Writing

Content type
Collection
Judith and Ma'ayan Rosenbaum sitting on a stage with microphones, red curtain behind them
May 2, 2023

Celebrating and Challenging Margaret in Book and Film

Judith Rosenbaum

JWA's CEO Judith Rosenbaum reflects on a recent screening of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, the film adaptation of Judy Blume's groundbreaking novel. 

Topics: Feminism, Film, Fiction
Jean Trounstine, July 2000

Jean Trounstine

Project
Women Who Dared

Judith Rosenbaum interviewed Jean Trounstine on July 21, 2000, in Lowell, Massachusetts for the Women Who Dared Oral History Project. Trounstine details her Jewish background in Cincinnati, how it shaped her political lens, and her prison reform work, including theater productions with incarcerated women.

Anna Ziegler Headshot
April 25, 2023

7 Questions For Anna Ziegler

Sarah Groustra

JWA talks to playwright Anna Ziegler. 

Topics: Theater, Poetry, Plays
Shelly Christensen

Disability Rights Activist Shelly Christensen Publishes A Book on Inclusive Environments in Faith-Based Communities

December 10, 2018

On December 10, 2018, Shelly Christensen published From Longing to Belonging: A Practical Guide to Including People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions in Your Faith Community. The book discusses how faith-based organizations can create welcoming and inclusive environments for people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Christensen includes many stories about her own experiences raising her son, who has autism.   

Animal drawings by Liana Finck on orange gradient background
April 17, 2023

Making Space

Judy Ruden

In Liana Finck's exploration of the kabbalistic concept of Tsimtsum, the idea of God's contraction as a means of creation, I find the beginnings of a Jewish feminist future. 

Topics: Spirituality and Religious Life, Fiction, Art
Samira Mehta Headshot and Book Cover

Episode 89: Samira Mehta On The Racism of People Who Love You

Listen Now

Samira Mehta is the daughter of a white American mother and a South Asian immigrant father.  She’s also a Jew by choice and a scholar of American religious history and women’s and gender studies. Her new book, The Racism of People Who Love You examines the subtle, everyday racism of intimate interactions. In this episode of Can We Talk?, Judith Rosenbaum speaks with Samira about her identity, the differences between racial and cultural privilege, and the conversations about racism and belonging that inspired the book.

Line drawings of a book and pens on light blue background
March 22, 2023

Interpreting The Sun Also Rises

Maya Viswanathan

Reading The Sun Also Rises was the first time I encountered depictions of antisemitism as an almost normal part of conversation and interaction. I didn’t know how to react to it.

Topics: Fiction, Antisemitism, Publishing
Galina Nizhnikov Veremkroit, January 12, 2003

Galina Nizhnikov

Project
Women Who Dared

Judith Rosenbaum interviewed Galina Nizhnikov in Peabody, Massachusetts on January 12, 2003, as part of the Women Who Dared Oral History Project. Nizhnikov talks about her upbringing in Russia, her family's Jewish pride, experiences with workplace antisemitism, involvement with refuseniks, the decision to leave Russia, and the struggles they faced to secure their departure.

Judith Chalmer

Project
DAVAR: Vermont Jewish Women's History Project

Sandra Stillman Gartner and Ann Buffum interviewed Judith Chalmer in Winooski, Vermont, on November 3 and December 8, 2005, as part of DAVAR’s oral history project. Chalmer discusses her family's history, her creative path as a writer, and her reflections on her Jewish identity and the role of women in Judaism, inspired by her father's experiences during the Holocaust and her efforts to honor those who helped her family.

Collage of character from Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse on gold background
March 10, 2023

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Taught Me the Importance of Teshuvah

Clara Sorkin

When I thought about where I learned how to make amends, I realized it wasn't just from Hebrew school or from my family. It was, instead, one of my most-read books from childhood: Kevin Henkes’ Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.

Topics: Children, Fiction, Rosh Hashanah

Episode 87: Jodi Kantor Said

Batya Gur – Saturday Morning Murder

Batya Gur

Israeli author Batya Gur is best known for her mystery novels centering on the investigations of detective Michael Ohayon. Her work brought literary complexity to the Hebrew mystery novel.

Jodi Kantor cropped headshot

Episode 87: Jodi Kantor Said

Listen Now

In 2017, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey broke the New York Times story about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse of women. They chronicled the experience in their book She Said, which was made into a film by the same title in 2022. In this episode of Can We Talk?, Nahanni Rous talks with Jodi Kantor about how Weinstein tried to pull the “Jew-to-Jew” card with her, what she learned about taking on a bully, and how she felt about the film’s portrayal of her as a working mom.

