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Being Single In A Marriage-Obsessed Community Is Tough — Whether You’re Jewish, Muslim Or Mormon

Modern Judaism, Relationships

by Sharon Weiss-Greenberg

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.

Viewpoints contributor Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg is quoted in this article in the Forward regarding the challenges of being single in a variety of communities.

Often, in the Orthodox Jewish community, the term ‘shidduch crisis’ is used to describe a surplus of single community members.

“I find that term deeply offensive,” said Dr. Sharon Weiss-Greenberg, executive director of JOFA, whose Facebook post on the subject garnered hundreds of comments about the hurt and shame singles in religious communities experience, prompting her to devote JOFA resources to initiate conversations about the stigma.

In a panel event organized by JOFA this month, experts from across American religious communities gathered to reflect on the stigmas of singlehood in their circles — something common across theological differences.

Read more: https://forward.com/life/faith/405776/being-single-in-a-marriage-obsessed-community-is-tough-whether-youre/

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About Sharon Weiss-Greenberg

Sharon Weiss-Greenberg is the Director of Development at ELI Talks.  She is the former Executive Director of JOFA.  She was recently named by the Jewish Forward as a "Forward 50" Jew of influence and by the Jewish Week as a person to watch as a "36 Under 36" honoree. Sharon has served as the Rosh Moshava (Head of Camp) at Camp Stone, as the co-director  of the Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus at Harvard Hillel and as the first Orthodox woman chaplain at Harvard University. She has taught at Yeshiva University High School for Girls, Yavneh Academy in New Jersey, and the Denver Academy of Torah High School. Sharon earned her doctorate at NYU. She is an alumna of the Wexner Fellow/Davidson Scholarship graduate program, and ROI Community Member. She studied at The Drisha Institute for Jewish Education and received her B.A. and M.A. from Yeshiva University.