Embracing the Feminine As Part of Feminism
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SINCE 1958 ONE OF TWO INDEPENDENT, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPERS OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY’S STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, YESHIVA COLLEGE AND SY SYMS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WWW.YUOBSERVER.ORG 64:9 Iyar 5781 ~ April 2021 EDITORIAL Embracing The Feminine As Part Of Feminism By Fruma Landa, mindset helps form a community these domestic actions may feel As I noticed that trend, I found Editor in Chief that values stereotypical feminine like a shallow way to serve God. myself thinking of other predom- behavior and empowers women However, these can be fulfilling inantly women’s way of inter- exhibiting such behaviors. Tak- for the women who relate to serv- acting with religious experiences Female empowerment ing care of one’s family, cooking, ing in this way. and noticed that those were often has been a theme in my life since cleaning, and beautifying mitzvot devalued as well. Women who I was young. Even before under- (commandments) are some traits Two weeks ago, the Shabbos fol- care about the flowers decorating standing the concept of feminism, that fall into the woman’s domain. lowing Pesach (Passover), many their tables for Shavuos instead I recognized moments of empow- Many women in the community women observed the tradition of of learning all night are seen as erment in my life. However, these I grew up in use their creativity, making Shlissel challah, a challah less than women who do learn moments were not necessarily another feminine trait, to serve containing a key in it. This year, all night. Women who make an what most people I know would God. Aside from keeping the I have heard many people dis- effort to do their wigs, makeup define as feminist. For example, Torah and mitzvos, they put their missing this predominantly-wom- and nails before Shabbos are pushing myself into a crowded souls into ensuring their children en-performed custom. People considered fickle. Women are room of men to serve plates of are dressed in a way which honors commenting on this tradition fail made fun of for caring more about herring and crackers was one of the yuntif (holiday), cooking ritual to recognize the importance of the way their sukkah decorations the most empowering moments dishes, beautifying their mishloach this in the lives of the women who look than the way the esrog they of my childhood. To me, walking manos (ritual Purim food packag- relate to this religious practice. use looks. Women who choose into that room full of grown men es), decking their Shavuos table Devaluing this minhag (custom) to present themselves tzniusly, was incredibly daunting. Pushing with flowers and elaborate cheese devalues a predominantly wom- in modest clothing they consider myself to take up space and weave cakes, getting their nails done and en’s religious experience. to be befitting a daughter of the between the shoulders King, are said to be allowing the of men to deposit the patriarchy to regulate their bodies. oily plate onto the table The women who approach Juda- — a feat unto itself — ism from a traditionally feminine before leaving back to perspective are seen as less than the safety of the kitchen compared to those who engaged in was empowering. these rituals from another angle; and often, women who do not ap- Throughout my life, I proach Judaism from a tradition- have found that some- ally feminine angle are deemed as times the way women too radical and considered to be are told to empower throwing away tradition. Existing themselves is done in as a Jewish woman is a catch-22: a way that devalues be viewed as a prisoner, or be the way other women viewed as uprooting the tradition. feel empowered. Many people will tell you that serving a dish to a table Some women, myself included, full of men is not only feel empowered when breaking unempowering, but glass ceilings and advancing rather oppressive or de- women’s opportunities. That facet meaning — the oppo- of feminism should be encouraged site of my experience. and supported, yet it does not need working on exquisite table decor to devalue women who do not re- In more religiously right-wing le’kavod Shabbos kodesh (in hon- Making shlissel challah has late to this form of empowerment. communities, like the one I grew or of the holy Sabbath). become like a religious ritual for It can be incredibly difficult to up in, traditionally female gender many women. Since making the encourage women to try to explore roles are valued and may bring Unfortunately, these actions which challah is an experience done pre- new ways of serving God without feelings of empowerment. Thus, many women relate to and are dominantly by women to