A MELODY OF THEIR OWN: ORTHODOX WOMEN AND THE PERFORMING By Roslyn ARTS Dickens 38 JEWISH ACTION Fall 5767/2006 rt, most artists would ple; still, there was standing A argue, is often the most room only. Some of the per- essential part of who they formers were actual profession- are. A banker or an accountant als who had taken a step back may play the piano at home as a from more conventional venues creative outlet, as a form of in order to comply with their expression or for personal satis- Torah lifestyle. Some were try- faction. But the need to do so ing to get their music out there, probably does not drive his hoping that this would be a every waking moment. Yet, the stepping-stone to something opposite is often true for the bigger. Jane Babits, a woman artist. with a glorious and haunting Decades ago I saw a PBS voice, captivated the special where a ballerina was audience with two of being interviewed. Her com- her original composi- ment was poignant. “Dancing is tions. Babits is not life,” she said, “all the rest is One of the founders of Girls’ Night On, Leslie Ginsparg would observant, but she rel- waiting.” love to see the open-mike show go on the road. “I would also ishes performing at Enter halachah and its atten- like to start [organizing] concerts for the women who want to Girls’ Night On dant boundaries of kol ishah and pursue this on a professional level.” Photos: Roslyn Dickens because of the special tzeniut and suddenly an onslaught atmosphere in the of restrictions drive artistic women room. “I feel like I am in a safe place, I from the stage, requiring them to stifle feel the support of these women,” she their most abiding impulses. And yet, gious women participating in Girls’ says. “It is unlike anything else I have more and more Orthodox women who Night On take to the stage and perform ever experienced on stage.” feel that performing represents their for an all-female audience. An initiative The very construct of women deepest connection to their inner selves that organizes performances for women “talking” to women generates a wonder- are finding ways to express themselves by women, Girls’ Night On grew out of ful atmosphere. The audience is warm within halachic guidelines. the Orthodox community but has and welcoming, not combative, which Ordinarily Makor, on Manhattan’s broader appeal. Women ranging from in itself is a departure from some open- Upper West Side, is a place where Jews Chassidic to secular congregate, forming mike entertainment. The performers in their twenties and thirties from all a unique and supportive atmosphere. understand and respect each other’s backgrounds gather to connect with Anyone who wants to perform is wel- artistry. The Jewish connection makes Jewish life, but one night every few come. “Most performers are singers or the bond between performer and audi- months the place is transformed as reli- play instruments, although from time to ence that much deeper. time we have a few dancers, stand-up A delicately boned woman, wear- comedians and even poets,” says Leslie ing eyeglasses and a tichel, approached Roslyn Dickens grew up on a turkey farm in Ginsparg, one of the founders of Girls’ the mike. Her expression was serious. Massachusetts, and is currently a filmmaker Night On. There is no charge to per- and photographer specializing in fundraising Her song was even more so. Starting form, and admission is only ten dollars. events for Jewish organizations. A ba’alat slowly, the song, a powerful political teshuvah for twenty years, she is a member of Some months ago, I went to see piece about the terrorist victims in Lincoln Square Synagogue in New York and Girls’ Night On to experience the show Israel, grew in intensity, leaving the has studied extensively at the Jewish myself. Makor’s “café” had been recon- audience transfixed and devastated. A Renaissance Center. figured to accommodate over 200 peo- dark-haired young woman in a striped Fall 5767/2006 JEWISH ACTION 39 sweater came on stage and spoofed the create them.’ That’s how Girls’ Night [www.girlsnighton.com].” dating scene. In her original composi- On came to be.” Looking to the future, Ginsparg tion, she lamented “the one who got While studying in Israel, Ginsparg says she would love to see the open- away,” generating whoops of laughter attended a few “wildly popular” open- mike show go on the road. “I ran a pro- and recognition from the largely single mike nights that were organized by a gram with high school girls to get the crowd. Toward the end of the first act, a ba’alat teshuvah. “Sitting in the audi- next generation involved,” she says. “I tall woman in a brown, knit snood, ence, I was just blown away,” says would also like to start [organizing] crushed velvet jacket, floor-length skirt Ginsparg. “There was so much talent in concerts for the women who want to and high-top sneakers mounted the the room, and these women who just pursue this on a professional level.” stage, her appearance completely at had so much inside of them were com- CDs of the events are also avail- odds with the yellow, kidney-shaped ing from all different places in Israeli able. “The first CD that we recorded at electric guitar she was carrying. Within society. Girls’ Night On is a compilation of minutes the whole place was clapping and stomping. “From the time I was little, I dreamed of being an actress,” says Ginsparg, who grew up religious. “I was always putting on plays in my liv- ing room and forcing my parents and my brothers and sisters to come watch.” For Ginsparg, chances to perform were many: school, choir, summer camp. Those opportunities dried up when she finished college, but her desire to perform did not. “No matter what I was doing full time, there was always a part of me that was searching An initiative that organizes performances for women by women, Girls’ Night for a way to be involved in perform- On grew out of the Orthodox community but has broader appeal. Women ing.” ranging from Chassidic to secular congregate, forming a unique and supportive atmosphere. Today, as a teacher of Jewish histo- ry at New York University and Touro College, Ginsparg sees the dearth of Could Ginsparg venues as a challenge. “The word have imagined such success when she singers, but there are plenty of women halachah comes from walking a path. started Girls’ Night On a year and a half who could carry a CD on their own,” It’s not rigid. That’s a misconception,” ago? “Not in my wildest dreams,” she says Ginsparg. “I am frustrated. I says Ginsparg, who is a Wexner says. “All over the country people know wouldn’t say I am frustrated with Graduate Fellow. “I view it as a path to about it. I think the kind of growth it halachah, as much as I [am] frustrated The very construct of women “talking” to women generates a wonderful atmosphere. The audience is warm and welcoming, not combative, which in itself is a departure from some open-mike entertainment. be navigated, or maybe negotiated is a has had in such a short period of time with people who don’t think that a better word. Instead of viewing my life tells you something. Girls’ Night On women’s program could be successful or as limited by my religious observance, I isn’t bedieved, [post facto] … it’s that a woman’s CD will sell. I can’t tell realized I needed to be more creative in lechatchila, [ideal].… Is it enough? No. you how many people came to me [after finding opportunities. I thought, ‘If I But [it] is growing by leaps and bounds. the first Girls’ Night On performance] look for them, I’ll find them.’ But when People keep telling me to ‘think big’ so and said, ‘I thought this was going to be I looked for them and didn’t find them, Girls’ Night On is now chartered. It’s an really lame.’ I could have told [them] it I thought, ‘Okay, then I’ll just have to official entity with a web site was going to be great. 40 JEWISH ACTION Fall 5767/2006 “I have spoken about this program reaching out to Orthodox female per- Kraar was first inspired to create a to non-observant audiences, and not formers? When Kraar worked as region- forum for religious women when she one [secular audience member] said to al coordinator in Canada for lived in Tel Aviv decades earlier and fre- me, ‘Why are you doing it for women Mamapalooza—billed as the only cul- quented Moshe Yess’s coffee house in only?’ And these are people for whom tural event of its kind—featuring the Old City of Jerusalem. “He hosted a kol ishah wouldn’t have been on the “mom” musicians, poets, comics, women’s music night. It was amazing, “Performing on that stage is something like an out-of-body experience for me. When I get up there and look out at that full house, I am always amazed.” map. Instead they said, ‘Wow, what a dancers and filmmakers, she saw that a and it stayed with me all these years.… great idea!’ Only in [the Orthodox band of talented women could fill a I was heartened to meet Leslie, who had world] was someone asking ‘Why [only room. It inspired her to bring some- the same idea and had the vision, ener- women]?’ Outside no one ever asked thing similar to a smaller and lesser- gy and talent to fuel it.