MHWOW Host Spotlight — Rebecca Blady

Rebecca Blady is a Rabbinical student at Yeshivat Maharat, the only seminary in the United States to ordain orthodox women as rabbis

Why are you a MHWOW host?

I’m a MHWOW host because it enables me to open my home and reach way more people from all walks of Jewish life than I otherwise would, just attending regular synagogue.

How has MHWOW helped you create Jewish community?

MHWOW helps me create Jewish community by using my home as the springboard for gathering. I feel so blessed that my home has become a comfortable place for so many people who seek unique outlets for their Judaism. If I meet someone, I love having the knowledge that I can say to them, “You should come over! We host events at our place all the time. We’d love to have you.” And then, I actually WILL invite them over, because MHWOW gives me the resources do it. I’ve been able to build so many relationships this way — I feel so blessed!

What MHWOW events are you most proud of hosting?

There are two kinds of events I’m most proud of. One is Havdalah, where we have almost 50 people fill our living room, enjoying a rare opportunity to actually take their time closing out shabbat with song and energy.

The other is social action organizing meetings, birthed in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. I grew up in the orthodox community and have many peers who did as well, or maintain connections to orthodox institutions even if they don’t currently affiliate as orthodox. There’s a growing sense among us that we need to do better at speaking out against discrimination and hatred and that we need to urge our orthodox institutions to do the same. With the support of MHWOW, we’ve begun to gather regularly to plan what actions, small or large, we can take to bring our value of Tzedek to life and to persuade our schools and synagogues to stand by the teaching of “Never Again.”