Inspiring women to shape communal understanding

In May 2025, JOFA Australia held its first ever Writers’ Retreat for Orthodox Jewish women. We brought together ten women from Melbourne and Perth for a weekend of Torah study, creative writing, and reflection. The focus was simple but important: helping women tell their personal stories, particularly around their health. Set in a gorgeous house overlooking the Yarra Valley the retreat was a perfect opportunity to spend Shabbat reflecting on how more orthodox women can get their voices into print.

On our retreat, we hosted workshops on how to shape an essay, how to find your story, and how to reflect Jewishly and personally at the same time. There were Torah learning sessions, a guest masterclass with award-winning author Elise Esther Hearst, and quiet time built in for writing and thinking. Most importantly, it was a space where Orthodox women could speak honestly, about their bodies, their experiences, their challenges, and their resilience.

A quick look around any Jewish bookshelf around the world will show that there are surprisingly few books written by women that talk about women’s experiences within the orthodox tradition. Each woman who came on the retreat brought her own voice, story, and insight. Some wrote about their relationship with their bodies. Others explored the physical and emotional demands of motherhood, fertility, or chronic illness. Across the board, what emerged was strong, thoughtful writing that mattered and that deserved to be heard.

In orthodox communities, we often speak about the value of women’s roles, but we don’t always give women the space or support to share their lived experiences. Health is still too often a topic discussed in whispers, especially when it intersects with the female body, mental wellbeing, or anything considered “private.” But women live these realities every day. We carry them quietly. And when we do speak up, our insights have the power to shape communal understanding, policy, and halachic thinking.

That’s why this retreat wasn’t just about writing. It was about recognising that women’s voices are essential to the health of our communities.