Observant Feminism Across Borders: The Transnational Origins of Partnership Minyanim

הלכה זהות יהודית-ישראלית יהדות התפוצות מגדר מניינים משותפים אורתודוקסיה מסורת וחידוש עמיות יהודית פמיניזם ביהדות

This empirical study explores the emergence of "partnership minyanim" (Shira Hadasha model) as a global phenomenon at the start of the 21st century. Ash argues that these congregations, which combine Orthodox liturgical structures with feminist practices, were born from intense transnational exchange between Jerusalem and New York.The research highlights how Jewish feminism originating in the United States provided the ideological drive and halakhic framework for women's inclusion, while the unique "religious ecology" of Israel provided the necessary pressure to create a distinct ritual model. Through interviews and historical analysis, the author demonstrates that migration and communication between these two centers were essential for the development of this new observant-feminist identity. Ultimately, the article presents partnership minyanim as a hybrid solution that challenges traditional Orthodox gender roles while remaining committed to halakhic norms.