Leave Taking and Farewell

Dear Friends of Kolot,

I will soon be moving on to a new position, and I want first of all to thank you for your partnership in building Kolot. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as Kolot’s founding director and work with dedicated and brilliant people to bring insights from the academic study of gender and Judaism to the Jewish community through Kolot’s many programs and projects over these thirteen years. I am especially proud of Ritualwell.org, which continues to be the best resource of its kind.

It has been my distinct honor to hold the Sadie Gottesman and Arlene Gottesman Reff Chair in Gender and Judaism at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (the first academic Chair in the field) and to participate in training dynamic Jewish leaders at RRC. My colleagues and students, Kolot’s staff, and RRC staff have been exemplary for their warmth, energy, and commitment.

Beginning in September, I will hold the Ruderman Chair in Jewish Studies at Northeastern University, where I will chair the Jewish Studies program and hold an appointment in the English department. In the meantime, we will work to effect a smooth transition for Kolot.

Thank you for your confidence and support over the years. My heart is full with appreciation and gratitude. Please do stay in touch with me.

With all good wishes,

Lori Lefkovitz, Ph.D.
Director

New Book by Lori Lefkovitz 
In Scripture: The First Stories of Jewish Sexual Identities, published December 2009 by Rowman and Littlefield  (This link takes you to early endorsements.) Available from Amazon.com.

Kolot Director Receives Award
One of five honored "for finding and singing praises to God as they best understand how – and each in their own way"
2007 Religion-Outside-the-Box (ROTB) Award

Kolot.org Cited Among "Top-10 Jewish Sites for Women"
About.com Judaism Guide Lisa Katz writes, "These sites for Jewish women focus on the interests and concerns of Jewish women today. Do Judaism and feminism conflict? How do Jewish women feel about their role in Jewish prayer and ritual? ..." 

Press

Roni Handler and Lori Lefkovitz, editor and executive editor, respectively, of Ritualwell.org, write about "How Women and Girls Revitalized Jewish Ritual" in the Winter 2010 “New Jewish Ritual” edition of CONTACT, published by the Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life.

Lori Lefkovitz writes about "Reciprocal Inscription: The Jewish Body in Story and History," in the April 2009 issue of Sh'ma.

Lilith Spring 2008 issue features Kolot's Ta'anit Esther, a new national program

Rachel Tzvia Back, the 2007-2008 Kolot Wenkart Writer-in-Residence, featured in the Jewish Exponent, October 18, 2007

Lori Lefkovitz discusses Orthodox "chick lit" with the Jerusalem Report, July 23, 2007

Article by Kolot director, Lori Lefkovitz, on the theme of "Leadership and Charisma" in the December 2006 edition of Sh'ma: Journal of Jewish Responsibility, by Kolot's director, Lori Lefkovitz.

Kolot Provides Training and DV Resources to Rabbinical Students, Vol. 1 Issue 7, Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community, Jewish Women International

Defrosting Judaism: A look at the Ritualwell Web site, September 1, 2006, The Reporter, Binghamton, NY

Mikveh conference draws national crowd to Newton, June 9, 2006, The Jewish Advocate

Kolot Expands and Redesigns Web Site on Rituals, RRC Annual Report, 2006

Kolot's Director, Lori Lefkovitz, featured in Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution, an online exhibit of the Jewish Women's Archive

Sisterhood, Jewish and Otherwise, is Indeed Powerful
November 3, 2005, Jewish Exponent

Kolot's Ta'anit Esther program in Lilith

Spring 2008 issue features new Kolot national program