By the women* you can’t see and whose voices you can’t hear

(but who are listed at the bottom of the piece to give credit to the women behind the words)

Once upon a time, there was a Jewish community with lots of organizations. These organizations had leaders, and when the leaders were ready to retire, they launched a search for their successors. The leaders retiring were men. The heads of the hiring committees, mostly consisting of men, were also men. And, most of the successors they chose were men. Then, men journalists interviewed these men about their organizations and all the sources were men. And then, one of those organizations, helmed in the past by a man who had just ceded his position to another man, held a panel to talk about serious issues in the Jewish community. That panel had four panelists: all men. Before they spoke, three other men framed the issue. Collectively, these men talked and made important proclamations about the current state of the American Jewish community. They spoke of maintaining tradition and Jewish identity while demanding that their voices be heard in the larger American landscape.

Meanwhile, in a nearby Facebook village, there was a group of bright, talented, insightful, intelligent Jewish women and non-binary people who had been working in various aspects of Jewish communal life for collective centuries. These women collectively had produced hundreds of works of literature and journalism; crafted educational curricula; led social justice movements; spoken out for equality, safety and inclusion; dismantled hierarchies and woven networks; fundraised and overseen budgets of millions, managed hundreds of employees, forged their own organizations and contributed mightily to the organizations that fuel contemporary Jewish communal life. They were rabbis and writers and educators and program directors and theologians and farmers and lawyers and professors and researchers and social activists and CEOs. They were used to being underpaid and overlooked for career advancement, and were making small strides towards the professional spotlight, which always seemed to keep moving as they approached it. In their private Facebook space, they shared empowering and deflating moments and bonded over successes and challenges. When one of them was recognized, they all rejoiced as if the triumph was theirs. And when one of them shared moments of feeling invisible, others stepped forward with their own stories, keeping them company and providing them with inspiration.

But, one week, things went too far.

With all the turnover in these Jewish communal leadership positions – some of which included C-suite level women but whose appointments weren’t considered newsworthy – they couldn’t help but wonder if women had been considered at all. And when journalists omitted women’s voices from their articles, and interviewed the former heads of organizations instead of the women who are currently in those head leadership roles, and when “manels” (i.e. all male panels) continued to proliferate seemingly unchecked, they found themselves understanding that the road ahead was vexingly brambled: to move ahead, they’d have to fight to keep history in the past and forge a different future in solidarity with each other.

Now these women were eminently capable beings. But they wondered, where was the support of men who proclaimed themselves to be feminists, allies or partners? Perhaps the coalition for equality was particularly weak because the few men who identified as and behaved like partners were on sabbatical or taking leaves of absence from social media. And then they realized: they could only name a handful of those outspoken allies. That was part of the problem.

Maybe men didn’t realize what being an ally meant – that it’s not something one can simply claim as an ideology without action. Ally is a verb.

Maybe they viewed it as a women’s fight, with men’s responsibility only to say, “I support you” and “you’ve got this.” Maybe men thought they were helping or didn’t want to be accused of playing Prince Charming, trying to rescue a damsel in distress. Maybe they didn’t want to be accused of mansplaining. Maybe they would have stepped up if they saw open misogyny, but they didn’t even notice the absence of women’s voices. This doesn’t make them bad people. But maybe men needed it spelled out for them. Because women really do need them as partners.

And so these eminently capable beings spelled it out. They said:

Having offered these concrete steps to their male colleagues, the women leaned back from their respective keyboards and thought about what might happen next. They hoped, and some believed, that the men in their lives – personally and professionally – would take the list seriously. They hoped, and some believed, that organizational leadership would understand that they could strengthen themselves by creating gender-equal representation that better reflects the population they serve. They knew that while approximately 70% of the employees of Jewish organizations are women, only 30% of the C-suite are women. They knew women who lead Jewish organizations are less likely to have the title of CEO than men who fill the same role in similar organizations.

But they still needed partners: the men who notice when the boys’ club starts making decisions over cigars and whiskey, the men who serve as gatekeepers to conversations women should be included in. They needed men to invite women to have a seat – their seat, if necessary – at the table. They needed men to acknowledge and respect their level of educational achievement and intellectual inquiry, to call them “rabbi” and “cantor” and “doctor” and “professor” or by the other titles that they have earned. That’s what being an ally looks like.

