CBST Feminist Programming

CBST Feminist Programming

In August 1991 the newsletter began to feature a full page of feminist programming.

CBST Archives

CBST FEMINIST PROGRAMMING
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

FEMINIST
PROGRAMMING:
A RE-INTRODUCTION

CBST is 18 years old, CBST's Feminist
Programming is 6 months old; Maze!
Tov 10 both! We began re-introducing
feminist programming to CBST just after the
high holidays last year. As remarkable as the
total numbers of people who attend our high
holiday services (upwards of 1400
individuals), many do not return to CBST on a
regular basis or do not get actively involved.
CBST is a remarkable synagogue; it provides
varied opportunities for leadership and
involvement regardless of political or
socioeconomic status.

One third of our membership is women and
through discussions with many we found some
common thoughts. There is a need to deal with
the issues beyond egalitarianism; women want
a piece of our herstory (history), and want 10
learn and include more about Rebeccah's,
Leah's, Ruth's, Naomi's, and Miriam's roles in
Judaism. In addition, many women who
belong to CBST do not know how to
participate - either because they lack religious
training or have not had the opportunity to
share in religious rituals.

CBST's Feminist Programming has begun 10
address some of these needs. Our objective is
not solely lesbian outreach; many of those
involved include feminist men as well! Our
planning is based on integrating feminist
programming in our synagogue.

CBST's greatest strength is in its diversity and
commitment to learning, growing and
developing and meeting the needs of our
members. We thank the Board of Trustees for
their continued support and strongly encourage
every to get involved in the diverse programs
you see written about here. Join us!

SHABBAT SERVICES

The CBST Feminist Shabbat Service is
an eq,loratory, alternative minyan open
to different forms of prayer and
dedicated to creating a participatory
environment. We emphasize the various uses
of God images and language and we use new
and exisring liturgy as we explore prayer and
song. We develop and build these services
together with no pre-requisite beyond an
inleral in learning and sharing together. We
make no assumptions within the confines of
the Feminist Service. We teach and we learn
together as we travel through the celebration of
Shabbat. We sit in a circle, facing each other
and we sing much of our service. Monthly
participation has ranged from 50 10 76 and the
service is attended by men as well as women.
Come join us in prayer, in thought, and in song
on 8/16, 9/20, 10/18, 11/15 and 12/20 at 6:30p.

LITERARY GROUP

Those who allend C.B.S.T.'s monthly
feminist literary group have different
religious upbringings and education.
Some are just beginning to explore what it
means to be both a feminist and a Jew, while
others have been anempting 10 reconcile their
feminism with their Judaism for many years.
What brings this diverse group of individuals
together is a strong desire 10 learn more about
feminis1 Judaism as well as to share the
struggles and joys of learning in a supportive,
intellectually stimulating atmosphere.

So far, the group has focused on Judith
Plaskow's landmark book, Standing Again at
Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Perspective.
The book, divided into sections on Torah,
Israel, God, Sexuality, and Repair of the
World, has inspired lively conversation which
includes participants' personal narratives as
well as reactions to and questions about
Plaskow's ideas. Upcoming meetings are 8/23,
9/27, 10/25, 11/22 and 12/13 at 6:30p.

ROSH CHODESH:
WOMEN'S LIFE CYCLE
CELEBRATIONS

A group of four women first met in
January of 1991 to discuss the
possibility of creating a space for
women to discuss the paths and stages of our
lives as they relate to us as Jews. Out of that
discussion evolved the CBST Rosh Chodesh
Group (the only lesbian Rosh Chodesh group
in existence) - a monthly Jewish celebration of
women's life cycle events.

Rosh Chodesh, the celebration of the new
moon, has throughout the history of the Jewish
people been a special holiday for women.
Legend has it that women were honored with
this holiday because our foremothers did not
participate in worshipping the golden calf.
Since that time, Jewish women have refrained
from work on that day.

The past six Rosh Chodesh celebrations have
dealt with such topics as menstruation and
menopause, coming out as a lesbian,
childbirth, the lives of our mothers and
grandmothers, loss and grieving, and death and
rebirth from a woman's perspective. We also
create new rituals that help us find new ways
of relating to God. The celebrations are
scheduled for 8/21, 9/11, 10/16, 11/20 and
12/18 at 7:30p. Please join us.

ANTHOLOGY READING

Adrienne J. Smith's reading of "First Of
All I'm Jewish, The Rest Is
Commentary", her contribution to the
anthology Lesbians At Midlife: The Creative
Transition, elicited responses of affirmation
and understanding from many of the more than
35 women and men who attended an evening
of readings from the book at CBST on
Thursday night, June 20th.

The audience was treated to a sampling of
diverse voices sharing their perspectives on
lesbian midlife, including Ronnie Lesser, who
reported on the lesbian baby boom and
lesbians not choosing parenthood; Clare Coss,
who gave us insights on the advantages and
disadvantages of the single status and Joyce
Warshaw, a CBST member and one of the
three editors, who shared her personal
experience of her mothers aging and death. A
lively discussion period followed the authors'
presentation. Lesbians at Midlife which
includes prose, poetry, first person accounts
and research articles is by mid-life lesbians but
is for all lesbians their friends and families.

SEE THE GENERAL CBST
CALENDAR FOR ALL
UPCOMING EVENTS!
•••••••••••••••••••••
For further information call:
Catherine Sull
212-945-0832 or
Yolanda Potasinski
516-466-3420 or
CBST at 212-929-9498.