Peli, recognized by many as the mother of Orthodox feminism, died in Yerushalayim yesterday morning at age 74. Born in New York, she made aliyah in the early 70s with her husband, Rabbi Pinchas Peli, and began a women’s minyan in her home using her own Torah scroll which led to the establishment of Congregation Yedidya in 1979.
“Pnina believed that freeing Orthodox women from discrimination was essential to the redemption of the Jewish people,” said MK Benny Elon (National Union), Peli’s son-in-law. “She was involved in Orthodox feminism at a time when it was really not popular. She was very brave.”
After much work addressing specific needs of Agunot, she organized the first conference on feminism and Orthodoxy in 1986 and, with her husband, started Shevet Yachad, an organization to encourage secular and religious Jews to come together to create a meaningful Shabbat experience.
Zichrono livracha.
(Read the full text of an article about her from Jerusalem Post by clicking here.)
Yo Amy-
Good post. When you select categories, be sure to deselect the default “uncategorized” or it messes with our technorati ratings. Thanks!
Thanks! My bad. Will do.