It took a while for the men who read these suggestions to understand that they were being called-in, not called-out, and to implement changes in their own lives and respective workplaces. But soon, they were working in partnership with the women whom they respected and admired to ensure diverse voices were helping to shape the Jewish future…

Boards of directors achieved gender equality, women were considered for – and, at least 50% of the time, appointed to – top positions, with equal pay. And when they saw women being erased in any form – their voices suppressed or their images digitally removed from flyers and newspapers or not being represented on expert panels – these men always spoke up, despite the emotional energy it required. When the world became a space for equality and partnership, people soon forgot it had been anything else. And as for “manels”? Well, that was never really a word to begin with – so when the concept became obsolete, no one even noticed when the word faded away.

And the men, and the women, and the gender non-conforming, and the Jews of color, and the LGBTQ Jews, and the affiliated and the unafilliated Jews, the working-class Jews, and the intermarried, the intramarried, the unmarried, and the people who didn’t define themselves by a marital stage, and the CEOs and consultants and board members and lay leaders and fundraisers and network weavers and writers and educators and everyone else all lived in a thriving Jewish community together, happily ever after.

Are you in? Because we need you with us. Share this article, use the hashtag #EquityEverAfter, tag the women leaders whose voices you admire and want to uplift, and make your own personal commitment to elevating women’s voices going forward. Let’s build this new reality together.

*By ‘women,’ we refer to cisgender women, trans women, and anyone who identifies with the term ‘woman’.

**And yes, this is bad for all women and it’s even worse for women of color and women with disabilities who disproportionately become invisible in the national conversation and every day meetings.

Co-authored by the women of the 5779: Year of the Jewish Woman Facebook Group including:

Jamie Allen Black, CEO, Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, @JamieAllenBlack

Joy Ladin, David and Ruth Gottesman Chair in English, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, @joyladin

Shifra Bronznick, Founder of Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community

Miriam Brosseau, Principal, Tiny Windows Consulting, @miriamjayne

Rachel Gildiner, Founder, 5779: Year of the Jewish Woman, @rlg131

Ginna Green, Chief Strategy Officer, Bend the Arc, @ginnagreen

Sheila Katz, CEO, National Council of Jewish Women, @SheilaKatz1

Idit Klein, CEO, Keshet

Esther Kustanowitz, Writer and Consultant, @EstherK

Sara Shapiro-Plevan, Founder, Rimonim Consulting/Co-Founder, The Gender Equity in Hiring Project @shaplev

Halie Soifer, Executive Director, Jewish Democratic Council of America, @HalieSoifer

Contributors and co–signers (organizations listed for identification purposes only):

