Happening

ADORNMENTS

Break the Glass Ceiling—a brooch created by Shahar Benor symbolizes women’s right to equal opportunities and high-level positions. Purchase it to help the Israel Women’s Network lobby on behalf of women. $25 from American Friends of lWN, 20301 NE 30 Ave. #202, Aventura, Ft; (305)931- 3818: fax (305)931-3818.

Our Four Mothers. A tallit with embroidered flowers and the names of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah in the corners was created by Yair and Yael Emanuel. $200 for tallit, bag and kipah, payable to International Committee for Women of the Wall, helps women achieve religious equality in Israel. Sheilah Kalderon, 11100 Valley Heights Dr., Owings Mills. MD 21117; (410)363- 0335; sheilahsi@aol.com

Jewish women through the ages, LILITH’s time line poster, was originally created to mark the magazine’s 20th anniversary. This full-size poster, suitable for college dormitories, camps, schools is $20 from LILITH Magazine, 250 W. 57th St., #2432, New York, NY 10107.

YOUR WORK HERE

Jewish Mothers! Speak up now! For a book to be edited by Rachel Josefowitz Siegel, Ellen Cole and Susan Steinberg-Oren, send unpublished personal narratives or vignettes by Jewish mothers of all ages and backgrounds, from every kind of Jewish family. Send your one-page proposal in triplicate by October 15 to Rachel Josefowitz Siegel, 11 Spruce Ln.,’Ithaca, NY 14850 or rsiegelwow@aol.com

Motherhood—how is it mediated by law, custom and experience in Jewish contexts? For Nashim, the Journal of Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues, send papers from a variety of disciplinary approaches—on parenthood and fatherhood as well—by November 15 to: Nashim, FOB 8600, 91083, Jerusalem, Israel; fax 972-2- 6790840: dvorahg@iol.co.il

Dissemi-nation: Narrating Palestinian Israeli Gendered Auto/biographies of Dis-location is the working title of a proposed volume about the two nations from the perspectives of their most marginalized narrators—women, migrants, emigrants, immigrants, exiles—using women’s personal narratives as primary research sources. Send your abstract—up to 200 words—by October 1 to Ronit Lentin, Sociology Dept., University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland; (353-1)608-2766; fax (353-1)677-1300; rlentin@tcd.ie

Females with creative minds over 50—help change stereotypes and reclaim the image of the “wise woman.” Crone circles? The aging process? Send a one-page summary about yourself and the story or essay you propose to write for an upcoming anthology with a SASE by November 1 to Wise Woman Writer Contest, Beyond Words Publishing, 20827 NW Cornell Rd #500, Hillsboro, OR 97124-9808; (503)531-8700; info@beyondword.com

Arabic/Iranian, Jewish, and Female: Life at the Crossroads of Sexism, Racism, and Anti-Semitism is a forthcoming anthology seeking essays by Mizrahi/Sephardi women who have ties to Jewish communities from Arab countries or Iran. Editor is Loolwa Khazzoom, (510)843-4068; loolwa@aol.com

Women in Israeli Culture/Feminist Culture in Israel is the subject of a forthcoming issue of the periodical Israel Affairs (Frank Cass, London). Send 1-2 page abstract of a research paper you would like to submit immediately to Erella Brown, Dept. of Hebrew and Comparative Literature, Haifa University, Mount Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel.

The Jewish Women’s Literary Annual has just released Volume III, available for $7.50; also find out how to contribute your work to the next issue: The Jewish Women’s Resource Center, National Council of Jewish Women, NY Section, 9 E. 69 St., New York, NY 10021; (212)535-5900×10; JWRCNCJW@ aol.com

TRAVEL FOR CHANGE

The earth is filled with the breath of life: a workshop—in English—exploring ecology and Judaism will take place at Kibbutz Lotan in the Negev, October 18-24. Plan conservation strategies and learn the connection between environmentalism and Judaism through text study, practical ecological work, small group sessions and Shabbat observance with teachers Phyllis Berman and Rabbi Arthur Waskow. Contact David Dolev, Kibbutz Lotan; (972-7)635- 6935; fax (972-7)635-6827; edt_lot@hotmail.com

The Compassionate Listening Journey to Israel and the Palestinian Territories provides an opportunity for American Jews to advance reconciliation among Jews and Palestinians—based on the belief that “peace comes through the hard work of meeting one’s enemy and coming to know the suffering in each other’s hearts.” A delegation will be led by Leah Green and Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, November 4-20. Leah Green, Compassionate Listening P.O. Box 17, Indianola, WA 98342; (360)297-2280; LGreenInc@aol.com

Studying Genesis on a ten million year old glacier—is one option for wilderness trips and expeditions with Jewish content. Organized by Bob Greenbaum and Rabbi Niles Goldstein in a project of The Partnership for Jewish Life—a community of New Yorkers in their 20’s and 30’s. Jewish Life Network/Adventure Travel Office, 69-844 Highway 111, #H, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270; (800)998-7585.

