By: Nomi Kaltmann as seen in The Age Newspaper
February 27, 2022
I attended Jewish day school from the age of 3.
At Jewish schools, the day is longer than at other schools, often starting at 8am and finishing after 4pm. Teachers squeeze in a double curriculum of maths, science and English in addition to Torah, Talmud and Hebrew language lessons.
To have command of Jewish texts you must be literate in Hebrew and Aramaic. These ancient languages can be difficult and the grammar is extremely fiddly. Unlike English, the alphabet also reads from right to left.
When I was 11 years of age, I visited Israel for the first time. I met my Israeli cousins and the languages I was learning at school took on a new dimension.
I understood that if I wanted to be able to speak to my cousins, or to be literate in my tradition’s foundational texts, I needed to learn these languages.
Following that trip, I redoubled my efforts and excelled at Jewish studies at school.
Everything Jewish was deeply interesting to me: Torah, Talmud and Jewish philosophy. I devour it all.
Torah and Jewish text study continues to still enrich my life.
At university, I completed double degrees in arts and law. I worked in the Parliament of Victoria and for the Parliament of Australia. I was a debating adjudicator. I was a student mentor at Monash University.
My life was rich and full, and yet, despite being highly literate in Jewish texts and Jewish languages I was never asked to present my Jewish knowledge in any religious setting. None of my friends were asked either.
In orthodox Judaism, leadership roles in religious life are mainly held by men. Women, no matter how literate they are, are used to taking a back seat in synagogue and religious life.
While sometimes orthodox Jewish law does not allow women to take on certain religious roles (like being a witness in a Jewish court), there are plenty of opportunities that are allowed, but cultural conditioning can prevent women being put forward for such opportunities.
All-male panels are unfortunately common. Women not being considered for the same Torah teaching opportunities in religious life occurs with unfortunate frequency.
About two years ago, I decided that enough was enough. Along with a committed board, I founded the first ever Australian branch of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA). We push for change to better include women in all areas of religious life within the orthodox tradition.
We push back against cultural conditioning that prevents women from getting ahead and we actively encourage women to take on leadership roles in all areas of Jewish life.
And this month, we have launched the first ever Jewish women’s public speaker bureau. More than 65 women from four Australian states and territories have signed up.
In the 21st century, Jewish women are the most literate generation that has ever in history. My friends and I can read the Torah and Talmud in the original languages they were written and understand what each word means.
We can teach these foundational texts. We can provide our own commentaries. We just need the opportunities to do so.
The bureau created by JOFA Australia will help synagogues and organisations who are seeking to better include women find an extraordinarily talented list of women who are prepared to speak in public on the bureau. Women who are doctors, lawyers, professors, and advocates. Women who are experts in the ancient texts of our religion and canteach them with devotion and dedication.
The creation of this bureau does not happen in a vacuum. Australian Jewish women want to be included, so we are creating the tools to facilitate new opportunities for advancement in all areas of Jewish life. We are here and we want to be counted!