7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2015
3) Mishkan HaNefesh, the new Reform High Holiday Jewish prayer book inclusive of Jewish feminist and queer theologies, was released this year. And the cover is made from recycled materials, so it honors the earth as well as Jews who are as varied as the rainbow.
4) Lesléa Newman’s classic children’s book Heather Has Two Mommies celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a new edition that was widely and wonderfully feted by the press. Advocate even featured Newman’s own love letter to the book.
5) Brandeis University acquired Lilith’s archives, thus ensuring that the wisdom of the publication that has celebrated mouthy Jewish women since 1976 will be transmitted from generation to generation. Lilith also garnered three Rockower Awards from the American Jewish Press Association: Susan Talve’s “Find Your Fergusons” was awarded first place in the category of Excellence in Social Justice Reporting, Leah Lax’s “One Woman’s Resume” earned an award for Excellence in Personal Essay, and the Lilith Blog earned an award for Excellence in Blogging.
6) Letty Cottin Pogrebin, former editor of Ms. and author of the Jewish feminist classic Deborah, Golda, and Me published Single Jewish Male Seeking Soul Mate. A tagline for this novel of ideas might be “Black and Jewish Lives Matter.”
7) Deborah Kass’s “OY/YO” sculpture graced the Brooklyn Bridge Park (from Brooklyn, you see “OY”; from Manhattan, “YO”). Kass is also known for her “My Jewish Jackie Series” and “My Elvis,” her Warholish tributes to Barbra Streisand. 
Helene Meyers is Professor of English and McManis University Chair at Southwestern University. Most recently, she is the author of Identity Papers: Contemporary Narratives of American Jewishness and is currently writing a book on Jewish American cinema.
2 comments on “7 Jewish Feminist Highlights of 2015”
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I’m so grateful and honored to be on any list that includes the Notorious RBG — especially a list that’s only 7 items long! Thank you, Professor Meyers!
I was shocked to read ini Helene Myers’ blog that the National Women’s Studies Association `noxious resolution’ about BDS was assumed to be a LOWPOINT in the 2015 feminist calendar! I am a longtime Lilith reader and supporter, and have noticed the glaring lack of dialogue about the Israel/Palestine `situation’ on Lilith’s pages. Is this an unspoken taboo? Are we feminists to buy the assertion that criticism of the current Israeli government is anti-Semitic treachery? Have we not insisted on our right to speak and be heard as women in dangerous conversations? Is it disloyal to seek synchrony between our feminist beliefs in equality and justice, and our identity as Jews? I would like to hear more from Lilith about its editorial position on Israel and the silencing of Jewish voices of dissent, including support of the non-violent tactic of BDS.