Vanessa OchsVanessa Ochs, MFA, Ph.D..
(Drew University) Associate Professor, Ida and Nathan Kolodiz Director of Jewish Studies, Jewish Studies, Anthropology of Religion.
Office: 449 Cabell Hall
434-924-6722
email: vlo4n@virginia.edu
UVa instructor ID # 8131
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~vlo4n/

Material culture and the study of religion, women in Judaism, Jewish spirituality and healing, new Jewish rituals.

Education

  • Ph.D. Religion and Society, Drew University 2000
  • M.Phil. Religion and Society, Drew University 1998
  • Intensive Torah Study, Pardes Institute, Jerusalem , Israel (1988)
  • M.F.A. Theater (Writing and Directing), Sarah Lawrence College (1977)
  • B.A. French and Drama Tufts University (1974)

Courses

Spring 2005

  • Leave

Fall 2004

  • RELJ 203  Introduction to Judaic Traditions

Spring 2004

  • RELJ 339  Jewish Feminism
  • RELG 400C Majors Seminar: Material Culture

Fall 2003

  • RELG 537  Judeo/Christian Food
  • RELJ 374  American Jewish Literature

Publications

Books

Chapters of Books

  • “Women and Ritual Artifacts,” in Women of the Wall eds. Phyllis Chesler and Rivka Haut, (Jewish Lights: 2003)
  •  Introduction to The Rituals and Practices of a Jewish Life: edited by Olitsky and Judson (Jewish Lights: 2002)
  •  “Jewish healing in the contexts of friendship in Talmud and ritual practice” in Take My Hand (Hadassah Department of Education: 2002)
  •  “ Women’s Studies and Jewish Studies ” in Hatishma Kol i (Yediot Ahronot: 2001)
  •  “The Contemporary Haggadah” and “Rituals of Mourning” in Religious Practices in America , ed. Colleen McDannell. ( Princeton University Press: 2001)
  •  “It’s a Small World After All, It’s a Small World After All, It’s a Small World After All, It’s a Small, Small World” in Disney and Religion , eds. L. Zoloth-Dorfman and S. Harak, (Oxford University Press: forthcoming)
  •  “Homecoming,” “Teamwork,” “Sustaining Family Ties,” “Balancing Feeling and Reason,” “A New Thanksgiving Ritual,” in Restful Reflections: Nighttime Inspirations to Calm the Spirit , eds. Lori Forman and Kerry Olitsky, (Jewish Lights Press: 2001)
  •  “We Knew the Deal” in Prayers for a Thousand Years , eds. Elias Amidon and Elizabeth Roberts, Harper SanFrancisco (San Francisco: 1999)
  •  “Not in My Backyard” in The Norton Reader (eleventh edition), (W. Norton and Co: 1999)
  •   “Tamar” in The Book of Women’s Sermons: Hearing God in Each Other’s Voices
  • ed. Eugenia Lee Hancock, (Putnam: 1999)
  •  "Reading Ruth: Where Are the Women?" in Reading Ruth , eds. J. Kates and G. Riemer (Ballentine: 1994)
  •  "Reading Torah" in Lifecycles , ed. Debra Orenstein (Jewish Lights Press: 1997)
  •  “Reframing Definitions of Continuity” At the Crossroads: Shaping Our Jewish Future . (Wilstein Institute of Jewish Policy Studies: 1995)
  •  "Taking Women's Diaries Seriously," in A Women's Diary Miscellany , ed. Jane Begos (Magic Circle Press:1990)

Edited journals:

  • Guest Editor, volume 9: summer 2005. Jewish Women’s Spirituality for Nashim ( Brandies University/University Press of Indiana
  • Guest Editor, volume 10: winter 2006. Jewish Women’s Spirituality for Nashim ( Brandies University/University Press of Indiana

Edited books:

  • Lashon Hakodesh: Holy Words (CLAL- The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership: 2000)
  • Shehecheyanu: Reaching Each Moment (CLAL: 1999)
  • Renew the Old, Sanctify the New (CLAL: 1998)
  • In the Name of Heaven (CLAL: 1997)
  • Torah of Life (CLAL: 1996)
  • These are the Words (CLAL: 1995)

Published Curricula

  • Cultural Inventory : An Introduction to Religion and Material Culture (CLAL: 1995)
  • Heal Us and We shall be Healed: A Course in Jewish Healing (CLAL: 1996)
  • The Outstretched Arm: A Comprehensive Course in Ancient and Modern Jewish Texts and Traditions in Jewish Healing ( CLAL:1997)

