614::HBI eZINE - Archives

		Volume 1, Issue 1, 5767 The Surprising Power of Jewish Names For this first issue of 614, we decided to focus on the intriguing idea that "One's name has an influence on one's life” (Berachot 7b). Can it be that our name actually influences our life journey? Read on.
		Volume 1, Issue 2, 5767 The Must-Have Books from the 21st Century The staff of 614 devoted this issue to books—more specifically to some of the must-haves for Jewish women written in the 21^st century. We asked some of our favorite writers to share their selections for recent reads that shifted their sense of identity as Jewish women. Read on.
		Volume 1, Issue 3, 5767 Is Judaism a Girl Thing? As Jewish women, should we be enjoying our power to make decisions after so many years of exclusion, or should we be figuring out ways to bring men back into the fold? This issue explores various opinions on the topic. Read on.
		Volume 1, Issue 4, 5767 Jewish Egg Donation: The Voices you Haven't Heard We don't have answers to all the complicated questions in this issue. What we do have are fascinating perspectives from all sides of the topic: a donor, a law expert, an organization that matches Jewish women with Jewish egg donors, and others. Read on.
		Volume 1, Issue 5, 5768 Jewish Women Grab the Spotlight What if the stories of biblical times were told from women's perspectives? What if your High Holiday sermon focused on what Eve might have felt or whether Sarah could have sacrificed a son? Jewish women decided it was time to collectively share their own insights, and the Women of Reform Judaism delivered—by creating The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. Read on.
		Volume 1, Issue 6, 5768 What's Behind Jewish Beauty? Having discussed potential topics surrounding Jewish women and beauty, our staff began wondering whether Jewish beauty has changed over time, whether it's different in Israel than it is in America, why it sometimes feels like it’s the main focus at synagogue, and what to do when people think “you don’t look Jewish.” Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 1, 5768 How is JDate Shaking Up Judaism? Finding matches online is practically a given for most daters—and single Jews using JDate is as common as using potatoes for latkes. There are 400,000 members in the U.S. alone. JDate has become steeped into Jewish culture, and we wondered here on staff how it might be changing the way single Jews think about being Jewish. Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 2, 5768 "The Real World": Peace For the past sixteen years, MTV’s reality show The Real World has allowed viewers to watch seven strangers living under one roof in some hip city. But, if you really want to hear about a fascinating social experiment you need to read about the women at the Middle East Coexistence House (MECH). Inside this issue are essays from seven women who have been transformed by the experience. Prepare to be inspired. Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 3, 5768 What Makes a Family Jewish? More than 25 percent of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life). We have included in this issue essays from a young black woman on her way to converting; a gay woman who adopted black children; and several other essays you may or may not agree with. What do you think makes a family Jewish? Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 4, 5768 Our Rights: 5 Women Fighting to Save Them! Should women who wear headscarfs be banned from schools that have laws against wearing one? Is compromise the best solution when it comes to protecting women? How creative should lawyers get to grant divorces to Israeli women who are desperate for one? These are just a few of the questions that came up at the HBI's Project on Gender, Culture, Religion and the Law conference held last spring. We excerpted five pages from some of the women who inspired us most with their brave commitment to fight for change. Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 5, 5768 HBO, Sundance... and The Jewish Channel? What if we told you there's a TV channel called The Jewish Channel (TJC) that's airing programs made especially for Jews? If you're like us, you're wondering how the staff at TJC is deciding what airs and how to appeal across denominations, what's on for Jewish young women, and how they deal with the huge scale of different needs of Jews around the country. Join 614 as we take a sneak peak behind the scenes at TJC. Read on.
		Volume 2, Issue 6, 5769 Jewish Fiction Goes Outside the Box For our 2nd annual issue on Jewish books, we wanted to find young Jewish women who were writing about themes we haven't seen dozens of times. This is why you'll find mention in this issue of cowboys, Madame Bovary, a modern day Jewish heiress, a 12-year-old Iranian, Jewish spies, and a heroic German baker. Rather than post book reviews, we talked to the authors behind these stories and asked them about the inspirations for their books, and also what they think about today's Jewish fiction in general. Meet Joanna Hershon, Tova Mirvis, Laurie Gwen Shapiro, Dara Horn, Jenna Blum, and Gina Nahai. Read on.
		Volume 3, Issue 1, 5769 Love: Jewish Style! In the spirit of Valentine's Day, when, once again, you'll be deluged with tips and suggestions for sharing love with others. (Make homemade valentines! Don high heels! Decorate cupcakes!) We decided to get a jump on the holiday by bringing love to your attention in January. But you don't have to buy or make anything. Instead, sit back and enjoy our gift to you—an exploration of Jewish love in various forms, from the discovery of ancient Jewish love songs and prayers for finding a mate to the "Modern Love" column in the New York Times. Read on.

