Jewish Feminisms/American Visions: Symposium

Symposium

Jewish Feminisms/American Visions will bring an array of pioneering and contemporary feminist activists to Ann Arbor to consider the role of Jewish identity in the framing and development of second wave American feminism. During this symposium, activists from the 1960s through today will explore the significance of Jewish identities in the development of the women's liberation movement and the impact of feminism on American Jewish culture, politics, and religion. In addition to conversations between veteran feminists and more recently-minted activists, the program will include a screening of the documentary Changing the World portraying the activist career of conference participant, Heather Booth, and a performance by violinist and klezmer music pioneer, Alicia Svigals.

8:30 - 9 AM: Registration and Continental Breakfast

9 - 10 AM: Welcome from Karla Goldman and Introduction to Symposium from Joyce Antler

10 -11:30 AM:  From Radical to Feminist with Heather Booth, Vivian Rothstein, Miriam Hawley, Marilyn Webb with Moderator Deborah Dash Moore

12 - 1:30 PM: Periphery and Core: The View from Ann Arbor with Karen Brodkin, Debra Kaufman, Elli Meeropol, Rayna Rapp with Moderator Marla Brettschneider

1:45 - 3:15 PM: Adding Jewish to Feminist with Rabbi Maralee Gordon, Clare Kinberg, Judith Plaskow, Martha Ackelsberg with Moderator Kate Rosenblatt

3:30 - 5 PM: Claiming Identities: Lesbian Jews, Radical Politics, and Secular Jewish Culture with Irena Klepfisz, Alicia Svigals, Elana Dykewomon, Evelyn Torton Beck with Moderator Alice Mishkin.

Jewish Feminisms/American Visions: Perspectives from Fifty Years of Activism

• Wednesday, March 13

  • Screening of Heather Booth: Changing the World, and discussion with Heather Booth
• Thursday, March 14
  • Symposium
  • #MeToo Panel and Performance from Alicia Svigals
• Friday, March 15
  • Symposium

• Sunday, March 17

  • Jewish Communal Leadership Program’s Annual Communal Conversation Event: The Jewish Future is Feminist 

Presented by the Jewish Communal Leadership Program and the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan with support from the University of Michigan Office of Research and Institute for Research on Women and Gender.