A Very Political Sukkot

By Marissa Brostoff September 26, 2007

The activist collective Jewish Women Watching has made a name for itself by theatrically exposing what members see as the narrow-minded priorities of the mainstream American Jewish community. The organization is celebrating Sukkot by sending out hundreds of politically pointed postcards designed as sukkah decorations.

The postcards juxtapose issues that, according to JWW, the community has deemed kosher (“fighting antisemitism”), and those it has labeled treyf (“fighting racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.”) The most provocative postcard contrasts the attitude toward “confronting human rights abuses against Darfurians” and “confronting human rights abuses against Palestinians.”

The aim of the postcards is not to discourage “kosher” social action but to encourage the “treyf” variety.

“The Jewish community is engaged in some really important social action work, and we want to make it clear that we appreciate that,” said a JWW member who goes by the nom de guerre Reb Beruriah (the group keeps its membership anonymous). “But we also want to make the point that the analysis is not complete. Why is the Jewish community focusing on some issues and not others?

Postcards were sent to a long list of both friends and political foes, including high-profile Jewish leaders

JWW has one more activity planned for the harvest holiday. Group members will appear at a Sukkot party hosted by the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. Despite their anonymity, you’ll recognize them: They’ll be the ones wearing owl costumes. The rest is a surprise.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO