Voices of Women at Wartime

In this episode we continue to study modern midrashim written by women in the wake of October 7 with Tamar Biala, editor of the "Dirshuni" series. Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women's midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. The first Hebrew volume was co-edited with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz. Since October 7, Biala has received many texts relating to the Hamas attack and its aftermath. In this two-part session we will study these powerful texts written by women about grieving mothers and angry grandmothers, faith and doubt, the Jewish present and past and how they interact with one another. Texts discussed in part 2: All Your Brothers' and Sisters' Bloods are Crying to Me from the Soil Gili Mivtzari Zivan https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aNGyHlWLSoPh-tIzkJfnit4iaG4sEcdYpAvO1sNDzzA/edit?usp=sharing Redeeming Captive Women Oshrat Shoham https://docs.google.com/document/d/1130ptM6jQPTRuUT47bGrWLcOJD-70A00nWiuGifleXM/edit?usp=sharing Sleeps and Slumbers, The Guardian of Israel Rivkah Lubitch https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wr5hn_P0zmtrByKMZq4LOC7lwZzCe5uVGthg4AFl-LQ/edit?usp=sharing Midrash One People to Another Rabbi Yael Vurgan https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NmgwsUUv8mC33mawGrM_rhH8d8jcLNDg8outpF_TjCg/edit?usp=sharing  Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Tamar Biala has been collecting and editing modern women's midrashim for over 20 years and published them as part of the “Dirshuni” series, with two volumes in Hebrew and one in English. (The first Hebrew volume was co-edited with Nehama Weingarten-Mintz.) Since October 7, Biala has received many texts relating to the Hamas attack and its aftermath. In this two-part session we will study these powerful texts written by women about grieving mothers and angry grandmothers, faith and doubt, the Jewish present and past and how they interact with one another.     In the introduction to this episode, Rivkah explains the background behind women's midrashim. If you'd like to learn more, please listen to this 2022 interview with Tamar Biala about Dirshuni:  https://newbooksnetwork.com/dirshuni See a video about Leora Ayalon's granddaughter:  https://www.mako.co.il/mako-vod-keshet/heroes-s1/VOD-78a0c38dde9ec81027.htm Texts discussed in Part 1: Liora Ayalon's midrash: “The Power of a Community to Diminish Suffering in the World” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q_-NjanK-VZ5pcPePfrSoIQZUyR4qjG4ogOlh2HBadM/edit?usp=sharing Nurit Hirschfeld-Skupinsky's midrash “Midrashim of Destruction” https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ti0SrNoJHCDa6YFEo9LuVl22iFLs-q_5gw7qym_7Wa8/edit?usp=sharing Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Thousands of Lone Soldiers come from all over the world to serve in the Israeli army.  What caused these brave youngsters to leave everything and come to Israel? Where do they live? Who does their laundry when they get out for weekends? How do they pay rent?  Arlene Abrams is a mother of a lone soldier, Efraim. She talks about her son's experience in the Gaza War. Ellen Tuggle is the mother of Zack, a lone soldier who finished his army service. She tells us about her work with  Big Brother/Sister Organization. Efraim Abrams at Yom Hazikaron Ceremony 2024 Big Brother/Sister organization Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Anne Rethmann, a PhD fellow from Berlin studying at Hebrew University, explains how the notion of “dignity” entered into the discourse on human rights, and describes the gap between individual human rights and collective human rights. Anne also tells us about her personal experience on October 7, and how various countries, particularly Germany, responded to the war. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Nigun Halev is a center for Jewish life, ritual, social action, and culture. Rabbi Liora Ezrachi-Vered, Rabbi of Nigun Halev and board member of Tag Meir, talks about their work with Jewish and Arab evacuees of the Galil. https://www.facebook.com/nigunhalev Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Esther Markus, a social worker and therapist, manager of clinic resilience center of Sdot Negev, and member of Kibbutz Alumim talks to us about her experience on Oct. 7th and the work she has been doing since. The personal tragic story of her husband's death is part of the bigger story of the horrific attack of Hamas. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Hana Cooper, a digital selections collector for the National Library of Israel, collects online materials related to October 7 and the ensuing war for the massive ”Bearing Witness” project. While the library has always collected material on historical events, this is the first time it became actively involved from the start. We learn from Hana the ethical and logistical challenges of collecting, sorting and ensuring access to the vast amounts of material in both Israel and the Diaspora. All of us can get involved by finding and submitting materials that document, memorialize or preserve the events of October 7 and their aftermath.  The library recently commended Hana for her work on this project.  To learn more about the project and submit materials, go to the National Library website. Previous episodes mentioned in this podcast: With Hannah Wacholder Katsman With Dr. Sarai Aharoni Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Dr. Susan Weiss, founder and director of the Center for Women's Justice, interviews podcast host and to'enet rabbanit Rivkah Lubitch about how Jewish law might affect women in the aftermath of the Gaza war. Susan and Rivkah talk about women who might not be able to get divorced (agunot); women who might need their brother-in-law's permission to remarry (halitzah); and women who may — or may not — have been raped, and how that affects their relationships. Who might be affected adversely by Jewish law? Who might be absolved? How, if at all, will the rabbis resolve the issues raised? Will there be a systemic solution for all the cases that arise, or will each case be decided on its own? And what does the State have to do with it? Podcast interview with Hannah Wacholder Katsman on “Exit Strategy” here. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Shana Aaronson is the director of Magen, an organization that services and advocates for victims of sexual abuse in the Orthodox and ultra Orthodox Jewish communities. She speaks about the impact of the Gaza War on her work. She explains how the war has had a triggering affect on women who have experienced sexual abuse in the past; and she describes the problems of sexual harassment that have arisen in hotels that are hosting evacuees from the northern and southern borders of Israel. https://magen-israel.org/en/ Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

