1000 WORDS

THE STRENGTH OF MODESTY: WOMEN'S POWERLIFTING IN ISRAEL

Powerlifting competitions (known as “meets”) have been out of reach for many religious women who follow laws of modesty of dress, due to the International Powerlifting Federation requirement of competing in front of coed judges and audiences in a singlet, which exposes the arms and legs. That includes both Jews and Muslims.

But a new initiative from the “Women Who Lift-Israel” community is about to change all that.

According to its founder, Sarah Illouz, a 40-year-old Montrealnative-turned-Israeli, the movement was established during the coronavirus pandemic in Israel with the goal of building an online community (in the absence of the camaraderie that happens at CrossFit gyms), of women who can share their achievements, struggles and questions in all matters related to strength sports. Today, there are nearly 2,000 members in the online community, including talented and passionate religious women who have made strength sports, and particularly powerlifting, a part of their lives.

Powerlifting is the sport of the back squat, bench press and deadlift, in which the competitors aim to lift the maximum amount of weight possible for a single rep. In order to properly analyze competitors’ movements and form, judges must be able to clearly see one’s knees and behind, which, for religious women, are purposefully covered for modesty.

On May 27, the first-ever sanctioned women’s-only powerlifting meet is set to take place at FitnessLand in Rishon Letzion, which will open its studio to women only, enabling religious women to participate without compromising their modesty in front of men.

“We have so many talented women who could compete professionally, hiding behind the curtains without the chance to compete,” said Illouz. “Our competition will give them equal opportunity to compete officially with the International Powerlifting Federation and follow their passion. This competition will make sure no woman is excluded from following her dreams.”

According to Illouz, a Modern Orthodox Jew, powerlifting empowers women by allowing them to uncover their incredible physical and mental strength without sacrificing their religious observances by uncovering their bodies. This is particularly important for women in very traditional circles.

“It not only makes them stronger physically but stronger mentally, and builds their self-confidence,” said Illouz, whose perspective changed from the negative mentality of diet culture and weight loss to strength training. A software engineer, she noted that the confidence gained from “being able to squat 100 kilos” (220 pounds) spreads to all facets of her life, including her work, as she truly believes she can achieve difficult tasks.

Jewish Orthodox athlete Michal Orlinsky, 34, shared a similar sentiment, saying “sport is a way to impart values and build personal qualities of consistency, perseverance, dedication and coping with difficulty. I love the feeling of self-confidence and sense of ability I achieve through lifting.”

This is most important for religious women, who are often mentally and physically overwhelmed with their duties in and outside the house, she related, and often don’t focus on themselves.

When Illouz brought Orlinsky to watch a powerlifting competition, Illouz recalled “seeing the fire in her eyes” when she couldn’t compete, knowing that “she could crush every woman there.” In fact, she was crying. This inspired Illouz to organize the May 27 meet, in which Orlinsky will be competing and co-organizing.

“Without this opportunity,” Orlinsky said JN, “I wouldn’t even think of competing. For a religious woman, it doesn’t even cross your mind because of the way competitions are structured today. This allows me to go public with what I love to do most and show the world another side to the religious woman … Orthodox women participate in this kind of sport and the religion is not supposed to limit [participation].”

Iris Schechter, a three-time gold medalist representing Israel in powerlifting internationally, will act as a judge and is on the meet’s organizing committee. Though originally against the idea of separating men and women in sports — and at first rejecting Illouz’s idea — she said that she agreed to join after “witnessing Michal’s training videos and realized how strong she is, how many resources she put into her training and how passionate she is about the sport.”

“As a woman who did in her life whatever she wanted, especially in sports, it was hard for me to see women who are restricted from [achieving] their dreams. I deeply appreciate the coaches and [athletes] who encouraged me to run this event and [helped me] understand the constraints religious sportswomen face.”

Strength and CrossFit coach Efrat Lev, co-organizer of the May 27 competition, said she had to compromise her observance of modesty in order to compete. As an Orthodox Jew, the 39-year-old recalled leaving her skirt on a “white plastic chair in the corner. I had left it on until the last possible moment. It was my first time baring my legs in front of so many men, and it was the last time I would feel so selfconscious about it. Because once you cross that bridge, it’s never the same. And while some will say that’s a good thing, those who share my values will understand that there’s an element of sadness and loss in that.”