Essays and Articles in Jewish Studies

  • "Where's the Love" New Jersey Jewish News, June 2006  http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/052506/nbtWheresTheLove.html
  • “Waiting for the Messiah, a Tambourine in her Hand” Nashim Spring 2005
  • Introduction, Nashim 9 , Spring 2005
  • Introduction, Nashim 10, Fall 2005
  • “Ten Jewish Sensibilities,” Shma, Dec 2003, (with debates by scholars and educators) also made available on www.shma.com , www.clal.org , reprinted by Project Kesher in Russian
  • “Love and Intermarriage,” New Jersey Jewish N ews, (Oct 2003) JewishFamilyLife.com
  • “Miriam’s Cup” American Jewish Feminism (working title) edited by Riv Ellen Prell, ( Wayne State Pres, forthcoming)
  • “The Proper Blessing for Terror” Sh’ma December 2001
  • “When Jews Make End of Life Decisions” , Derekh CLAL on-line weekly webzine: 2001, Baltimore Jewish News
  • When We Become the Olden Days E- CLAL on-line weekly webzine , 2000, MetroWest Jewish News
  • “Power Beads and Torah” E-CLAL 2000:
  • “Jewish Life Along the Oregon Trail E-CLAL 2000:
  • You Are What You Hang E-CLAL 2000:
  • Walls Within Community E-CLAL 2000:
  • Interfaith Judaica: The "Kosher-Style Ketubah” E-CLAL 2000, The Forward (NY) August 2000, Ha’Artez ( Israel ) August 2000
  • “Va’yeshev ” Beliefnet.com, December 2000
  • “ Toldot ” Beliefnet.com, December 2000
  • “Role Models for Jewish Girls, ” Sh’ma , March 1999
  • “What Makes a Jewish Home Jewish? ” Electronic Journal for the Study of Religion and Material Culture Spring 1999.
  • “What Makes a Jewish Home Jewish? ” Crosscurrents, Winter 2000
  • “The Jewelry of Jewry” in Sh’ma, Feb, 4, 1998
  • “Brave Hearts” The Outstretched Arm : Journal of the National Center for Jewish Healing, Fall 1998
  • "Shma Minah" Sh’ma , Fall 1997
  • "Home" Sh’ma, Spring, 1977
  • "Feminist Prayer," On the Issues , Spring 1997
  • "Not in My Backyard," Tikkun , Summer 1993
  • "Escape from Peril" Congress Monthly , Nov/Dec 1990
  • "Women Finally Decode Jewish Law" Lilith , vol. 15, no. 3, Summer 1990
  • "Jewish Feminist Scholarship Comes of Age" Lilith , vol. 15, no. 1, Winter 1990
  • "Words from Jerusalem ," Congress Monthly, July 1988
  • "Recollecting Bitburg" Congress Monthly , March/April 1987
  • "A is for Autopsy," Moment , November 1986
  • "A Guide to the Perplexed Jewish Woman" (with P. Ochs), Melton Journal , Summer 1985; Religion and Intellectual Life , Spring 1986
  • "Flying in the Face of Terror," Congress Monthly , Spring 1986, Syracuse Jewish Observer ,'86
  • "Prayer Symposium," New Traditions, Summer 1986
  • "Ripple Effect," Moment , October 1985
  • "Advertising the Holy Land," Syracuse Jewish Observer , Dec. 1984, Congress Monthly, Jan1985; Baltimore Jewish Times, Spring 1985
  • "The Case of the Islamic Museum, a Pretty Woman and a Balcony", Moment, April 1984
  • "Yavneh," Melton Journal , Winter 1983

