Wednesday, April 1

8:00 pm - 9:15 pm EDT (5:00 pm - 6:15 pm PDT)

American Orthodox Jews are an increasingly visible and vocal minority within American Judaism, wielding greater economic clout and political power than ever. Rather than exoticizing, orientalizing, or othering Orthodox Jews (as is too often the case), this session will be led by two Orthodox women whose analysis and reflections will draw upon their scholarship and experiences within their respective subcommunities: Shani Bechhofer's run for office in Ramapo after decades of leadership in haredi schooling, and Rivka Press Schwartz's work, as an educator and researcher, thinking about citizenship in the Modern Orthodox community. What is distinctive about the ways Orthodox Jews engage as American citizens, and what is reflective of broader developments in American political culture? Can there be room for political pluralism in a community bound by shared religious values and understanding, and in the face of resurgent anti-Semitism? How do Orthodox Jews map their religious values onto American politics? Is transactionalism a dirty word, or is voting one's interests the time-honored American way? How has COVID-19 sharpened these questions for Orthodox Jewry? Their conversation will explore the history, describe the present, and advocate for the future.