Happening

New/Old Holidays

Equal Pay Day, Tuesday, April 3. The US Census Bureau statistics indicate that on average women earn 72 cents for every dollar that men earn. Activists will hold panel discussions, publish studies on the wage gap, organize public demonstrations and coordinate workshops on how to negotiate a fair wage with employers and how to lobby state legislatures for stronger state laws. National Committee on Pay Equity, 1126 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036: (202)33]-7343; fax (202)331-7406: fairpay@aol.com

V-DAY is a global movement to end violence against girls and women. The V-Day Fund, established in 1998, allocates resources to grassroots, national and international groups that work to end rape, battery, incest and genital mutilation. Contributions to the V-Day Fund come from individuals, corporations, foundations, benefits and commercial performances of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues.” A website serves as virtual headquarters for a worldwide movement. Plan an event now for next year’s Valentine’s Day. www.vday.org

A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah edited by Rabbis Joy Levitt and Michael Strassfeld. with accompanying music recorded by Shabbat Unplugged, offers a wide variety of commentaries, explanations and glosses on the traditional text. Participatory, inclusive and egalitarian suggestions show how to adapt your seder to incorporate feminist themes in our narratives, to engage the very young with songs, challenge older children, and accommodate and be welcoming of interfaith groups. Hagada, $18, CD, $16 from the Reconstructionist Press, 7804 Montgomery Ave #9, Elkins Park, PA 19027-2649: toll free (877)573-7827: press@jrf.org

Writers from the Margins

“The world needs to hear more outsider voices, to know how things look from the margins, and from underneath.” Women’s World is an international free speech network of women. Their new book The Power of the Word 11: Women’s Voices and the New European Order looks at gender censorship in the age of post-communism and ethnic war $14, from Women’s World, 208 W. 30th St. #901, New York, NY 10001: (212)947-2915: fax (212)947-2973: wworld@igc.org

NASAWI News, the publication of the New Association of Sephardi Mizrahi Artists & Writers International, is published bimonthly. Send your short articles, essays, reviews and calendar listings to editor@ivri-nasawi.org. Deadline for copy is the 25th of each month. Ivri-NASAWI New Association of Sephardi/Mizrahi Artists & Writers Intl. 1033 N. Orlando Ave Los Angeles CA 90069; (323) 650-3157; www.ivri-nasawi.org

Freeing Women

“Violence against women is stalking, sexual harassment, snide remarks and rape…It is the blatant acceptance that the male is the head of the family, who can put down his partner’s personality, curb her freedom, swear, give her an “educational” slap, a black eye to show who is the boss…Violence starts with the raised voice, the raised arm the raised gun… It is the problem of our entire society.” An Israeli website in Hebrew, English and Russian, created by longtime domestic violence activist Ruth Rasnic. explains the issues and offers resources for help. www.no2violence.co.il

A chain link brooch symbolizes the plight of agunot. women unable to attain a get—a Jewish divorce—from their recalcitrant husbands. The pin. designed by Lee Wolfe, is part of a campaign for public awareness of the urgency of finding halakhic solutions to this serious problem. $18 plus $2.50 shipping from The Jewish Eemitnst Orthodox Alliance. 459 Columbus Ave #329, New York, NY 10024; (212)751- 7J33; fax (212)753-6054.

Jewish Law Watch: is a bi-annual, bi-lingual (English/Hebrew) publication examining cases of agunot and the halakhic directions which the rabbinical courts should examine in order to free these chained women. Center for Women in Jewish Law, Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies, POB 8600, 91083 Jerusalem, Israel: (972-2)679- 0755: fax (972-2)679-0840.

Women in prison in the US are incarcerated more for substance abuse than any risk they present to public safety. They need treatment, education, employment, and housing. Help women get out of the criminal justice system and rebuild their lives with a contribution to Women’s Prison Association & Home, 110 Second Ave, New York. NY 10003: (212)674-1163: fax (212)677-1981.

