Blu Greenberg (born January 21, 1936, in Seattle, with the name Bluma Genauer, later legally changing her first name to Blu) is an American writer specializing in modern Judaism and women's issues. Her most noted books are ''On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition'' (1981), and ''Black Bread: Poems, After the Holocaust'' (1994).
She has a B.A. in political science from Brooklyn College, an MA in clinical psychology from the
City University of New York
The City University of New York ( CUNY; , ) is the Public university, public university system of Education in New York City, New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States, comprising 25 campuses: eleven Upper divis ...
, and an MS in
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, and their nation, religion, and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions, and cultures. Although Judaism as a religion first appears in Greek records during the Hellenisti ...
from
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private Orthodox Jewish university with four campuses in New York City.["About YU]
on the Yeshiva Universit ...
. She is married to
Irving Greenberg
Irving Yitzchak Greenberg (born May 16, 1933), also known as Yitz Greenberg, is an American scholar, author and rabbi. He is known as a strong supporter of Israel, and a promoter of greater understanding between Judaism and Christianity.
Early ...
,
who is also a well-known author and professor.
Greenberg is active in the movement to bridge
Judaism
Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...
and
feminism
Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
. In February 1973, she gave the opening address at the first National Jewish Women's Conference, which was held in New York City.
In 1997 and 1998, she chaired the first and second International Conference on Feminism and Orthodoxy, and she is the founder and the first president of the
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) is an Open Orthodox Jewish organization providing educational services on women's issues, with the aim of expanding "the spiritual, ritual, intellectual, and political opportunities for women within ...
. She has also tried to build bridges between women of different faiths by helping to set up "Women of Faith", and by her involvement in the "Dialogue Project", which seeks to unite Jewish and
Palestinian
Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...
women. She has lectured at universities and to Jewish communities in the United States and elsewhere.
She also created the famous saying, "Where there's a rabbinic will, there's a
halakhic
''Halakha'' (; he, הֲלָכָה, ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws which is derived from the written and Oral Torah. Halakha is based on biblical commandm ...
way."
She received the ''Woman Who Made A Difference'' award on January 26, 2000, from the American Jewish Congress Commission for Women's Equality during a ceremony at the Israeli
Knesset
The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...
in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
.
Blu Greenberg's papers and her audiovisual collection are held at the
, a research library at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University.
Publications
*(2004) Chapter 16 of Transforming the Faiths of our Fathers: Women who Changed American Religion. Edited by Ann Braude.
*(2000)
Orthodox Feminism and the Next Century'. Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility. Vol.30/no.568.
*(1998) King Solomon and Queen of Sheba. Pitspopany Press; Book & Toy edition:
*(1994) Black Bread: Poems, After the Holocaust. Ktav Publishing House.
*(1992) ''Is Now the Time for Orthodox Women Rabbis?''. ''Moment'' Dec. 1992: 50-53, 74.
*(1985) How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household. Fireside.
*(1984) ''Will There Be Women Rabbis?''. ''Judaism'' 33.1 (Winter 1984): 23-33.
*(1981) On Women and Judaism: A View from Tradition. Jewish Publication Society of America.
*(1976)
Feminism: Is It Good for the Jews?'. ''Hadassah'', April 1976.
*(1974)
Abortion--We Need Halachic Creativity'. Sh'ma: A Journal of Jewish Responsibility. Vol.5/no.81.
See also
*
Jewish feminism
Jewish feminism is a movement that seeks to make the religious, legal, and social status of Jewish women equal to that of Jewish men in Judaism. Feminist movements, with varying approaches and successes, have opened up within all major branch ...
*
Role of women in Judaism
The role of women in Judaism is determined by the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law (the corpus of rabbinic literature), by custom, and by cultural factors. Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature mention various female role models, religio ...
*
Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA) is an Open Orthodox Jewish organization providing educational services on women's issues, with the aim of expanding "the spiritual, ritual, intellectual, and political opportunities for women within ...
*
Ms. (magazine)#Advertising policy (about a 2008 incident that Greenberg commented on)
References
External links
Greenberg profileon ''
Beliefnet
Beliefnet is a lifestyle website featuring editorial content related to the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news, and entertainment.
History
Launched in 1999 by Steven Waldman and Robert Nylen, Beliefnet ...
''
Blu Greenberg, b.1936article at the
Jewish Women's Archive
The Jewish Women's Archive (JWA) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to document "Jewish women's stories, elevate their voices, and inspire them to be agents of change."
JWA was founded by Gail Twersky Reimer in 1995 in Brookli ...
"Orthodox, Feminist, and Proud of it" Belief.net, undated, retrieved January 27, 2006
Articles by Blu Greenbergon the Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner
Short biography of Greenberg(among other board members) on the website of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greenberg, Blu
1936 births
American feminists
American Orthodox Jews
Jewish American writers
Orthodox Jewish feminists
American Jewish theologians
Living people
Brooklyn College alumni
Graduate Center, CUNY alumni
Yeshiva University alumni
Women Jewish theologians
Jewish ethicists
21st-century American Jews