In this issue: The pleasure of politics: Joan Roth photographs female candidates; Gloria Feldt, Nancy Ratzan, Rachel Tiven and others declare what issues stir them up. A new ritual uses havdalah imagery to separate an autistic son from his diagnosis, making sure the congregation welcomes him. Why, at 16, an aspiring writer quit as Anzia Yezierska’s literary assistant. Yes, an Israeli guide to masturbation.
Which political imperatives drive you right now? Answers from Gloria Feldt, Nancy Ratzan, Rachel Tiven, Jane Kanarek, Catherine Schneider and Stefanie Greenberg.
photos and commentary by Joan Roth
Peripatetic photographer Joan Roth follows some of the women who’ve heated up this political season. Their energies might just fuel our future.
by Maira Kalman
The artist who brought us New Yorkistan rummages around in her native Israel, painting what and whom she finds there. Even in uncertain times, some beautiful things haven't changed.
poetry by Lois Roisman
poetry by Lyn Lifshin
fiction by Shoham Smith, translated by Naomi Danis
Read her for the first time ever in English, translated for Lilith by Naomi Danis.
fiction by Shoham Smith, translated by Naomi Danis
by Karen Gilat
People often resist reaching out to families who have kids with autism--and there are a lot. A mother familiar with this isolation propses a ritual, recasting Havdalah, to welcome autistic children into the Jewish community.
by Patricia Averbach
Why, at 16, Averbach cut short her career as literary assistant to the author of Bread Givers, Hungry Heart and Salome of the Tenements.
Rahel the Poet (1890 – 1931) was muse to a revolution, and lover to the first leaders of Israel. Meet her now, while the biopic is in production.
Emily Seife on "The Book of Dahlia"
Molly Abramowitz on "The Pale of Settlement"
Sara Meirowitz on "Fucking Daphne: Mostly True Stories and Fictions"
Phyllis Holman Weisbard on "Jewish Women: A Comprehensive Historical Encyclopedia"
Tammy Hepps on "Kyra"
Jordana Horn on "The Triumph of Deborah by Eva Etzioni-Halevy"
Liz Kilstein on "My Enemy’s Cradle"
Anne R. Lewis on "God in the Wilderness: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the Great Outdoors with the Adventure Rabbi"
Melanie Weiss on "Righteous Indignation: A Jewish Call for Justice"
Claire Sufrin on "Surprised by God: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Religion"
Rachel Barenblat on "For the Love of God: The Bible as an Open Book"
Idra Novey on "Telephone Ringing in the Labyrinth"