Sexual harassment. A part-time worker at a fast food restaurant feels scared and upset at work because her co-workers are always staring at her breasts, showing her pictures of naked women, telling dirty jokes, and saying sexual things about her. This is illegal. What is sexual harassment? What can you do about it? Get a fact sheet explaining your rights from the National Partnership for Women & Families, 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, #710 Washington, DC 20009: (202)986-2600: fax (202)986-2539: info@nationalpartnership.org; www.tuitionalpartnership.org

Social Action

To Save a Life, To Save The World a second annual conference on Judaism and Health Care Ethics will be held on April 24. Challenging cases in pediatric, geriatric, and administrative health care will be presented by Jo Hammerman, Laurie Zoloth, rabbis Elliot Dorf, Gail Glickstein, Andrea London and others at Beth Einet Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202. call toll-free (877) 944-4401 X 255 www.parkridgecenter.org Contact Rabbi Gail Glicksman, Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics, 211 E. Ontario, #800. Chicago, IL 60611-3215; (312)266-2222 x245; glicksman@prchfe.org

Ya~Ya (Youth Activists-Youth Allies), a New York City network of young activists and their adult allies, shares information and resources, and helps youth programs collaborate on a variety of social justice projects. The Ya-Ya Network is a project of The Rose & Sherle Wagner Foundation. Receive their weekly e-mail listings. Ya-Ya. 250 W. 57th St., #820. New York, NY 10107; (212) 581-6922 Fax (212) 245-1889; YaYaNetNYC@aol.com

Disaster Relief

Latet (Hebrew for “to give”) the Israeli Humanitarian Aid Organization, in cooperation with local communities in El Salvador and India, is assisting earthquake victims. Since its founding in 1996, Latet serves as an umbrella to a coalition of over 45 Israeli grassroot organizations that deal with issues of poverty. Tax deductible contributions earmarked for Latet Organization may be sent to P.E.F Israel Endowment Funds, Inc. 317 Madison Ave.. #607 New York, NY 10017; (212)599- 1260; fax (212)599-5981; pefisrael@aol.com or directly to Latet Organization account at Bank Hapoalim (number 12), branch 502, account # 249595. Latet’s home office; (972) 3-686- 96 49; latet@inter.net.il

The Jewish Coalition for Earthquake Assistance is working with partners in India and El Salvador. Send your check made out to JDC-El Salvador or India Earthquake Relief to J DC, 711 Third Ave., 10th fl. New York, NY 10017; (212)885- 0832; by credit card through www.jdc.org

On Display

Paraphernalia of matchmakers and wigmakers, birth announcements, wedding contracts, amulets, school notebooks, report cards, cookbooks, challah and matzoh covers. Holocaust-era false papers, newsletters published by the League of Jewish Women in Germany, diaries, materials relating to Jewish feminist events, Jewish women clergy and Jewish women’s education, artifacts of bat mitzvahs and innovative life cycle events are sought for an exhibit about Jewish women in the 20th century. Contact curator Esther Brumberg, Museum of Jewish Heritage, One Battery Park Plaza New- York, NY 10004-1484; (212)968-1800×142; ebrumberg@mjhnyc.org

Online history. You can view letters, personal papers, pictures and other materials on 250 Jewish women—with plans for continual expansion—on the newly launched virtual archive of the Jewish Women’s Archive, 68 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02445; (617)232-2258; fax (617)975-0109; www.jwa.org

The Mezuzah—once a humble container of parchment with a biblical inscription— now an art object. The next biennial juried competition for the creation of Jewish ceremonial art focuses this time on mezuzot. Submissions are due December 28, 2001— sponsored by Spertus Museum, 618 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60605; fax (312)922-3934; www.spertus.edu

Study Stipends

The Jewish Education Leadership Institute with Loyola University School of Education offers a Masters of Education in Administration and Principal Certification with funded fellowships for selected candidates. Another program offers certification for Directors of Development in day schools and yeshivot. National Jewish Day School Scholarship ‘ Committee; 333 Wacker Dr, #2750, Chicago IL 60606; (312)332-4172; fax (312)332-2119.

International Fellowships for Women Graduate Students from countries outside the United States offers a $ 16,860 stipend for study or research in the United States. Available to women who are not American citizens or permanent residents. Awards support full-time graduate or postgraduate study, in all disciplines, for one year. The Foundation also awards several annual Home Country Project Grants ($5.00()-$7,000 each) to support community- based projects designed to improve the lives of women and girls in a fellow’s home country. American Association of University Women AAUW Educational Foundation; (319)337-1716; Avww.aauw.org/3000/fdnfelgra/internat.html