Shaina Abrams-Kornblum, Regional Manager, Moishe House Rabbi Rachel Adler, Ellenson Professor of Modern Jewish Thought, Hebrew Union College Rabbi Julia Appel Rabbi Mona Alfi, Cong. B’nai Israel Karen Alpert, Vice President of IT Strategy and Measurement, BBYO Melissa Balaban, CEO and co-Founder, IKAR Rabbi Jessica Barolsky Rebecca Barson April N. Baskin, Racial Justice Director, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, @joyousjustice Brianna (Bree) K. Becker, PhD, @BreeSpree3 Rabbi Judith Beiner, Jewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta Laura Belinfante, Director of Digital Strategy, Repair the World Rabbi Marci Bellows, Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, @moosh2 Jamie Beran, Chief Operating Officer, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice Rabbi Leah Rachel Berkowitz, Co-President, Women’s Rabbinic Network, @rabbilrb Dana Beyer, MD, @DanaBeyer Miriam Berkowitz Blue Amanda Berman, Founder, Zioness Rabbi Ashley Berns-Chafetz Michelle Blumenberg, Executive Director, University of Arizona Hillel Foundation Heather Booth, Organizer, Democracy Partners, #hboothgo Carrie Bornstein, Executive Director, Mayyim Hayyim, @carolinering Rabbi Julie Bressler, Temple Beth Shalom Michaela Brown, Rabbinical Student, Hebrew College, @MichaelaLangB Nina Bruder Rabbi Megan Brudney Rabbi Jillian Cameron, @jillianrc Jen Cohen, Cantor Amber Caulkins, Director, Rising Tide Open Waters Mikveh Network , Mayyim Hayyim, @A_Caulkins Rabbi Judy Cohen-Rosenberg Rachel Chertkoff, Deputy Executive Director, CJPAC, @chertky Jessica Chavi Cohen, Orthodox Activist, Former Federation Community Relations Director, @JessCohen18 Rabbi Glynis Conyer Julia Crantz, Executive Director, Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation Carrie Darsky, VP, Talent Acquisition, Hillel International Andrea Deck Emilia Diamant Rabbi Faith Joy Dantowitz Sarah Cohen Domont, Executive Director, Santa Cruz Hillel Rabbi Megan Doherty, @RabbiMegan Rabbi Jessy Dressin Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Congregation Kol Ami, @deniseeger Rebecca Einstein Schorr, Interim Associate Director of Religious and Spiritual Life/Jewish Chaplain, Lafayette College, @RebeccaSchorr Rachel Eisen, Director of Development (Mayyim Hayyim) / Co-Founder (Mentoring For Equity), Mayyim Hayyim / Mentoring For Equity Karen Erlichman, DMin, LCSW Lievnath Faber, CEO/founder, Oy Vey Amsterdam Joan Glazer Farber, Rabbi-Executive Director, Derekh: A Pathway into Adult Jewish Learning Sarah D. Feinberg, Senior Director, Planning and Administration, NCJW Elizabeth Feldman Sarah Flatto, Training & Outreach Manager, Ta’amod: Stand Up! Erica Frankel Rabbi Ariel J. Friedlander, @ravaj Rabbi Suri Friedman Carla Friend, Founder & Executive Director, Tkiya Rabbi Serena Fujita Beth Gendler, Executive Director, NCJW Minnesota Rabbi Kim Geringer Amanda Glucklich Eden Gobuty Faustine Goldberg-Sigal Raina Goldberg Malka Goldberg Suzy Goldenkranz Anna Goldstein, Outreach and Teen Philanthropy Coordinator, Milwaukee Jewish Federation, @aegoldstein15 Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman Emily Goodstein, CEO + Founder, Greater Good Strategy, @EmilyGoodstein Alyssa Gorenberg, Program Coordinator, Moishe House Rabbi Amy Greenbaum, Beth El Congregation of the South Hills Cindy Greenberg, Repair the World Erica Greenblatt, Director of Development, ADL, @ecca_g Rishe Groner, Founder, The Gene-Sis; Rabbinical student, Jewish Theological Seminary, @thegenesisters Naama Haviv, Director of Development and Community Relations, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, @naamahaviv Suzanne Baron Helming, Treasurer, University of Arizona Hillel Monica Herman, Senior Director, Marketing, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Rabbi Joui Hessel Elizabeth Heyman Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt Laura Hyman Leora W. Isaacs, Ph.D., Isaacs Consulting LLC, @Aroel Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director, T’ruah, @rabbijilljacobs Meredith Jacobs, COO, JWI Rabbi Suzie Jacobson, Temple Israel, Boston, @suziess Rabbi Marisa James, Director of Social Justice Programming, CBST, @marisaelana Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Deputy Director, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, @rkahntroster Rabbi Beth Kalisch, Beth David Reform Congregation Allyson Kapin, Founder, Rad Campaign and Women Who Tech, @radcampaign @womenwhotech Malki Karkowsky, Director of Women’s Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Amanda Katz, Executive Director, Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse Julia E. Katz Nancy K. Kaufman, Immediate Past CEO, NCJW, @NKKaufman Rabbi Jessica Kirschner, Executive Director, Hillel at Stanford Rabbi Beth