Merle Feld, 2010

Merle Feld

Project
Women Who Dared

Judith Rosenbaum interviewed Merle Feld on July 19, 2000, in Northampton, Massachusetts, as part of the Women Who Dared Oral History Project. Feld recounts her upbringing in Brooklyn, her involvement in the Jewish community, her work in facilitating Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, and the profound impact of her activism on her life and career as a writer and public figure.

Collage of Judy Blume on dark blue checkered background
February 12, 2023

Opposing Book Bans with Judy Blume

Sonia Freedman

Having the option to read Blume’s book about growing up as a girl did not necessarily change my view on womanhood, but taking away a comforting story that offers reassurance about a girls’ preteen years is disappointing and ridiculous.

Topics: Fiction, Libraries, Schools
Samantha Pickette Headshot and Book Cover
January 31, 2023

Q & A with Samantha Pickette, Author of "Peak TV's Unapologetic Jewish Woman"

Sarah Jae Leiber

JWA talks to Samantha Pickette about her new book and about how TV is establishing a new version of the Jewish woman. 

Topics: Non-Fiction, Television, Feminism
Barbara Seaman

Barbara Seaman

Project
Barnard: Jewish Women Changing America

Judith Rosenbaum interviewed Barbara Seaman on October 30, 2005, in New York, New York, as part of the Barnard: Jewish Women Changing America Oral History Project. Seaman discusses her research on preventative hysterectomies, the influence of Rose Kushner, her family history, activism in the women's movement, and challenges as an activist journalist confronting the pharmaceutical industry.

Holocaust Remembrance Candle
January 26, 2023

What Does Good Holocaust Education Look Like?

Elana Moscovitch

Teaching kids about the Holocaust should inspire them to fight injustice and change the world.

Topics: Holocaust, Feminism, Jewish Education, Non-Fiction
Collage of Susan Weidman Schneider on green and white checkered background
January 25, 2023

Like Lilith, Re-channeling My Anger

Noa Karidi

Rather than reacting from a place of anger, the LGBTQIA+ community needs to follow the example of Weidman Schneider to use education in order to change the perception of this bill and of the community

Topics: Publishing, LGBTQIA Rights, Journalism
Collage of Rachel Sassoon Beer on black and white background
January 18, 2023

Reporting the Truth with Rachel Sassoon Beer

Samantha Berk

In her own way, in her own time, Rachel Sassoon Beer fought against misinformation. She’s a role model for modern feminists as well as for that little girl who yearned to hold the pages of the newspaper just right.

Topics: Journalism, Publishing, Antisemitism

Judith Kates

Project
Barnard: Jewish Women Changing America

Judith Rosenbaum and Jayne Guberman interviewed Judith Kates on October 20th, 2005, in Brookline, Massachusetts, as part of the Jewish Women Changing America: Barnard Conference Oral History Project. Kates talks about her Orthodox upbringing, her struggle for gender equality within Judaism, her education, involvement in the women's movement, teaching women's studies, her gabbai position at a synagogue, and the impact of feminism on Judaism.

Fleishman is in Trouble promo image
January 10, 2023

"Fleishman is in Trouble" Asks Universal Questions

Sarah Jae Leiber

This very Jewish TV adaptation of the bestselling novel crackles with sharply drawn characters and brilliant performances. 

Topics: Television, Marriage, Feminism, Fiction
Susan Stamberg

Susan Stamberg

Project
Washington D.C. Stories

Deborah Ross interviewed Susan Stamberg on March 28, 2011, in Washington DC, as part of the Washington D.C. Stories Oral History Project. Stamberg shares her groundbreaking experience as the first female national news anchor, highlighting her successful career in interviewing and her passion for the future of radio.

Rebecca Soffer and the Cover of her Book, the Modern Loss Handbook

Episode 84: Modern Loss with Rebecca Soffer

Listen Now

For a long time, Rebecca Soffer, co-founder of the website Modern Loss, had been planning to write a guide to coping with grief. Then the pandemic hit, and the need felt especially urgent. So she wrote The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Resilience. The book came out earlier this year. In this episode of Can We Talk?, we speak with Rebecca about all things grief-related: trigger days, bespoke holidays, Jewish grief rituals, and what to say—and not to say—to someone in mourning. 

Woman with girl on her shoulders who had her hands in prayer position
November 10, 2022

Translating God's Name in a New Way

Rabbi Beth Lieberman

The entire Hebrew Bible has never been translated into English without the male-centric God language—until now.

Topics: Feminism, Bible, Writing

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