Beyond Seinfeld: Renowned author, psychotherapist Rachel Josefowitz Siegel challenges stereotypes of Jewish Mothers – York U. Discussion / Reading

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TORONTO, September 19, 2000 -- During a discussion and reading at York University -- Jewish Mothers: Beyond the Stereotypes -- renowned American author, lecturer, feminist, and retired psychotherapist Rachel Josefowitz Siegel will challenge the stereotype of the Jewish mother so prevalent in North American society -- consider George Costanza's mother on Seinfeld for instance. She will reveal the many real choices that Jewish mothers make in preserving and celebrating Jewish traditions and spirituality and how they transmit them to their children in a non-Jewish world.

Siegel, whose talk will take place Thurs. Sept. 21, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., will also read from her recently co-edited book Jewish Mothers Tell Their Stories: Acts of Love and Courage (Haworth Press, 2000). The public discussion and reading, co-sponsored by York's Centre for Jewish Studies and the Association for Research on Mothering, will take place in York's Harry Crowe Room (Rm 109), Atkinson Building, 4700 Keele Street.

"Vilified or idealized, stereotypical assumptions about Jewish mothers are two sides of the same coin. Both of these stereotypes have a profound impact on all Jewish mothers and Jewish women. They usually make us feel bad," says Siegel, who adds the goal in creating Jewish Mothers Tell Their Stories was to assemble a picture of Jewish mothers by Jewish mothers.

Siegel, who has co-edited three books about Jewish women and written numerous articles on women and aging, will delve into the following themes:

  • the Jewish mother stereotype and its impact on real Jewish mothers
  • ethnic/historical connections between mothers and daughters
  • motherhood as a catalyst for personal evolutions of Jewish identity and values
  • Orthodox vs. secular expressions of spirituality
  • positive experiences of conversion and inter-faith families
  • conveying Jewish history and tradition in a Christian world

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    For more information, visit www.yorku.ca/crm or contact:

    Prof. Andrea O'Reilly
    The Association for Research on Mothering
    York University
    (416) 736-2100, ext. 60366
    aoreilly@yorku.ca

    Ken Turriff
    Media Relations
    York University
    (416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
    kturriff@yorku.ca
    YU/091/00