Reviews

  • New works on Jewish marriage and divorce (Netter, Olitsky and Jungreis) for Sh’ma , Summer 2003
  • The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel, Beliefnet.com , December 2000
  • How to be a Jewish Parent by Anita Diamant and Karen Kushner for Beliefnet.com December 2000
  • The Nine Commandments by David Noel Freedman for Beliefnet.com October 2000
  • Being Jewish by Ari Goldman for The Forward, October 8, 2000, Ha’aretz, October 8, 2000
  • My Gradfather’s Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen for Beliefnet.com August 2000
  • String of Pearls by JoAnna Lund for Beliefnet.com , August 2000
  • A Place Like Any Other by Molly Wolf for Beliefnet.com , August 2000
  • Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Jennie Fields for New York Daily News , July 1997
  • Schoolgirls , by Peggy Orenstein for Newsday , 1994
  • In the Wake of the Goddesses , by Tikva Frymer-Kensky for Congress Monthly , 1993
  • Four Centuries of Women's Spirituality , edited by Ashton and Umansky for Journal of Religious Studies , 1993
  • Daughters of the King , edited by Haut and Grossman, Congress Monthly , January 1993
  • The Way We Never Were by Stephanie Coontz for Newsday, October 4, 1992
  • Deborah, Golda and Me by Letty Cottin Pogrebin for Moment , February 1992
  • After Great Pain by Diane Cole for Newsday , January 5, 1992
  • Women in Time and Torah by E. Bekovits for Congress Monthly , January 1992
  • Hilary's Trial by J. Groner for Newsday , May 1991
  • Latecomers by A.Yarrow for Newsday , Feruary 1991
  • Crisis and Covenant by Alan Berger, Congress Monthl y, February 1988
  • Women and Religion in America , vol. 3 edited by Reuther and Keller, Women's Review of Books, February 1987
  • A Leak in the Heart by Faye Moskowitz in Congress Monthly , Nov-Dec 1985
  • Norton Anthology of Literature by Women edited by Gilbert and Grubar in
  • The Bookwoman , Summer 1985
  • Damaged Goods by Thomas Friedmann, Congress Monthly , July-August 1985

Magazine, journal and newspaper articles

  • "Recycled" New York Daily News , August 1997
  • "Taking the Cure," Tikkun , March-April 1995
  • "It's All Relative," Woman's Day , April 1994
  • "Whiplash: It's No Laughing Matter," Woman's Day , Jan. 1994
  • "Water Play," Child , 1993
  • "L'Chaim," Woman's Day , Dec. 1993
  • "Taking the Teens," Woman's Day, Dec. 1993
  • "Simplify Your Life," Woman's Day, Sept. 1992
  • "Kids Pitch in," Woman's Day , Sept. 1992
  • "Children Who Follow, Children Who Lead," Redbook , October 1992
  • " Get Your Kids to Pitch In," Woman's Day , September 1992
  • "Fight Right," Woman's Day , September 1992
  • "A Healing Hand: The Children's Health Fund," Woman's Day , February 18, 1992
  • "Joy Again," Woman's Day , December 17, 1991
  • "Magic from Madison Avenue" Child , March 1991; Syndicated by the New York Times
  • "Giovanni's Last Chance" Scholastic Voice , November 1990
  • "Why Free Play Has Become Passe" Child , August 1990
  • "Floor Time" Child , June/July 1990
  • "Loving Care: Just What the Doctor Ordered," Traditions Spring 1990
  • "Should Your Son Play with Dolls--and Your Daughter with Hot Wheels?" Child , Jan-Feb 1990
  • "How Many Toys Does a Kid Really Need?" Child , Nov-Dec 1989
  • "The TV Advantage," Child, May-June 1989
  • "Confessions of a Former Nature Girl," Woman's Day, January 1989
  • "Color Me Convinced," Woman's Day, October 1987
  • "What Mother Told Me About Kids," Bride's , June/July 1987
  • "Illusions Inspired by a First House," New York Times , June 7, 1987
  • "Keep the Change," Woman's Day , June 1987
  • "Classy Mothering," Woman's Day, May 1987
  • "Cranberries," New Haven Advocate , November 1986
  • "In Praise of Snow White," Woman's Day, August, 1986
  • "Mother of the Bride," Woman's Day , May 1986
  • "Taking Women's Diaries Seriously," Women's Diaries, Spring 1985
  • "Ode to a House with Naked Windows," Syracuse Herald Journal, Feb. 1985
  • "Sour Cherries," New York Times, May 9, 1984; Choice Listening Spring 1984
  • "Aspects of Transformation," IWWG Symposium Monograph #3, July 1983
  • "On Inspiration, or Off It," IWWG Symposium Monograph #2, July 1982

