As a self-proclaimed feminist, junior individual studies major Reby Silverman saw a “hole” in the campus Jewish community for students who also shared her views.
Members of JFem — a new, unofficial student group for Jewish feminists — held their first meeting on Nov. 26 and kicked off discussions on how they can champion women’s rights as a Jewish community. Silverman, along with senior English and sociology major Rebecca Krevat and senior history and Jewish studies major Elizabeth Savopoulos, began brainstorming about the group in October, and about 30 people gathered for the kickoff meeting led by Rabbi Elizabeth Richman of Jews United for Justice.
“A lot of people come up with ideas for groups and then look for people to join,” Silverman said. “But it kind of happened the opposite way for us.”
At the meeting, attendees revised the group’s mission statement and actions JFem could take in the future. Current plans include hosting a Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program speaker on Thursday, to be followed by a text study of sexual assault in the Torah. The group also hopes to host a reproductive rights panel and train student volunteers to escort women getting an abortion from their car to the clinic.
“Oftentimes women who go [to abortion clinics] encounter other people in the parking lot who will — you know, pro-life organizations, pro-life people — who will say, ‘You don’t need to do this, you’re killing a life today,’” Silverman said. “Things that are very traumatic and traumatizing. I imagine that it’s not easy to go through an experience like that.”
At the meeting, Richman also shared her experience growing up as a female Jew and the struggles she encountered.
“It’s so important that people have a safe space and a chance to talk through these issues and figure out who they are and who they want to be in the world,” Richman said.
Senior environmental science major Jesse Rabinowitz said his mother educated him about feminism from a young age and he has been frequently involved in pro-choice activism.
“I always grew up knowing I was a feminist and being totally proud of being a male and Jewish feminist,” he said.
Silverman said she hopes other Jewish feminists will find the courage to take action according to their beliefs.
“I imagine that there are people involved in Hillel who would call themselves a feminist but they’re nervous to get involved because there are stigmas against feminism in general,” Silverman said. “It’s not necessarily an issue that people recognize or bring to their communities, and I think this is the beginning of something.”
Rabbi Jessica Shimberg, the only female rabbi on campus, said she believes groups like JFem are important because of the need articulated by students.
“I grew up with women rabbis in my life — strong Jewish women figures,” Shimberg said. “I do in some ways feel an obligation to be out there as much as I can and to be supporting groups like this sort of flourishing through Hillel.”
