Bonna Devora Haberman, at The Blogs

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Dec 17, 2014, 3:10 PM

Chanukah on a pedestal

Due to the growth of a dense passion fruit forest on the front fence blocking our window, to make it visible to people on the Jerusalem street, last evening we perched our traditional brass Chanukah menorah up on a stack...

Oct 24, 2014, 12:14 PM

From a tiny Torah scroll, a great reading

I just returned from an historic Rosh Hodesh prayer celebration at the Kotel. Women of the Wall shared the joy of an intact morning service, including reading from a sacred, kosher, hand-scribed Torah scroll. This was not the first time in twenty-five...

Sep 22, 2014, 9:21 PM

New Year for Gaza: A Childhood Fantasy

As we review our transgressions of the passing year, I am noting a recurring theme: child sacrifice. According to the prayers of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year is the day the divine gives birth to the world. In parallel,...

Jul 16, 2014, 2:01 PM

Blood red alert: Siren in the Diaspora

Many of us in Israel have been receiving emails and calls from people who express their concern about the situation. “Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers”, they say. Some add, “if there is anything I...

Mar 13, 2014, 2:22 PM

Fast for Esther, for Jewish women and our state

The decree was given out in Shushan the capital; and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed. ...

Mar 6, 2014, 8:15 AM

Wake-up call to Women of the Wall

SOS: SAVE WOMEN'S PRAYER AT THE KOTEL Our 25-year struggle must not end in exile from our sisters and our people. We, founders, former board members, members, and supporters of Women of the Wall call on you to prevent the imminent...

Dec 9, 2013, 11:04 PM

May rain bring forth Kotel flowering

By Hanukkah, rain is meant to pour down on Israel. Odd drops spit on Jerusalem early-risers on Rosh Hodesh Tevet last week. Against the background of a few ultra-Orthodox children blowing screechy whistles, shouting and clapping, Women of the Wall...

Nov 20, 2013, 3:50 PM

Out to lunch at the Wall

Sometimes when we are in the thick of change, it helps to get perspective from the past. With Women of the Wall in mind, I invite you to read this imaginary dialogue between two white men perched on stools...

Nov 10, 2013, 9:44 AM

Open letter to the GA: Wall not black and white

Dear Delegates to the GA of the Jewish Federations of North America, I welcome you to Jerusalem for meaningful and productive meetings here. Among many important topics on the GA agenda is Women of the Wall and the unfolding discussions about...

Oct 18, 2013, 5:55 PM

Women of the Wall’s Crossover

The vision of women's full, autonomous, public prayer at the kotel is larger than any and all of us. In December 1988, I conceived a dream of women's joyous participation in the in-gathering of the Jewish People at the...

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About Me

The late Bonna Devora Haberman is author of 'Israeli Feminism Liberating Judaism: Blood and Ink' and 'ReReading Israel: The Spirit of the Matter,' National Jewish Book Award finalist. Dr. Haberman taught at Harvard, Brandeis and Hebrew universities. In Jerusalem, she initiated Women of the Wall, a 25 year strong movement for women's full participation and leadership of public religious practice. -- Dr. Haberman died on June 16, 2015.