ABSTRACT
Being a Jewish mother and a feminist is considerably more complicated than the “classic” dilemma of leading a life that is both emotionally and professionally fulfilled. Being a feminist is generally looked upon askance in traditional Orthodox Jewish circles, and being a committed Orthodox Jew is viewed with distrust in most circles conversant with Western culture, including feminist ones. It is still not entirely accepted on both sides that one can be a fully committed Jew, to say nothing of being a fully involved mother, and at the same time give credence to the implications of the full and equal worth of a woman’s life that is championed by feminist thought. How then can I come to terms with the tensions tearing at my own existence, including the challenges involved in transmitting to my own children my unwavering belief in a committed Orthodox Jewish life and practice, as well as my unshakeable belief in the worth of women’s lives?
