VOICES

Allison Josephs

Blogger and activist

Showing people that “Orthodox Jews can be funny, approachable, educated, pro-women, and open-minded” is the mission of Jew In the City, a multi-media endeavor undertaken by Allison Josephs, who hopes “To break down stereotypes about religious Jews and offer a humorous, meaningful look into Orthodox Judaism.”

Inspired by the groundbreaking web series lonelygirl15, Josephs began her initiative in 2007, which employs YouTube videos, blogs, and social media to reveal Orthodox life in the 21st century to a larger audience of Jews and non-Jews.

Raised secular, she came to Orthodoxy after a mystical experience in Hawaii. “The Torah has to be the guiding line,” she says of her newfound faith. “I believe the Torah is truth and you can experience those truths in the larger world.”

Among the partners on her journey is fellow J100 lister and “Big Bang Theory” actress Mayim Bialik, with whom she studies Torah. (Photo credit: Jewinthecity.com.)