Fiction

  • "People Suspect She Is Either On Drugs Or A Member of A Cult," Sun Dog: The Southeast Review, Fall 1987
  • "Chanuka Clock," Woman's Day, December 3, 1985
  • "Panama Hat," Woman's Day, September 1985
  • "The Mothers' Goose," Woman's Day, May 1985; Talking Book Magazine of the Month (Library of Congress)
  • "Naming," Wooster Review , Fall 1984
  • "Birds: Life After College," Classes (Sarah Lawrence Alumni Publication)Spring 1983
  • "Epistle from Sister Deirdre," Croton Review , Spring 1982
  • "Get me to a Nunnery," Moment , December 1981
  • "Brothers Musser," Face of the Sage, Fall 1980

Honors

  • 2004: Brandeis University Grinspoon Fellow
  • 2000 AJPA Simon Rockower Award , Honorable Mention of the Noah Bee Award for Excellence in Editorial Writing Sh'ma 1999
  • 1994-95 CLAL Dorot Fellowship
  • 1991-92 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Literature (non-fiction writing)
  • 1990 Words on Fire : nominated for the National Jewish Book Award in Jewish Thought
  • 1987 Finalist: Florida State University Short Story Contest
  • 1983 Performing Arts Repertory Theater (NYC) award for contributions to young people's theater
  • 1982 Colgate University Research Council Grant for performances of Anne Sexton’s "Transformations" in U.S. and Israel , co-sponsored by U.S. Embassy in Israel
  • 1982 CAPS Playlending library

 

Recent Public Lectures/Readings/Papers Presented (since 1998)

  • June 2006, Guest lecturer, JTS Faculty Retreat
  • June 2006, keynote speaker “Reclaiming Mikveh Conference”, Boston , Mass
  • January 2006, Scholar in Residence, JCC Atlanta ,Georgia
  • December 2005, Guest lecturer, Temple Beth Shalom, Fairfax , VA
  • November 2005 “Popularizing our Scholarship” AAR
  • November 2005 Guest lecturer: Wittenburg University, Springfield Ohio ,
  • March 2005 Scholar in Residence: Congregation Kol Ami, White Plains , NY
  • March 2005 Guest Lecture on Jewish feminist responses to the Holocaust, Divinity Faculty, Cambridge University
  • December 2004 Guest lecturer: University of Indianapolis , Indianapolis
  • November 2004 Scholar in Residence: Germantown Jewish Center, Philadelphia , PA
  • November 2004 Guest lecturer: JCC, Cherry Hill , NJ
  • November 2004 Guest lecturer: Christopher Newport University , Newport News , VA
  • November 2004 Guest lecturer: UJC Women’s Division, Virginia Beach , VA
  • January 2004: Invited participant: Osher seminar at Hartman Institute, Jerusalem
  • January 2003: Invited participant: Osher seminar at Hartman Institute, Jerusalem
  • “Jewish Women’s Spirituality” Norfolk , VA UJC conference on Jewish Women, Feb 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation,” “New Jewish Ritual” University of Utah , March 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation,” National Havurah Institute Board, Princeton , NJ March 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation,” “New Women’s Rituals in Judaism” Colgate University , April 2003
  • “Miriam’s Cup” Symposium on Women and Judaism, Wayne State University , 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation,” Ten Jewish Sensibilities” Scholar in Residence: Congregations in Pittsburgh , PA and Birmingham , Alabama , April 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation,” Lishma Conference, NYC, September 2003
  • “Jewish Dream Interpretation” Mayan (Jewish Feminist Research Group) and Makom (Center for Jewish Spirituality at JCC of NYC) December 2003
  • “Jewish Perspectives on the Human Genome” Virginia Biotechnology Conference of Human Genomics, the Family and the Law. Oct 2001
  • “Jewish Sensibilities and End-of-life Decisions” (with Vicky Bravo) Spirituality in Healthcare: A Training Program for Professionals UVA Hospital/Chaplaincy/Center for Biomedical Ethics May 2001
  • “Encountering Jewish Perspectives on Spirituality and Healing: A Study of Talmudic Texts” Society for the Study of Theology (SST) Nottingham , England : April 2001
  • Jewish Public Forum Conference on Imagining the Jewish Future: Scenarios with GBN: symposium presenter (Global Business Network) ( New York ) Jan 2001
  • Council of American Jewish Museums/National Foundation for Jewish Culture 2001 CAJM conference Lecture: “Future of the Jewish Past” ( New York ) Jan 2001
  • Hartman Institute Conference on the Study of Sacred Time: symposium participant ( Jerusalem ) Feb 2001
  • “Jewish Women as Spiritual Experts” Jewish Federation of Tidewater Lecture: Spring 2001
  • “Jewish sensibilities and end-of-life decisions” with Vikky Bravo. Spirituality in Healthcare: A Training Program for Professionals UVA Hospital / Chaplaincy/ Center for Biomedical Ethics
  • Talmud Study (weeklong seminar) National Havurah Summer Institute August 2001
  • “Spiritual Perspectives on Rosh Hashanah” The Jewish Federation of Richmond : Sept 2001
  • “Reconstructing Jewish Ethnicity” in conjunction with the Jewish Museum of Pittsburgh exhibition “Encountering the Second Commandment”American Jewish Museum of Pittsburgh: Lecture: “Contemporary Artists and Jewish Feminist Strategies” Oct 2001
  • “How can the Abrahamic faiths get along?” UVA International Residential Center panel
  • “The Artistic Construction of ‘Rhoda’ as a Jewish Woman” The Jewish Museum (NYC) Nov 2001
  • “The Bar/Bat Mitzvah Candle-lighting Ceremony” AAR , North American Religions: November 2000
  • “ Judaism and Healing “ Washington and Lee University Jewish Studies Lecture 2000
  • “Material Culture in the Jewish Home” ABC Radio National “The Comfort Zone” September 2000
  • “Poetics of Talmud” (week seminar) National Havurah Committee Summer Institute August 2000
  • “Judaism and Healing Environments in the Context of Care for Elderly” Shalom Park Senior Staff, Denver May2000
  • “Rituals of Jewish Healing” Denver Rose Foundation: May 2000
  • “Women in Judaism,” “Food in Judaism” Denver , Colorado Jewish Federation executives and Young Leaders: 2000
  • “Jewish Spirituality” Saint Louis Board of Rabbis: Nov 2000
  • “Invented Traditions vs. Authentic Traditions: Reframing the Teaching of Judaism” Schechter Institute conference on the Impact of Women’s and Gender Studies on Jewish Studies, Jerusalem , June 1999
  • “It’s a Small World After All: Disneyworld and Pilgrimage” AAR , North American Religions: November 1998
  • “ Miriam’s New Rituals and Ritual Objects, AAR , Jewish Studies, November 1998
  • “What Makes A Jewish Home Jewish?” AAR , North American Religions, November 1998

