THIS IS MY PRAYER—VA’ANI TEFILLATI:
JEWISH WOMEN IN PRAYER

9:15 am Registration

9:45–10:50 am Welcome: Dr. Anne Lapidus Lerner, Founding Director, Program in Jewish Women’s Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary

Plenary Keynote Address – JTS Jack and Lewis Rudin Lecture
“Jewish Women’s Prayers Are Coming Home!”

Dr. Aliza Lavie, Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, and Research Associate, The Hadassah- Brandeis Institute

11:00-11:50 am Simultaneous Learning Sessions

1. History of Women's Prayer

Dr. Chava Weissler, Philip and Muriel Berman Professor of Jewish Civilization, Lehigh University
Dr. Aliza Lavie, Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, and Research Associate, The Hadassah- Brandeis Institute

2. Creating Prayer

Merle Feld, Founding Director, The Rabbinic Writing Institute
Cantor Benjie-Ellen Schiller, Professor of Cantorial Arts, Hebrew Union College School of Sacred Music
Rabbi Susan Schnur, Senior Editor, Lilith Magazine

3. Creating Ritual

Dr. Vanessa Ochs, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

4. Traditional and Non-Traditional Mikveh Rituals

Anita Diamant, Author and Founder/President, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Paula J Brody & Family Education Center

5. Prayer Quilting

Heather Stoltz, Fiber artist, http://www.sewingstories.com/

6. The Theology of Personal Prayer

Rivka Haut, Faculty, Academy for Jewish Religion
Rabbi Joy Levitt, Executive Director of the JCC in Manhattan
Rabbi Abby Sosland, Solomon Schechter High School, Hartsdale, NY

7. Halakhic Considerations in Innovating Prayer

Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Author of Rereading the Rabbis, A Woman's Voice
Lisa Schlaff, Curriculum Coordinator of Judaic Studies, SAR High School
Devorah Zlochower, JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance)

12:00-12:45 pm Lunch and networking

1:00– 1:50 pm Simultaneous Learning Sessions

1. History of Women's Prayer

Dr. Chava Weissler, Philip and Muriel Berman Professor of Jewish Civilization, Lehigh University
Dr. Aliza Lavie, Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, and Research Associate, The Hadassah- Brandeis Institute

2. Prayer as Healing

Hazzan Danielle Ben Simhon, Midway Jewish Center, Syosset, NY
Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Executive Director, Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Renée Septimus, Educator, 92nd Street Y Adult Jewish Education

3. Creating Ritual

Dr. Vanessa Ochs, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

4. Traditional and Non-Traditional Mikveh Rituals

Anita Diamant, Author and Founder/President, Mayyim Hayyim Living Waters Community Mikveh and Paula J Brody & Family Education Center

5. Prayer Quilting

Heather Stoltz, Fiber artist, http://www.sewingstories.com/

6. The Theology of Personal Prayer

Arlene Agus, Jewish educator, Jewish Child Care Association & The Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning
Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, Author and editor of Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope and Out of the Depths I Call to You
Dr. Lori Lefkovitz, Gottesman Professor of Gender and Judaism, and Director, Kolot, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College

7. Halakhic Considerations in Innovating Prayer

Dr. Adena Berkowitz, Founder, Kol HaNeshamah: the Center for Jewish Life and Enrichment
Rabbi Judith Hauptman, Author of Rereading the Rabbis, A Woman's Voice
Rosh Kehila Dina Najman, Mara D’atra, Kehilat Orach Eliezer, New York, NY

2:00 – 2:30 pm Intra-group meetings

2:40 – 3:30 pm Prayer and Community
An Interdenominational Conversation

Moderator: Blu Greenberg, Founding president of JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance)
Panelists: Rabbi Debra Cantor, Congregation Bnai Sholom, Newington, CT
Madrichah Ruhanit (Religious Mentor) Sara Hurwitz, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, NY
Rabbi Shira Milgrom, Congregation Kol Ami, White Plains, NY
Rabbi Yael Ridberg, West End Synagogue, New York, NY

3:30 pm Closing Celebration

Debbie Friedman, composer, singer, teacher

Closing Words

Dr. Anne Lapidus Lerner, Founding Director, Program in Jewish Women’s Studies, The Jewish Theological Seminary

The best way to get around Manhattan is often public transportation. If you can use it, you may find things easier.

Public Transportation Directions:

Penn Station:

Trains arrive at and depart from Penn station on both the Long Island Railroad and AMTRAK.
Take the 1 train from 34 Street - Penn Station Station heading Uptown toward Van Cortlandt Park.
Get off at 59 Street - Columbus Circle
Exit near intersection of Broadway and W 60th St.
*Walk west on W 60th St away from Central Park, toward the Hudson River.
When you come to the end, which is West End Ave., make a right turn. The school is on the right.

Port Authority (Midtown)

Both inter-city and commuter buses arrive at and depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Take the A train from 42 Street Station heading Uptown toward Inwood - 207 St
Get off at 59 Street - Columbus Circle
Exit near intersection of Broadway and W 60th St
Follow directions from asterisk above.

Grand Central::

Both commuter and long-distance trains arrive at and depart from Grand Central Terminal
Take the S train from 42 Street station heading to Times Square.
Get off at Times Square and change to the 1 train heading Uptown toward Van Cortlandt Park.
Get off at 59 Street - Columbus Circle.
Exit near intersection of Broadway and W 60th St.
Follow directions from asterisk above.

Parking at Local Garages and Rates:

1. CPS- 641 W 59th St (Between West End and West Side Highway) $10- 12 hours
2. CPS- 1 West End Ave. (Between 59th and 60th) $10-12 hours
3. MT 57- 601 W 57th St. (Between 11th and West Side Highway) $10- 12 hours