Over 700 women attended an Orthodox concert in Hackney this weekend, despite the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations urging women not to go.
A full-time nurse and mother of five had her performance forbidden from attending for fear of bringing “spiritual harm” to its audience. Bracha Jaffe is an Orthodox Jewish female musician who covers her hair, sings only to women, and has an all-female band.
In a statement posted on synagogue noticeboards and sent via email, the UOHC said it “endorses and supports the decision” of Charedi girls’ schools, like Beis Yaakov Grammar School, to disallow girls from going to the concert. They said it “may cause spiritual harm in ruchniyus (spirituality) and hashkafa (religious outlook, ethos)and one should therefore not participate in such an event”.
Upon hearing news of the ban, Jaffe, who has a Chazzan brother, urged those to come to sing, dance and have an “emotional and spiritual connection”.