Consulting:

  • Religion and Ethics Newseekly (PBS) Consultant in Judaism, healing and spirituality (Spring-Fall 2000)
  • “Avodah: Jewish Ceremonial Art” Consultant for the development and evaluation of a traveling exhibit sponsored by the University of Southern California (June 25, 2000)
  • CLAL-The National Jewish center for Learning and Leadership: Consultant in Jewish ritual practices , Editing of the “Sacred Day series” (Spring-Fall 2000)
  • “Kach Yadi” advisor to Hadassah National Organization project in Jewish Healing and Friendship (Fall 2000)
  • Beliefnet.com columnist

National/International Service

  • Humanities Advisor: The Jewish Museum of Maryland
  • Consultant: PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly series
  • Board member: Hillel Foundation of the University of Virginia (through 2005)
  • Advisory Board: UVA School of Medicine spirituality and medicine curriculum
  • Professional Consulting Committee: UVA Chaplaincy Services and Pastoral Education
  • Board of Directors: International Committee for Women of the Wall (ICWOW)
  • Board of Advisors: Cross Currents/Association for religion and Intellectual Life
  • Board of Academic Advisors: International Research Institute on Jewish Women/ Brandeis University/Hadassah
  • Contributing Editor: Sh’ma Magazine

Previous Positions:

  • Senior Fellow, CLAL-- the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, New York, NY (1995-2001), Dorot Fellow, CLAL (1994-95)
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Drew University (1993-1 997)
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Drew University (1990-1993).
  • Visiting Lecturer, English Department, Hebrew University (Spring 1988).
  • Visiting Lecturer, English Department, Yale University (1986-1987, Fall 1987).
  • Senior Lecturer, English and Writing Departments, Colgate University (1980 –1986).
  • Lecturer, English and Drama, University of Maryland European Division (1978 -79).

Visiting fellowships:

  • Visiting Fellow: Newnham College , Cambridge University Spring 2005
  • Visiting Fellow: Center for the Study of Religion, Princeton University Spring 2003