“It was not an easy decision at all,” she said. “That’s why I am so proud to take part in organizing a sanctioned competition that will allow other women to compete without having to make the same sacrifice that I had to make.”

Lev first began lifting after she had a difficult pregnancy and learned that resistance training with progressive overload is crucial in preventing physical deterioration and diseases such as osteoporosis, a common ailment of her older female clients. “It is never too late to start,” she said. “When I first started lifting, I never imagined that I would be able to lift my own body weight. Today, I am on the road to lifting triple that amount.”

Illouz, Orlinsky, Lev and Schechter found a sponsor for the event:

Israel’s sporting goods distributor Salsport. Owners Irena and Kobi David-Pour have donated Eleiko brand weightlifting equipment for the competition. “When we heard about the first powerlifting competition in Israel for women, we were very excited,” Irena said. “We believe that the time has come for more women in Israel to be exposed to powerlifting and take part in it.”

Indeed, women from all over Israel are set to participate, and religious Jews are not the only ones competing.

Hana Halabi, 47, a Druze fitness instructor and owner of a health club in her village of Daliyat el-Karmel, said that the women-only competition is an opportunity and an inspiration for women of all backgrounds to “know their strength without the fear or worries of men being around judging them.”

As a religious fitness professional, she noted “there is nothing religiously or socially forbidden or unacceptable in weight training.”

And while many women might be concerned that weightlifting “will make them look masculine,” Halabi remembered “feeling like a queen conquering a new world with a smile and insane energy” when she began lifting. Bringing the field of sports to the village, she said, has “upgraded the lives of women and men in the village” and caused a revolution of mindset.

“I love powerlifting and the power, motivation and readiness [it brings] to achieve goal after goal,” she said.

Schechter, though originally against the idea of a women’s only meet, has not only had a change of heart but called on “every woman, spectator or competitor of any level to come celebrate with us.”

Shosh Ernst works in a variety of media, including oils, acrylics, woodcuts, charcoals, pastels, silk and more. She is inspired by woman centered strength.

“I document events, ideas and recurrent universal feelings. I do so directly, in an open and even blunt manner, for these things are too important to me to be hidden. What I am after is not subtle, but rather an emotional expression to be communicated and experienced.”

Having recently relocated from Boston to North County, Shosh has exhibited all over the world, including Spain, Israel, Germany and throughout the USA. Her work is currently hanging in Adore at the Forum in Carlsbad. She also arranges private showings.

JFEST: 30 YEARS OF JEWISH ARTS

CELEBRATING A MILESTONE WITH FAR-REACHING FESTIVAL t’s mind-boggling to think I covered my first Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFEST) in 2012 when I was introduced to Women of Valor. I feel like I experienced the festival’s adolescence and now it has become a full-fledged adult! And just as with people, with those rights come responsibilities.

The 30th JFEST is taking its role seriously and delivering a far-reaching Jewish festival replete with speakers, new music, award-winning theater and so much more. Every facet of this extravaganza has exceeded expectations and shows no sign of slowing down.

I spoke with Artistic Director Todd Salovey about this milestone year. He concurred that the festival has grown like the amorphous Blob of the sci-fi film we watched in the ‘60s — only in a good way! Salovey told me that JFEST began as a single Sunday festival at the Lyceum Theatre.

“Two years later we grew it to one week in one location,” he said.

Today, the festival runs from June 1 through July 16 in more than eight venues. Aligned with Salovey’s vision of making the next step easy, the festival is held in many spaces throughout San Diego’s abundant and diverse communities. I assumed that the pandemic had put a kink in operations, but was told that “because everything was digital, it enabled us to work with amazing artists like Tova Feldshuh, Joel Gray, the cast of Fiddler on the Roof and to collaborate with artists nationally, forming relationships.” Salovey told mem that the goal wasn’t necessarily to make the festival bigger, but it expanded organically as programs grew and were developed to a greater extent.

“When something comes our way and is important, it’s hard to refuse,” he said.

The disparate nature of the programs draws audiences from a host of places. When the Union Tribune announced that Witnesses had won two San Diego Critics Circle awards for Best Musical and Best Directing, tickets sold immediately. This musical treatment was inspired by diaries of five teenagers who perished in the Holocaust. Through social media, emails, brochures, and word of mouth, San Diegans are discovering programs and bringing friends.

