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So you really should read this article, but in case you don't, let's talk for a moment about how an interactive ritual about actively welcoming queer women and actively rejecting homophobia got reduced to passive inclusion of a symbol vaguely acknowledging All Women.
Because wow, is this ever an example of mainstream feminism watering down a specific, defiant, queer-focused and meaningful ritual into something that doesn't really offend anyone and on top of that, silencing women's response to sexism.
So here's the context of the whole thing: Abraham Joshua Heschel was a major Jewish thinker, and practiced Judaism in a way that today we'd probably call Orthodox. He marched with Dr. King, and emphasized the civil rights and activism aspects of Judaism. jwa.org/teach/livingth…
He wasn't what I'd call a feminist, however. He was still mostly concerned with Judaism as practiced by men, for men.
His daughter, Dr. Susannah Heschel, became a scholar of Judaism and has focused a lot on women & Judaism. jwa.org/feminism/hesch…
Why, in talking about Judaism and women, did I start with a man? Well, because until this story takes a sharp turn into acceptable blandification of queer feminism, it's about evolution *forward.* Prof. Heschel, Sr. opened up some space that Prof. Heschel, Jr. claimed.
So Dr. Susannah Heschel started a ritual which placed an orange on the seder plate. Everyone would eat a section of the orange, symbolizing embracing and fully including queer women, and spit out the seeds, symbolizing rejecting homophobia.
So, this is very much in keeping with the rest of the seder, which is a highly interactive meal in which the symbolism of each element to the meal is discussed. Everyone *participates.*
Inclusion of the orange, here, is both a firm, active claiming of the seder ritual in very traditional symbolic language, and an act of defiance. Queer women *will* have their place, and be acknowledged.
And spitting out the seeds? What a *perfect* ritual gesture. The seeds of a lot of fruits aren't just inedible--they're poisonous. Like homophobia. And spitting is usually a sign of contempt or defiance. Which is a great response to homophobia. Expel it with *force.*
Except here's what's happening with most of those oranges on seder plates nowadays: They're just passively there on the plate, they don't get interacted with, their symbolism isn't explained, and *definitely* no one's spitting out seeds.
And if they're discussed at ALL, you usually get the apocryphal story of the rabbi saying a woman belongs on the bimah about as much as an orange on the seder plate.
So suddenly, instead of having kids spit out seeds as a visceral, physical symbol of rejecting cruelty and prejudice against LGBT people, especially women...
...and, after a long period of eating bitter/savory/salty/spicy things, having the sweetness of fresh fruit juice flood their tongue as a symbol of accepting and embracing queer people in their families and communities...
You've got an orange passively present on the seder plate, taking up a little space, I guess, but mostly just being silent and tolerated.
And if you discuss it at all, you've got a story in which the only person who speaks is a man.
TALK ABOUT THE ORANGE. EAT THE ORANGE. SPIT OUT THOSE SEEDS.
And don't erase "queer women" into "all women."
