Finally, A Hearth for Jewish Poetry

“I published my first two books and I never talked directly about Judaism. As someone living a very secular life, I didn’t think about it. Yet I can look back at those books and say they’re influenced by Jewish cultural concerns, even though I wasn’t aware of that.

We had a number of Modern Orthodox folks and Hasidic folks at both of Yetzirah’s Jewish poetry conferences, and as Judaism is an essential part of their lives, it’s also an essential part of their poems. Yet I don’t think a lot of secular Jewish writers often feel comfortable bringing those two parts of themselves—the Jew and the poet—together in a conscious or public way. Yet, after the shared week of our conference, many less observant poets said it gave them both a sense of permission and an excitement to approach Judaism more directly in their writing.

The primary question I got in our first year was, “Am I Jewish enough to be a part of this?” Which was painful to me to feel the often harmful gatekeeping that had inspired such a deep sense of doubt—and also hilarious, because who am I to answer such a question?! As a large part of me had wondered if I was Jewish enough to found a Jewish literary organization, I was thankfully able to say to them, Hey, here I am. If you identify as a Jewish poet, then that’s more than enough; welcome. And we also invite friends from all traditions to join us for our public events.

In Judaism you have this gorgeous poetic tradition, as well as a tradition of wisdom and question-asking and wrestling with God. Poetry brought me back to Judaism. Judaism, in turn, has deepened and expanded my poetry. And my community, too.”

Jessica Jacobs to Orly Zebak, Niv Magazine, August 2024, read the full interview here.