JFEST is unique in that its focus is on developing original programs, rather than restaging previously performed works. There are stalwart partners with whom the artists work closely. The festival is an “originator and nurturer, incubating many new projects.” The undercurrent is to present proudly Jewish work that also invites non-Jews to take part. For instance, the band SoulFarm plays Grateful Dead, thus appealing to Jewish music lovers as well as Deadheads.

Is there an untapped audience Salovey wishes JFEST could attract? Young family audiences have been the focus this year.

With Becca Myers producing The Whole Megillah New Jewish Play Festival, they are making serious inroads, attracting high schoolers and families. More on this in just a moment. Just as the festival is extending a hand to younger audiences, the cowriters and assistants of prior years are being handed the baton and a great deal more responsibility. I congratulated Salovey on the nachas he must reap from Ali Viterbi, Becca Myers, Leah Salovey and so many more, who’ve taken the leap into ownership and leadership of the festival.

“Nothing is more gratifying as a mentor than to see your mentees doing work which exceeds your own,” he said. “These people are such bright lights in the arts communities and in their Jewish communities.”

Sheila Lipinsky, daughter-in-law of Bernard and Dorris, original naming underwriters, spoke with me via the telephone and shared her gratitude and excitement for the continued growth and success of JFEST. As an educational therapist and an advocate for children and adults with learning differences, Sheila learned, early on, the mitzvah of giving back. Her parents and grandmother, Rose Smith, shaped her views on tzedakah and Yiddishkeit. This led to a lifetime of volunteering and philanthropy.

“With the help of our wonderful community, we have been able to continue the legacy,” she said.

What aspect of JFEST most excites Lipinsky? Is it the music of Leonard Cohen in House of Cohen, the 22nd Klezmer Summit with Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz and Hot Pstromi? Could it be reaping the wisdom of Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik? Or perhaps it’s the Matisyahu concert, Yale Strom’s film, or The Merchant of Venice Annotated? Well, yes, to all of the above and more importantly, “sharing the culture of our small Jewish population with the rest of San Diego. So many cultures create a richness here, and this is a beautiful opportunity to share and learn about each other.” Lipinsky appreciates the new creative team and credits Salovey, whose vision it was to bring this event about 30 years ago. She sees him as the heart and creative director of this program.

As promised, back to Becca Myers, actor, producer, writer, Esther and Girl Wonder. Becca began acting with J*Company when she was just 12. Since the age of 15 she has been co-writing Women of Valor. She credits Todd Salovey, her amazing mentor, with encouraging her and helping her identify and achieve her goals. She stated that “he took a chance on us and mentored us every step of the way so we’d be successful.” Currently a producer at the Old Globe, Becca told me that she wouldn’t have even considered this career path had Salovey not brought her in.

I wanted to know how the subjects are selected for Women of Valor and learned about the process of researching our seemingly interminable wealth of incredible Jewish women, right under our noses! Each interviewee is represented by an actor who has some connection to the honoree, making it more authentic and touching. I also asked about The Whole Megillah Festival. Myers produced plays that “haven’t yet had a life” with the hopes of getting them workshopped and gaining exposure. The submissions, which came from national and international theatres, had to be full-length plays that were unapologetically Jewish. Myers was specifically interested in stories that dealt with Sephardic Jewry, a less oft-represented side. Hereville is a tale of an Orthodox Jewish teenager, dealing with death, trauma, and family making it a universally relatable story. “Red Beads” is a story of unrequited love with an unexpected ending. Finally, Chagall, a play that has been in process, is filled with music, movement, and unique relationships.

Another new and dynamic feature, and a don’t-blink-or-you’llmiss-it addition of the 30th JFEST is the Eco-Jewish Play Fest — 7 plays. 24 hours to create, 1 night to enjoy! which is held at Coastal Roots Farm at Leichtag Commons. This ambitious program combines the pillars of the farm with Jewish tenets. Seven writers, 21 actors, and just 24 hours will produce short plays inspired by our uniquely Jewish values and concerns.

From the Mishnah, we learn that 30 is the age of strength. JFEST 30 proves this!

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