express devaluing the feminine, but it is women use their femininity as one empowered by are often dismissed their relationship with Judaism, not impossible. The goal of female of the ways they serve Hashem. as frivolous or shallow — in devaluing the minhag essentially empowerment should not be to A mother making soup for her other words, they are devalued. In devalues an important religious only empower the women who are family is said to be compared in communities where women have experience for women, especially doing what you deem as empow- holiness to the Kohen Gadol’s other opportunities to serve God in communities where they may ered, but rather to empower all (Height Priest’s) Yom Kippur such as through the study of Torah not feel connected to other tradi- women in doing what makes them avoda, the service performed on SheBaal Peh (Oral Torah) or via tionally male rituals. feel empowered. the holiest day of the year. This performing public religious rituals, Iyar 5781 ~ April 2021 NEWS PAGE 2 2021-2022 Academic Calendar Contains Significant Changes Compared To Previous Years struction period may suggest that required instructional minutes semester. This is much earlier By Fruma Landa, Editor In Chief Yeshiva University is planning on without making the Fall and than previous semesters with the And Shoshanah Marcus, News an in-person or blended class for- Spring semesters longer.” deadline for the Fall 2020 semes- Editor mat for the non-specified weeks. ter being on November 17, the This has yet to be confirmed by Early Date to Drop Course With- Spring 2021 semester being April 7, the Fall 2019 semester being on hough the Yeshiva T December 2, 2019 and the Spring University administration has yet 2020 being April 23. Spiegel stat- to announce the school’s class ed that “The Withdrawal date was formatting plans for the upcom- moved up as part of a previously ing academic year, the registrar’s planned change to the 2020-21 ac- release of the 2021-2022 academ- ademic calendar but was delayed ic calendar may offer insight into due to COVID.” She concluded potential class formatting and that the “withdrawal deadlines are important deadlines. now in line and consistent with [Yeshiva University’s] peer insti- Class Formatting tutions’ academic calendars. After a year of various options of class formats due to the restric- In the previous semester, the tions of the COVID-19 regula- administration faced backlash tions, the 2021-2022 academic from the student body when the calendar reveals “Remote In- deadline for dropping a class struction” periods. These periods without a “W” was too early. In include between the holidays of response, the decision was re- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur/ voked. One student, Sarah Brill Sukkot, after Sukkot break, after the YU administration. Spiegel out a “W” (SCW ‘21), shared her concerns Purim break, and before Pesach explained to the YU Observer that Another notable aspect of the with the YU Observer explaining break. “During these remote days “[YU] added in remote instruction 2021-2022 academic calendar is that, “[d]ropping classes is a very there will be no in-person class- days in between Rosh Hashanah the fact that the last day to drop a tough decision to make. A person es,” shared University Registrar and Yom Kippur to allow [their] course without a “W” (withdraw- needs to choose whether or not to Jennifer Spiegel. students the opportunity to travel al) on one’s transcript for the Fall for the chaggim [Jewish Holi- 2021 semester is October 18 and days] and still meet the minimum February 28 for the Spring 2022 Continued on The overt mention of a remote in- PAGE 4 New SCW And SSSB Jewish Studies Requirements Announced By Mili Chizhik, News Editor well as taking at least one Jewish son, assuming the COVID-19 courses, 2 Judaic studies courses, studies course every semester as a regulations allow it. 1 Jewish history course, 1 Jewish full time student upon completing philosophy course, and the num- he SCW Rebecca Ivry T Core requirements. Three of the following twice a ber of Hebrew language courses Department of Jewish Studies an- week courses in Fall 2021 will based on student placement: 1 nounced this week that there will Starting to be implemented in Fall meet in-person in-person once a course for those placed in HEBR be new Jewish studies require- 2021, the new requirements for week for a Beit Midrash compo- 1211 or 1221, 2 courses for those ments for Stern College for Wom- Beren Campus students mandate nent: Rabbi Ephraim Kanarfogel’s in HEBR 1201, and 3 courses en and Beren Sy Syms School of a total of 22 classes, up to 10 of “Tosafist” class, Rebbetzin Penina for those placed in HEBR 1001 Business students. Registration which can be taken in the gap Bernstein’s Navi class, and Rabbi or 1011.