Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hey Rabbi (Jewlicious) Yonah...Where the women at???

sigh...
Yet again, I look on the roster of a Jewish music festival and find women grossly underrepresented.

the Jewilicious Festival

I have reached out to Rabbi Yonah numerous times to ask about the inclusion of women as headliners - and have had not one response from him.
If Jewlicious is a pluralistic Jewish event, then women should be represented in the HEADLINERS!
If the issue is Kol Isha (not wanting to hear women's voices for fear that men's thoughts will turn to sexual content and not be focused on prayer) - then label it that and call the festival an ORTHODOX gathering. Don't hide the agenda behind a seemingly pluralistic event.

Are these words from the website lies?
Jewlicious is the most inclusive and dynamic experience for young Jews in the USA. It is not discriminatory against anyone based on religious philosophy, race, sexual orientation, political views or the like

Women are also grossly underrepresented in the upcoming TribeFest (Jewish Federations of North America) gathering as well - in terms of the musical lineup. Limmud seems to be the only org worldwide that is giving women their fair share of the stage.

But sadly, these are not the only examples...and it's not my goal to indemnify Jewish organizations, as I'm part of the system and solutions, not an outsider - but I've been watching this for years.

We are cheating the Jewish community from hearing women's musical contributions to Jewish culture.
How long must we fight this uphill battle that is so OUTDATED - I mean, COME ON ALREADY!

The time has come for people to wake up - and look beyond their noses to find the myriad women creating Jewish cultural musical work out there who are fantastic, community-focused, gifted, production worthy talent.

What will it take?

Artists like Chana Rothman and myself are out there, as watchwomen - keeping track, calling attention, speaking out, trying in any way we can to draw attention to this issue - and we're moving things inches. How do we move things more dramatically, move the mountain??

Do we really need a Women's Music Production Company? Do we need a Women's Music Label as Sarah Aroeste represented our idea in her Forward article?
Or will the Jewish Community wake up and start actively genderbalancing the stage????

Frustrated, saddened, but NOT GIVING UP!

Welcoming comments, ideas, strategies and PLATFORMS!

Naomi

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Don't Evade the Issues! (Training next week - FREE!)

TRAINING ON CRITICAL ISSUES FACING OUR YOUTH NEXT WEEK!!

In 1992, the American Association for University Women published a groundbreaking report called "How Schools Shortchange Girls." The report named a variety of topic areas that, while typically avoided in the formal classroom environment, are central to learners' lives, and coined these topics the "evaded curriculum."

Topic areas include:

  • Harassment and bullying
  • Sexuality and relationships
  • Gender bias, gender identity, and sexual identity
  • Eating disorders and body image
  • Substance abuse

Over the last 4 years, Dr. Shira Epstein (JTS) and I have been developing and training educators across the US in a methodology to better address and NOT EVADE these issue facing our youth when they arise in Jewish programs.

Next week, I will be conducting the Second Training Session of the series - and you all are invited to come.
Don't worry if you weren't there for the first training, you won't be lost at all!!

Here is the information for the training. CLICK HERE

Date 02/17/2011
Time 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Location The JCC in Manhattan 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76th Street

To register, email eve@mayan.org or call 646-505-4424

Addressing Evaded Issues is now run by Ma'yan: Listen for a Change
Ma'yan's mission:
Ma’yan is a nonprofit research and education incubator that focuses a feminist lens on the cultural challenges and identity issues facing Jewish girls in contemporary society. Through research, innovative programming, and community events, we work with these girls, their parents, and their educators to provide resources that help all youth grow into critical, curious, and committed global citizens.