervision and guidance for all aspects of the course. A sample lesson can be viewed here.
Tzahali
There is a very interesting interview with Michal Nagan in the most recent Deot. She was just appointed head of Tzahali, the first pre-army program which prepares girls spiritually, halakhically and emotionally for their upcoming Tzahal experience. Thanks again to Rabbi Alex Israel for this link.
Virtual Beit Midrash
For the first time the Virtual Beit Midrash of Yeshivat Har Etzion has included in their parsha series a dvar Torah by a woman. Rabbanit Sharon Rimon's insights on the half-shekel census in parshat Ki Tissa can be read here.
Update: First, thanks to friend Rabbi Alex Israel for pointing this out to me. Also thanks to Alex and Krum for directing me to the actual first dvar Torah by Rabbanit Sharon Rimon (two weeks ago). Ki Tissa was the second.
Jew-kipedia
The Jewish Encyclopedia has just gone on-line... for free. The Encyclopedia is outdated, having been published between 1901-1906. However, they say:
We are considering inviting the Internet community to help us update the encyclopedia -- if you are interested in volunteering (as a writer, editor, etc.) please join our Mailing List.
Could this be the beginning of a Jewish Wikipedia?
(Via Michael Eisenberg)
Women and the Work Force
Yet another thought-provoking article in the NY Times about women opting out of the work force:
Is this shift evidence for the popular notion that many mothers are again deciding that they prefer to stay at home and take care of their children?
Maybe, but many researchers are coming to a different conclusion: women are not choosing to stay out of the labor force because of a change in attitudes, they say. Rather, the broad reconfiguration of women's lives that allowed most of them to pursue jobs outside the home appears to be hitting some serious limits.
Women in Leadership II
A very interesting discussion has been happening on the Lookjed list (once again, a great resource for Jewish educators and people interested in Jewish education). Rabbi Yitzchak Jacobs asks why there are not more women in school administration roles. All of the responses are thoughtful and worth reading, but I have higlighted one here by Jordana Schoor, the Executive Director of the Orthodox Caucus:
The Orthodox Caucus has been researching and trying to raise awareness about the dearth of women within Orthodox leadership. What is most disappointing about reading the Lookjed exchange is that we have found Jewish education to be the place where women have made the most inroads and progress. While the numbers and recognition are certainly not at 50%or anywhere near there, there are many women very satisfied with their careers on all levels of education, and contributing to our schools in significant ways. While there is certainly much work to be done to change cultural attitudes and expectations and to give more women equal access to leadership positions, the fact that (to name a few) Ramaz, Kushner, Beth Tefilla and Yeshivat Rambam (coed schools), and more all- girls schools are headed by women is a step in the right direction.
Women in Leadership
Sha'alvim for Women just announced that they have appointed a new menahel and dean, and that they wanted the position to be filled by a Rabbi. In response, AddeRabbi shares his thoughts on the lack of leadership positions for women:
Let me begin by stating for the record that there's a real problem that there's no way to recognize a learned Orthodox woman. Before you start with the apologetics, let me state that as a recognized Rabbi, everything I pay in rent and utilities, a substantial chunk of my salary, is taxed at a much lower rate than the rest of my salary. I am eligible for a higher salary because a rabbinical degree is recognized as an advanced degree, usually on the level of a Master's. There are also a number of positions, not just rabbinical positions, open to ordained rabbis. A qualified Orthodox woman gets none of these benefits, even if her job description and education is identical to that of another rabbi, because there's no such thing as semikha for Orthodox women...
...I should note that this has nothing to do with feminism, or equality, or even women getting Orthodox semikha. It's not about granting women a certain 'status', but about finding a way to articulate their qualifications to fill certain jobs and accrue certain benefits that they are fully qualified for and entitled to. Yashrus isn't feminism, is it?
Instead of commenting on this particular case (and as it happens I know the rabbi who they have hired, he is a talented educator), I would like to follow AddeRabbi's lead and add a few thoughts on women entering leadership positions in general.
First, it is important to know that there are some Orthodox female educators and communal leaders who are now receiving parsonage. Some of the graduates of the Drisha Scholar's circle in NY received parsonage in the past and managed to receive equal pay to men who have semicha from the institutions where they worked. Also, a few synagogues have women working in a communal role (such as madricha ruchanit or congregational intern) where I believe one of them may have received parsonage. So, there are a few precedents of such a thing happening without needing to give women semicha. However, these are all individual cases.
Moreover, some women who want to continue their studies and feel that they have achieved something recognizable after their hard work, have opted for the PhD route. The truth is that you have to be interested in academic study of Judaism to follow this path, so it is obviously not for everyone.
Finally, when discussing leadership roles for women, it is also important to think about the needs of the students. Girls like to have someone to look up to. Placing talented women in school leadership positions sends a message to female students that says: Women can learn and teach Torah (or run a Jewish school) alongside being a Jewish wife and mother! It is inspiring and empowering for girls to see a significant position in chinuch available to them as a career option.
Thanks to AddeRabbi for bringing up this important issue on his blog.
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