How do we preserve women's stories, especially those of sexual violence? Dr. Sarai Aharoni delves into the historical, ethical and feminist questions she navigates while archiving women's testimonies. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Celia Jawabreh, a feminist social activist and educator in the Arab-Israeli community, has a very painful and candid conversation with us. She tells what it is like to grow up as a woman in a patriarchal religious society, and especially how Arab women (and men) are faring since the 7th of October. We learn what it is like to be identified in public as an Arab and having Israeli Jews suspect her as being pro-Hamas. She described how shocked Israeli Arabs were by what happened on the 7th of October, and their pain at being constantly under suspicion. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.  

Leader of the Religious Kibbutz Movement Sarah Evron describes the miraculous story of how Kibbutz Sa'ad was spared on October 7th, the challenges of evacuation, and how the community has rallied together in inspiring ways. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Embedded trauma specialist Lisa Fliegel recounts working with children survivors of October 7th. Drawing on her experiences in three disparate high conflict zones—Israel, Northern Ireland and inner city Boston—Lisa shares insightful and effective ways of responding to children processing trauma. Read about Lisa's experiences with children survivors post-October 7th here. Check out Lisa's book, Bulletproof Therapist, here.   Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Why is humor the quintessential Jewish coping mechanism—even during war? Bazy Rubin talks about making funny videos of her struggles as a reservist wife and mom on the home front, and why they resonate with so many right now. Check out Bazy's funny videos on Facebook and Instagram. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Since the start of the war, Israel has drastically loosened and expedited the process for citizens to obtain gun permits. But at what cost? Social worker Tamar Schwartz of Women's Spirit shares how war affects women victims of domestic violence and warns of the deadly consequences of guns falling into the wrong hands. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

What compels a volunteer forensic pathologist to travel all the way from New Zealand to Israel? Dr. Judy Melinek speaks about the crucial role of science in bearing witness to the Hamas attacks on October 7th. Read Dr. Melinek's firsthand account here. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Why do international feminists, who champion human rights and social justice for minorities, seem to have a blind spot when it comes to antisemitism? Feminist icon Dr. Phyllis Chesler shares her experiences confronting antisemitism over decades in feminist activism and academia. Read Dr. Chesler's article on the silence of feminists regarding Hamas' use of rape as a weapon of war against Israelis.   Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

While the home front supports the military, who supports the home front? Yael Yechieli shares how an innovative volunteer database facilitates critical support for the women and families back home. Learn more about the volunteer database, Anchor for the Reserve Families, and the  50-50 Partnership for Equity. Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

Atar Maor recounts a harrowing 20 hours spent hiding in the closet with her two young children as terrorists hunted them down in Kibbutz Be'eri on October 7th. As she answers their innocent questions and makes split-second decisions to save their lives, she wonders: can she preserve their faith in humanity? Support and amplify women's voices by contributing to the making of this podcast: Donate now to the Center for Women's Justice.

As a girl growing up in Northern Israel in the 80s, Rina Levanon evacuated her home many times. Now, she must contend with wartime evacuation yet again—but this time, as a mother of three. Rina shares her experiences navigating memories of personal trauma, unexpected parenting challenges and anchoring herself in routine while her life has turned upside down.  

Sexual violence in wartime has a specific history, intent and effect. Understanding what is so different about gender-based war crimes is important, especially as we push for the international community to recognize and do something about it. We are joined by Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy, an Israeli expert in international law, human rights and gender, who recently addressed the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). In the face of exasperating denial and silence, she continues to lead efforts to agitate for the international community to acknowledge and take urgent action in response to the gender-based atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th. Watch Dr Cochav Elkayam Levy's address to the U.N.'s CEDAW: Gender-Based War Crimes in Hamas' Massacre in Israel Oct 7th 2023 Petitions to sign: 1. If you work at a women's rights, human rights, victims' organization, or legal clinic, sign here. 2. If you are an international law or human rights expert, sign here. 3. If you are a concerned individual, woman, mother or grandmother, sign here.

Our lives changed on October 7th in unimaginable ways. Hannah Wacholder Katsman joins us to grapple with a mother's worst nightmare: learning of the murder of her son, Hayim Katsman, by Hamas terrorists at his home in Kibbutz Holit. Hannah's colorful recounting of Hayim's full and spirited life contrasts starkly with the brutal way in which it was cut short.  Our heartfelt prayers are with Hannah and her family. May Hayim's memory be a blessing. Watch: CNN interview with Hayim's neighbor Avital. Hayim died shielding Avital from bullets, saving her life.  Read: Hayim's rich academic legacy

From battlefield to bomb shelter, from home front to hospital, from volunteer rosters to victims' lists - women experience war in distinctive, gendered ways. These are their stories. These are their voices. Voices of Women at Wartime is an Israeli podcast that examines how women affect war and how war affects women. These are the unique perspectives and testimonies of women in their own words—a candid conversation that is sometimes hopeful, sometimes heartbreaking, and always essential as Israel navigates wartime. Hosted by Rachel Stomel and Rivkah Lubitch of the Center for Women's Justice.