Category Archives: israel

Ha-Sodot (“The Secrets”) review

Posted on 05/14/2009 by Sotah

I have wanted to see Ha-Sodot for a very long time, and while it proved to be far tamer than expected it is still a fairly good film. The combination of Safet, frum young women in medrasha, and lots of … Continue reading →

Posted in halacha, israel, religion, sexuality | Leave a comment

Modesty is a dirty word.

Posted on 02/19/2008 by Sotah

A few weeks ago a story surfaced about Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women in Israel wearing a garment a kin to a “burka” as a way of up-ing the anti on modesty. The original Haartz article on this issue is in Hebrew, … Continue reading →

Posted in Jewish, blogs, gender, halacha, israel, women's health | 2 Comments

The Rebbe, the Soul of Moses and “Continuous Revelation”

Posted on 07/27/2007 by Sotah

I went to the Accent Youth Hostel in Safed for a full Sunday. I sat on the porches with the beautiful overlooks of hills and valleys. I went for pizza on the busy commercial street of Safed, on the way, … Continue reading →

Posted in Jewish, halacha, israel | 4 Comments

A word of Torah at Nahloat.

Posted on 07/12/2007 by Sotah

For reasons that escape me utterly I am still in Israel, now studying Judaism, at Nishmat, a Dati Lumi (Religious Zionist) seminary. (I will tell you all about it soon. Today I must write about the Dvar Torah I heard … Continue reading →

Posted in gender, halacha, israel, religion, torah | Leave a comment

Woman as baby-making-machine:

Posted on 07/06/2007 by Sotah

I wondering what good it would do for me to write yet another article on the urgent issue of pregnant women being treated as baby vessels. A woman in Utah was actually charged with murder because she refused medical advice … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Action, gender, israel, religion | Leave a comment

Pride Parade Jerusalem 2007

Posted on 06/22/2007 by Sotah

Despite repeated warning from every policeman I approached to ask for directions, I made it to the Pride Parade!  At one point the policeman actually told me not to go and tried to block me. I was shocked – I … Continue reading →

Posted in israel, queer, religion | 1 Comment

What does kibbutz and “Animal Farm” have in common

Posted on 06/11/2007 by Sotah

I hate idealists, especially when their ideals are unexplored diatribes. If you are interested in “Serving Israel” whatever that means or you have some uncomplicated notion about togetherness and community, kibbutz might be the place for you. However, I fail … Continue reading →

Posted in Social Action, israel | Comments Off

The differences between Baha’i and my Judiasm

Posted on 05/30/2007 by Sotah

The Bahia Garden in Haifa is incredible. This garden is the second holiest place on earth for the Baha’i faith, the first in Akko (start a religion Israel is your ticket).   This religion sounds like a liberal’s dream come true – at … Continue reading →

Posted in halacha, israel, religion | 5 Comments

Meta-discourse on blogs and gender (my favorite!!)

Posted on 05/24/2007 by Sotah

I did not believe them, but it is true once your pop you cannot stop.  While touring Israel all week, I have been looking forward to adding the second entry to my very nascent blog.  And there is so much … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, gender, israel, torah | 1 Comment