Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me
  • Forgot your password?
  • Forgot your username?
Facebook linkedin Twitter RSS
logo
  • Home
  • Elana
    • Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman
    • Elana's Books
    • Media Appearances
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Consulting Services
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Gender Issues in Education
    • Gender in Judaism and Orthodoxy
    • Gender in Israel
    • Politics and Leadership
    • Economics, business and working life
    • Body Issues
    • Men, boys and masculinities
    • Spirituality
    • Social Activism
    • Random Musings
  • Books
    • The Men's Section
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • Educating in the Divine Image
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • The War on Women in Israel
    • Masala Mamas
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Jewish Feminism Telecourse
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Sign Up
    • BRAND NEW TELECOURSE from JewFem.com
    • Desire: Favorite Readings
  • Discussions
Print

How lockdown is affecting my relationship with my body

JewFem Blog: Social Activism
Elana Sztokman
Tuesday, 02 February 2021
67 Hits
0 Comments

Here is a thought that I can barely comprehend: Exactly one year ago, I was running for Knesset.


I had formed a new Women's Party with a bunch of energetic women, and we were on the campaign trail. It's hard to picture, or even remember. I mean, it seems so far away that the coalition has already since collapsed AGAIN but nobody seems to realize or care.


One year ago, not only was I running for Knesset and working 12-hour days, but I was also home alone in my house. That is also something that has become foreign after a year of hunkering down. A year ago, three of my kids were students living in different cities, another was on her post-army world trek, and my husband was in India for weeks or months at a time running his NGO, and I was an empty-nester. The big joke among the women of our party was that I invariably cut short our late-night meetings because I had to get home to walk the dog. I would kvetch to my kids and my husband about how they went along with their lives and left me to take care of Teddy and the house on my own, as if, you know, the mother is the only family member who doesn't really have a life. I'm running for Knesset, I tried to tell them. This may be the most important thing I've ever done in my life. They shrugged.


Or maybe God shrugged. Or maybe God laughed. In a real, Haha just wait! kind of laugh. A very particular, Haha 2020 is coming! kind of laugh.


It really does feel like a lifetime ago. I can barely imagine being out of the house, working, moving around in crowds of people. I don't think I've been home alone since March. I mean, I know for a lot of people, the hunkering down has brought a very painful alone-ness. But for some of us, it has been the opposite, a constant crowd in my nose. That's Corona for you. No gentle middle ground. Only extremes.


It's only been a year but time has sort of lost its meaning. What is now? What is later? When will this end? If at all? What's going to be next year? Next week? Some days I can't even remember what month we're in.


My quarantines have been particularly frenetic....


Read the rest at my new Conversations with my Body blog here

Purchase my new book here 

Tweet
Share on Pinterest
Conversations with my Body: Now on sale

About the author

Elana Sztokman

Elana Sztokman

The JewFem blog is written by the award-winning writer Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman, former Executive Director of JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. Elana's books include The Men’s Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World, which won the 2012 National Jewish Book Council Award for Women's Studies, Educating in the Divine Image: Gender Issues in Orthodox Jewish Day Schools, which won the 2013 National Jewish Book Council Award for Education (co-authored with Chaya Gorsetman), and the forthcoming The War on Women in Israel: How Religious Radicalism is Stifling the Voice of a Nation Elana writes frequently at The Forward, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Lilith, and more.

Author's recent posts
More posts from author
Tuesday, 02 February 2021 How lockdown is affecting my relationship with my body
Sunday, 31 January 2021 Conversations with my Body: Now on sale
Thursday, 28 January 2021 Amy Coney Barret and Me: Thoughts on women who uphold the patriarchy
Tuesday, 26 January 2021 Hard lessons I learned from four years of doing media opposite Trump supporters
Sunday, 24 January 2021 Merav Michaeli for Prime Minister
 

Comments

Already Registered? Login Here
No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment

Copyright © 2015 Elana Sztokman. All Rights Reserved.
Website created by LiteSites