CYBERWORLD

The Israel Feminist Forum is an online discussion group for feminist practitioners of women’s studies: teachers, students, scholars, writers, administrators and activists who focus on Israel. Information is exchanged on research projects, funding sources, fellowships, job openings, conferences, calls for papers, teaching methods, course syllabi, useful texts, bibliographies, women’s studies program development, Israel or national policy issues, and political and theoretical debates on women’s studies. Marilyn Safir, coordinator; iff-l@ research.ac.il

A Conversion to Judaism Home Page has e-mail links to more than 100 rabbis of all denominations who answer questions and help people explore choosing Judaism. Or get a free copy of the brochures “Should I Convert to Judaism?” and “How to Discuss Conversion to Judaism” by Lawrence J. Epstein. The Conversion to Judaism Resource Center, 74 Hauppauge Rd. #53, Commack, NY 11725; (516)462-5826; www.convert.org

HOW TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Jewish Ethics of Speech: Gossip and Slander by Dawn Robinson Rose explores how gossip is a part of our everyday lives and discusses texts from biblical, rabbinic and medieval sources ($8). Confronting Mortality and Facing Grief: Jewish Perspectives on Death and Mourning by Rebecca Alpert aims to help overcome the alienation we often experience around death ($15). These adult education curriculum guides can be used by individuals or groups. Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, PR Dept., 1299 Church Rd., Wyncote PA, 19095.

Grandma Please links “latch-key” kids after school with older adults, telephone volunteers who are trained in mediation and encourage children to solve their own problems. From 3pm to 6pm callers to a central number are rerouted to the next available volunteer or to a volunteer the child asks for by name. This project, started in 1985 in Chicago, has ten affiliates nationwide. Send for a brochure to find out how to start a similar program: Grandma Please, Jane Addams Hull House, 4520 N. Beacon St., Chicago, IL 60640; (773)561-3500; fax (773)561-3507.

THIS MEANS BUSINESS

On Lee National Denim Day, Friday, October 9, participating companies permit employees to wear denim to work in exchange for a $5 contribution to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Last year this event raised $3.5 million. Your workplace can participate in this project, organized by the denim manufacturer. Call (800)688-8508 x303; www.denimday.com/info

The US Small Business Administration’s Online Women’s Business Center internet site offers women who want to start or grow businesses information on best business practices, management techniques, networking, industry news, market research and more. It cross-lists individual states with categories such as legal assistance, taxes, environmental and safety regulations and business hotlines. www.onlinenewbc.org

TOWARD DIVERSITY

IVRI NASAWI—the National Association of Sephardic Artists Writers Intellectuals, a Jewish multicultural association, encourages an awareness and affinity for Sephardic, Mizrahi and Crypto-Judaic experience; it “exists to preserve our diverse cultural heritage, heal, educate and promote a renewed, more universal Judaism with roots in the East.” Join this non-profit membership organization, which publishes a newsletter and sponsors cultural events worldwide, as an artist or as a supporter. IVRI—NASAWI, 1033 N. Orlando Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90069; (213)650-3157; www.ivri-nasawi.org

Beginning the Journey: Towards a Women’s Commentary on the Torah is a pilot volume “designed to open the eyes of those who do not already understand the integral role of women in the endurance perpetuation and eternity of the body and soul of the Jewish people.” Written and edited by women, it contains commentaries on portions of Genesis, Exodus and Numbers. $10 plus $2.25 shipping from Women of Reform Judaism., 838 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10021.

AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Three million women in the U.S. are affected by domestic violence each year. “Judaism and Domestic Violence,” a pamphlet, aims to correct the widely held misconception that the Jewish community is immune. Citing texts condemning violence against women, it includes discussion topics on hypothetical situations of suspected violence within synagogue communities, offers program suggestions such as holding a forum on domestic violence, adopting a women’s shelter, and posting emergency phone numbers of support services. Commission on Social Action & Public Policy, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, 155 5th Ave., New York, NY 10010; (212)533- 7800×2614; fax (212)353-9439; 71263.270@CompuServe.com

The Survivors of Sexual Assault for Women’s Rights Program of Amnesty International helps sexual assault survivors learn about the situation of rape victims around the world. Survivors are empowered to help others through letter-writing;
public awareness is encouraged through speaker events about women’s international human rights and rape as a human rights issue. Contact founder/coordinator of this program Sita Baltazar-Thomas, (312)382-9316; sbalthaz@kentlaw.edu

Stand Up Against Domestic Violence is a comedy show that raises money and awareness. Organized by comedienne Heidi Joyce, a line-up of funny women perform every Sunday afternoon in October and May at the Bitter Truth Theater in North Hollywood. Proceeds benefit a non-profit organization that aids women: Theatre of Hope for Abused Women, 11050 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601; (818)766-9702; fax (818)755-7970. To bring the show to your community, contact Heidi Joyce at (818)380-7116.

A new domestic violence hotline in Miami from the Greater Miami Jewish Federation now reaches out to battered or abused victims in the Jewish community. Trained volunteers provide assistance, support and referral to those who call (305)576-1818.