On March 15, the Jewish Feminist Association at Brandeis hosted its annual Women’s History Month celebration in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium, bringing together numerous student organizations for activities and performances.Over 10 different organizations, including religious, cultural and recreational clubs, participated in the event. Each organization tabled and hosted various activities, and the Brandeis Up the Octave club performed uplifting songs.

The Women’s History Month celebration is the biggest event of the year for JFAB. It usually takes place on International Women’s Day, but this year the event was pushed to the following weekend due to “Inside ’Deis.” During this annual celebration, JFAB undertakes action projects for various causes. This year, an activity at JFAB’s table involved creating bags with necessities for women and families in domestic violence shelters. JFAB President Lee-El Messinger ’28 and Yehudis Aldrich ’29, JFAB Treasurer, spoke to The Justice in a March 15 interview about the significance of the celebration. Aldrich said that JFAB invites around 40 clubs and organizations on campus to participate in the event, including gender, women and sexuality-centered clubs, as well as religious groups. 

“As the Jewish Feminist Association of Brandeis, we are here to create a space for Jewish people, as well as feminists, women and anyone on campus who would like to be an ally or participate in this community,” Aldrich explained.

“We are a club dedicated to uplifting Jewish women’s lives, as well as other women, and also, generally, uplifting minority groups that need to be uplifted,” Messinger added.

When asked what Women’s History Month means to them personally, Messinger said that she has always fought for equality and peace for women, and that March “brings people to understand that even in the 21st century, women are still experiencing inequality and discrimination.” Aldrich shared that the month is of great importance to her as well and that people should remember that “women are amazing all year round.”

At around 2:30 p.m., Brandeis’ treble-voice a cappella group Up the Octave performed three empowering songs. Their repertoire consisted of “Not Your Way” by MisterWives, “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus and “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine. Raquel Blatter ’27, an Up the Octave member, told The Justice in a March 15 interview that the club is extremely supportive and uplifting. “It’s like a really supportive group of girls. We all love each other. We love making magical music together,” she said.

Blatter also shared that Women’s History Month has great significance for her and her family. “My biological grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, and the fact that she survived, came to the States, and has made a life for my family is a really beautiful thing. To carry on the tradition of all the women who came before me is really beautiful, especially at Brandeis,” Blatter shared.

Organizations participating in the event offered engaging activities that the Brandeis community could participate in. Food and refreshments were also offered for attendees. The Campus Activities Board had a variety of aromatic plants and oils on their table, which people could mix in small bags to create their own aroma bags. Women in Economics and Finance had colorful sticky notes and envelopes on their table for people to write letters to their future selves. Queer Jews at Brandeis created a game featuring trivia questions to help people learn more about the queer Jewish community. 

The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute held a raffle where students could win books published with or by the HBI. Gabby Chiquiar-Rabinovich ’27, who tabled at the HBI table, shared more information about a current exhibition related to Women’s History Month. 

In a March 15 interview with The Justice Rabinovich stated, “We currently have an exhibition called ‘Who Will Draw Our History?’ which shows the works of female artists who survived the Holocaust and created work in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust, sort of depicting their experiences and emotions,” she explained.

   The celebration brought Brandeis community members together to honor Women’s History Month through activities, music and performances, thus offering students an opportunity to engage with different clubs on campus and learn more about the significance of this month.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice News Editorial Assistant Ashhwika Soni ’29 is a member of the Student Union Senate and did not edit or contribute to this article.

— Editor’s Note: The Justice News Editorial Assistant Chava Thiell ’29 is a member of BaRuCh’s executive board and edited this article.