Volume 3, Issue 2, 5769
The Great Bat Mitzvah Makeover

Some women will tell you their bat mitzvah was an important rite of passage into their Jewish lives. But too many others will tell you their bat mitzvah (both ceremony and celebration) felt staged, pressure-filled, and even forced. They talk about it as a performance, and one that's done in the most awkward year of their lives. So we got to wondering: what would it take to create a ceremony with meaningful rituals that left girls feeling truly connected to Judaism? In this issue you'll find some of the solutions, opinions, and stories we rounded up to spark the conversation.
Read on.

Volume 3, Issue 3, 5769
Speaking Out Against Anti-Semitism

Last January, a Jewish Agency report announced that there was a total of 250 anti-Semitic acts around the world—a harrowing increase from the 80 cases recorded during January 2008. When we read this, we felt deeply disturbed and helpless. What do we do with this information? How do we process it? One thing is for sure: We have to talk about it. In this issue you'll find everything from an essay on why the world cares so much about the conflict in the tiny country of Israel, to how American Jews are handling the rage.
Read on.

		Volume 3, Issue 4, 5769 Jewish Sex: A New Look at an Old Act Who knew there were Yiddish lesbian poems published in the last century? Or that teen girls were giving oral sex as a gift to bar mitzvah boys? Or that the mikveh could be considered part of erotic foreplay? Given the sizzling weather outside, we decided to partner with the entertaining Jewcy (a lifestyle website for young Jews) to look at the heated and fascinating thoughts that Jewish women experience in and out of the bedroom. Enjoy! Read on.
		Volume 3, Issue 5, 5770 Five Teachers Who Deserve a Gold (Jewish) Star September is back-to-school month. While many magazines focus on the cutest backpacks, fall fashions, and healthy lunches, we figured many of you are probably past that (or are collecting these tips for your kids). But that doesn't mean you don't love learning and opening your mind to new thoughts and discoveries. So this month we're featuring Jewish teachers who change the way we think by using out-of-the-box methods. There are so many options out there for cool Jewish classes; we hope to inspire you to seek one out in your own area. Read on.
		Volume 3, Issue 6, 5770 Our Jewish Poetry Slam Each November, we at 614 celebrate Jewish writers shaking things up. We've covered young Jewish authors on the rise, fiction outside of the box, and, this year, we're tackling cutting-edge Jewish poetry. What do we mean by cutting edge? We talk to a cool young poet who has appeared on MTV and HBO; a 20-year-old poet who has already had more than 80 poems published; and the proud winner of the Worst Jewish Poetry Contest. Throw in two highly acclaimed Jewish women poets and there's something for anyone who appreciates verse. Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 1, 5770 How Do Jewish Women Give? Women talk to each other about practically everything. We discuss big issues (like our achievements and self-doubts), and smaller issues (like cool restaurant openings and inspiring books). What we don't discuss is money. Forget divulging salary amounts; we don't even discuss how we "give" our money. This is a shame. We could really help each other understand why we make certain decisions when it comes to donating. That is why we decided to devote an entire issue to how Jewish women give. Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 2, 5770 Jewish Women in Comedy: Is it Okay to Make Fun of Ourselves? Having survived another winter, many of us are eager to laugh again. So it was a perfect time to explore Jewish women comics who are boldly pushing boundaries. One issue that came up a lot in our interviews with comedians is whether it's okay to make fun of our religion, given that we are a minority? Does it only matter if the joke is funny, or is there more to it than that? We asked some Jewish women comics—from those fairly new on the scene to those who've already "made it"—what they had to say on the matter. Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 3, 5770 Deep Inside Our Jewish Psyche Most of us think we know what "psyche" means, until we are asked to explain it. I admit that I had to look it up a few times while working on this issue. It's "the forces in an individual that influence thought, behavior, and personality." It's what drives us. Annette Poizner, EdD, chair of the Jewish Health Alliance, recently pointed out to me that there are unique Jewish forces that push us to act in certain ways and all kinds of new methods of healing practices being tested. While I can't vouch personally for these practices, I found the topic fascinating and definitely worthy of an issue of 614. Hope you do too... Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 4, 5770 Taking Jewish Music Mainstream Jewish music can be described in many wonderful ways, but "cool" isn't typically one of them. So Aaron Bisman, CEO of JDub Records, had his hands full when he set out to promote artists creating uniquely Jewish content (with Jewish texts, melodies, stories, or ideas). Bisman is rising to the challenge—creating an internationally recognized brand and getting Jewish voices into mainstream culture. This month, we partnered with JDub and bring you three of their incredible women musicians who are making Jewish music that is smart, provocative, and most decidedly cool. Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 5, 5771 Five Best Reads for Fall For our fourth annual books issue, we're interviewing Jewish women authors with unique perspectives in their non-fiction. You will learn through these books how to deal with complicated feelings arising from public Jewish scandals, how single women can navigate the ups and downs of being single, and how to create Jewish desserts that your guests will go wild for. You'll also get a close-up view of Hasidic girls in North America and one woman's search to link the deafness in her family with the Jewish enclaves of Eastern Europe. So, find a shady tree and enjoy the journey. Read on.
