Arlene Agus

Arlene Agus (March 17, 1949 – December 2024) was an American Orthodox Jewish feminist and writer. She was "an early advocate of Orthodox feminism [and] a prominent advocate for Soviet Jewry," and was perhaps best known for reviving women's observance of Rosh Chodesh.

Early life and education Agus was born in Brooklyn, New York City.

Jewish feminism Agus considered herself a "temperate feminist" interested in "communal unity," but was deemed radical by some community members. She viewed Judaism as inherently feminist, although this element could not be fully realized until after the women's egalitarian movement.In 1971, Agus co-founded Ezrat Nashim, "the first American Jewish feminist organization". Ezrat Nashim protested at the 1972 Conservative rabbis' conference, where their demands included: Women being allowed synagogue membership Women counting towards a minyan Women being "considered as bound to fulfill all mitzvot equally with men" Full participation in religious observances Women being able to act as witnesses in religious courts Women being allowed to initiate divorce Women being "permitted and encouraged to attend rabbinical and cantorial schools"

The involved women, including Agus, also fashioned their own tallitot. In 1973, she encouraged Blue Greenberg to deliver the keynote address at the First National Jewish Women's Conference. The same year, she founded a women's kollel. In 1982, she successfully negotiated a divorce for an agunah, a Jewish woman stuck in her marriage because her husband refused to allow her a divorce.

Agus remarked in 1984 that she would have been a rabbi if Orthodox law had allowed it, and that "It's only because I refuse to be denominationally limited that I'm not going to rabbinical school at the [ Conservative] Jewish Theological Seminary". Instead, she learned and then taught Torah cantillation at Ansche Chesed, a Manhattan synagogue that, at the time, did not adhere to a specific stream of Judaism. Also at Ansche Chesed, she founded Minyan M'at, "an egalitarian service".

Rosh Chodesh observance In 1971, Agus led "a small group of women in a revival of the ritual as a creative women’s celebration".

Soviet Jewry activism While at Brooklyn College, Agus led the borough chapter of Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. She later worked at the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry. Agus felt the issue of Soviet Jewry helped to not only unite Jews, but also helped foster Jewish connections with non-Jewish activists. Agus continued her activism after graduating; in 1980, she coordinated Solidarity Day, an event held in New York City which called "for the release of Jews unable to emigrate under the Soviet regime".

Later life and death Agus became estranged from her friends and family in her later life. Her body was found in her apartment in December 2024. She was 75.