Klafter, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth David, Commack, NY Larisa Klebe, Director of Nishmah, The J – St. Louis Rabbi Elisa F. Koppel, Director of Lifelong Learning, Congregation Beth Emeth, Wilmington, DE, @rabbiisa Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, Beit Ahavah Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein, @Shirakoch Danielle Kranjec Mimi Kravetz, Chief Talent Officer, Hillel International Lisa Alter Krule, Chicago Director, Moving Traditions Daphne Lazar-Price, Executive Director, Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, @daphne_price Abby J. Leibman, President & CEO, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger Rabbi Danielle Leshaw Naomi Less, Founding Ritual Leader and Associate Director, Lab/Shul, @Jchicksrock Jamie Levine Daniel, Assistant Professor, IUPUI, jamielevdan Abby Levine, Director, Jewish Social Justice Roundtable, @absindc Renanit R. Levy, Principal, R.Levy Consulting Sarah Livingston, Executive Director, Hillel at Ohio University Annie Lumerman, Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Mandel ,Executive Director, jGirls Magazine Elisheva Massel Molly D. May, @themol13 Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler Ruth Messinger, Consultant Deborah Meyer, CEO, Moving Traditions Sara Miller-Paul, Co-Founder, Mentoring for Equity – https://mentoringforequity.wordpress.com SooJi Min-Maranda, Executive Director, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal Liza Moskowitz, MHWOW Associate Director, Moishe House Carin Mrotz, Executive Director, Jewish Community Action, @mrotzie Rabbi Lea Muhlstein, Chair, Arzenu – International Federation of Reform and Progressive Religious Zionists Jordan Namerow, Founder, Jordan Namerow Communications Dana B. Narter, Ph.D. Kate Belza O’Bannon, Director of Strategy, Repair the World Yadaena Osband Libby Parker, Executive Director, Jewfolk, Inc. @libbygparker Nancy Parkes, Founder JTeachNOW Rabbi Ita Paskind Rabbi Salem Pearce, Rabbi, Director of Organizing, T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, @salempearce Rabbi Hara Person, Central Conference of American Rabbis, @haperson Rachael Petru, Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, Hillel at UCLA Liz Polay-Wettengel, Vice President of Digital Strategy and Content, InterfaithFamily @LizPW Rabbi Audrey S. Pollack, Solel Congregation Meredith Polsky, Matan Lauren Post, Senior Researcher Rabbi Sally J. Priesand, Rabbi, @rabbisally1 Erika Purdy-Patrick, Associate Director of Community Engagement Jaime Reich Stefanie Rhodes, @stefanierhodes Judith Rosenbaum, Executive Director, Jewish Women’s Archive, @jahr Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, @TheRaDR Rabbi Sara Sapadin Rabbi Simone Schicker, @RavRainbow Jamie Schiffman, Vice President & Managing Director, Schusterman International Center, Hillel Dena Farber Schoenfeld, Branlyn Consulting Solutions Haley Schreier, Manager of Engagement and Outreach, Michigan Hillel Michele Schulman, New York Regional Manager, Moishe House Charlene Seidle, Executive Vice President, Leichtag Foundation Rebecca Sendor-Israel, Lay Leader Tilly Shames, Executive Director, University of Michigan Hillel Mollie Sharfman, Deputy Chief Program Officer – Educating for Impact/Director of Programming – Muslim Jewish Interfaith Coalition, Educating for Impact and the Muslim Jewish Interfaith Coalition Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner, Beth Tikvah Rachel Siegal Emma Silver Gila Silverman, PhD Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu, Co-Founder, Gender Equity in Hiring Project, @rabbirebecca Helene Sinnreich, Director, Fern and Manfred Steinfeld Program in Judaic Studies, University of Tennessee, @another_idea Rabbi Marjorie Slome, West End Temple Devon Spier, Student Rabbi Rabbi Abby Stein, author, @abbychavastein Rachel Sumekh, CEO & Founder, Swipe Out Hunger, @rachelsumekh Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman, author, researcher, activist, @jewfem Rabbi Shoshanah Tornberg, Old York Road Temple – Beth Am Danielle Trainis, Moishe House Rabbi Dr. Kari Tuling, Rabbi and author, Congregation Kol Haverim, @ravkari Rebecca Tullman Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath, @Sam_Vinokor Katie Vogel, co-founder Havayah @katharinevogel Rabbi Miriam Wajnberg, @mirishira Rabbi Becca Walker Rabbi Debi Wechsler Naomi Korb Weiss, Senior Consultant, TCC Group Sharon Weiss Greenberg, @notoriuswg Rabbi Paula Jayne Winnig Rebecca Youngerman, Principal & Founder, RGY Consulting Rabbi Mary Zamore, Executive Director, Women’s Rabbinic Network Rabbi Deborah Zecher Rabbi Lina Zerbarini, Kehillath Shalom Synagogue

Updated: August 20th with additional co–signers – Listed in chronological order (of co–signing)