		Volume 4, Issue 6, 5771 Do You Love Your (Jewish) Body? In the Eshet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) Jewish hymn, we are told "charm is deceptive and beauty is vain." But, let's face it, vain or not, it's hard not to think about our own beauty and whether we have it. And how can we have it when just about every magazine is admonishing us for those 10 extra pounds and advising us to get rid of unwanted hair, lose wrinkles, and manage frizz. You can be curvy, but not too curvy, and women throw around the words "Botox" and "Juvederm" without flinching anymore. In this issue of 614, you'll find five different viewpoints inside the world of Jewish bodies. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 1, 5771 Is Social Media Reviving Judaism? It's astonishing to think there was a time when we couldn't find answers to all our questions in less than a minute using the Internet. Whether we want to know the daily special at our favorite restaurant, hear President Obama's latest campaign speech, or learn how our friends are doing or where to find the perfect wind chimes, we now have immediate access to this information. Here at 614, we've come to wonder how social media is reshaping the messages of Judaism, and whether Jewish leaders are pleased or disheartened by this open-source knowledge. Is social media helping keep Judaism alive or chipping away at it? In this issue, you'll hear what five Jewish women have to say on the matter. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 2, 5771 My AHA Jewish Moment Some of us experience moments of Jewish identity in predictable ways, such as a bat mitzvah, High-Holiday gatherings, a Jewish wedding, or the birth of a baby. For many others, defining Jewish moments arrive at unexpected, even odd, times as you'll see from the stories herein. We wanted to celebrate the latter—those joyous and unpredictable moments of feeling spiritual and/or connected. We hope you will be reminded of some of your own as you read. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 3, 5771 Our (Complicated) Friendships Yes, we could go on and on about the immense joys of female friendships, but we assume that most of you already know the numerous benefits. Our pals are good for us mentally, spiritually, and physically, and we are extremely grateful for them. What we were interested in exploring for this issue are the complexities of our friendships and the deep impact they have on how we view the world and ourselves. So, below you will find five deeply personal essays from Jewish women who had something unique to say on this topic. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 4, 5771 Jewish Women Recruited It's hard not to get misty during July 4th tributes for those who fought—and fight—for our independence. Recently, I read that women make up nearly 15 percent of the military's active-duty population. I realized that while I know women who have served, I don't know any Jewish women, and became curious. While googling, I stumbled upon an exhibit, "Women in Military: A Jewish Perspective," at the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, and was amazed at all of the stories of courage. Inspired, I'm devoting this issue of 614 to all of the Jewish women in the military. We salute you. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 5, 5771 Fall into Fiction There is nothing like escaping into a made-up world and experiencing the lives of complex characters who are nothing like you (or, perhaps, more like you than you'd ever care to admit). For our annual books issue, we interviewed five authors whose fictional stories take place around the globe, from a "fat camp" in New York to a ghetto outside of Prague. Warning: The characters and settings in each book are so intriguing, you'll want to read straight through the night. I thank each of these authors for their deep responses, and hope you are as moved by them as I was. Read on.
		Volume 5, Issue 6, 5772 Unexpected Journeys into Judaism Last winter, we ran an issue called "My Aha Jewish Moment," about those surprising moments when we feel a heightened connection to being Jewish. We realized that within this topic is a fascinating subcategory: experiencing strong connections while traveling somewhere new. Maybe it's being in unfamiliar territory that makes us rethink our Jewish roots. Perhaps it's the new sights and sounds that encourage us to reconsider our religious background in a new way. What do you think? Read on.
		Volume 6, Issue 1, 5772 Is Marriage Becoming Obsolete? I was not surprised when I read in Kate Bolick's The Atlantic magazine cover story, "What, Me Marry?" that a smaller proportion of American women in their early 30s are married than at any other point since the 1950s, if not earlier. In fact, I recently created a feature-length documentary about single women in their 30s and knew this to be the case. However, even I was surprised to read that a full 44 percent of Millennials and 43 percent of Gen Xers think marriage is becoming obsolete (Pew Research Center). What does this mean for Jewish women? We decided to find out. Read on.